This week in County History part 7 ... 1953

Back after a couple of weeks away, my phone tells me its week 40 of the calendar year on Saturday and I have picked out the same week from 73 years ago to feature.

 

The week started with a Tuesday night draw at Prenton Park against Tranmere Rovers.

 

 

 

 

 

County trailed twice but each time gained an equaliser in this match which came just after we had beaten the same opponents 6-0 at Edgeley Park. Kenny McDevitt had put the Rovers in front but demon scorer Jack Connor levelled things up. Cyril Done restored the lead but Bob Murray notched our second to take home a point.

 

 

 

 

 

The teams on 29^th September were:

Rovers: Harold Lloyd, Bill Lamont, Percy Steele, Ralph Millington, Harry Bell, Len Kieran, Kenny McDevitt, Bill Bainbridge, Cyril Done, Ray Williams and Mike Fleming

County: Dennis Herod, Fred Kenny, Len Rowland, George Pilkington, Gordon Wilmott, Billy McCulloch, Chris Anderson, Bob Murray, Jack Connor, Frank Clempson and Ray Weigh

 

 

 

On the following day the reserves hosted Altrincham first team in a Cheshire League game with their visitors being managed by a County player from the 1930s, Alf Lythgoe. 

 

The second string were also to draw 2-2 in their own Cheshire derby, goals from Percy Anderson and Andy Black being recorded for the homesters.

 Andy Black

 

 

 

County Reserves: Roy Vairy, Joe Jarvis, Ron Evans, Ken Hodder, Ernie Corfield, Andy Black, Percy Anderson, Eddie Moran and Allen Oliver

 

 Allen Oliver

There were repercussions from that Alty game as Allan Oliver asked to be transfer listed following the barracking he received by fans at the game.  He said he had no complaint against the club itself, and his request was approved by the board. The player who was signed from Derby County would eventually switch to fellow Three (North) side Gateshead the following summer.

 

Later that week the local paper reported a change to arrangements for those who preferred to watch the game from the main stand. From the following Saturday stand seats could no longer be booked after 12 noon. After that time patrons must enter the stand at the block F section turnstile (Shaw Heath end) or the block A section turnstile (Cheadle Heath end). Presumably at this time those who had booked a specific seat entered at what is now the Players and Officials entrance - can anyone confirm this?

 

Saturday's visit of Barrow well and truly brought an end to those drawn games as the opposition was sent off back up North on the back of a 5-1 defeat.

 

 Ray Weigh.

 

The home side led 2-1 at the interval but completed a comprehensive victory in the second half in front of  9,261. Three of our five man forward line were in the goals with Bob Murray (with a brace), Jack Connor and Ray Weigh on the scoresheet. Barrow man Bevis Wilson notching an own goal. The visitors first half response came from  Andy McLaren. Another goal for the Hatters scored by Chris Anderson was disallowed when the referee decided he had called for an opposition man to leave the ball.

The teams that Saturday 3rd October were:

County: Dennis Herod, Len Rowland, Fred Kenny, George Pilkington, Gordon Wilmott, Billy McCulloch, Chris Anderson, Bob Murray, Jack Connor, Frank Clempson and Ray Weigh

Barrow: Alan Coglan, Derrick Renshaw, Willie Buchan, Jack Keen, Bev Wilson, Jim Collins, Alan Layton, Andy McLaren, Billy Gordon, Alan Keen and Tommy King

 

County had reported the return to training of a couple of men the week before but this match put another out of action as  Fred Kenny pulled a muscle and had to retire to the wing - a common occurrence with no substitutes if the player was not deemed injured enough to be taken off. 

 

 

 

 

 

 The left back was however injured enough to miss the next match despite the precaution of taking him out of the defence. 

The reserves headed to Wales to play that well known Cheshire side Wrexham in their next Cheshire League  game on the day of the Barrow victory. In fact the League at times included clubs from,   Shropshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The welsh  reserve side won the game 3-2. The Hatters goals were scored by  Percy Anderson and former schoolboy football legend Bryan Brennan.

County Reserves: Laurie Platts, Joe Jarvis, Gordon Kennedy, Keith Pendlebury, Ken Hodder, Monty Wright, Ernie Corfield, Percy Anderson, Bryan Brennan, Eddie Moran and Allen Oliver

 

        There were still two other matches to report on that Saturday. In the Manchester League the 'A' team travelled to Ball Haye Green and recorded a 1-1 draw. Their opponents that day are still going strong and are based in the Staffordshire Moorlands at Leek. Whilst in the modern version of the Lancashire League, then in its third season,  our 'B' team beat their Bury counterparts by the only goal of the game.

 

Ian Watts