SHEPHERDSON GIVEN TRAINING 'CAP'
HAROLD SHEPHERDSON, 39 year-old ex-Middlesbrough centre-half, will act as trainer to England's side against Wales in Cardiff next Saturday. Shepherdson, Middlesbrough's trainer for eight years, wins his first 'cap,' although he has twice trained Football League teams in Scotland. Since Jimmy Trotter became Charlton's manager just over a year ago England have not had a regular trainer—a most important position. The F.A. International Committee have tried out several leading trainers.
   As only five international matches are left before the World Cup in June, the time is drawing near when a regular man must be appointed. Inevitably, the trainer has considerable influence on the success of the team.
Shepherdson's appointment next week may make him favourite for the job, a job which can take him to every corner of the world. If he does follow— Trotter, the F.A. could not have picked a more capable assistant for team-manager Walter Winterbottom." - John Camkin, News Chronicle, Saturday, 12 October 1957.
  

ENGLAND stretched their unbeaten run to 16 games with this easy victory over the Welsh in Cardiff. Ironically, it was Wales who were the last team to beat England, two years earlier, but there was never any chance of a repeat result this time. Without the likes of John Charles, Tapscott and Allchurch in their ranks Wales were a pale shadow of their previous sides and they had little to offer. Indeed, it must be said that this was the poorest Welsh team for many years.

A gift goal, right at the beginning, sent England on their way. Johnny Haynes, so often the instigator of the visitor's attacks, threaded a strong through ball for Derek Kevan to chase. Hopkins intercepted and turned to roll the ball back to Kelsey, unaware that his goalkeeper had advanced from his goal. The ball trickled agonisingly over the line to give England a very fortunate lead.

The poor start seemed to upset the Welsh and for long periods there was only one side in it. Tom Finney, Haynes and Duncan Edwards combined well down the left and repeatedly tore large holes in the home defence. England should really have finished off the game i the first half but some scrappy play meant few clear chances especially as the forwards tended to bunch up. The second goal was long overdue but when it did come it was a real beauty.

Billy Wright sent a long pass forward and Tommy Taylor cleverly flicked it to Haynes. The inside-left took it brilliantly in his stride, advanced a few paces, and then hit a low, hard shot ito the far corner from the edge of the area. Almost immediately the half-time whistle blew with only the solid performances of Hopkins, despite his own-goal, and Bowen keeping the score down to 2-0. The rain-soaked crowd had little to cheer.

The second half continued with the same pattern and on 64 minutes England scored the best goal of the match. Wright found Haynes and once again the schemer-in-chief set up a chance. This time he sent Finney away. Finney approached the defenders and, as Haynes made a decoy run outside him, the winger dummied his markers before cutting inside to hit a screamer into the far corner of Kelsey's net.

Soon afterwards it was 4-0. Kevan's square pass was again picked up by Haynes and he once more quickly despatched a firm shot into the corner. It was a clinical piece of finishing and already the Welsh fans began to sadly drift away from the stadium knowing their side had been well beaten.

England's three new caps, Eddie Hopkinson, Don Howe and Bryan Douglas, all had their moments although Douglas had little chance to shine as most of the England play was channeled down the left side. To succeed in following the legendary Stanley Matthews, Douglas would need better service from inside than Kevan gave him on this occasion.
 

Wales were in trouble from the moment early in the game when left-back Mel Hopkins passed the ball wide of goalkeeper Jack Kelsey and into his own net.  Missing the powerful influence of the absent John Charles, Wales caved in to two goals from Johnny Haynes and a brilliant strike from Tom Finney. Goalkeeper Eddie Hopkinson, right-back Don Howe and outside-right Bryan Douglas  - the 'new Matthews' -  all made impressive debuts. There was another debutant. Middlesbrough's Harold Shepherdson was having his first match as trainer, a job he would hold for sixteen years.
   

England included three new caps in the first of their full Internationals - Hopkinson, Howe, and Douglas, as goal-keeper, right-back, and outside-right, respectively. The final score was a fair reflection of the run of play, but it must be stated that Wales failed to rise to the occasion as they often do in International matches in Cardiff. England got off to a good start when Hopkins put one through his own goal after five minutes; Haynes added a second before half-time with a really superb shot from 25 yards following a pass by Wright. The England half-back line was always in control of the Welsh side, for whom only only Kelsey, Bowen, and Jones played up to their best form. It was no surprise, therefore, when Finney slipped past two Welshmen and shot home for the third goal. A fourth by Haynes - another drive from outside the penalty-area - completed the scoring, and set the seal on a fine display by England, in which Haynes excited.