Derby County 1, Blackpool 0
BLACKPOOL’S two England forwards, Stanley Matthews and Stanley Mortensen, have taken such punishment in recent games on sunbaked grounds that neither went to Derby yesterday for this afternoon’s return match with the County.
“Neither is seriously hurt,” I was told. "Matthews is nursing blistered toes and Mortensen has a twisted knee.”
Albert Hobson, a young outside-right, who is still in the Army and celebrated his Easter leave by scoring for the second team at West Bromwich on Saturday, was given his first game in the First Division in a line led by George Dick.
In the defence the 20-year-old Tom Garrett, who can play anywhere, understudied for Suart who was resting.
The County reintroduced the Football League full-back Mozley, but otherwise fielded the team that won a point in a 2-2 draw at Blackpool on Good Friday.
DFRBY COUNTY: Wallace; Mozley, Howe, Ward, Leaty, Musson, Harrison, Carter, Stamps, Steel, Morrison.
BLACKPOOL: Robinson, Shimwell, Garrett, Johnston, Hayward, Kelly, Hobson, Munro, Dick, McCall, Rickett.
Referee Mr. J. Williams (Bolton)
Heavy rain which began to fall at noon ceased a few minutes before the teams took the field. The absence of the two Stanleys probably affected the attendance, but it was a “full house” on the terraces and nearly 35,000 watched the kick-off.
The County faced' the sun after losing the toss. McCall headed low into the arms of Wallace in Blackpool's first definite raid.
Other Blackpool attacks followed. In one Hobson fell at the edge of the penalty area after the McCall-Rickett partnership had given him a shooting position.
A minute later the County should have snatched the lead, Stamps shooting low at Robinson when Carter’s centre presented him with the sort of chance centre-forwards ought to convert.
Blackpool’s football was more assertive than I expected. The County were often in retreat, and not often on the attack in the first 10 minutes.
Stamps shot into the net seconds after the offside whistle had gone, but nothing else of consequence happened anywhere near the Blackpool goal for minutes afterwards.
Johnston’s passes had Blackpool’s right wing constantly in action. All the time, too. McCall was working like a beaver.
Nearest to a goal for the County in the first quarter of an hour was a long swerving shot by Musson which curled out by the far post.
Three games in four days had taken a toll of the football which was yards slower than in the first two matches I have seen this nonstop weekend.
FIRST CORNER
Hobson’s fast, low centre forced the first corner of the afternoon for Blackpool in the 16th minute.
The positioning of the Blackpool defence was perfect when the County’s front line began to enter the game.
Shimwell made two great clearances before Hayward baited Stamps superbly with the centre-forward sprinting into a position where he could not have missed a goal.
In the next minute, too, as the pressure continued, Garrett intercepted another lobbed pass to a scoring position in a great leap at the ball.
The next minute Harrison, cutting into the middle, missed the chance of the half as he sliced a shot yards wide of a post with the goal open in front of him.
FIFTY-FIFTY
The first 10 minutes Blackpool had commanded. The next 10 had been dominated by a fast, progressive Derby front line.
The County continued to raid; but made little impression on a Blackpool defence as firm as ever, with Garrett playing all the time with the confidence of a man years in the big game.
In the 33rd minute the County took the lead with a remarkable goal. There was a raid on the left. CARTER chased a long pass.
I had the impression that Mr. Williams had halted the game for offside. So had the Blackpool defence. Every man in it stood and watched Carter gallop on, shoot low into the net unchallenged.
To the amazement of Blackpool and, I suspect, to the amazement of the County, Mr. Williams gave a goal, and after consulting a linesman on Blackpool’s excited protests, confirmed the decision with a peremptory signal to the centre.
Half-time:
Derby County 1,
Blackpool 0.
Second half
Blackpool opened with a series of raids, interrupted only when Garrett made a flying headed clearance to hold the entire Derby attack. Dick hooked a shot barely wide from Hobson’s centre as Wallace fell late to the fast bouncing ball.
The offside trap had cost Blackpool one goal, but the defence continued to exploit it. It nearly cost another goal and would have cost one if Robinson
had not dived at Carter’s feet as the inside-right ran into an open scoring position on his wrong wing.
Leuty headed centre after centre away from both Blackpool wings.
A great tackle by Garrett halted Carter with the' ex- England forward off fast on Blackpool’s goal again.
Blackpool, however, were still not outplayed. It was one shooting forward who was required this afternoon, just one, and it would have made a lot of difference for raid after raid continued to end without a shot.
Two corners were conceded by a County defence under a lot of pressure.
McCall, Blackpool’s best forward, forced Wallace to the greatest clearance of the match, the goalkeeper made a flying dive at a ball shot from 30 yards which was going all the way out of his reach. Derby’s raids were nearly continuous for a time. Harrison lobbed the ball over the bar of an empty goal with 15 minutes left.
Two minutes later Dick missed a post by inches with Wallace galloping back later into another goal which had been left untenanted.
ALL OUT BID
With Blackpool all out to retrieve the point Shimwell lashed a free-kick into a packed defence.
Wallace made desperate clearances from Rickett and Munro in rapid succession with Blackpool’s two superb wing halves constantly rolling the passes to the forwards.
Blackpool lost nothing in reputation with an under-strength team. McCall had another grand match and the defence has never been firmer.
Attendance 34,896.
Result:
DERBY COUNTY 1 (Carter 33 Mins)
BLACKPOOL 0
On the “horses for courses system" a “2” or an “X” always indicated whenever team of Bolton Wanderers play at Blackpool. It is a remarkable record which the Wanderers have created at Blackpool.
Ten games they have played on the Blackpool ground since the end of the first world war - seven in the First Division, two in the Second, and a 1927 Cuptie when Manager Joe Smith was the Wanderers’ captain - without once being defeated. Four of those 10 games have been won and the remaining' six drawn.
No other club in the country has a comparable record at Blackpool.
And while all this has been happening at the seaside. Blackpool at Burnden Park have won twice and drawn once, which is nothing out of the common in nine matches but indicative of the topsy-turvy game this football can be.
***
PETER DOHERTY, great footballer, grand fellow and author of the best-selling “Spotlight on Football,” has accepted an invitation to address the Blackpool and Fylde Referees’ Association at the Bloomfield Hotel, Blackpool, on Monday evening.
There should be a capacity audience, for this Irishman has revealed himself in recent times as eloquent on a public platform as he is fluent on the printed page.
***
POSTSCRIPT to the recent Arsenal match at Blackpool. The telephone bell rang in the club’s office shortly after the final whistle.
‘Budapest calling,” said the operator.
The member of the office who answered the call suspected that it was a joke, but waited. A medley of European tongues assailed his ears as contact was made across Europe.
‘‘Budapest on the line.” he was told. In Budapest somebody was ringing to ask the result.
“Blackpool 3, Arsenal 0,” the unknown caller was told. “I thank you,” he said politely, and rang off.
***
SEVERAL letters in the mail since I wrote about referees last week and selected Mr. A. E. Ellis, of Halifax, as the best I have seen this season after his admirable control of the Blackpool-Spurs’ Cup semi-final.
“A North Shore Reader." who has been watching football for 15 years, rates Mr. W. P. Harper, of Stourbridge, as the top of his list in that time.
“His accurate decisions and firm yet good-humoured control of a game made him a popular character with the spectators.” he writes. “I watched him on various grounds, and in each case a cheer went up as soon as his portly figure emerged from the dressing room.”
Mr. Harper, from all I recall of him, deserves this compliment.
But the best referee I ever saw was Mr. J. T. Howcroft, of Bolton. He was the kingpin of them all.
***
THE centre-half from Ansdell, Johnny Crosland, did not, as some people seem to think, make his first appearance in First Division football against Burnley this week.
He had four successive games early last season against Brentford, the Villa, Portsmouth and.Derby County - and Blackpool won three of the four of them, and not least of the reasons for those three games being won was the speed and decision of this centre-half’s football.
Crosland who is in the office of a Blackpool accountant, was one of Manager Joe Smith’s first postwar signings, and is destined for a big future in football if ever he decides to devote his whole time to it.
He has missed only five games for the Central League team this season, and has actually not been out of it since September 27. If ever a man deserved a First Division game it is Johnny Crosland.
***
THE biggest-ever occasion for Blackpool football,” was the verdict on the Arsenal match. Wonderful gate, wonderful weather, wonderful football.
There was everything to gladden the heart of the football fan.
Bouquet to Superintendent Alan Evans and his police helpers. For a full hour before the match they toiled and perspired, getting hundreds of people into places where there was still room.
The Highspots
OTHER highspots were the booing of Denis Compton after his fouls on Matthews; the ludicrous spectacle of little Munro and McCall eluding towering Leslie Compton and his co-giants.
Once strangest of all (I am told) Matthews stood there with the ball at his feet, facing three perplexed Arsenal defenders while the crowd roared.
Barnes, the Arsenal back, stood stock-still laughing at Matthews, and then shrugged his shoulders as if to say “ You’re not going to make a mug of me.”
Was this the secret?
WAS this the secret of Blackpool’s success? I am told that Manager Joe Smith, talking to the team in the dressing-room before the match said “It is the people who draw back who get hurt. You boys should go right into it, and let the others get hurt.
“Once a team sees you taking care and being cautious, they will give you no mercy.”
Mayoral banter
STRETFORD’S young bachelor Mayor, Coun. Eric Forbes, was in happy mood when he visited the Blackpool Mayoral parlour on Saturday to say “How do you do?” to Coun. J. R. Furness, J.P.
As the Stretford Town Hall adjoins Manchester United ground, the talk when the two Mayors met inevitably centred on the Cup Final.
“Be sure,” said Coun. Forbes, that it will be Manchester’s pleasure to invite Blackpool to have a drink from the cup.” ‘Don’t be too sure,” replied Coun. Furness. “It is probably nearer the truth that Manchester folk will be holidaying in Blackpool this summer to have a look at the trophy they didn’t win.”
FOOTNOTE. - Purpose of Coun. Forbes’ visit to these parts was twofold -he wanted to see the Arsenal match after visiting his farm at Hambleton.
Football boom
The crowds - and the money
THE VISIT of Arsenal to Bloomfield-road on Saturday set up a new ground attendance record - 32,678- which heat the previous record of 31,787 set up when Leicester City were here on September 18, 1937.
Saturday's receipts of £3.245 were not a record, as they failed to reach the £4,130 for the War Cup final with Aston Villa in April, 1944.
Details are: Attendances Receipts
v. Arsenal (Easter Sat.) 32,678 £3,245
v. Derby C. (Good Fri.) 30,000 £3.000
v Leicester C. (Sep. 1937) 31,787 £3,000
v. Arsenal (Oct. 1932) 30,265 £2,139
Player of the Year
By “Spectator”
FOOTBALL’S first “Oscar” has been awarded to Stanley Matthews, the England and Blackpool wing forward.
Nominated by the Football Writers’ Association as “the footballer of the year” in a national ballot, he will be presented with a bronze statuette at a dinner in London on Cup Final eve.
Present among the association’s guests will be Mr. Harry Evans, the Blackpool chairman, Mr. Joe Smith, manager of Blackpool, and Mr. R. Seed, a director and honorary secretary to the club.
With five votes fewer than his partner, Stanley Mortensen was second in the list. Frank Swift, the England and Manchester City goalkeeper, who was born in Blackpool, ranked third.
“HAPPIEST SEASON”
Comment by Matthews at the England team’s Troon headquarters today: “This makes it the happiest season of my career. Now all I’ve to do is win a Cup medal!”
Comments by the rest of the England team; “If ever a man deserves the honour it’s Stanley Matthews.”
Were delighted, wires Mayor
THIS afternoon the Mayor of Blackpool (Coun. J. R. Furness, J.P.) sent the following message of congratulation to Matthews:
“Most sincere and hearty congratulations on the great honour bestowed upon you by the Football Writers* Association as soccer’s player of the year.
“You have fully merited this great tribute and our townspeople, and particularly sports enthusiasts, are highly delighted. Best wishes for tomorrow and Wembley.”
Leave a Comment