BLACKPOOL, BEATEN, GALLANT FIGHTERS TO END
Strong Newcastle finish in battle in the mud
LATE GOALS
Newcastle United 3, Blackpool 0
By “Clifford Greenwood”
GEORGE McKNIGHT, the Irish forward, who this season has become a half-back, was taken ill in Blackpool’s hotel at Newcastle late last night. Mild influenza was diagnosed, and early this afternoon he was sent home.
Shortly before midnight a telephone call to Blackpool notified Ewan Fenton that he would probably be required for the match, and before nine o’clock this morning he was on his way to Newcastle by car.
Every week during the last two months there have been casualties at Blackpool.
This necessarily was the last, as this was the last match of the season, but it resulted in Blackpool taking the field with another reserve in a team which was under strength when it was selected yesterday.
Torrential rain fell before the match. In a couple of hours the ground was almost flooded, and a squad of men with pitch-forks had to be summoned to drain away the huge standing pools which were left.
MUD ANB SLIME
Even when they had finished there was a broad channel of mud and slime, scattered with small lakes from one goal area to the other.
Even in such a football-crazy city as Newcastle the terraces were sparsely populated with the rain still falling as the teams appeared and the attendance reduced to fewer than 30,000, which is little above a few Central League match averages at St. James’s Park.
Teams:
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Lowery; Cowell, McMichael; Harvey, Brennan. Houghton; Walker, Taylor, Milburn, Hannah, Mitchell.
BLACKPOOL: Farm; Garrett. Wright; Fenton, Crosland, Kelly; Matthews, Mortensen, Mudie, McCall, Perry.
Referee: Mr. H. Jackson (Leeds).
THE GAME
First half
Stanley Mortensen, who captained Blackpool in his native North-East, lost the toss.
The first pass of the game came to rest in a pool of water. Bill Perry, as a consequence, lost it.
Everything was in slow motion or appeared to be afterwards, with Blackpool continually attacking but achieving nothing until Brennan’s pass back to Lowery skidded at the Newcastle goalkeeper at such a pace off the mud that he had to go down on both knees to hold it.
Within a minute Kelly cut across field before shooting fast and only an inch or two wide of a post.
Blackpool’s early football had plenty of promise in it, but no particular punch.
All that was required of Farm in the first five minutes was the fielding of back passes from Crosland and Wright
BLACKPOOL RAIDS
In the meantime, the Blackpool forwards raced repeatedly on the Newcastle goal, McCall crossing one fast centre which seemed almost to brush the far post in one raid which was followed by others in a nonstop but unproductive succession.
When the United’s front line came at last into the game Crosland made a great sliding tackle at the feet of Milburn.
Then, out on the other wing, Wright and Walker collided in the slime, and the full-back was left sprawling in it and required the trainer’s attention before he was fit again, coated from head to foot in black mud.
It was surprising in the circumstances that the football was as good and ordered as it continued io be.
Raid after raid ended in back passes to the goalkeepers, with the forwards vainly pursuing the ball.
RACE FOR BALL
Mortensen beaten by a yard
McCall was in nearly every movement, shot wide again, and opened another raid a minute later - a raid which at last introduced the right flank into the game and ended in Mortensen racing after a pass to which Newcastle’s goalkeeper beat him by a yard.
The Newcastle forwards had not a lot of the game in the first 15 minutes, but one still had the impression that the old speed and aggression were there.
The line won, in fact, the game’s first corner in the 16th minute, and after it had been superbly cleared by Wright nearly took the lead.
For Walker took the clearance, eluded one man, and crossed a ball which Milburn headed past and wide of Farm, who reached it in mid-air in a great leap to his left.
Both defences were standing remarkably firm, yet three times in five minutes, between the 20th and 25th of the half, Blackpool’s goal nearly fell.
The first escape bordered on the incredible. Or it would have been on a field bearing less resemblance to a quagmire.
IN THE MORASS
On to a forward pass Milburn galloped, eluded the Blackpool man in front of him, walked the ball almost leisurely on to the deserted Farm, and with the goalkeeper and the goal at his mercy fell in a heap in the morass in front of Blackpool’s goal.
Two minutes later Walker and Milburn created position for Hannah. The inside-left was waiting for the last pass, hit it as it crossed him, and shot a ball which Farm fielded magnificently.
Another two minutes, and when Newcastle won their third comer of the half Walker crossed a perfect centre.
Milburn jumped high to it, and from the Press box appeared to head down a ball which hit the face of the post and came to rest in the mud as Farm fell in a heap on it. During this time and for minutes afterwards the Blackpool forwards were scarcely in the game. It was the United who were attacking continuously and attacking, too, with football which had pace and purpose in it everywhere.
BREAKAWAYS
Matthews often in the picture
There were breakaways by the Blackpool front line in which Matthews appeared repeatedly, outwitting his bodyguard and gliding inside passes which were invariably lost in a packed United defence.
Wright crossed on to an open flank to halt Milburn at the cost of another corner in another Newcastle grand slam offensive, and for a time afterwards the game was moving on the Newcastle goal without often reaching it.
There were still too many down-the-middle passes by Blackpool, whose small forwards, chasing them into a taller and heavier defence, could seldom do anything with them.
SETTING THE PACE
Yet with the half approaching its end Blackpool were no longer outplayed, were, in fact, setting the pace for a time.
With nine minutes of the half left, Perry, who had been seeking in vain all the afternoon to pass the fast-tackling Cowell, forced this full-back to concede Blackpool’s first comer.
Repeatedly at this time Mortensen was hammering after these downfield passes, reached two of them, outpaced two men each time, but lost the ball either to the third man or to the all- encompassing mud.
Six minutes of the half were left when the United went in front.
There was a freekick out on the right flank of Blackpool’s defence. A long crossfield pass followed it.
UNITED AHEAD
Milburn had an open goal
On to it Walker swooped in a wide-open space, cut inside, and crossed a fast, low centre. Down to it Farm fell.
As I saw it the ball spun away under the goalkeeper and skidded away from him, leaving MILBURN in front of an open goal, to shoot in fast as two Blackpool men hurled themselves into the breach in a flying dive across the gaping line,
Blackpool’s answer was resolute and aggressive. It won a comer and after it built a couple of raids.
In both of these only the greater height of the United’s full-backs and that great centre half, Bob Brennan, took the ball away in mid-air from a pack of lightweight forwards in the jaws of the Newcastle goal.
Yet, a minute from half-time the United nearly made it 2-0, Mitchell losing Milburn's squared pass in front of the Blackpool goal as the deserted Farm fell bravely at his feet.
Half-time: Newcastle United 1, Blackpool 0
Second half
The Mortensen - Matthews’ partnership won a corner for Blackpool in the half’s first two minutes, less than 60 seconds after Mitchell had lost another chance as a high centre flew across Blackpool’s goal, fell at his feet, and was lost by him.
A minute later came an uncommon incident. Milburn was whistled offside, but still went on. and with a sort of end-of-the-season practice shot hit a ball which tore a hole in the side net.
For the next couple of minutes the game was at a standstill as men on the ground staff were called out to repair the damage, but either could not be found or knew nothing about the order.
In the end, Mr. Jackson went himself to the players’ entrance, reappeared with a pair of boot laces, and with the aid of a linesman did a little make-do-and-mend on his own.
NEARLY A GOAL
Mortensen hits a great shot
In the next minute in a half which had at least opened with plenty of incident Blackpool were as near a goal as the forwards had been all the afternoon.
One raid went on and on, and in it McCall hit Brennan with a rising shot which shook even this big centre half-back on his heels.
Then Mortensen, taking the rebound, cut inside and shot a ball of such pace that Lowery reached it but could not hold it and was probably glad to watch it crawl out of his hands into the side net.
Within another two minutes after another hammer and tongs Newcastle raid had been repelled by Crosland and his two fine fullbacks Blackpool were near to a goal again.
This time Perry made the position, raced nearly half the length of the field with the Newcastle defence wide open before crossing a high centre which missed the angle of the far post and bar as Lowery and the aggressive Mortensen hurled themselves at it.
MORTENSEN LEADS
Mortensen had gone into the centre for Blackpool, and probably as a result, with little Mudie working prodigiously on his right there was a greater purpose in Blackpool’s forward football.
Yet in the 11th minute of the half the United could have gone further in front, however undeservedly, as Milburn found himself unexpectedly onside as the ball cannoned to him from a Blackpool man and shot so fast and low that Farm had to make a great clearance of the ball passing low and wide of him
All the Newcastle big guns began to fire again afterwards.
Wright made one great headed clearance from a disputed free- kick perilously close to the penalty area, and for a time afterwards one raid after another battered on Blackpool’s retreating but still tolerably firm defence.
FINE WORK
Crosland a magnificent defender
Crosland was magnificent in this Blackpool defence. Once he chased Milburn, lost him and the ball, but reached him before he could shoot.
In the next minute Crosland crossed Hannah’s path and dispossessed the inside-left as the forward was racing into a shooting position.
For a time this Newcastle pressure was incessant.
Walker outpaced Wright in one of these raids, reached an open space, and from it crossed a ball which Farm fielded as he fell forward on it, with three Newcastle men waiting unmarked for a pass in front of a nearly open goal.
Blackpool’s football was being built this half on longer passes. It made a lot of difference. It was sufficient often to create raids which had the Newcastle defence splitting open.
FENTON SHOOTS
In one of them Fenton shot into Lowery’s arms from 30 yards, in another the referee refused Blackpool a corner and after refusing it decided instead to give a throw-down near the flag - a decision which I did not pretend to understand.
Fifteen minutes of the half - and the season - were left, and Blackpool still had a chance of a point, were still often attacking for one and, in fact, playing the best football the team had produced all afternoon.
Matthews in one great raid reminiscent of his greatest days beat three men in a row before centring a ball which Lowery snatched away from three Blackpool forwards coming in fast on him.
As the end approached these Blackpool raids were becoming almost continuous.
Seven minutes from time one of the game’s smallest forwards, TAYLOR, settled the match, zigzagging into a shooting position after the ball had been lost in the mud by two Blackpool men, and shooting a great goal.
Three minutes from time Walker crossed a centre which the unguarded MILBURN casually sidestepped over the line.
Result:
NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 (Milburn 39, 87, Taylor 83)
BLACKPOOL 0
COMMENTS ON THE GAME
IT was a game which had nothing end - of - the - season about it. Blackpool’s defence was magnificent under pressure with Crosland, and his two fullbacks heroic.
Until Mortensen went into the centre and the short pass was discarded the Blackpool forwards, in spite of the creative football of McCall, packed little punch.
Matthews sparkled at times, but again there was the old failure to shoot when a position had been made.
Two goals in the last seven minutes lost a game which until the last quarter hour Blackpool often threatened to draw.
GOOD SEASON - AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN BEST EVER
If only those forwards had scored!
By Clifford Greenwood
SO it’s been a bad season for Blackpool? Don’t tell Manager Joe Smith and his directors. Or they might be justifiably aggrieved.
The First Division championship has not been won. it has been lost chiefly because the forwards have not scored sufficient goals.
It requires no expert intelligence to establish that fact.
In 18 games this season, including the Cuptie at Wolverhampton, this Blackpool front line has not scored at all, and during the seven games beginning with the Easter weekend matches - the period of Blackpool’s decline and fall from the championship pinnacle - its output has been exactly three goals, which is less than half a goal a match.
And of the total of 46 goals I credited to the club’s first team forwards all season before this Afternoon’s match at Newcastle, 22 have been scored by one man, Stanley Mortensen.
Eclipse complete
THE loss of eight points out of 12 since the beginning of the Easter weekend, and, to be fair, a casualty list above average proportions, completed an eclipse which had been threatening for a long time.
There are, I know, those people who are always wise after the event, even if a minority were wise before it in this particular case, who assert that months ago the club should have gone out into the market and signed either the constructive inside forward who could have played the Peter Doherty or
Wilf Mannion act or a tall heavyweight who could have taken opposing defences by storm.
The board held a variety opinions on this subject.
Postwar famine
IT has been a sort of postwar epidemic - this goal famine - at Blackpool. There were 71 goals in 1946-47, 57 in 1947-48, 54 in 1948-49, and the downward line on the graph is completed by 46 with one game to play this season.
The remedy is obvious, even if not simple. Men who can score goals will have to be signed.
One can write that and one can hear It advocated everywhere, put how to sign them, where to go to sign them nobody seems to know the answer to that one.
Blackpool will pay for them, but when, as happened only a week ago, Manager Smith visits match in London, watches a forward who has an unimpressive game - forward who is less often in his club’s first team than in the reserve - and is told that the Celling price is between £25,000 and £30,000, you begin to think that the Marx Brothers have into football.
Signings if -
FORWARDS will be signed during the summer even at present inflated fees. But I am told that they will be signed only if their reputation promises a solution of Blackpool’s major problem.
Strange it is, but there was a time and not so long ago, when Blackpool could always find scoring forwards, but could never field a defence which was not at times as wide open as the famous barnyard door.
Take one season as an illustration, in the club’s first season in the First Division in 1930-31 the Blackpool forwards scored 71 goals, which is 25 more than today’s total on the eve of the Newcastle match, but lost 125.
That, admittedly, was an extreme case, but it was indicative the trend of Blackpool’s football between the wars.
Iron curtain
THE fielding this season, therefore, of a defence which has frequently been given the title of "Iron curtain” borders on the incredible.
It is not, either by playing to ft negative defence-in-depth plan that this result has been achieved.
There can be no such plan operative when a team possesses two such fine attacking wing half-backs as Harry Johnston and Hugh Kelly.
The captain has been playing all the season such football as in my opinion, he never approached when the England selectors put him in the country's team three years ago, and the other wing-half has risen during the season to the eminence of an accredited reserve for Scotland.
Such has been the close front of this defence all the football year that in 22 matches it has not conceded a goal.
Best in League
IT HAS retained its solidity in spite of the introduction of reserves - but reserves of such exceptional quality as Johnny Crosland, Tom Garrett and Jackie Wright, who ranked in that category when the season opened - and for the first time in Blackpool football history has given the club the best defensive record in all three divisions of the Football League.
Such has been this defence’s strength this season that if no goals have been lost at Newcastle this afternoon it will have equalled Arsenal’s record of two years ago of conceding fewer goals than any defence has conceded in First Division football since the introduction of the new offside law in 1925-26.
So there is 1949-50.
The first team in the championship race until a fortnight from the season’s end and in the Cup quarter-finals.
Three titles won in the Central League, the Lancashire League and the Lancashire Combination. One of the best nurseries in the North established. And less spent on transfer fees than Blackpool have ever spent in a First Division season.
Ever-present
YOU could not reasonably call, that a bad season. It could have been the best of all time if yes, there’s always an ‘IF’- those forwards could have scored 20 or 25 more goals.
That, obviously, will have to be remedied, if It can be and whatever the cost, during the summer.
The only man not to miss game in the First Division team is that excellent goalkeeper, George Farm, who, in fact, has not been out of the team since his introduction to it at Bolton on September 18, 1948, and at Newcastle today made his 84th successive appearance.
Gaines played for the first team by the rest excluding today’s game are:
H. Johnston and H. Kelly 39 each, S. Mortensen 36, E. Shimwell 33, A. McCall 31, S. Matthews 30, W. McIntosh 29, E. Hayward 26, W. Wardle 24. T. Garrett 22, J. Wright and J. Crosland 15 each.
W. Perry 10, W. J. Slater 9, A. Hobson 8. J. Mudie 7, W. Rickett and G. McKnight 6 each, R. Suart and W. Lewis 5 each, G. Falconer and R. Adams 4 each, E. Fenton and D. Davidson 8 each, G. Kennedy 1. Scorers: S. Mortensen 22 (1 p.), W. McIntosh 7, A. McCall 5, W. J. Slater 3. E. Shimwell 3 (ps.), H. Johnston 2, W. Rickett, J. Mudie and G. McKnight 1 each.
FA Cup: S. Mortensen 8 (1 p.) W. J. Slater 3 (1 p.), G. McKnight and W. McIntosh 1 each.
Central League scorers: J. Mudie 22, McKnight 10, R. Adams 9, G. Falconer 7, W. J. Slater and D. Davidson 6 each, A. Hobson 5, W McIntosh 4, W. Perry 3, K. Smith and W. Taylor 2 each, E. Fenton (p.), W. Rickett and A. McCall 1 each.
BAD LUCK FOR ERIC
UNLUCKIEST player in Blackpool football this season is Eric Hayward. He was out of Blackpool's team only twice in three years until he was hurt in the Wolverhampton Cup replay. Since then he has not had a game in the First Division.
The irony is that to play in the Cuptie in which he was disabled he had to renounce an invitation for an inter - League match, and there was every indication at the time that at last he was being recognised as a centre-half fit for the highest class.
He might - who knows? - have been on England’s Continental tour and, in the absence of Neil Franklin, might even have gone to Rio if he had not for so long been a casualty.
He’s a fatalist Is Eric Hayward “That’s how It goes,” he says, and makes no complaint. One consolation is that after being nursed back to active service by Blackpool, he should be fit to walk into First Division football again next season.
And, before that, I hope to watch him playing cricket for the other Blackpool club (writes “C.G”).
SO Jock Dodds has become the first player since the war to reach a total of 200 peacetime goals.
The big Scot has his critics, but, by the Lord Harry, his height and weight would have been worth a guinea an ounce to the Blackpool attack this season.
One always regrets the dispute with the dub which ended his playing days in these parts.
All those folk who think of him only as a battering-ram centre-forward, staking everything on his 13st. fighting weight, know little about football. He was always at Blackpool - and probably still is at Lincoln - not only a man who scored goals but a man who could create positions for others to score them.
How’s his successor at Blackpool going in the marksmen’s list? Stan Mortensen has 89 goals to his name in the First Division
WATCHING the Lytham FC medal final the other day on the busman’s holiday which I had at this fast and at times exciting match were two referees.
One has gone places already.
Another is en-route to similar destinations.
Mr. Jim Houston, of St. Annes, whose first season on the First and Second Division list has confirmed
all the good opinions earlier expressed of him, left the match to take the train to the Irish boat, had a big game in Ireland less than 24 hours later.
Mr. Cliff Broome, his companion, and another product of the school which has enabled the Fylde to give the game some of its best referees, has served his Central League apprenticeship this season and, I am told, has attracted such favourable notice that his promotion to the Football League list may not be long delayed.
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Thanks from Andy
ANDY CURRAN was in the office this week to say “Thank you” to all who assisted in the promotion of his testimonial fund, and all who contributed to it.
The fund’s chief administrator, Coun. George Peeks, will be sending him in a day or two a cheque for nearly £150.
‘People have been so good,” says Andy. “The cheque obviously, will be acceptable, but what I’m so glad to know is that I’ve not been forgotten.”
Few people know it, but Andy one of nine brothers, five of whom played in first-class football or in football bordering on it.
One of them, Frank, was at one time Roy Bentley’s partner at Bristol, and Jim Curran was for years at Barnsley.
Another, Albert, served in the war with a unit commanded by Frank Watson, a pre-war Blackpool amateur, who, when hostilities opened, was the first man in the unit to be killed.
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100th—didn't know it
ONE little anniversary which passed unnoticed - Hugh Kelly played his 100th First Division game for Blackpool immediately before the Easter weekend matches. Nobody knew - not even the Blackpool half - back himself.
My records reveal that he completed his century on April l at Derby Compliments, however belated.
Almost romantic has been the rise of this Scot to fame in the game.
When postwar football was resumed he was unknown.
Now, in three short years, he has played in a Cup Final, been nominated as Scotland reserve and is recognised as one of the best of present wing half-backs.
SO COOL IS NEIL
WHAT a player this Neil Franklin is, writes Clifford Greenwood.
At a time last weekend when nearly every man on the field was in a state of unbridled excitement his football was as cool as cucumber - as it always is - deliberate, studied, imperturbable.
It was an unenviable task which was assigned to little Jackie Mudie.
One can have only praise for the Scot that he did not allow this prince of centre half-backs entirely to play him out of the match. Twice, in fact, he beat him in the air to the ball, and he stands half a foot smaller than Franklin.
Yet, for the rest this England centre-half who will not be playing for England at Rio - and, in the circumstances, who’s blaming him? - bestrode the centre of the field like the Colossus that in the football sense he is.
There were signs earlier in the season that Franklin was losing his dominion. Gladly one reports that this gentleman of the game is as great today as he has ever been.
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WATCHING football these days, his playing career over, is Alec Roxburgh, the Blackpool goalkeeper, who played for England in one of the war-time internationals.
His last season was with Hyde United.
During it he broke his nose, dislocated a finger and suffered such a variety of other wounds and scars that he decided to call it a day.
Which shows how wise Alec was. Some of them never know when to finish. Not that his interest in the game has waned. Wherever there is a match in the Fylde there he is on the line. I met him at the Lytham FC medals final.
There is a prospect that one day soon his name may be announced as the manager of a minor club not 100 miles from Blackpool (writes “C.G.”).
CIRCUMSTANCES alter cases.
There was a time during the years that Stanley Matthews wore a Stoke jersey when there was - nearly a riot if a visiting player even tackled him at the Victoria Ground.
Nowadays they seem to think he should be treated with the scantiest respect the laws permit - or even with less respect that they allow.
Every time he was felled into the slime at Stoke a week ago there was a jubilant chorus of exultation.
The manners of football crowds - and not only at Stoke but nearly everywhere else - get worse and worse.
Nine times out of 10, according to my observations this season, it is this incitement to violence by the people watching football that has been the primary cause of certain deplorable scenes which one would prefer to forget.
COMPLIMENTS to Peter Doherty on Doncaster Rovers promotion (writes C.G”).
This ranks as one of the major achievements of the season. For the Irishman to have fielded a team in his first season as a player-manager which has taken the Rovers into the Second Division again is an exploit which even he in all his modesty will not be able to dismiss as a mere accident.
I know that when he went to Belle Vue he told the Doncaster directors “Don’t expect miracles” but they were convinced that he could do for Doncaster all that Raich Carter had done for Hull City - and now he has done it.
He was given complete freedom of action for the signing of players and the selecting of teams. Now I suppose, his chief problem will be whether he shall abide by his decision to make this his last season as a player.
He wanted to call it a day this time, but I have a suspicion that the Rovers may require him. not only behind the scenes but on the stage, in Second Division football.
Still, whatever happens, this is great triumph for Peter Doherty, and sincerely one congratulates him on it.
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Blackpool FC pay £6,750 IN BENEFITS
Blackpool fc are paying £6,750 in benefit cheques to nine players as the season ends, writes Clifford Greenwood.
Four £750 cheques - the limit permitted by the League and all subject to taxation - were presented in the dressing room at St. James’ Park, Newcastle, before this afternoon’s match by Mr. Harry Evans, the Blackpool chairman.
They were handed to Stanley Mortensen, Jackie Wright, Tom Garrett and Hugh Kelly.
Another five cheques will be given tomorrow to Harry Johnston, Alec Munro, whose playing career is now officially over, Gordon Kennedy, Eric Hayward and Albert Hobson.
“We are giving all that the League will permit us to present,” said the Blackpool chairman at this afternoon’s little informal ceremony.
“It is a recognition of good service and as a club we hope that all these players will long remain on the Blackpool books.
“In spite of injuries you have had a very successful season and we are proud of you all.”
CONCLUDING THE MORTENSEN STORY
Wembley tears were tears of joy
A LAST brief extract from Stanley Mortensen’s book, “Football is my Game” a serialised version of which has been appearing in “The Football Gazette” during the season, reveals the Blackpool forward's reactions after the defeat in the 1948 Cup Final.
MAGICAL MOMENT
By Stanley Mortensen
I CRIED after this Cup Final ..... but it wasn’t because had been on the losing side at Wembley.
We had lost the last great round had failed to win the Cup, and yet I walked off that pitch in that wonderful stadium with tears of real happiness in my eyes.
The United players had chaired their captain off the field, all the way to the dressing-room. We Blackpool players walked off' slowly behind our victors. We had lost - lost after twice leading, a record of its kind at Wembley - yet I don’t think wo were too dispirited.
We walked off the turf on to the track which surrounds the finest playing pitch in the British Isles. I happened to glance up to the crowd, loath to go away, staying on to see the curtain rung down on the drama of the Final.
Silent, then —
THERE, standing over the tunnels which led to the dressing-rooms, was a party of Blackpool supporters. They stood there, mute in their disappointment,’ gazing down as their team left the field - without the Cup.
Their silent sympathy with us, their regret at the result was obvious; and across the intervening space, from crowd to players, there seemed some link, some bond of fellowship.
Hardly thinking what I was doing, I waved to that silent crowd.
The effect was magical. They responded with a shout which seemed as mighty as anything we had heard during the pulsating struggle of the match itself. With a thunderous roar they let loose all their hot fanaticism for us and for the game of Soccer.
I thought, as though in a dream lasting only a second or two. of the path to Wembley, of our conquests on it.
I thought of the scramble for tickets; and I thought, too, of the patience and keenness of those cheering supporters, many of whom had travelled all through the night to Wembley.
Comradeship
AND, above all, I thought of the greatness of a game that could develop such sportsmanship, such warm support, such loyalty, and, at the end of a losing match, such spontaneous comradeship with the beaten team.
As I passed from the view of the cheering throng I waved again. They could still see me, but I could not see them. My eyes were filled with tears.
The Saturday afternoon entertainment of so many men and women, the very history of the sport which has progressed with such strides that it has surpassed all others in general appeal, was expressed in that one magical moment which will stay with me for ever.
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