Tuesday, 7 January 2025

FA CUP THIRD ROUND

 7th January 1956

The Busby Babes went on to win the League Championship in 1955/56, BUT on this day, Manchester United were brought firmly down to earth with a 3rd Round FA Cup defeat at Bristol Rovers, that season. A 35,872 Eastville crowd, saw Rovers win 4-0 and record one of their most memorable results in what was - amazingly to think of now - Manchester United's only cup-tie that season. 
Only once since - in 1958/59 - has Manchester United played just one cup match in a season. One of Bristol Rovers scorers that day was Barrie Meyer (21 August 1932 – 13 September 2015who was also a talented cricketer, playing for Gloucestershire in the summer. In later life he went on to became a Test match umpire and so became the first player to score an FA Cup goal against Manchester United and umpire a Test match - how's that for an obscure sporting connection!

In the 1948-49 season, aged just 16, Barrie John Meyer played for England against Wales at Wrexham in a Boys' Club international match and was awarded his cap. In 35 cup and league matches for Pokesdown Lads that season, he scored 38 goals and was recognised by many as the best ball player and marksman in the team. A scout for Bristol Rovers saw Barrie play and approached his parents about his club signing their son for the team, which he did in July 1949. he went on to score 60 goals in 139 league matches. He also played for Plymough Argyle, Newport County, Bristol City and Hereford United.

Barrie enjoyed playing cricket as a youngster and was coached aged 17 by George Emmett, the Gloucestershire opening batsman, who described Barrie as a "decent" batsman and wicket keeper. He worked for the county groundstaff in the summer and played for the County in 406 first-class cricket matches from 1957 to 1971. He took 707 catches and 119 stumpings and his career first-class batting average is only 14.19, with a highest score of 63, so not so good!

Following a successful cricketing career, Barrie umpired in 26 Tests (1978-93) including the Ashes Test at Headingly and 23 One Day Internationals, which included the World Cup finals and Lords, in 1979 and 1983. Barrie later moved out to Durban, South Africa, for his retirement, where he died on September 13. 

Meyer officiated during the 1984 Lord's test between England and the West Indies where the then record of LBW dismissals was equalled, although this record has now been exceeded on numerous occasions. In the West Indies first innings Meyer gave West Indies batsman Viv Richards out lbw. According to 'Wisden': "Umpire Meyer later stated that he may have made a mistake, and that he had considered recalling Richards". However, the West Indies won the match easily!!

Meyer holds the accolade of being the only footballer in history to score a goal against Manchester United in the FA Cup and go on to become a Test match umpire. He scored in Bristol Rovers' 4–0 win over Manchester United in the third round of the cup at Eastville on 7 January 1956, which was United's 9th biggest defeat in FA Cup history.

In 2006, he published an autobiography, Getting It Right, co-authored with Andrew Hignell.

Meyer's son Adrian was also a footballer, making 144 appearances, scoring 12 goals, for Scarborough, many in the Football League, before injury curtailed his career. Meyer died at the age of 83 in 2015.

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