Football On This Day – 29th April 1961
One this day, a 15,318 London Road crowd saw home team, Peterborough United beat Barrow 6-2 in their final Division Four match of the season. Not only did Posh top the division in their first Football League season, but those six goals saw the club complete the season with a record 134 League goals. Terry Bly (below) scored a hat-trick against Barrow to finish the season with 52 League goals, a post-war League best.
Peterborough's application to join the MIdland League was welcomed by the league, however, the representatives from the club did not have the money to pay for the security deposit, entry fee and subscription. Grantham Town FC loaned the money to The Posh who began selling shares to raise funds.
4,033 fans attended The Posh's first league match which ended in a 4–0 victory over Gainsborough Trinity. William Rigby scored the team's first goal. Local councillor Jack Swain, appointed acting chairman, told the gathering: 'I think that with the revival of old enthusiasm in the city, Peterborough will ultimately find a place in the Football League.'
They won the Midland League on six occasions, including five seasons in a row from 1956 to 1960.
The Posh were elected to The Football League for the beginning of the 1960-1 season, soon winning Division Four.
It took almost 40 years for that dream to come to fruition, with the Posh replacing "relegated" Gateshead.
The club's 'Posh' nickname has obscure origins but it is believed to have stemmed from player manager Pat Tirrel who in the close season, 1921 said he was looking for 'Posh players for a Posh team.' Peterborough and Fletton FC, also known as the 'Brickies’ (the local employer), folded in 1932 with considerable debts and the new club had to obtain confirmation from the Football Association and Northamptonshire Football Association that there were no liabilities.
The delight of representatives at the annual meeting of the Midland League, where a membership application was welcomed with open arms, turned to sheer panic when it was realised they didn't have the cash between them to pay a £20 security deposit, a 10 guinea entry fee and 5 guinea subscription. Grantham Town loaned the cash and back home the Posh officials set about raising funds through the sale of five shilling shares, around 150 turning up for a first shareholders' meeting on 31st July 1934 when a ten strong board of directors were elected. When Posh resigned from the Midland League in 1960 after their election to the Football League, the original £20 deposit was refunded!
The London Road ground was hired from Peterborough City Council. The weekly Posh wage bill was £38 and admission charges were set at one shilling for men (5p), six pence (2.5p) for women and the unemployed and, one shilling for transfer to the stand. City Council workmen built new dressing rooms and local businesses helped; Midgate outfitters E.B.Jackson donated shirts, Hoyles of Westgate gave towels and George Stokes of Church Street presented a new football.
A crowd of 4,033 turned out on 1st September 1934 to see the Midland League campaign begin in some style with a 4-0 beating of Gainsborough Trinity, the distinction of scoring the first Posh goal going to Len Hargreaves who had been signed from Luton Town.
Posh began in green shirts with a while 'V' on the front, white shorts and black socks with a green top carrying two white hoops and as early as November 1934, when a statutory meeting took place, it was suggested the club should think seriously of seeking a league place. Which eventually they did!!!
You might enjoy this "top goal scorers" website
Player Total Club(s) with Season
William 'Dixie' Dean 60 Everton 1927-28 George Camsell 59 Middlesbrough 1926-27 Ted Harston 55 Mansfield Town 1936-37 Joe Payne 55 Luton Town 1936-37 Terry Bly 52 Peterborough United 1960-61 Clarrie Bourton 49 Coventry City 1931-32 Tom 'Pongo' Waring 49 Aston Villa 1930-31 David 'Harry Abe' Morris 47 Swindon Town 1926-27 Alf Lythgoe 46 Stockport County 1933-34 Derek Dooley 46 Sheffield Wednesday 1951-52 Peter Simpson 46 Crystal Palace 1930-31 Jimmy Hampson 45 Blackpool 1929-30 Kevin Hector 44 Bradford Park Avenue 1965-66 Arthur Rowley 44 Leicester City 1956-57 Tom Bamford 44 Wrexham 1933-34 William 'Dixie' Dean 44 Everton 1931-32 Albert Whitehurst 44 Rochdale 1926-27 Jimmy Cookson 44 Chesterfield 1925-26 Brian Clough 43 Middlesbrough 1958-59 Tommy Johnston 43 Leyton Orient/Blackburn Rovers 1957-58 Frank Newton 43 Fulham 1931-32 David Halliday 43 Sunderland 1928-29 Andrew Rennie 43 Luton Town 1928-29 Ted Harper 43 Blackburn Rovers 1925-26
Payne scored 10 goals for Luton Town in one game on 13/4/1936 v Bristol Rovers
1934-8 he scored 83 goals in 72 games for Luton+from 1938-45 21/36 for Chelsea
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