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281 vs. Wales
 

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299 vs. Wales
Wednesday, 10 November 1954
Home International Championship 1954-55 (60th) Match


England 3 Wales 2
[0-1]
 

Empire Stadium, Empire Way, Wembley Park, Wembley, Middlesex
Kick-off (GMT): 2.15pm.
Attendance: 91,112. Winterbottom surpasses one million supporters at the stadium
Billy Wright won the toss Wales kicked off
  [0-1] John Charles 37
Ivor Allchurch's left-footed low cross from the left flies under the goalkeeper and into the line of Charles, who taps in with his right foot from a yard.
Ray Daniel injury - 10 men 37
Derrick Sullivan injury -
9 men 40
3.0 England v. Wales.
4.0
For very young children. 5.0 For children 7.25 weather 7.30 News 7.45 'Barbara's Wedding' a play by J.M. Barrie. 8.15 Scenes from the Operas. 9.15 Viewfinder.
9.45 England v. Wales (highlights)
10.30 News (sound only).


[1-1] Roy Bentley header 70
 5-yard downward header into an empty net from a Stan Matthews right-sided cross
[2-1] Roy Bentley header 76
 jumped with King on the 6-yard line to head in a Roger Byrne looping through ball


[3-2] Roy Bentley 82 HAT-TRICK
 left-footed jab from 6yds after King failed to hold the ball from a Ronnie Allen backheel
10 men for second half
return to full compliment 47





[2-2] John Charles
right-footed strike from 18-yards squeezed low between Wood and the right post
This week's Music Charts

second half live - Commentator: Kenneth Wolstenholme
 
"BENTLEY HAT-TRICK BEATS WALES" Daily Mirror
Officials from Scotland England Party UK ruling on substitutes Wales
Referee (black)
Charles Edward Faultless
46 (5 March 1908), Glasgow.
Teams were presented to the Guest of Honour, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, KG.
flame flag               Linesmen            orange flag
George Levack
Kirkcaldy
James Frater
Darvel
 
England Team
 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 5th
Colours The 1954 Umbro home uniform - White v-necked short-sleeved continental jerseys, blue shorts, black socks with white tops.
P first of 43, W 1 - D 0 - L 0 - F 3 - A 2.
Captain Billy Wright Manager Walter Winterbottom, 41 (31 March 1913), appointed as FA national director of coaching/team manager on 8 July 1946;
record 48th of 90, W 28 - D 9 - L 11 - F 118 - A 76. P 66th of 139, W 41 - D 13 - L 12 - F 192 - A 97, one abandoned.
  ³ Team chosen by Selection Committee, headed by Harold Shentall, on Sunday, 7 November.
England Lineup
  seven changes to the previous match (Wood, Byrne, Wright & Matthews remain) league position (7 November)  
  Wood, Raymond E. 23
152 days
11 June 1931 G Manchester United FC (FL 3rd) 2 2ᵍᵃ
2 Staniforth, Ronald 30
211 days
13 April 1924 RB Huddersfield Town AFC (FL 6th) 7 0
3
Byrne, Roger W. 25
63 days
8 September 1929 LB Manchester United FC (FL 3rd) 8 0
4 Phillips, Leonard H. 32
60 days
11 September 1922 RHB Portsmouth FC (FL 4th) 2 0
5 Wright, William A. 30
277 days
6 February 1924 CHB Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL TOP) 63 3
most apps 1952-54
741 6 Slater, William J. 27
195 days
29 April 1927 LHB Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL TOP) 1 0
the 24th Wanderer to represent England
7
Matthews, Stanley 39
282 days
1 February 1915 OR Blackpool FC (FL 19th) 40 9
oldest outfield player the fourth & oldest player to reach the 40-app milestone
8
Bentley, T.F. Roy 30
177 days
17 May 1924 IR Chelsea FC (FL 12th) 9 6
the 173rd (40th post-war) brace, the 47th (10th post-war) hattrick scored
9
Allen, Ronald 25
299 days
15 January 1929 CF West Bromwich Albion FC (FL 11th) 4 1
10 Shackleton, Leonard F. 32
191 days
3 May 1922 IL Sunderland AFC (FL 2nd) 4 0
742 11 Blunstone, Frank 20
24 days
17 October 1934 OL Chelsea FC (FL 12th) 1 0
the 16th Chelsea player to represent England
reserve: Bill McGarry (Huddersfield Town FC (FL 6th))
team changes: Nat Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers FC (FL 9th)) was named as the original centre-forward, with Ronnie Allen at outside-left. The unused Blunstone was called into the team two days previously, with Allen reverting to his natural forward berth.
team notes: Bill Slater and Frank Blunstone become Winterbottom's 90th and 91st players that he has fielded.
records: This is the first time that an England hattrick has solely contributed to England's victory.
 
2-3-5 Wood -
Staniforth, Byrne -
Phillips, Wright, Slater -
Matthews, Bentley, Allen, Shackleton, Blunstone.
Averages: Age 28 years 344 days Appearances/Goals 12.8 1.5
 
Wales Team
 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 32nd
Colours Made by Umbro - Red jerseys with white collars/cuffs, white shorts with red side stripe, red socks with white tops.
Captain Alf Sherwood Selection International Selection Committee, consisting of nine men, team chosen on Tuesday, 2 November 1954
Wales Lineup
  King, John 20
346 days
29 November 1933 G Swansea Town FC 1 3ᵍᵃ
2 Williams, Stuart G. 24
124 days
9 July 1930 RB West Bromwich Albion FC, England 2 0
3 Sherwood, Alfred T. 30
362 days
13 November 1923 LB Cardiff City FC 34 0
4 Paul, Roy 34
206 days
18 April 1920 RHB Manchester City FC, England 29 1
5 Daniel, W. Raymond, injured off 37th min. Returned 47th min. 26
8 days
2 November 1928 CHB Sunderland AFC, England 16 0
6 Sullivan, Derrick, injured off 40th min., returned for 2nd half. 24
92 days
10 August 1930 LHB Cardiff City FC 5 0
7 Tapscott, Derek.R 22
133 days
30 June 1932 OR Arsenal FC, England 4 0
8 Ford, Trevor 31
40 days
1 October 1923 IR Cardiff City FC 32 22
mst goals
9
Charles, W. John 22
318 days
27 December 1931 CF Leeds United AFC, England 12 7
10
Allchurch, Ivor J. 24
329 days
16 December 1929 IL Swansea Town FC 20 8
11 Clarke, Royston J. 29
162 days
1 June 1925 OL Manchester City FC, England 21 4
reserve: Mel Charles (Swansea Town FC)
team notes: Ray Daniel went off the field with a cut over his right eye. Derrick Sullivan was stretchered off with concussion.
 
2-3-5 King -
Williams, Sherwood -
Paul, Daniel, Sullivan -
Tapscott, Ford, Charles, Allchurch, Clarke
Averages: Age 26 years 194 days Appearances/Goals 16.0 3.6
Sunderland AFC have the unusual distinction of providing a player for each of the home nations over this matchday, with the appearance of Ray Daniel for Wales and Len Shackleton for England, Billy Bingham played for Ireland and Willie Fraser for Scotland.
 
              Match Report by Mike Payne

What a difference a month makes! After their abysmal performance in Belfast, England came back to Wembley to produce a tremendous display which augered well for the future. It was a stirring game from start to finish which built up a thrilling climax with England's late flurry deciding the issue.

On a dismal, rain-soaked November day, the two sides served up some lovely football. Wales contributed much to the game and can consider themselves unlucky not to gain some reward out of it. Over 91,000 people soaked up the atmosphere — and the rain — and they really enjoyed this game.

England soon moved into a smooth rhythm. With some much improved passing they put together some sparkling moves and, but for Ronnie Allen missing a couple of chances, might have taken the lead. As it was, Wales were to do just that in the 35th minute.

Ford, who sold a clever dummy to Billy Wright, allowed the ball to run on to Allchurch. The inside-forward hit a low cross into the middle which Ray Wood failed to cut out. Before anyone could clear the danger, the mighty Charles roared in to score. The Welsh number-nine was magnificent and his duel with Wright was probably the highlight of the game. To the England skipper's credit he contained him well, calling upon all his skill and experience.

Despite the Welsh lead, England continued with their excellent football. The visiting defenders held on doggedly, though, and at half-time they still had their lead. 

England's new inspiration was coming from their wing-halves. Len Phillips and Bill Slater gave fine performances with Phillips always seeming to have that extra yard on the ball. Having played so badly in Belfast, it was also heartening to see the forwards play with so much conviction. Although they missed chances, they all contributed well with Stanley Matthews, Frank Blunstone and Len Shackleton particularly impressive.

Both goalkeepers made fingertip saves as the game continued after the break and it was obvious that England's pressure must bring its rewards. It came with 20 minutes left. Good work by Shackleton and Blunstone gave Matthews the chance to run at Sullivan. A typical burst by the mercurial winger ended with a lovely cross which Roy Bentley outjumped him to head in England in front.

Wales were down but by no means out and a few moments later their fans went wild when they saw Charles once again emphasise his power. This time he declined the obvious pass to Tapscott and elected to swivel and fire in a thunderous shot low past the startled Wood from the edge of the box to make it 2-2.

England were not to be denied, though, and just before the end Phillips found Blunstone with a pass and the winger, capped a promising debut to send a fine low centre into the middle where, once again, Bentley's strength saw him run the ball into the net. The England number-eight thus completed a memorable hat-trick.

Although Ford and Allchurch only just failed with shots at the other end before the final whistle, England had won an excellent victory. To the lasting pleasure of their fans it was the way their team played that was more important. Their football, at times, was a delight.                                                   
  

              Match Report by Norman Giller

Roy Bentley, at last forgiven for his part in the 1950 World Cup humiliation against the United States, celebrated his recall by sinking Wales with a hat-trick. Two of his goals came from headers at the far post after he had exchanged passes with Matthews. John Charles, leading the Welsh attack with fire and flair, scored twice to bring the scores level at 2-2 before Bentley completed his hat-trick two minutes from the end of a thrilling match played on a rain-saturated Wembley surface. Bentley's Chelsea team-mate Frank Blunstone made his England debut on the left wing and Bill Slater played alongside his Wolves skipper Billy Wright in his first international match. The duel between John Charles and Billy Wright was worth the admission money on its own. Two great and talented competitors locked in a struggle for supremacy. Charles won on points, but it would have been a knockout against any other England centre-half that the selectors had tried since the Neil Franklin fiasco. Wright managed to shut the big man out for most of the match, but he took the two chances that came his way in dynamic style.
 

              Match Report by Glen Isherwood

England, the reigning British Champions, had already beaten Northern Ireland 2-0 at Windsor Park. Wales had lost 1-0 to Scotland at Ninian Park and, as in 1952, had to avoid defeat to retain their interest in the Championship.
They took the lead when a cross by Allchurch was converted by John Charles. Wales held this until 20 minutes to go when Roy Bentley headed in from Matthews' centre. Four minutes later King misjudged Byrne's cross and Bentley scored again. Wales took less than a minute to draw level with a clever piece of skill from Charles as he turned swiftly to send a low drive past Wood. England took the points, however, when Blunstone crossed and Bentley came charging in to complete his hat-trick.
Wales avoided finishing bottom by defeating Northern Ireland 3-2 at Windsor Park. England and Scotland were once again left to decide the destiny of the British Championship. The following season Wales beat England for the first time since the war.
   
 

              Match Report as appears in the F.A. Yearbook 1955-56 pages 26-27

For this match at Wembley on November 10th, England completely remodelled her side. In every way it was a memorable afternoon: exciting, dramatic, and occasionally glimpses of really first-class football. England did well to win, though one could not yet say they were a 'complete' team.
Wales had the bad luck to lose two players through injury shortly before half-time; and although they were both back on the field five minutes after the interval, it was difficult to say how much these accidents affected their play. They certainly deserved their half-time lead of one goal to nil; what is more, they held it until 20 minutes from time. Then things really began to happen. Matthews laid on a perfect centre for Bentley to head an equalise; three minutes later the same player headed another one from a long pass by Byrne; one minute later Charles equalised for Wales; and eight minutes from the end Matthews again tied up the Welsh defenders and Bentley completed a noteworthy hat-trick to give England the narrow victory.

  

       In Other News....
It was on 11 November 1954 that London County Council announced plans to build a National Youth and Sports Centre on the site of the Crystal Palace football pitch which had staged twenty FA Cup Finals and four internationals between England and Scotland before the first world war. It was to cost £2.9 million and featured a national athletics stadium, but it would be another ten years before it opened, in 1964.
              Source Notes
TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
Wales' Complete Who's Who since 1946
The Complete Book of the British Charts
Glen Isherwood's Wembley: The Complete Record
  Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record

Norman Giller, Football Author
British Pathé

Drew Herbertson, Scottish FA historian
cg