A LITTLE DAB WILL DO YOU!

On April 11th 2015 at Cambridge United, Chairman, Dave Doggett, had to appeal to his supporters during a League 2 match against Accrington Stanley. There was senior citizen violence in their stadium, with local fans in their 50s and 60s reliving the 1980s bad behaviour, where he said, "grandparents were encouraging the next generation to join gangs goading the opposition!"

On this day in 1959, England and Wolves captain Billy Wright won his 100th cap, playing Scotland at Wembley. He went on to win 105 caps overall, finishing his record beating role (at the time) on tour against the USA in May.

Ronnie Clayton of Blackburn Rovers took over as captain and then "golden boy", Johnny Haynes of Fulham, was given the arm band. Haynes (below) saw England through to the 1962 World Cup Quarter-finals v Brazil where England lost 1-3.

Haynes, was a canny inside forward, who might be best known for his model role in the Brylcreem Advert!  A little dab will do you! He retired from international football after 56 caps and handed over to Jimmy Armfield (below) of Blackpool in October 1962 when England played France in a European Nations Cup qualifier. It was Armfield's 30th cap.
 
Believe this or not? I have tried to find other references to this game but......On 11th April 1937 Charlton Athletic, who finished runners up in the First Division that season and were a form team during this period, played France in Paris in a "friendly" match after Italy had pulled out of the international fixture at short notice. Strange choice of opposition but one that was available apparently, so remarkably Charlton beat France 5-2 with goals from Don Welsh 2 (below), George Tadman 2 and Harold Hobbis 1.

Welsh played 199 times for The Addicks and earned 3 full England caps in 1938-9. He went on to manage Liverpool in 1951-6 and Brighton before, then Bournemouth and Wycombe W. up to 1964.

The curiosity was that Charlton had played a First Division league fixture against Huddersfield Town at the Valley the day before and won that 1-0. How they got to Paris to play the next game, heaven knows! The sgtory seems unusual...any further news/corrections gratefully received.