PINCH, PUNCH, LAST DAY OF THE MONTH

Last day of the month, April 30th....here's a match from 1938....the FA Cup Final involving Huddersfield Town and Preston North End. Anyone spotted that these two clubs have been mentioned in a final recently in this blog? 

Preston North End met Huddersfield Town at Wembley in front of 93,497. Preston's George Mutch scored the one goal, a penalty in the last minute of extra time, to sort out the winners. It wasn't the first time these two clubs had been at close quarters; have a look at yesterday's entry about the 1922 Cup Final. 

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3994718670252035536/6142682424440666484?hl=en-GB

and this little gem.....https://www.hangerlondon.com/30th-april/ 

Mutch, a Scottish international, scored with a penalty that hit the underside of the square cross bar (as they were in those days) and bounced in. It was the final act of another poor but balanced cup final, shown for the first time by BBC television, with an estimated number of 10,000 viewers. Mutch had been brought down by Huddersfield's captain Alf Young...was it a foul? and was it inside the penalty area? The TV don't lie!

Mutch was dazed by the tackle, he couldn't swear where he was when it happened and was unsure why he was handed the ball for the spot kick....BILL SHANKLY, one of the Preston players told Mutch to "just hit the ruddy thing!".

Joe Hulme, of Town, (above) played his last first class game in his FIFTH Wembley final. He had played in four previous finals for Arsenal winning in 1930 (v Huddersfield 1-0) and 1936 (v Sheffield Utd 1-0), a runner up 1927 (the famous defeat by Cardiff City) and 1932 (loss to Newcastle Utd). Hulme then joining Huddersfield in January 1938, losing the final to Preston. An England international, he also played cricket for Middlesex and later managed Tottenham Hotspur.

APRIL 29th BUSY

1922 Huddersfield Town won the FA Cup against Preston North End with a single goal from the penalty spot in virtually the last minute of the match at Stamford Bridge. The scorer was Billy Smith who had missed out on a Final appearance two years earlier through suspension. This was strongly admired as "the worst final in history".The winning goal was a penalty, the first final to be decided by a penalty and the fouled player, Billy Smith, many said, was not inside the penalty box, 67 minutes into the game, the opinion was confirmed by newsreel. Smith converted the spot kick beating Preston's amateur goalie, James Mitchell, who wore glasses and a bandeau, prone to dancing around on his line and waving his arms. As a result of this comedy, the penalty kick law was altered to the keeper staying still when the kick was taken. Town went to win three First Divisions in a row, 1924, 1925,1926. In 1924, Smith became the first player to score a goal direct from a corner, in full time football.

1950 Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 in the FA Cup Final, with 2 goals from Reg Lewis. Two Compton brothers played for The Gunners, and Leslie having had an "indifferent half" was given a tot of brandy at half time and it worked, as he was a major creator of the club's second goal. Leslie later became the oldest debutant to play for England (v Wales) that season, at the age of 38yrs 65days. Other brothers to play in Cup Final are: Hubert and Frank Heron for The Wanderers in 1876, who played against the Old Etonians, who had Alfred and Edward Lyttleton in their eleven. The latest example is of course the Neville brothers for Man Utd in 1996.

1961 Peterborough United beat Barrow 6-2 in the last Fourth Division match of their first season. They not only won the Championship but set a new Fourth Division scoring record of 134 goals. Centre-forward Terry Bly scored three that day, to bring his season tally to 52 and become the first player to hit 50 in a post-war season.    https://ahalftimereport.com/2015/07/13/terry-bly-the-modest-marksman/   He originally played for Bury Town in Suffolk, NOW Isthmian South non-league, whose past players include Alan Butcher and Paul Mariner. Bly was signed by Norwich 1956 (57apps/31goals), then The Posh 1960-2 (88/81), Coventry 1962-3 (32/25), Notts County 1963-4 (29/4), Grantham player 1964-1970 (199/125) and manager till 1978.

1970 Chelsea beat Leeds United in the FA Cup Final replay at Old Trafford 2-1 on the 29th April. The match is regarded as one of the most violent in FA Cup history with David Webbb scoring the winner for the Blues. 1970 Manchester City won the European Cup Winners' Cup by beating Gornik Poland 2-1 in Vienna.

On this day in 1996, Kevin Keegan manager of Newcastle United famously loses his temper on live TV in an outburst against Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson. It's always worth watching.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17hQxD_Ati4

ZIGGER, ZAGGER! Oi, Oi, Oi!!!

Following on from yesterday's banner blog, remember seeing a few of those waved around by the rest of the cast of "Zigger Zagger"? You  must have been involved in a school play by that name or used the chant(s) that were drama-ed out from a school hall at some time during your education. The dramatist,  Peter Terson (once known as Patterson, but he objected to the stuttering nature of the surname so he shortened it) died on April 8th 2021, aged 89. He specialised in writing plays about working-class life in his home town, Newcastle-On-Tyne. 

He attended grammar school in Heaton, served National Service in the RAF as a wireless mechanic and then taught PE, which he described as "eight years of agony". He married a Sheila Bailey (no relation) and had two sons and a daughter. Peter wrote many plays and TV series, including the first play to be commissioned by the National Youth Theatre; their previous plays had been drawn from classical repertoire. Some scripts were serious, others humorous.

"Zigger Zagger" was perfect for schools, using a large cast on a football stand, scarf wearing, rattle shaking with chants and comments on the drama's football action, "like a Greek Chorus". Other plays using the National Game as its subject include: "Sing your heart out for the lads" 2002, centred on England v West Germany.  

"The Game" 1914, at such an early time in history, specialised in corruption and a young star who is sold to the local rivals, tempted to throw a game against his old club.

"The Pass" 2014 on sexuality and race,  "An Evening with Gary Lineker" 1991-2 based on Italia '90, when a young man is distracted from his partner, a football phobic lady, with whom he is on holiday at the time of a serious tournament.  

There is "Red Saturday" 1983-4 is another "off pitch" setting, featuring changing rooms, team coach, hotel room as so on. AND what about "Jumpers for Goalposts" 2013- LGBT etc. Barely Athletic v Tranny United!

"The Christmas Truce" 2014-5 at the Front in the First World War.

"Tull", 2013 Phil Vasili’s play affectionately and intelligently revives the short but extraordinary life of Walter Tull (1888-1918). The first black outfield player in British professional football – for Spurs and then Northampton Town – he made history a second time as the first non-white officer in the British army before being killed in France during the first world war. A memorial to him now stands on Walter Tull Way, the road leading to Northampton’s Sixfields stadium. AND "Elton John's Glasses" 1997.

BANNER BANTER

 I have to admit that I am pinching these ideas from my national newspaper and from TalkSport, both of whom are championing the "banner banter", presently on show at various football grounds over the country...mainly those involved with the Super League debacle. 

Signs and banners have been part of the fans' banter, especially in the Liverpool 1978 European campaign; "Joey Jones ate the Frogs' legs, made the Swiss roll, now's he's munching Gladbach.

 Manchester United's banner at their Stretford End, announcing that David Moyes, newly appointed to the manager's role, was "The Chosen One". How little did they know?! 

Last weekend, the demonstrations against the Super League didn't show any "technological" advances, looking as though the providers had just grabbed a piece of cardboard or any old bedsheet and scrawled their banter in felt pen or long standing emulsion. Some were:

"We want our cold nights in Stoke"- favoured by the National Football Museum.                                                                                              

"Pin the fail on the Kronke"-favoured by children's parties.             

"Built by Mancs, destroyed by Yanks"-outside Old Trafford and against the Super League whereas the Liverpudlians had their own previously:

"Built by Shanks and destroyed by Yanks"....... Gillett and Hicks.         

Arsenal's "Legacy Fans 1 v Billionaires 0" realising the interference of ££££ outside The Emirates. 

Champions League? Earn it. taken from a banner to the Leeds Utd warm up shirts.   AND below.....  

  

NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENT TODAY

APRIL 26th 2016 West Ham Utd and Newcastle Utd had their offices raided by the HMRC, who were searching for fraud in the clubs' income tax and national insurance records. The French tax men were also interested in this, including Chelsea in their investigation. Chelsea's Joey Barton (surely not?) was involved in more trouble being awarded an 18th month ban from the FA for placing 1260 bets on various football matches during his career, including matches that he played in! 

The Premier League was also unsure about Chinese businessman's, Gao Jisheng's "fitness" in a take over of Southampton FC. His "fitness" seemed not to suit the League's standards for club ownership, with £200 million on offer from the investor. So important was this news that......

Rhian, one of the red tops' stunning page 3 ladies of The Sun, and Boris calling Jeremy Corbyn "a mutton headed mugwump" items were relegated to the inner pages.

More seriously on this day in 2016, the second Hillsbrough Disaster Inquest verdict was finally reached-the 96 supporters at the FA Cup semi-final were unlawfully killed. The jury came to the verdict that those who died, did so due to the incompetence of the police force present and the ambulance services under the control of Chief Superintendent David Duckinfield, who was "responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence". The Liverpool fans, originally blamed by the police were found to be innocent of contributing to the disaster. It took 27 years and cost £100m to get to the truth.

In 1902, on this day, Newton Heath FC, wearing green and gold as their club colours were seriously in debt and needed a fresh investment, which led to them changing their name to Manchester United and changing their colours to red and white.

MASON AND OWEN

Big Day for Ryan Mason yesterday and for Spurs. Following Jose's exit, it would be good to see the Spurs win something, sadly Man City had other ideas though the Spurs did their best; well mostly. Hey ho, we shall see eventually. 

New manager Ryan Mason, a "Spurs man", has been a bit of a journeyman, beginning his career at Tottenham in 2008 at 17 years old. He then went out to the regions, Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers, Millwall (along with Harry Kane), Lorient (not Leyton O) in  Ligue 1, and Swindon Town. His debut in the Premier League was for Spurs in 2014, featuring in the League Cup Final losing to Chelsea in 2015. He also played firstly for England in 2015, then went to Hull City between 2016-18 where he played 16 games and suffered an horrendous skull fracture following a collision with Gary Cahill of Chelsea. The repair involved 14 plates, 28 screws, 45 staples with a 6in scar across his head. Shocking. Cahill? seemed OK!

His playing career ended in 2018 after 143 apps and he then coached at the club, suddenly being called to manage the Spurs' side in 2021, following Jose' departure.

Mason joined the coaching staff of Tottenham Hotspur in April 2018. In February 2019, he suggested that heading should be banned for children. He was made the official academy coach for the Under-19  UEFA  side in July 2019 and then the head of player development (U-17 to U-23) in August 2020.

On 19 April 2021, Mason was named interim Head Coach of Tottenham Hotspur, until the end of the season. At the age of 29, he became the youngest man to have taken charge of a Premier League team. Mason won his first match in charge of Tottenham, beating Southampton at home 2–1 on 21 April.

A slight controversy over this appointment is that Ledley King and Chris Powell might have been considered "more senior" to him in line for the appointment.

By coincidence, with "youth" in mind, I watched on a black and white, BBC TV, the original coverage of the 1959 FA Cup Final. Syd Owen was the player-manager of Luton Town, then a First Division side, who lost 1-2 to Nottingham Forest. He led the team out at Wembley and captained his team from centre half, as well as being the Hatters' manager, following the club's previous administration which was done "by committee". Owen was Footballer of the Year that season. A unique double. Owen was at Luton from 1947-59 playing 388 times and scoring a huge 3 goals. After Luton as coach, he went to Leeds Utd with Revie and then to Man Utd as a Youth coach, working with Dave Sexton, spotting Mark Hughes! He earned 3 caps for England and played for the Football League XI when it was chosen.

THE HATTERS

 

Not necessarily the most attractive fixture in the season but this programme celebrates the 100th year of the World's oldest football league.

On April 24th 1988, in the Final Luton Town beat Football League Cup holders, Arsenal in front of over 95,000 at Wembley in the Littlewoods Cup. The game was decided in final ten minutes when Luton saved a penalty and then scored an equaliser and a winner, bringing the first pice of silverware to the club, they then managed to "break" the trophy during their celebrations.  

Goalscorers: Luton Stein 13, 90 min Wilson 82                          Arsenal Hayes 71 Smith 74

Ties were two legged through to the end of the 2nd Rd:

Arsenal met Doncaster away in the 2nd Rd (4-0) over two legs, in Rd3 one leg v Bournemouth 3-0, Rd4 Stoke 3-0, Rd5 Sheff Wed 0-1 away. Semi-Final v Everton 4-2 over two legs.

Luton played Wigan Ath 5-2 over two legs. Rd 3 Coventry 3-1, Rd 4 Ipswich 0-1 away, 5th Rd Bradford City 2-0, Semi-F Oxford Utd 3-1 Semi-final-2 legged Arsenal v Everton 1-0 and 3-1     

Luton met Oxford Utd 1-1 and 2-0. That season Luton came 9th in the First Division (the top one), got to the Semi-Final of the FA Cup, Were Runners Up in the Full Members Cup and won this FL Cup

Arsenal reached the 6th Rd (QF) of the FA Cup, were 6th in the First Division, Arsenal were Runners up in the Full Members, lost in the 3rd Rd of the League Cup.

The Football League was founded in 1888.

A LITTLE DAB WILL DO YOU!

St George's Day 23rd April 1997. An English hero passed on.

Denis Compton CBE (could be him above!!), an English test cricketer was born 23rd May 1918.... died 23rd April 1997, aged 78. (Height 1.78m).

Played for Middlesex and England in 78 tests. He was a right hand bat and spun a ball with his left arm. 

He also played football for Nunhead (1933-40) and Arsenal, a defender, making his debut in 1936 helping the Gunners to the League Championship (First Division!) in 1937-8, but only in 7 appearances, so he didn't qualify for a medal. He did play in some War Time internationals for England. In 1948 he won his League medal, when Arsenal came top again and also he also won a Cup medal in 1950. Soon after this he had a knee injury following 54 apps and 15 goals. 

With his contemporary, the footballer Stanley Matthews, Compton was the first British sportsman to make a substantial living by exploiting his sporting reputation to provide advertisements and endorsements. For many years he was the public face of the Brylcreem range of men's haircare products. Known for being absent mindedness, Compton turned up for a test v South Africa at Old Trafford without his kit bag. He went to the ground's museum and "borrowed" a vintage bat with which he scored 158 and 71 runs. He was also likely to run out partners with dodgey calling, even running out his brother Leslie, at his testimonial. Top test score 278 runs. He has a spectator stand named after him at Lords.

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-denis-compton-1954-online

Dennis became a journalist and commentator with the BBC Cricket panel. Another Brylcreem Boy? Who owns this "quiff"?

ITS WAR TIME LEAGUES BUT NOT AGAINST COVID

https://thefootballfaithful.com/10-of-the-most-iconic-commentary-moments-in-football-history/ 

I hope you were able to watch and enjoy the "iconic moments" video? If it didn't work please let me know.

AND NOW TO WAR: On 22nd April 1944 at Hampden Park, England played Scotland in a War time international and won 3-2. Tommy Lawton scored twice for England and Raich Carter completed the three. Caskie and Ephrain Jock Dodds scored for Scotland.133,000 attended. 

The England team was: Swift, L. Compton, Taylor, Soo, Cullis (c), Mercer. Matthews, Carter, Lawtonj, Hagan and L.Smith. You should know most of these names.  Remember Frank Soo? See previous blog?https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3994718670252035536/4953536323702164062?hl=en-GB

League football had vanished during the Second World War. There were a series of regional leagues set up by the FA and clubs promised to use the "guesting" system sensibly, using players stationed for the War nearby, when ever they were available. Travel was minimised, resources not drained and some clubs had "stars" turning out for them on a Saturday with other First Division clubs scratching around to complete a team. (I have to say, even at Hepworth United FC, the clib is scracthing around to complete teams playing on a Saturday, carryng competition through the COVID "Limitations". )After "season one" the ten-league regional system was scratched and the nations clubs split into two (north and south) operating until 1945.

Actually rather like today (almost), a group of London and Southern clubs broke away from this arrangement in 1941/2, forming their own London League.

Fot the professionals in War Time football, there was a regulated fee 30 shillings (for those not historic the shilling was £1/20....today the equivalent is 5p! One or two players auctioned themselves to the highest bidder!

International football continued to raise spirits, but only involving the Home countries. Paper was in short supply so newsprint was scarce. The war cut many careers of course with Tom Cooper. a full back from Liverpool, who had played for England, being killed in action. In all, 70 and more professionals lost their lives in action. Youthful players never got to show off their talents and many grounds were devastated by war time bombing. In 1946, there was much excitement when normality arrived.

MORE OWN GOALS AND WEBB CAUGHT BY VAR

Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper, David Stockdale, became the first keeper to score two own goals in a league match, on this day in 2017. All other "double" own goals in history were by outfield players. 

https://www.whoateallthepies.tv/videos/254779/championship-brighton-keeper-david-stockdale-scores-two-almost-identical-own-goals-in-space-of-20-minutes-video.html

Two shots from his opponent, Norwich's Alex Pritchard, hit the woodwork and rebounded back onto Stockdale's back and rolled into the net. These events contributed to a 0-2 defeat for the Albion who could only pick up one point from their last three 2016-17 Championship league matches and thereby missed promotion, pipped by Newcastle Utd by one point. He played 431 times in the top flight and when he married his fiancee, Kate, on June 3rd 2011, he missed out on a place in the England squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland the following day. Robert Green took his place.....in goal... not in the marriage!

The first League own-goal was scored  just 20 minutes after the first Football League matches kicked off on Saturday September 8th 1888. Aston Villa defender Cox put past his own goalkeeper at Wolverhampton Wanderers'  Dudley Road ground before Wolves gained a share of the points with an equaliser shortly before half time.

The quickest own-goal in Football League history was recorded on Monday January 3rd 1977. Visiting Cambridge United kicked off at Torquay United in a Fourth Division fixture, Ian Seddon hit a high ball into the Torquay penalty area which was headed in past his own 'keeper by Gulls defender Pat Kruse - after just six seconds! Amazingly Torquay scored another own-goal later in the match so in fact scored all four goals in the 2-2 draw.

But it was Steve Bould who scored the quickest-ever own goal in the top flight in the Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal fixture on Saturday February 17th 1990. The Arsenal defender put one past his own goalkeeper John Lukic after just 15 seconds.

The most tragic own-goal was scored by Colombia's Andreas Escobar in a 1994 World Cup finals group match against hosts USA at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena. His own-goal helped USA to a 2-1 victory and condemned Colombia to bottom place in the group and elimination from the competition. A few days later, on his return to Colombia he was shot dead, the reason is uncertain but possibly on the orders of someone who had lost heavily on betting at USA '94.

And congratulations to.......

FORMER REFEREE HOWARD WEBB MARRIES GERMAN VAR OFFICIAL BIBIANA STEINHAUS. Hoping to look for a replay or two!

When Howard refereed the Independent Schools' FA Cup Final at Charterhouse, when the home school beat favourites Millfield in 2012, Howard said it was the greatest moment in his life....... 

VILLA AND VILLAINS

Villa is a reasonably common appendage to a town's football club name and Aston Villa is an obvious example. Founded in March 1874, the club was named after the Villa Cross, Wesleyan Chapel in Handsworth, West Midlands and played at Villa Park from 1897. The club supported both cricket and football in its foundation.

I am happy to introduce you to another Villa, thanks to David Brown (Club Secretary) and Brian Watts (Programme Editor) from Hanworth Villa FC, in Hounslow. ‘The Villains’ have got back to me following yesterday's research into their Club, which was founded in 1976.  BTW Hanworth means small homestead....They write (precised):-

"The team struggled in Division 1 of the Hounslow & District League, during its first years, when scoring a goal was usually celebrated with a public holiday.  Following some hard work by Jimmy Connors, the team was completely rebuilt and this led to the Division 1 Championship.

The following Season saw the club start an incredible run in the league, which finished 68 matches later, with the ’Villains’ winning the Hounslow Premier League and the West Middlesex Divisions one and two championships.  The success continued with Hanworth being elected to the newly formed Middlesex County Football League in 1984/1985.

From 1980 the club had a nomadic existence but in 1997 moved to their current HQ at Rectory Meadow.  This move led to the formation of Hanworth Villa Sunday and a new reserve team, being an amalgamation of teams from local pubs, The Sawyers Arms, The Queen Dowager and Feltham Railway Club.  A Chiswick League double in 1992/1993 and a 19-0 Cup Final victory in the National Railways Cup cemented the successful amalgamation.

Dave Brown, once again worked his magic, enabling the club to be granted the permanent lease at Rectory Meadow, and so the club converting the existing pavilion into a clubhouse, known as the ‘Ranch’.  With this security, Villa were also able to concentrate on improving the level of football and in 2002/2003 the Saturday first team won ‘the treble’ of the Middlesex County Premier Cup, the Open Cup and the Middlesex County League.  After another Premier League title in 2004/2005, with a record number of points, it was decided to move on and the club were elected to Division 1 of the Combined Counties League in 2005/2006, a Step Up!

In the second season they managed to win the Challenge Cup and in the following season, 2007/2008, defended the Challenge Cup, narrowly missing out on the league title, coming runners-up.  As per ruling! the lack of facilities at the ‘Ranch’ prevented promotion to the Premier Division.

The committee soon managed to raise the funds to ensure that floodlights and a spectator stand were installed in time for the 2008/2009 campaign.  The effort was not in vain as once again the team finished second and following a successful ground inspection Hanworth Villa were promoted to the Combined Counties Premier League for the 2009/2010 season, a league I know well having lived in Godalming for a number of years. BTW Paul Merson made two apps for Villa in Dec 2019!

The debut season was difficult with points being few and far between and it was not until the second half of the campaign that the team came to terms with the standard of football required, collectin enough points to finish 17th, three points clear of relegation. In the second season, the team finish in 5th position in the league, but also reached the finals of the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup and the Southern Combination Cup. No trophies from these to show off in the club house, sadly.

The 2011/2012 season will live long in the memory of all concerned at the club as being their most successful in national competition.  In the FA Cup the team, after victories over Shrivenham, Bedfont Sports, Wembley, Aveley and Slough the team lined up against AFC Totten for a place in the 1st Round proper, a rare achievement for a team competing at national level 9. AFC won 3-2.

In the FA Vase the team reached the 3rd round losing to Herne Bay, one of the beaten semi-finalists that year.

In 2013/2014 the team were successful in achieving a double, in winning both the Middlesex Premier League Cup and the Southern Combination Cup.

At the end of the 2015/16 season the club appointed former Queens Park Rangers and Fulham defender Rufus Brevett as their new manager. Villa won the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup with a 3 – 2 win over Spelthorne Sports, the second occasion in three years that the team have won this trophy. 

In December 2018, by mutual agreement, Rufus Brevett stepped down as first team Manager with Louis Carder-Walcott, previously Assistant Manager at Westfield FC, being appointed shortly after.

Following a poor run of form at the start of the 2019/20 and with no positive signs of recovery it was, mutual agreement, decided that Louis would step down as Manager of the club.  In November 2019 the position was filled by Simon Haughney and his management team of Paul Thomas and Leon Solomon.        

AND if you are still with me. I discovered Montpelier Villa FC from the Brighton area, playing in the Southern Combination Div 2, with 16 teams based at Lancing FC's, Culver Road.

AND Pelsall Villa FC (Pelsall means a "nook" between two rivers) was founded in 1897, sited in Walsall and they played in the Midland League Div 2 until 2017-18 when financial irregularities brought about their downfall. Their ground is now used by Aston Villa's ladies young and old; so full circle! Know any others?

HANWORTH VILLA, PROFESSOR HAROLD DARBY, MAURICE NORMAN

The FA Cup was first played for in the 1871-2 season; 15 teams competed in the first Round 1. The FA Cup Final was played as early as March 16th 1872, that season and was held even earlier in the year, in 1876, on March 11th. The reasons for this are obvious; there were fewer teams involved; by the 1875-6 season, only 32 teams signed up for the first round, there were no extensive league commitments and of course no Football League until 1888. All the earlier competitors were amateur (eg 105th Regiment, Forest School and Sheffield FC) and the footballers gave a fairer share of the Spring, Summer and early Autumn to cricket matches and other summer sports than they do now. 

The first FA Cup Final to be held in May was on the 1st May 1937. In 1963 the Final was played as late as the 25th May. This, of course, leads me to the FA Cup Semi-finals played this weekend (i.e. mid April) and this year's final is due for May 15th- a 5.30pm ko. 

This then leads me to the FA Vase, a wonderful competition for the lower ranked clubs including village/small town teams such as Bridgewater Town from the Somerset, West Auckland Town in the north (County Durham), Cobham FC from south Surrey and Mulbarton Wanderers from South Norfolk. Their 1st team plays in the Eastern Counties FL. 

Who are the Wanderers? well they hosted Hanworth Villa from Surrey, on Saturday in the Buildbase FA Vase 4th Round and lost on penalties 1-3 at home after a 0-0. I suspect the Wanderers were knacked after holding the Villa at bay. Just guessing.  

You will be wondering where this is all going-well it's Mulbarton that caught my eye. I was privileged to sit through two terms of Historical Lectures given by a Professor Harold Darby, an expert on "placenames" i.e why settlements are called what they are! Mulbarton is not obvious. With a  poplation of 3,500, the village is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. (this was an historical record of the nation demanded by the king-who wanted to know what was going on).The name Mulbarton is an Old English settlement once called "Molkebertuna", translated from the OE as "outlying dairy farm". The first section Molke (from "meoluc") you might work out means "milk" and "barton" comes from beretun or barey town....hence "farm".

Well it gets better because as you know I am a Spurs' fan and Maurice Norman who played in the famous 1960-1 "Double" team (below) (357 apps from 1955-1966) and for England briefly. He was born in Mulbarton. I love it when there's a surprise like this. Before Spurs he was at Norwich City. A double fracture to his leg in 1965 against a Hungarian Select XI brought an end to his career at 31 years old. On May 8th he will be 86 years old.

Name all these in picture, including those not in kit!!

DERBY COUNTY v BURY FC 1903

 

4,000 socially distanced spectators will view the second FA Cup Semi-Final today, played at Wembley, between Leicester City and Southampton.   

On this date, April 18th, in 1903, Derby County met Bury in the season's Cup Final, played at Crystal Palace. The result was at the time a record score of 6-0 to Bury, a record equalled in 2019, when Manchester City beat Watford at Wembley. Shame that City will have the chance to equal or beat that record this season!

The finalists route to the final was:

Rd 1 Bury beat Wolves 1-0:  Derby beat Small Heath 2-1

Rd 2 Bury at Sheffield Utd (the holders) 0-1: Derby beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0

Rd 3 Bury v Notts County 1-0:  Derby v Stoke 3-0

Semi-final Bury beat Aston Villa at Goodison 3-0 and Derby beat Millwall 3-0 at Aston Villa.

Derby had played in three finals and three semi-finals over the previous 8 years (and also got to the semi-final in 1904) but always was the bridesmaid. Derby lost to injury their goalkeeper, Jack Fryer, after 65 minutes, with a previously known groin injury. Bury were leading 5-0, at the time, so going down to 10 men didn't help the situation; mind you they only conceded one goal in that final period.

Steve Bloomer, Derby's "Gascoigne", was injured and didn't make the start of the game, a major loss. Just over 63,000 saw this game. Bury, the cup winners below, had six players who had played in the final three years before.

Note that the finalists (i.e. the more prestigious clubs) only played four rounds to get to the final (1-2-3-SF). A less prestigious club in 1902 joined the cup in The Preliminary Round. There was then a Qualifying Rd 1, Rd 2, Rd 3, Rd 4, Rd 5, then there was an Intermediate Rd when higher ranked clubs such as Manchester United joned in. In Round 1 more prestigious clubs such as Spurs were invited making 16 ties. Round 2 was for 8 ties, R3 was the Quarter-final i.e. four ties, involving Bury/Notts C, Derby/Stoke, Millwall Athletic/Everton and Spurs/Aston Villa. then came the Semi-Final. The final kicked off at 3.27pm (for some reason) maybe waiting for the huge crowds to settle in?

Now the likely finalists would play 5 rounds (from Rd 3-4-5-QF-SF).

As both teams normally wore white shirts and blue shorts, agreement was needed about who should change kit but both clubs claimed priority of choice. The issue was referred to the FA who refused to get involved. Unable to reach agreement, both clubs conceded the argument and neither team wore its normal kit. Bury turned out in Cambridge blue shirts and navy blue shorts, Derby in red shirts and black shorts. 

The Man Utd manager might take note of this genial agreement.

CITIZENS v PENSIONERS-ALL THE NINES

Just watched Chelsea undo Manchester City in an FA Cup Semi-Final 2021 and it's a bit of a shock to the Citizens and supporters who expected to do the "Quadruple" this season. Covid strikes again?

The first time the two clubs met was in 1907 (7th Dec) in a Division 1 game which ended 2-2. Overall the two have this record: Chelsea won 69  Drawn 39 City won 59.

  

Mostly they have met in Division One or Premier League.                         

They met each other in the Second Division between 1926-28.                          

They had a run in Div 2 1983-4 and again in 1988-9 and since September 1992 they have come across one another in the Premier League.

There was also a UEFA Cup Winners' Two Legged Cup tie in 1971 (home Chelsea won 1-0: away Chelsea won 0-1). 

There have been flirtations in the Full Members Cup 1986 Chelsea 5-4 MCity, created after the Heysel Disaster when English clubs were banned from European football competitions. AND and in the Simod Cup 1987 MCity 0-2 Chelsea (a similar created cup competition sponsored by Simod, an Italian Sportsware company. AND....... the Football League Cup 1984 Chelsea 4 v 1 MCity and in 1993 MCity 1 v 0 Chelsea.

And finally in the Community Shield 2012 Chelsea 2 v 3 MCity and again in 2018 Chelsea 0-2 MCity.

CRAP GOAL OF THE MONTH (Kacktor des Monats)

 

There exists in Germany an award for "Crap Goal of the Month" (Kacktor des Monats), sometimes translated as "Poop of the Month", for which the prize is a toilet seat. The latest recipient is Union Berlin's Rob Andrich, for his own goal against Eintracht Frankfurt – a worthy winner. 

https://www.facebook.com/zeiglerswelt/videos/3815942048460935

https://www1.wdr.de/fernsehen/zeigler/index.html 

unfortunately you will not get very far viewing this link but it will give you the idea of the "Poop" website. (first page bottom right will take you to an index which will give you an idea of the German sense of humour...sadly no video links). There are others!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RVvIOU_388

Maybe you will see a few this weekend.

NORTHERN IRELAND WFA

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56753276 I hope you have a look at this link about the Northern Ireland Ladies match against the Ukraine on the 13th April in the UEFA Women's UEFA champs, qualifying. (I HOPE IT WORKS). The national sides are fondly known as; Green and White Army or sometimes, Norn Iron. They have also played Belarus (1-0. 3-2), Faroe Islands (6-0. 5-2), as well as the Ukraine 2-1, 2-0) with a series of victories apart from a thumping by England (0-6) in November in a friendly. 

The NIWFA was founded in 1977 and affiliated to UEFA in 1998.

LOOK FOR the red card foul! and a few other moments.

Their first international was against England in Bath in September 1973, a 1-5 defeat. Julia Nelson from Crusader Strikers, at 35, has played 109 times for her country and scored 7 goals. Ashley Hutton 33, has won 106 caps with 8 goals plays with Linfield. Linfield (badge below) were formed in 1886 with players who worked in the Linfield Spinning Mill. 

Other players in the squad play with Durham (England) who play at the university ground, Maiden Castle. They also come from Sion Swifts from Tyrone, the club formed in 2010 and the Crusader Strikers from Belfast, founded in 1992. Also Glentoran supply players, from Belfast, one of the most successful teams play at "Their" Oval, (f.1987). Cliftonville will rate as one of the more well known clubs too, founded in 1879, although the Ladies came in to the club more recently.

A goal celebration v Faroe Islands.

PILGRIMS' PROGRESS

On this day in 1984, I was lounging around in New Zealand, on a teaching exchange at a Christchurch School. I remember watching the FA Cup Final in a neighbour's house, at some ridiculous time in the day. Everton and Watford, with Elton John in full regalia, played out a steady final tie with the Toffees winning 2-0, with 100,000 in attendance.

Everton had beaten Southampton at Highbury 1-0 in their semi-final aet to get to Wembley and Plymouth Argyle, a Third Division club, had only just lost to the Watford "Hornets" 0-1, in front of 20,000 fans at Villa Park.
This was the only appearance for the "Pilgrims" in an FA Cup semi-final, so it was quite an occasion for their Devon fans.

En route to Villa Park, Argyle had beaten Southend 2-0 in the First Round after a 0-0 in November. They then beat Barking from the Non-League 2-1 in December. In January they beat Newport County 1-0 after a 2-2, then they met Darlington later in the month 2-1 and in February it was West Bromwich Albion, whom they beat 1-0. A path paved with gold?

Everton had the following successes; 3rd Round at Stoke 2-0, 4th v Gillingham 0-0 then 3-0, Shrewsbury 3-0 in the 5th and Notts County 2-1 in the 6th; NOT too challenging!

Argyle have been in semi-final in the League Cup in 1964-5 and 1973-4...all the fours? Their stadium Home Park, surprisingly, is the 37th largest stadium in the Football League.

Watford had climbed from Fourth Division to First in 5 seasons under Elton and Graham Taylor's leadership. With what was known as a "direct style", the Hornets finished as runners up in the First Division (pre-Premier League) in 1983 and then the cup final in 1984. Their situation was aided by the disregard for status by the "rest of the Football League". 9 First Division clubs fell by the wayside in the Third Round Proper, four of them to clubs lower in the league. Brighton beat Liverpool, Bournemouth beat Man U, and non-league Telford Utd reached the Fourth Round. Watford beat Luton Town, Charlton Athletic, Brighton and HA, Birmingham City and then Argyle.

Argyle, founded in 1886, play at Home Park, since 1901, "The Theatre of Greens", and is one of two Devon clubs playing in the Football League (and the other is?). Nicknamed the Pilgrims, they of course, were named following the historical journey of The Pilgrims to Massachusetts, from the local harbour in 1620.  Hence the badge....300 years later they joined the FL Third Division South and now play in League One..

The City of Plymouth reputedly is the largets city in the country not to have hosted a top flight football club. Argyle is also the most southerly and westerly professional club. 

Ex managers include Mariner, Allison, Moncur, Shilton, Saxton, Warnock, Sturrock, Reid, Pulis, Holloway and today Ryan Lowe. Nice place to live?

(in 1907 the club was managed by a "committee" for three years).

Most of their backroom staff are British in origin, with just one from Wales, the rest English with one from Brazil, the physio, Abner Bruzzichessi and the video analyst is Curtis Wong from China.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Glasgow's Hampden Park, is the home of Queen's Park FC, the oldest club in Scottish football (since October 1873) and the Scottish FA. The first Hampden Park was overlooked by a nearby terrace named after John Hampden, an Englishman, who fought for the roundheads in the English Civil War. Queen's Park played at the first Hampden Park for 10 years beginning with a Scottish Cup tie on 25 October 1873. The ground hosted the first Scottish FA Cup Final in 1874, and a Scotland v England match in 1878. Below is the site of the "second Hampden" 1884, acquired when the Cathcart District Railway made its way through the original ground. Below is a more extensive account of HP.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3994718670252035536/7289637797311790845?hl=en-GB

Wycombe Wanderers' FC ground, Adams' Park, is located in a valley at the end of the Sands Industrial Estate, surrounded by Chilterns' green downland on three sides. Whereas Wycombe's previous Loakes Park ground was very close to the town centre, Adams Park is two miles due west of High Wycombe town. The stadium was opened in time for the 1990–91 season, and had a capacity of 6,000. The ground was named Adams Park in honour of benefactor and former captain Frank Adams (above). Adams had bought the former ground Loakes Park for the club, whose sale financed the move to the stadium named after him. The new stadium coincided with an upturn in the club's fortunes as, under manager Martin O'Neill they won the FA Trophy at Wembley, following a 2–1 win over Kidderminster Harriers.

Newcastle United play at St James' Park, which was originally a patch of sloping grazing land, bordered by Georgian Leazes Terrace, near the historic Town Moor, owned by the Freemen of the City. (I was hoping there might be a more interesting link to St James, but nothing crops up!) 

Both factors above later affected the development of the ground, with the local council being the landlord of the site. The site was also near the gallows of the city, last used in 1844, lending the Gallowgate End its name. The first football team to play at St James' Park was Newcastle Rangers in 1880. They moved to a ground at Byker in 1882, then returned briefly to St James' Park in 1884 before folding that year. Newcastle West End took over the ground in 1886. West End were wound up in 1892 and effectively merged into their rivals Newcastle East End,  who took over the lease of St James' Park and became Newcastle United later that year.  While the stadium is now synonymous with the "Black and Whites", Newcastle United actually played in red and white at St James' Park until 1904.

David Whelan, above, (born 24 November 1936) is a former English footballer, who played in the Blackburn Rovers team that lost the 1960 FA Cup Final to Wolves 0-3. Whelan is the former owner of Wigan Athletic (from 1995), having also been the chairman of the club for twenty years. His name (well initials) go to the naming of Wigan Athletic FC stadium, The DW Stadium. He stepped down in 2015 handing over to his stepson.

The Madejski Stadium is located in Reading and is the home of Reading FC.  The stadium is named after Reading's chairman Sir John Madjeski. It is an all seater stadium with a capacity of 24,161 and is located close to the M4. Built on the site of a former household waste dump it is surrounded by methane vents. The West Stand contains the Millennium Madejski Hotel. Opened on 22 August 1998 it replaced the club's traditional home of the Elm Park.

The land on which Hartlepool United's, Victoria Park, stands, was originally a limestone quarry owned by the North-eastern Railway Company. In 1886, the land was bought by West Hartlepool Rugby Football Club for the development of a new rugby ground. The ground was then named the Victoria Ground in celebration of Queen's Diamond Jubilee. In 1908, West Hartlepool R.F.C. went bust, leaving The Victoria Ground vacant and shortly afterwards, the ground was registered under the name of "The Hartlepools United Football Athletic Company Limited", a football team representing both the town of West Hartlepool and the original settlement of Old Hartlepool. This football team developed into Hartlepool United. From 1908 to 1910, Hartlepool United shared their ground with the amateurs of West Hartlepool until the club broke up leaving Hartlepool United as the sole occupiers of the ground.

One of my favourites is the New York Stadium, Rotherham United, opened in 2012. The stadium is named after the local area to the east of Sheffield city, on the site of the old "Guest and Crimes" Iron Foundry. Since you are observant urban geographers, the industrial part of the Sheffield conurbation is sited EAST of the city, ensuring that any fumes from the associated industries (mainly iron and steel) are driven away from the settlements by the prevailing winds blowing from the WEST! Hence a football ground amongst the populous to the east of the city. There might be other factors influencing the residences, but it's a good idea! So why New York? The foundry manufactured the fire hydrants that you see on American movies when a car chase in the Big Apple, ends up with one of the vehicles smashing into the "fire hydrant" on the sidewalk and creating a fountain.  They named the area in Rotherham after the place!