This Week in County History Part 10 ... 1965

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After a week off, we are back with a trip to the 1960s, or more precisely 1965 - the first of the Go Go Go County years. Vic Bernard launching the slogan, which was apparently adopted from a continental chant, back in July of that year.

 

Whilst they were in the bottom half of the Division Four table our club had made a much more promising start than the previous season when we had been stranded at the bottom.

 

The winds of change that were a feature of the TV impresario Bernard's time at the club had a victim this week with a change of team manager as reported on 28th October. The shock news came through that the future Mr Stockport County Trevor Porteous had resigned and Bury Chief Scout Eddie Quigley would take over with immediate effect.

 

 

 Eddie Quigley

 

 

The following day the new gaffer named his first side for a game against the old Bradford (Park Avenue) side for their visit to EP.

 

Further info was given about the managerial changes in the programme for this game with the club notes saying that Porteous resigned just over a week earlier after he was told that certain changes were required in connection with first team policy. The Chairman insists they did not demand any head-rolling and acted only with the aim of getting Third Division football when they made the alterations.

 

Quigley was apparently selected from a number of notable applicants even though the job was not advertised.

 

 

 Trevor Porteous 

 


 

 

For those memorabilia collectors around at the time, the club announced that lapel badges were now on sale priced 4s. I do not believe I have ever seen one of these but I am sure some fans who are slightly older than me probably still have such a badge in their collection.

 

Another reflection of how things worked at the time was that for the upcoming FA Cup tie at Tranmere, County had been allocated a limited number of stand tickets. These would be sold to season ticket holders from Monday to Wednesday by personal application at the ground. The normal process of postal applications was suspended for this game as there were not enough tickets to supply all season ticket holders. This did of course not prevent fans joining the terrace ranks at the game.

 


As for the match under the lights against PA, it did not start well as Bobby Ham put the visitors in front after just three minutes. Things looked to be improving when veteran Len Allchurch levelled matters ,but by half time Ham had added his second and Geoff Gould gave them a two goal lead.

 

The second half had nearly been completed before Keith Allen notched on 82 ,but no equaliser was in the offing, leaving us 16th in the table. Perhaps it is worth noting that the attendance was 11,023 As crowds had surged this season as the town was motivated to turn out by the positive plans and attitude of the owners.

 

 Len Allchurch

 


The new boss had named an unchanged team, probably no surprise as they had won 4-1 against Wrexham in the most recent match.

County: Graham Beighton, Frank Beaumont, Ean Cuthbert, Billy Haydock, Norman Sykes, David Shawcross, Len Allchurch, Len White, Dick Young, Keith Allen and Johnny Price

Bradford: John Hardie, Alec Gordon, Gerry Lightowler, Ken Taylor, Don McCalman, Paul I'Anson, Bobby Ham, Kevin Hector, Jim Fryatt, Albert Broadbent and Geoff Gould

 

Opposition centre forward Jim Fryatt, who later had two spells at County where he was known for his sideburns, was at this time recognisable for his "impressive beard" which was worthy of specific reference in the programme.

 

For the County keeper that night it would turn out to be his final first team game as Ken Mulhearn took over from Beighton for the next match.

 

 Graham Beighton + SCAN certificate !

 


 

 

Mulhearn had kept a clean sheet in the Cheshire League game at Mossley the previous day in a goalless draw. The reserves side that day was Mulhearn, John Collins, Maurice Tillotson, Mike Eckersall, Colin Parry, Adrian Mitchell, Frank Peacock, Ian Sandiford, Dennis Hoggart and Ian Mitchell

 

Our two Lancashire League sides conceded 10 (ten) goals without reply against the youngsters of Manchester United the same day.

 

Back next week all being well, with another dip into the past.

 

Ian Watts

 

 

 

 


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