SATURDAY 4TH MARCH, 1961
FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
ASTON VILLA 2 (McParland, McEwan) ARSENAL 2 (Barnwell, Haverty)
Sidebottom; Neal, Winton; Crowe, Dugdale, Deakin;
McEwan, Thomson, Hitchens, Wylie, McParland;
Kelsey; Bacuzzi, McCullough; Ward, Charles, Groves;
Barnwell, Eastham, Herd, Henderson, Haverty;
Referee:- D. W. Smith, Stonehouse, Glos.
Both teams were level on points just above half way in the league, but with Villa having two games in hand. Villa relied on Irishman Peter McParland and England international Gary Hitchens up front but had an inexperienced defensive line up. Winton the left back had come from Burnley and Sidebottom, the Yorkshire born goalkeeper from Wolves.
Arsenal had the Welsh international goalkeeper Jack Kelsey and another Welshman, Mel Charles brother of John, at centre half. George Eastham, the clever inside forward, stayed out of football for many weeks at the start of the season, rather than re-sign for Newcastle United. David Herd, the Scottish centre forward, like Eastham the son of a famous father, had been leader goalscorer for Arsenal in the last two seasons.
SATURDAY 11TH MARCH, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 2 (Taylor, Wilson) READING 2 (Wheeler 2)
Christie; Sharples, Guttridge; Hill, McPherson, Dudley;
Askey, Foster, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
Meeson; Neate, Reeves; Spiers, Davies, Walker;
McIlvenny, Whitehouse, Lacey, Wheeler, Palethorpe;
Referee:- A. Ellis, Halifax
SATURDAY 18TH MARCH, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT HIGHFIELD ROAD, COVENTRY
COVENTRY CITY 1 (Hewitt) WALSALL 2 (Wilson, Taylor) Attendance 14,389
Lightening; Kletzenbauer, Bennett; Kearns, Curtis (capt), Farmer;
Hill (P), Straw, Stevenson, Hewitt, Imlach;
Christie; Palin, Sharples; Hill (capt), Eden, Dudley;
Rowe, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
Referee:- A.L. Mason (Maidstone)
Walsall were without two regulars for this local derby at Coventry. Tony Eden and Norman Rowe, both products of Aston Villa, came in for Albert McPherson and Colin Askey.
The following article and poem are from the match programme.
Before this game Walsall were third in the table, six points behind the two sides in the promotion spots, Bury and Queens Park Rangers, but with eleven games still to go and playing well they were confident that promotion could be there's.
SATURDAY 21ST MARCH, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 2 (Richards 2, 1 pen) SWINDON TOWN 1
This was the replay of the game played on 14th January which was abandoned due to fog after 85 minutes with Walsall leading by 3-0. Tony Richards who had scored two goals in the earlier game repeated the feat again tonight.
WEDNESDAY 25TH MARCH, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 4 (Richards 2, Thresher o.g., Faulkner) BRISTOL CITY 0 Attendance 10,115
Christie; Palin, Sharples; Hill, Eden, Dudley;
Davies, Faulkner, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
Cook; Hopkinson, Thresher; Ethridge, Connor, Casey;
Rogers, Atyeo, Tait, Williams, Derrick;
Referee:- A.W. Luty, Leeds
SATURDAY 8TH APRIL, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 2 (Taylor 2) NOTTS COUNTY 1 (Christie o.g.)
Christie; Palin, Sharples; Hill, McPherson, Dudley;
Askey, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
Smith; Edwards, Noon; Sheriden, Loxley, Carver;
Roby, Horobin, Hateley, Forrest, Joyce;
Referee:- A.W. Leuty, Leeds
Walsall, who had dropped only three points in their previous eight matches, made no changes. Tommy Wilson, the only injury doubt with bruised ribs was declared fit to play. Walsall won the toss and as usual chose to defend the laundry end so they would be kicking down the slope in the second half. This is a tactic that has brought dividends throughout the season.
It was a tough, hard struggle from the word go with Christie needing attention after a clash with big Tony Hateley in the first minute. Then Wilson also required treatment after a defender pushed him into the wall at the Hillary Street end. Walsall took the lead in the 12th minute with a trademark Colin Taylor goal. The left winger, who is within touching distance of Cliff Bastin's record for goals from a winger in a season, took a precision pass from Hodgkisson and smashed a shot into the net.
Goalkeeper Smith got his hand to it but could not keep it out.
Walsall continued to pile on the pressure and Sharples lobbed the ball goalwards only for it to finish on the roof of the net. Taylor was almost through again until Smith raced out of his goal to clear. County also had chances before half time but Horobin shot wide when clean through on goal and Hateley kept possession for too long in another attack.
In the second half the visitors equalised in the 53rd minute when Christie, being challenged in the air by Hateley, only succeeded in punching the ball into his own net. The crowd became restless as the home side struggled to score again in a must win game if they can achieve the dream of promotion.
Finally the winner came in the 77th minute and it was that man Taylor again. The red haired winger raced away and hit one of his cannonball specials which nearly broke the back of the net. Walsall held on with a few scares before the end, but two more valuable points was the outcome.
SATURDAY 22ND APRIL, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL2 (Richards pen., Taylor) GRIMSBY TOWN 1 (Rafferty) Attendance 16,446
Askey, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
White; Donovan, Keeble; Mills, Jobling (capt), Cockerill;
Scott, Rafferty, Cullen, Hunt, Williams;
Referee:- L.J. Tirebuck, Halifax
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