This week in County History -1934 by Ian Watts

  

This week in County History 1934

 

The main news ahead of the earliest season' opening game in the club`s history to date were reflections on the new signings and the final pre-season practice match.

 

In those days the squad played internal practice games, usually with spectators admitted with receipts often being donated to local charitable causes.

Comments from the `Practice Game` mentioned that the recovery of captain Joe Hill from his injury that occurred the previous season was noted as a significant reason for good hopes for the months ahead, as he gave a delightful display of football.

 

With the summer departures of Percy Downes, Jack Stevens and Eddie Vincent plus virtually all their Cheshire League (reserve) men some new recruits were needed.

 

The Southport programme reported that given the better support the club have managed to pay summer wages and recruit the men they wanted. A fairly long list of the new men followed.

 

 

 

 

 

Leslie Cant, a goalkeeper aged 22, 5' 10. He has played one and a half seasons for Bury and was born in Medonsley, County Durham.

Albert Lumberg can play in either full-back position, and is a native of Wrexham. The Welsh International stands 5'8"  tall. Previously with Wrexham, Wolves and Brighton.

Geo Wilson is a native of Arlecdon who plays at full-back. The 23-year-old is 5' 7.5" tall and a strong defensive player who should make a good partner for Fred Jenkinson if necessary. [

Alec Betton was regarded as County's most important capture during the summer, and a large transfer fee was paid to Newcastle United. 

 Alec Betton

 

 

The centre-half played 30 times for Newcastle. He was born in New Tupton and was at one time a pit boy. He came to prominence playing in cup-ties for Scarborough. Has also spent two seasons at Chesterfield, he was signed as a full-back in the 1929-30 season and gained his first team place in 1932-33. Stands 6' tall.

Sid Urwin is an outside-right or centre-forward. He has played for Bradford City, Chesterfield and Lincoln City. He was with the latter club last season, Born at High Spen, Newcastle he is 22 and stands 5' 7.5".

An outside right or left, Arthur Welsby is a native of Wigan. He has been with Sunderland and Wigan Borough, but was with Exeter City last season. Aged 28 he stands 5' , and one of the Workington players who last season made football history in the FA Cup. A native of Carlisle he is 22 years old and stands 5' 8” tall. He scored 30 goals in the North Eastern league last season.

London born Jimmy Collins can play as a centre or inside forward. Jimmy had two seasons with Queen's Park Rangers before joining Rochdale last season. The 22-year-old stands 5' 8.5"  tall and is a rare opportunist with a strong shot.

Eddie Green , an inside left , spent last season with Manchester United after previously playing for Portsmouth and Derby County. He is 5' 11” tall.

Wilf Aspinall is a Workington youth who has had two seasons at Sheffield Wednesday. The inside left was another of Workington's FA Cup squad last season.

John Dunkerley is an outside left who was signed by Manchester United last season. The 21-year-old was discovered in Manchester junior football and stands 5' 7".

Les Caiels, an outside-left, spent last season with Irish League champions and winners of three cups- Linfield. The 24-year-old stands 5. 7.75” and scored 26 goals from outside left last season.

 

So, for those days- quite a haul of new men, and  a busy summer for secretary Martin getting all the forms sorted.

 

Thus, on Saturday 25th August 1934 came that opener as Southport headed to Edgeley Park. There were 11,616 at the game mostly filling the terraces with the old main stand housing those more prosperous patrons.

 

It was probably a day they would talk about for many a year as diminutive striker Alf Lythgoe equalled a club record - a five-goal haul in a Football League game!

 

 

 

 

 

The match report said he might well have scored another 3 but was foiled by the skill of Morrison in the Southport goal who showed fine anticipation.

 

 Jabez Foulkes

Basic facts and figures from the game are we led 3-0 at half time before winning 6-1. One of Alf's goals was a penalty whilst Jabez Foulkes scored our other goal. 

 

 

 

The teams on that great day for Alf and the rest of the side were:

County: Dick Finnigan, Albert Lumberg, Fred Jenkinson, Charlie Robinson, Alec Betton, Len Jones, Jabez Foulkes, Joe Hill, Alf Lythgoe, Jimmy Stevenson and George McKenzie

Southport: Bob Morrison, Jack Seagrave, Jack Grainger, Chris Greene, Jock Scott, Jock Morgan, Bob Griffith, Harry Deacon, Jack Diamond, Jimmy Proudfoot and Billy Jeavons

The debutants that day were Alec Betton (SCAN 417), , Albert Lumberg (418) And George McKenzie (419).

 

Alf's achievement matched those of a couple of Hatters over the previous six years namely Joe Smith (twice) and Frank Newton who had scored five in a game,

 

On the same day the club's reserve side included a fair few of those men mentioned previously, but it was not a good day for the new custodian. In this Cheshire League game over at Moston Lane, Blackley, Manchester North End put the ball in the net five times with the visitors responding with a brace from Syd Urwin.

County's side was: Les Cant, George Wilson, Tom Adamson, Harold Taylor, Bob Still, Joe Taylor, John Stanger, Wilf Aspinall, Syd Urwin, Eddie Green and Leonard Caiels

 

To complete the set of results on that opening day the 'A' team played in a Manchester League match down the line at Buxton Reserves and suffered a heavy 0-6 defeat. No team news for that game has yet been traced.

 

More next week and for those who get the match programme there will be a similar article in the Blackpool edition from this week in 1996.

(With thanks to the County collectors who have let us images of items from their collections.)

Ian Watts