From the beginning of October 1961 up to Christmas Walsall's fortunes changed almost on a weekly basis as they experienced the ups and downs of life in the Second Division.
After a fine 5-0 home win over Rotherham they were thrashed 6-1 away at Liverpool. This was followed by a 2-2 home draw with Charlton and then another defeat 2-1 at Bury.
SATURDAY 7TH OCTOBER, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 5 (Wilson 2, Meek, Taylor, Richards) ROTHERHAM UNITED 0
Ball; Palin, Sharples; Hill, McPherson, Dudley;
Meek, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
Morritt; Perry, Morgan; Lambert, Madden, Waterhouse;
Webster, Weston, Houghton, Kirkman, Butler;
Referee:- K. Dagnall, Bolton
After losing 5-2 away at Sunderland in mid-week in the League Cup, Walsall bounced back with a vengeance against Rotherham. It took them thirty minutes to score the first goal. Again it was Tommy Wilson who put them ahead. Just before half time George Meek scored his first goal since his transfer back to the Saddlers from Leicester. Half time 2-0.
Minutes after the restart Colin Taylor celebrated his wedding day a few hours earlier by hitting home one of his piledrivers to make it 3-0. Richards as usual was also on the mark, followed by Wilson's second goal in what proved to be an easy victory.
SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL (Richards, Hodgkisson) CHARLTON ATHLETIC 2
Ball; Palin, Sharples; Hill, McPherson, Dudley;
Askey, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylorp
Duff; Sewell, Hewie; Tocknell, Hinton, Lucas;
Lawrie, Matthews, Edwards, Leary, Kinsey;
Referee:- F.V. Stringer, Liverpool
SATURDAY 4TH NOVEMBER, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL Attendance 9,963
WALSALL 2 (Wilson, Richards) BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 (Brown, Laverick)
Christie; Palin, Sharples; Hill, McPherson (capt), Dudley;
Meek, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
Baker; McNichol, Sitford; Bertolini, Jennings, Burtenshaw;
Tiddy, McNeil, Brown, Goodchild, Laverick;
Referee:- L. Callaghan, Merthyr Tydfil
SATURDAY 18TH NOVEMBER, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL Attendance 10,971
WALSALL 5 (Palin, Younger pen., Taylor 2, Meek) NORWICH CITY 0
Boswell; Sharples, Guttridge; Hill, McPherson, Dudley;
Meek, Hodgkisson, Palin, Younger, Taylor;
Kennon; Thurlow, Ashman; Scott, Butler, Crowe;
Mannion, Alcock, Conway, Hill, Punton;
Referee:- C.W. Kingston, Newport, Mon.
Walsall, for once, were without their main attacking due of Tommy Wilson and Tony Richards due to injuries. Granville Palin, normally right back was moved to centre forward and Younger came in to replace Richards. The other major change was in goal where 18 year old Alan Boswell was given his debut after a loss of form from veteran Christie.
There were chances for both sides soon after kick off as Boswell soon showed his worth with a save from Conway and at the other end Kennon only just managed to hold a Guttridge free kick under the bar. However Walsall were soon in the league with a remarkable goal. Kennon, the Norwich goalkeeper took a free kick on the edge of his six yard box, the ball struck Palin standing just outside the penalty area and rebounded slowly just inside the post. After the referee had consulted a linesman a goal was given.
This rather fortunate goal seemed to motivate Palin in his new role and he certainly put himself about with great enthusiasm. Norwich came back well and played some good football, coming close on several occasions, but young Boswell looked very confident in goal and made some confident saves. Just before half time Younger missed a couple of fairly easy chances to score before Boswell distinguised himself again with a fine save from Hill. Half time 1-0.
Walsall were again on the defensive early in the second half and only good work by veteran 'Chopper' Guttridge prevented them from scoring. Walsall's second goal came from the penalty spot when full back Thurlow blatantly pushed Taylor off the ball. Younger calmly side footed the ball into the net in the 58th minute. After Taylor had shot wide, he made up for it in the 60th minute with a trade mark left foot pile driver after racing past two men before shooting home. 3-0.
Now Walsall were right on top and Kennon brought off a fine save from a long range effort from Ken Hill, before Walsall scored number four in the 65th minute. Younger split the defence with a perfect pass and little George Meek racing in from the wing at speed crashed it home to the delight of the crowd. Seven minutes later Walsall made it five as Hodgkisson chipped the ball through the middle for Taylor to score his second with another powerful shot past Kennon.
Boswell, who had been largely a spectator during the second half was called in to action again just before the end and must have been very satisfied with his first appearance. What could have been the icing on the cake in the very last minute came when Bill Guttridge raced upfield and almost scored with a shot that was saved at the second attempt. How the crowd would have loved to see the great man score!
SATURDAY 25TH NOVEMBER, 1961
MIDLAND INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL RESERVES 2 (Clarke og, Hall) BIRMINGHAM CITY A 0
R. Morris; Gregg, Partridge; Roper, Eden, Rawlings;
Askey, Faulkner, Hall, Foster, Rowe;
SATURDAY 2ND DECEMBER, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 0 BRISTOL ROVERS 0 Attendance 9,429
Boswell; Sharples, Guttridge; Hill, McPherson (capt), Dudley;
Meek, Younger, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
Radford; Hills, Frowen; Bumpstead, Pyle, Slocombe;
Jarman, Hamilton, Bradford, Watkins, Hooper;
Referee:- A. Edge, Liverpool
On a very cold December day Bristol kicked off down the slope towards the laundry end, but Walsall were into the game first and Taylor was soon looking for goals. The first Rovers attack created by Bumpstead saw Boswell push a Watkins header over the bar. Taylor again went close for the Saddlers when a hit a post and it was all Walsall at this stage. Then Rovers came back and Jarman went close on two occasions after a fine run down the middle. In fact both Rovers' wingers were proving a handful.
The best chance of the first half came after 36 minutes when George Meek popped up in the middle with a header from a Wilson cross which beat the goalkeeper only for Bumpstead to clear off the line.
Just before the interval Walsall too had a similar escape when Boswell missed a Jarman cross and Hamilton headed for goal only for McPherson to make a last minute clearance. The final action of the half saw Hamilton get the ball into the net only to be given offside. Half time 0-0.
Walsall piled on the pressure early in the second half and were particularly unlucky not to score when Richards pushed the ball past the diving Radford only to see it hit the outside of the post. Then Wilson hit the bar with a header from a Guttridge cross and nothing seemed to be going right for the home side. Meek also missed a wonderful chance by hesitating and the game became rather untidy on both sides. More chances went begging before the end but the game ended in a disappointing goal less draw.
SATURDAY 23RD DECEMBER, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 2 (Meek, Taylor) DERBY COUNTY 0 Attendance 9,641
Boswell; Sharples, Guttridge; Hill, McPherson (capt), Dudley);
Meek, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
Matthews; Barrowcliffe, Davies; Parry, Moore, Hopkinson;
Roby, Havenhand, Curry, Hutchinson, Swallow;
TUESDAY 26TH DECEMBER, 1961
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL2 (Wilson 2) LUTON TOWN 0 Attendance 9,609
Boswell; Sharples, Guttridge; Hill, McPherson (capt), Dudley;
Meek, Hodgkisson, Wilson, Richards, Taylor;
Baynham; McNally, Bramwell; Morton, Cope, Pacey;
Walden, McKechnie, Ashworth, Groves, Jardine;
A relatively poor crowd turned up for this Boxing Day game mainly due to the very cold, icy conditions which made ball control very difficult for both sides. A much improved performance from the Saddlers saw them back to something like their early season form. A two goal victory could have been by a much larger margin if they had taken all the chances they created. Hill and Dudley as usual were outstanding in midfield and Hodgkisson and Meek were also prominent.
Hodgkisson had several chances in the first half, hitting a volley from 25 yards against a post, then skimming the crossbar with another powerful drive before hitting a volley on the half turn which Bramwell headed off the goal-line. Luton's careful short ball game produced very little and the home side used the long ball to good effect with both Taylor and Richards missing good chances.
The two goals came late in each half. The first one after Boswell had saved well and sent the ball up the right hand side. Hodgkisson and Meek combined and Meek put Wilson through to score.
In the second half a slip by centre half Cope let Wilson in on his own and he dribbled round Baynham to score easily. Hopefully a sign of a return to more consistent performances for the new year.
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