|
"THIS
SIDE WON'T BEAT WORLD"
Daily Mirror |
Officials
from
Netherlands |
England |
UK ruling on substitutes |
Scotland |
Referee
(orange)
Pieter Paulus Roomer
37 (6 April 1920), Rotterdam |
Teams presented to the Guest of Honour,
the Earl of
Rosebery.
|
flame flag
Linesmen
orange flag |
Willam Beltman 38
(17 August 1916), Den Haag |
Klaas Schipper
46 (2 December 1910), Groningen |
|
|
England
Team |
|
Rank |
No official ranking system established; ELO rating 4th |
Colours |
The 1954 Umbro
home uniform -
White v-necked short-sleeved continental jerseys, blue shorts, red
socks with white tops. |
P 18th of 43, W 11 - D 4 - L 3 - F 49 - A 22. |
Captain |
Billy Wright |
Manager |
Walter Winterbottom, 44 (31 March 1913), appointed as FA national director of coaching/team manager on 8 July 1946; |
record 67th of 90, W 40 - D 13 - L 14 - F 170 - A 98. |
Trainer: J. Marshall (Sheffield Wednesday FC) |
P 85th of 139, W 53
- D 17 - L 15 - F 244 - A 119,
one abandoned. |
|
³ |
Team chosen by Selection Committee, headed by Joe Mears on Monday, 25 March, in Sheffield. |
England
Lineup |
|
four changes
to the previous match
(Ditchburn, Dickinson, Brooks &
Taylor out) |
league position
(25 March) |
|
77 |
|
Hodgkinson, Alan |
20 233 days |
16 August 1936 |
G |
Sheffield United FC (FL2
5th) |
1 |
1ᵍᵃ |
758 |
the 29th United player to represent England |
2 |
Hall, Jeffrey J. |
27 211 days |
7 September 1929 |
RB |
Birmingham
City FC (FL 12th) |
14 |
0 |
3 |
Byrne, Roger W. |
27 210 days |
8 September 1929 |
LB |
Manchester United FC (FL
TOP) |
27 |
0 |
4 |
Clayton, Ronald |
22 244 days |
5 August 1934 |
RHB |
Blackburn Rovers FC (FL2
3rd) |
11 |
0 |
5 |
Wright, William A. |
33 59 days |
6 February 1924 |
CHB |
Wolverhampton
Wanderers FC (FL 6th) |
82 |
3 |
most apps 1952-57 |
6
|
Edwards, Duncan |
20 187 days |
1 October 1936 |
LHB |
Manchester United FC (FL TOP) |
12 |
4 |
7
|
Matthews, Stanley |
42 64 days |
1 February 1915 |
OR |
Blackpool FC (FL
4th) |
52 |
10 |
oldest England player |
8 |
Thompson, Thomas |
28 147 days |
10 November 1928 |
IR |
Preston
North End FC (FL
2nd) |
2 |
0 |
the 14th North End player to represent England |
final app 1951-57 |
9 |
Finney,
Thomas |
35 1 day |
5 April 1922 |
CF |
Preston
North End FC (FL
2nd) |
64 |
27 |
759 |
10
|
Kevan, Derek T. |
22 31 days |
6 March 1935 |
IL |
West Bromwich Albion FC (FL
10th) |
1 |
1 |
the 31st Albion player to represent England |
11
|
Grainger,
Colin |
23 300 days |
10 June 1933 |
OL |
Sunderland
AFC (FL 19th) |
7 |
3 |
the 17th Sunderland player to represent England |
final app 1956-57 |
reserve: |
Ray Barlow (West Bromwich Albion FC (FL
10th)) |
team notes: |
Billy Wright extends his record appearance tally, in his record 47th
consecutive match. |
pre-match notes: |
"ENGLISH TEAM practise
"Matthews will be fit to play for England
against Scotland on Saturday at Wembley Stadium. He telephoned the news to
the team manager, Mr. W. Winterbottom, from his Blackpool home, and joined
his England team-mates at Hendon last night. The England team played a
practise game against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, but Edwards,
the Manchester United left-half, did not take part. He had complained of
slight soreness in his legs, because of the amount of football he has
recently been playing. He received heat treatment and massage. The
enthusiastic Edwards, however, could not refrain from kicking the ball
when he went out for a run round the pitch and on one occasion he took a
corner kick. It is expected that Matthews and Edwards will participate in
the training session this morning at Highbury. Kevan and Grainger scored
for England in their 2-0 win over Tottenham and Hodgkinson (Sheffield
United) played well in goal."
- The Glasgow Herald, Wednesday, 3 April 1957. "On the
Friday, a match was arranged with a Bank of England team. It was
nothing more than a kick-about for us England players, though I
learned such a game always took place as a 'thank you' to the Bank for
allowing England to use their facilities."- Between The
Sticks, Alan Hodgkinson. |
records: |
England win a record ninth match in
a row at Wembley, extending their tally. It also extends their record
sequence of nine matches unbeaten at the stadium. Derek Kevan is
the 143rd player to
score
a goal on his England debut. Winterbottom/ISC have now chosen
150 different players in England parties. |
|
2-3-5 |
Hodgkinson - Hall, Byrne - Clayton, Wright, Edwards -
Matthews, Thompson, Finney, Kevan, Grainger. |
Averages: |
Age |
27 years 222
days |
Appearances/Goals |
24.8 |
4.2 |
England teams v. Scotland: |
1956: |
R.Matthews |
Hall |
Byrne |
Dickinson |
Wright |
Edwards |
Finney |
Taylor |
Lofthouse |
Haynes |
Perry |
1957: |
Hodgkinson |
Hall |
Byrne |
Clayton |
Wright |
Edwards |
S.Matthews |
Thompson |
Finney |
Kevan |
Grainger |
|
|
Scotland
Team |
|
Rank |
No official ranking system established; ELO rating 17th |
Colours |
Made by Umbro -
Dark blue continental jerseys with white v-neck
collars/cuffs,
white shorts, blue socks with red tops. |
Captain |
George Young |
Selection |
The Scottish Football Association Selection
Committee on Wednesday, 27 March 1957. |
Trainer: Dawson Walker (Clyde FC) |
Scotland
Lineup |
|
Younger, Thomas |
26 361 days |
10 April 1930 |
G |
Hibernian FC |
12 |
14ᵍᵃ |
723 |
2 |
Caldow, Eric |
22 327 days |
14 May 1934 |
RB |
Rangers FC |
1 |
0 |
3
|
Hewie, John D. |
27 115 days |
12 December 1928 in Pretoria,
South Africa |
LB |
Charlton Athletic FC, England |
6 |
0 |
4 |
McColl, John Miller |
29 303 days |
7 June 1927 |
RHB |
Rangers FC |
9 |
0 |
5 |
Young, George L. |
34 161 days |
27 October 1922 |
CHB |
Rangers FC |
52 |
0 |
most apps
1952-57 |
6 |
Docherty, Thomas H. |
28 347 days |
24 April 1928 |
LHB |
Preston North End FC, England |
14 |
1 |
7 |
Collins, Robert Y. |
26
49 days |
16 February 1931 |
OR |
The Celtic FC |
10 |
0 |
8 |
Fernie, William |
28 135 days |
22 November 1928 |
IR |
The Celtic FC |
9 |
1 |
9 |
Reilly, Lawrance |
28 160 days |
28 October 1928 |
CF |
Hibernian FC |
38 |
22 |
final app 1948-57 |
10 |
Mudie, John K. |
26 361 days |
10 April 1930 |
IL |
Blackpool FC, England |
4 |
1 |
11
|
Ring, Thomas |
26 241 days |
8 August 1930 |
OL |
Clyde FC |
6 |
2 |
reserves: |
Travelling reserve is William McNaught (Raith Rovers FC). Full team of reserves are
Bill Brown (Dundee FC); John Hewie and Ian Rae (Falkirk FC); Dave Mackay (Heart of
Midlothian FC), McNaught and Mackay; Gordon Smith
(Hibernian FC) and Bobby Collins (The Celtic FC); Willie Bauld (Heart of Midlothian
FC),
Ian Gardiner (Motherwell FC) and Ian Crawford (Heart of Midlothian FC). |
|
2-3-5 |
Younger - Caldow, Hewie - McColl, Young, Docherty -
Collins, Fernie, Reilly, Mudie, Ring |
Averages: |
Age |
28 years 3
days |
Appearances/Goals |
14.6 |
2.5 |
|
|
Match Report
by Mike
Payne |
SCOTLAND had a dream
start to this international match at Wembley. Within 60 seconds of the
opening whistle they were a goal in front. Ring, intercepted a pass from
Jeff Hall intended for Stan Matthews, burst past Billy Wright into a huge
space before easily beating Alan Hodgkinson with a good shot — not the
best of starts for England's new goalkeeper on his debut.
For the next 25
minutes Scotland had a good deal of the play and the pressure and could
easily have wrapped up the result during that spell. That they didn't was
due mainly to Wright, who drew on all his experience and skill to snuff
out any attack that threatened the his goal. He was always there to help
his fellow defenders when they were in trouble, especially Hall, who had a
difficult time with the lively Ring.
Despite Wright's fine
form, the Scots created several clear chances. Docherty a tigerish
wing-half, and McColl, had a firm grip in the midfield and three times
Hodgkinson, who lacks inches, was struggling with high crosses. However,
the goalkeeper lacks nothing in bravery and dived at both Reilly and
Ring's feet to avert dangerous situations.
As the half wore on ,
Wright's influence began to rub off on his teammates, Hall worked hard to
subdue Ring, and Mudie and Fernie lost the impetus of their early play and
allowed England to come more into the game, perhaps that was the crucial
factor in the final outcome.
There was a dramatic moment straight
after half-time when Scotland had a goal disallowed by the Dutch referee.
Hodgkinson, challenged by Reilly, dropped a cross at the feet of Fernie,
who promptly shot home, but the referee ordered a free-kick, adjudging
Reilly's challenge unfair. That would have made it 2-0 but as it was
England then took control for the rest of the match and gradually turned
the result around.
Things did not flow that freely for them,
though, and their disjointed forward line did not look a combined unit.
Tommy Thompson was far too easily shackled by his Preston clubmate
Docherty and Derek Kevan, too, looked a little below international class.
However, Kevan did not appear to be afraid to shoot and it was he who
equalised in the 63rd minute. Indeed, it was Kevan who started the move as
passes flowed between him, Thompson Kevan again, Tom Finney and Colin
Grainger, who took it down the left to centre. Kevan, who was following
up, met the cross as he dived headlong to finish off the move he had
started.
Stanley Matthews, who had had a quiet game up to now,
suddenly began to turn on the style. With six minutes left he set up
Duncan Edwards to score one of the best goals ever seen at Wembley. A
typical dribble by the Blackpool winger ended with a square pass inside.
The ball was some 25 yards from goal when Edwards came streaming in. The
youngster hit it with ferocious power and the ball was in the net before
Younger could move. It was a goal fit to win a much better match than this
one and will be remembered long after the game is forgotten.
|
Match Report
by Norman
Giller |
Duncan Edwards snatched victory for England six minutes from the end with
a blistering twenty-five yard shot that thumped into the net off a post.
The Scots had got off to a flying start when Sheffield United goalkeeper
Alan Hodgkinson had to pick the ball out of his net just a minute into his
debut. He was beaten by a snap shot from Clyde winger Tommy Ring after he
had intercepted a pass meant for Stanley Matthews. Derek Kevan, making his
debut in place of Johnny Haynes, equalised in the sixty-second minute with
a diving header from a Colin Grainger cross. Scottish fans were convinced
they were robbed when Willie Fernie bundled the ball into the net after it
had been dropped by Hodgkinson following a jolting Lawrie Reilly
shoulder-charge. The Dutch referee ruled that the goalkeeper had both feet
off the ground when contact was made. Tommy Docherty was the pick of the
Scottish players, giving a powerhouse performance in midfield and
completely shutting out his Preston team-mate Tommy Thompson, who was
winning his first cap for six years. The winning goal was set up by
Matthews, who beat two defenders before squaring the ball into the path of
Edwards. He hit a fierce first-time shot wide of goalkeeper Tommy Younger.
|
Match Report
by Glen Isherwood |
England needed only a point for a record sixth successive British
Championship, but a draw would mean they shared it with Scotland. Victory
for the Scots would give them their first outright win since 1951, when
they last beat England. Their previous visit had been a traumatic
experience. In the first
minute, Tommy Ring intercepted a clearance from Hall, beat Wright and shot
Scotland into the lead. They held it until the second half when Grainger
crossed and Derek Kevan dived in to head the equaliser. With six minutes
left, England snatched victory. From a pass by Matthews, Duncan Edwards
hammered home the winner from fully 25 yards out. The following year,
England recorded their biggest ever victory at Hampden Park, Glasgow in
the British Championship when they beat Scotland 4-0.
|
Match Report
as appears in the F.A. Yearbook 1957-58 pages 33-34 |
The match to decide the home championship
was played at Wembley before the usual 100,000. In a sensational start
Scotland were a goal up in the first minute. Ring dashed forward to
intercept a pass from Hall to Matthews, cut inside and with his right foot
cracked a low drive into the corner of England's goal. It was not until
well into the second half that Kevan leapt high into the air to head the
equaliser, and between those two goals there had been much drab football.
Seven minutes from time Edwards gave England the victory with a powerful
drive from more than 20 yards range. These three brilliantly taken goals
were the redeeming features of an otherwise disappointing game.
|
In
Other News....
It was on 6 April 1957 that BBC Midlands sports presenter,
David Coleman, unwittingly gave his name to the phenomenon
of sporting commentary gaffes when, not realising that his
words were being broadcast to the region, he remarked to a
studio technician, who had momentarily failed to broadcast
the vision to go with the audio, "Trust you to make a balls
of that". Coleman went on to become a household name at BBC
Sport, and in 1982, the satirical magazine, Private Eye,
mocked him by repeating some of his commentary slip-ups, as
well as by other sports broadcasters, in an occasional
series called Colemanballs. Its success over a 28-year
period spawned 16 Colemanballs books, whilst an ITV Spitting
Image puppet caricatured his excitable style of sports
presenting and athletics commentaries. |
|
Source
Notes |
TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
The Complete Book of the British Charts
LondonHearts.com 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 |
|
cg |