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Post by Budleigh on Mar 9, 2009 12:43:03 GMT
I hope nobody minds me popping this up again as it may well have got buried and is a thread from a year or so back.
I do so because it records our run, via various newspaper cuttings, to the fourth round of the cup in 1954/55 when, of course, a record crowd saw us go out to Huddersfield at Plainmoor.
I felt it was somewhat fitting this week... I thought this may be of interest to one or two of you out there. I found an old scrapbook which i'd bought a few years ago and in it, amongst other tit-bits, are the results for each round of the cup for when we reached the fourth round in the 1954/55 season. It was remarkable run in that we drew away to Leeds United, only to then beat them 4-0 at home and then the fourth round game against Huddersfield was, as all good United supporters know, a narrow 1-0 defeat in front of our record crowd of 21,908. Not only did the scrapbook have the results for each round but there were also newspaper reports for the Blyth Spartans game and the two Leeds United games which i've put on here. Not sure which papers they came from but makes interesting reading, as do the other results of that time! The first round was played at home to Cambridge on November the 20th with the team lining up: 1) Alf Jefferies 2) William (Bill) Towers 3) Harry H Smith 4) Dennis Lewis 5) Henry McGuiness 6) Griff Norman 7) Ron Shaw 8) Ron (Sammy) Collins 9) Harold Dobbie 10) Don Mills 11) Graham Bond  The 2nd round, away to Blyth Spartans, was played on December 11th with the team changes being: 9) Eric Webber in for Dobbie (Webber the player/manager at this time) 11) John V Smith in for Bond   The third round was played away to Leeds United on the 8th of January, 1955 with the team changes from the Blyth game being: 5) Webber switching from 9 to take over from McGuiness 9) Dobbie coming back having played here in the Cambridge game 11) Jack T Smith in for John V Smith   The replay was hosted at Plainmoor four days later, on the 12th, the only team change being: 2) J V Smith returned in place of Towers having already played at 11 against Blyth   The fourth round was played at home on the 29th of January, and was, as mentioned earlier, the occasion of Plainmoor's record attendance. The team lined up the same as the first Leeds United game meaning the only change over the replay was: 2) Towers returned to the side in place of JV Smith (Also note below how there were two derby games in this round, Everton v Liverpool and Manchester City v United, both with attendances well over 70,000, plus four further attendances over 50,000, not bad for the fourth round!) 
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Post by phipsy on Mar 9, 2009 13:42:18 GMT
many thanks budleigh for that wonderful coverage of our famous cup run during season 54/55.
i took the day off school for the leeds replay.
we overcame the mighty john charles and co. 4-0.
incidentially the j.t. smith who was scoring regularly at thetime was jack smith, ex liverpool nd elder brother of our great defender of the sixties alan smith.
I play regular tennis each week with alan , he isstill as fit as a flee.
I attended the huddersfield game in amongst the near 22,000 others and i am afraid to say that i could,nt see a damn thing, being only 8 years old.
the cup atmosphere around town in that period was unbelievable and tickets were at a premium.
there were agents set up as tcket sellers and I rememember my dad when he came back with ours, he bought them at a cafe in factory row which was called joans pantry.
great memories, thanks again budleigh, no doubt will see you at ascot again this summer.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 9, 2009 16:51:42 GMT
Many thanks BudleighGull what a great read and as I was born in 1954 it made reading it even more special. What a good run it was and to think we had 21,908. in the ground.
Do we have anyone on here who went to the game? or know any one who did? it would be really great to get their views of the day and how everyone fitted into the ground.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2009 23:50:21 GMT
Great to see those old press cuttings.
I was in the social club at Blyth Spartans a couple of years ago and looked in vain for photos of our game.
But I'm sure I've seen a picture somewhere - Groundtastic maybe? - of people assembling wooden crates to make temporary terracing for our FA Cup game at Ely City around that time.
Incredible attendances in the 1950s for cup ties....7,000 at Barnstaple....8,000 at Frome.....9,000 for Merthyr against Wellington Town.
Not, I hasten to add, Wellington in Somerset....but who?
A rather smaller crowd at Dawlish tonight....56 somebody said (it looked more)..... for a 5-3 win over Willand in the Bowl (half-time 4-0, later 5-1). Dean Stevens was playing for the home team, Tom Stocco for the visitors....and more goals for the lad Joe Bushin.
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Post by atheringtongull on Mar 10, 2009 19:01:58 GMT
I was lucky enough to have been one of the few Torquay supporters at the first Leeds Cup game. My father was in the RAF and he was stationed at RAF Newton Nr. Nottingham. Myself, my father and a cousin went over to Leeds. In those days you didn't have to worry about being beaten up by a load of yobs and the Leeds fans were very gracious towards us. Of course in wasn't so usual to go to away games in those days. My one lasting memory was the performance of Don Mills. He was absolutely superb. He was a little frail physically which was the main reason he never reached the heights his talent deserved, but he could spray passes about for a pastime. Then there was little Ronnie Shaw, with his shorts around his knees. His style was in the mould of Stanley Mathews and could run rings round full backs. I wasn't able to see the replay as I was still up at RAF Newton, but did get to the Huddersfield game. All I really remember of that is being totally immobilised in the Enclosure in front of the Stand. When you think about it, just how did we manage to get 21,000 in Plainmoor? It's funny, but with all the players that have come and gone over the years, I remember more about those of that era, and the 60s than most of the others. (Old age do I hear some saying?)
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 10, 2009 19:05:45 GMT
Really magic atheringtongull, to think we have a member who was at the game and is still going to Plainmoor standing on the popside.
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sam
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Post by sam on Mar 11, 2009 18:36:11 GMT
Unless I am mistaken the trip to Blyth Spartans is the longest FA Cup journey ever made in the history of the competition.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2009 23:39:57 GMT
Unless I am mistaken the trip to Blyth Spartans is the longest FA Cup journey ever made in the history of the competition. Several meetings between Argyle and Newcastle must run it close - including the ties of 1904/05 which were decided by a second replay at Plumstead. As for all FA competitions, Bedlington v Falmouth in the Vase would be a toughie to beat. |
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Post by graygull on Mar 12, 2009 6:12:09 GMT
What an era, I was amazed at some of the attendance numbers too, how some of those clubs could benifit today if those numbers were pepeated.
One was always in awe of the Huddersfield gate at Plainmoor, but just how did they pack in 36.000 at Bristol Rovers or 75,000 at Manchester City, phew what were over 25,000 doin at Sheffield to see them play lowly Hastings.
What an era, gone but not forgotten.
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Post by Budleigh on Mar 12, 2009 8:13:17 GMT
This must be one of the higest fourth round aggregates.
The Bristol Rovers v Portsmouth 3rd round tie was an Eastville record of 35,921, beaten a few weeks later for their home tie against Chelsea in the 4th round at 35,972... Their eventual record attendance was 38,472 (some put it at 39,462) which was also a 4th round tie in 1960 against Preston North End.
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Post by Budleigh on Mar 12, 2009 8:37:20 GMT
For those with an interest in that Argyle v Newcastle tie in the third round as shown above and as suggested by Barton Downs as maybe the longest FA Cup journey ever undertaken, below is the report of the match from the same scrap book... as mentioned, the details are above on the results page...  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2009 22:10:54 GMT
Tucked in those FA Cup results you'll see Cresswell Colliery and Horden Miners Welfare - one from Derbyshire, the other from Durham - as reminders of both the part football played in mining communities and of the contribution the many "Welfares" made to football. With the 25th anniversary of the start of the Miners' Strike it's part of a lost world.
Paul Dobson had a spell with Horden MW and, also in the North East, you had Easington Colliery and a few others.
Down in Yorkshire and Notts there were loads of welfare teams, the best known of which was probably Frickley Colliery which later, as Frickley Athletic, had a spell in the Conference. In 1984/85 Frickley reached the first round of the FA Cup together with the Metropolitan Police. Now that would have been some tie if they'd been drawn together.....
Even the old North Somerset coalfield got in on the act with Peasedown Miners Welfare for whom Tony Book played in his youth. And coal also explained the strength of teams such as Clandown, Paulton, Radstock and Welton Rovers.
And how about this for an FA Cup local derby in Kent? Betteshanger Colliery Welfare v Snowdown Colliery Welfare....
Coal Not Dole the badges said....
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 13, 2009 0:45:49 GMT
Even the old North Somerset coalfield got in on the act with Peasedown Miners Welfare ..... who, of course, we played in the Western League in or first professional season. Can you imagine the murmurings of the forums of the day when we lost up there 2-1? It's a disgrace we can't beat these mickey mouse teams in this pub league. That Crad Evans doesn't have a plan B. |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 13, 2009 0:47:51 GMT
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 13, 2009 0:53:44 GMT
Unless I am mistaken the trip to Blyth Spartans is the longest FA Cup journey ever made in the history of the competition. Well there were quite a few games between Glasgow teams and London teams in the early years. Do we go as the crow flies or by AA route planner? Such is the depth of historical and geographical knowledge on this forum that I wouldn't be at all surprised if somebody actually knows whether Glasgow Rangers v Old Westminsters by 1887 roads is further than Blyth v Torquay by 1954 roads. There were also a few Irish teams in the FA Cup in the early days. They must have had the most tortuous journeys if not the furthest as the crow flies. |
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