1960-61 - Part four (Villa's cup win & Walsall take centre stage)

Posted by Tony Hutton

WEDNESDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 1961

F.A. CUP FOURTH ROUND REPLAY AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM            64,531

ASTON VILLA 2 (McParland 2) PETERBOROUGH UNITED 1 (McNamee)

Potter; Neal, Lynn; Crowe, Dugdale, Thomson;
MacEwan, O'Neill, Hitchens, Wylie, McParland;

Walls; Whittaker, Walker; Rayner, Banham, Ripley;
Hails, Emery, Bly, Smith, McNamee;

Interestingly Charles Harrold, writing in the News Chronicle states that 10,000 spectators were locked out with a crowd of 55,000 whereas the official attendance was given as 64,531 suggesting that most of the ten thousand did get in. Which ever way not a bad crowd to watch a team from the fourth division. The crowds at the other matches that cold, February night weren't bad either.

      Not only was Cyril Chapman 'Our
Association Football Correspondent' of
the Birmingham Post, but he was able to
write a lengthy and admirable account of
the game. A bit different to today.             

     Elsewhere in Europe at this time John Charles was enhancing his reputation in Italy and becoming a firm favourite with Juventus.

         

                   

SATURDAY 4TH FEBRUARY, 1961

LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL

WALSALL 5 (Richards 2, Wilson, Taylor, Askey) WATFORD 2 (Holton 2 pens)

Christie; Palin, Sharples; Hill, McPherson, Dudley;
Askey, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;

Linton; Bell, Meldrum; Porter, McNeice, Chung;
Benning, Harmer, Holton, Walker, Bunce;

Praise indeed from John Camkin in the News Chronicle and Walsall were beginning to think about promotion again. They were now in fifth place in the league with games in hand on the teams above them. Meanwhile the long suffering followers of the Fellows Park side were beginning to think so too. The following Saturday I joined a car load of supporters for the long journey to Birkenhead.

SATURDAY 11TH FEBRUARY, 1961

LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT PREENTON PARK, BIRKENHEAD

TRANMERE ROVERS 1 (Finney) WALSALL 4 (Taylor, Richards, Wilson, Askey)

Clayton; Billington, Brown; Neill, Millington, King;
Finney, Williams, Arnell, Bennett, Eglington;

Christie; Palin, Sharples; Hill, McPherson, Dudley;
Askey, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;

In the second half Walsall defended well and resisted everything that Tranmere threw at them.
Right winger Askey scored a fourth goal and the Saddlers and their supporters travelled home well satisfied with a 4-1 away win.


SATURDAY 18TH FEBRUARY, 1961

LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL

WALSALL 0 HALIFAX TOWN 0             

Christie; Palin, Sharples; Hill, McPherson, Dudley;
Askey, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;

Knowles; Stanley, Roscoe; Tilley, South, Fagan;
Priestley, Sinclair, Blackburn, Large, Hudson;

Referee:-  G.W. Pullin, Bristol

After two big wins this game proved a bit of an anti-climax for the Saddlers. They were still five points behind the leaders Q.P.R. but had two games in hand.

       




































SATURDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL

WALSALL 4 (Taylor 2, Richards, Wilson) BRADFORD CITY 0

Christie; Palin, Sharples; Hill, McPherson, Dudley;
Askey, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;

Downie; Flockett, Staunton; Devitt, Jackson (P), Roberts;
Webb, Jackson (D), Layne, Reid, Hawksworth;

Referee:- J.E. Cooke, Cambridge

Walsall, who had failed to score in their last two games, seemed to be losing momentum in their promotion challenge, but fielded an unchanged side for the fifth game in succession. This was Bradford City's first ever visit to Walsall and they
fielded a former home player in right winger Bobby Webb.