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249 vs. Republic of Ireland
 
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311 vs. Scotland

312
next match (7 days)
313 vs. Denmark
314 vs. Republic of Ireland

'U23'  9 vs. Bulgaria
Wednesday, 8 May 1957
VM Coupe Jules Rimet Fotboll UEFA Group One Qualification Match


England
 5 Republic of Ireland 1
[4-0]
 
Empire Stadium, Empire Way, Wembley Park, Wembley, Middlesex
Kick-off (BST): 3.00pm
Attendance: '52,000'; Receipts: '£18,208';


"The first international match between England and Russia has been provisionally fixed for Wednesday, May 8, 1957, probably at Wembley. This match was included in the international and representative programme for 1956-57, announced
[Wednesday, 7 March] by the Football Association following Monday's meeting of the International Committee."
Tommy Taylor kicked off  
[1-0] Tommy Taylor 10
 'Ronnie Clayton pushed the ball down the wing to Taylor, who cut in and scored with a cross-shot'
[2-0] Tommy Taylor 17
 'slammed the ball home right-footed from 20yds with pinpoint accuracy after picking up a Tom Finney pass in Ireland's half and dribbled past three men'
[3-0] John Atyeo header 38
 'Kelly pushed Tom Finney's cross-shot on to Atyeo to head into the net.'
[4-0] Tommy Taylor header 40 HATTRICK
 'Kelly failed to reach Tom Finney's corner and was hurt as Taylor headed in.'

fiftieth goal scored in the 1954 Uniform
2.55 World Cup: England v. Ireland
4.45 Watch With Mother 5.0 Children 5.5 Question Marks 5.57 Weather 6.0 News 6.05 Tonight 6.30 The Glass Cage 6.45 World Cup: Scotland v. Spain (7.30 News). 8.30 Nathaniel Titlark....
11 Telerecording of England v. Ireland




[5-1] John Atyeo 89
 'Tom Finney went through in another electric burst, saved on the dead line and chipped back into the middle for Atyeo to shoot powerfully'
[4-1] Dermot Curtis header 56
'Joe Haverty slipped past Edwards and made a quick centre. Curtis headed the ball and Byrne's head at the same time.'
[4-1] Bill Whelan's shot hit underside of crossbar 86
This week's Music Charts

Commentator: Kenneth Wolstenholme and Walley Barnes
    
"ENGLAND PUNCHING ON TO WORLD CUP" Daily Mirror
Officials from Scotland England Party FIFA ruling on substitutes Republic of Ireland
Referee
Hugh Phillips
36 (4 April 1921), Wishaw, Lanarkshire
Teams presented to the Guest of Honour, the Earl of Rosebery.
flame flag               Linesmen            orange flag
William R. Leggatt
Clydebank
Alexander Purves
Edinburgh
 
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 19th of 43, W 12 - D 4 - L 3 - F 54 - A 23.
Captain Billy Wright Manager Walter Winterbottom, 44 (31 March 1913), appointed as FA national director of coaching/team manager on 8 July 1946;
record 68th of 90, W 41 - D 13 - L 14 - F 175 - A 99. P 86th of 139, W 54 - D 17 - L 15 - F 249 - A 120, one abandoned.
  ³ Team chosen by Selection Committee, headed by Joe Mears, on Sunday, 28 April.
England Lineup
  three changes to the previous match (Atyeo, Taylor & Haynes>Thompson, Kevan & Grainger) league position (28 April)  
Hodgkinson, Alan 20
265 days
16 August 1936 G Sheffield United FC (FL2 7th) 2 2ᵍᵃ
2 Hall, Jeffrey J. 27
243 days
7 September 1929 RB Birmingham City FC (FL 12th) 15 0
3 Byrne, Roger W. 27
242 days
8 September 1929 LB Manchester United FC (FL CHAMPIONS) 28 0
4
Clayton, Ronald 22
276 days
5 August 1934 RHB Blackburn Rovers FC (FL2 3rd) 12 0
5 Wright, William A. 33
91 days
6 February 1924 CHB Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL 6th) 83 3
most apps 1952-57
6 Edwards, Duncan 20
219 days
1 October 1936 LHB Manchester United FC (FL CHAMPIONS) 13 4
7 Matthews, Stanley 42
96 days
1 February 1915 OR Blackpool FC (FL 4th) 53 10
oldest England player
8
Atyeo, P. John W. 25
90 days
7 February 1932 IR Bristol City FC (FL2 13th) 4 3
the 187th (54th post-war) brace scored
9
Taylor, Thomas 25
99 days
29 January 1932 CF Manchester United FC (FL CHAMPIONS) 14 12
the 186th (53rd post-war) brace, the fiftieth (13th post-war) hattrick scored
10 Haynes, John N. 22
203 days
17 October 1934 IL Fulham FC (FL2 11th) 11 5
11
Finney, Thomas 35
33 days
5 April 1922 OL Preston North End FC (FL 3rd) 65 27
reserves: Reg Matthews (Chelsea FC (FL 13th)), Jim Langley (Brighton & Hove Albion FC (FL3S 5th)), Roy Gratrix (Blackpool FC (FL 4th)), Johnny Wheeler (Liverpool FC (FL2 4th)), Ray Barlow (West Bromwich Albion FC (FL 11th)), Tony Marchi (Tottenham Hotspur FC (FL RU)), Nat Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers FC (FL 9th)), Albert Quixall (Sheffield Wednesday FC (FL 14th)), Dennis Stevens (Bolton Wanderers FC (FL 9th)), Arthur Kaye (Barnsley FC (FL2 19th)), David Pegg (Manchester United FC (FL CHAMPIONS)).
team notes: Billy Wright extends his record appearance tally, in his record 48th consecutive match.
Ron Clayton was playing against his club manager, Johnny Carey.
hat-trick notes: Tommy Taylor's second hattrick is the third at this stadium England have scored.
He is the first player since Bill Dean in May 1927 to score a hattrick in two consecutive matches, and fourth goalscorer overall.
Stadium records: England win a record tenth match in a row at Wembley, extending their tally. It also extends their record sequence of ten matches unbeaten at the stadium.
It is Walter Winterbottom's twentieth visit to the stadium as the manager of the England senior team.
 
2-3-5 Hodgkinson -
Hall, Byrne -
Clayton, Wright, Edwards -
Matthews, Atyeo, Taylor, Haynes, Finney
.
Averages: Age 27 years 204 days Appearances/Goals 27.3 5.4
 
Republic of Ireland Team
 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 24th
Colours Green jerseys with white collar, white shorts, white and green hooped socks.
Captain Peter Farrell Team Manager John Joseph Carey, 38 (23 February 1919), appointed 1955 (also manager of Blackburn Rovers FC since 1954)
team chosen by the Selection Committee on Saturday evening, 27 April 1957
Trainer: W. Lord (Shamrock Rovers FC)
Republic of Ireland Lineup
Kelly, Alan J.A. 20
307 days
5 July 1936 G Drumcondra FC 2 5ᵍᵃ
2 Donovan, Daniel C. 27
136 days
23 December 1929 RB Everton FC, England 5 0
final app 1954-57
3 Cantwell, Noel E.C. 25
69 days
28 February 1932 LB West Ham United FC, England 5 1
4 Farrell, Peter D. 34
265 days
16 August 1922 RHB Everton FC, England 27 3
final app 1946-57
5 Mackey, Gerald 25
69 days
10 January 1933 CHB Shamrock Rovers FC 3 0
final app 1956-57
6 Saward, Patrick 28
264 days
17 August 1928 LHB Aston Villa FC, England 2 0
7 Ringstead, Alfred 29
206 days
14 October 1927 OR Sheffield United FC, England 13 5
8 Whelan, William A. 22
37 days
1 April 1935 IR Manchester United FC, England 3 0
9
Curtis, Dermot P. 24
255 days
26 August 1932 CF Bristol City FC, England 3 2
10 Fitzsimons, Arthur 27
143 days
16 December 1929 IL Middlesbrough FC, England 20 5
11
Haverty, Joseph 21
80 days
17 February 1936 OL Arsenal FC, England 4 2
reserves Ronnie Nolan and Noel Peyton (both Shamrock Rovers FC)
team notes Pat Saward and Bill Whelan were later arrivals to the Party, having participated in the FA Cup Final the previous Saturday.
The Republic of Ireland were set-up and trained at Weybridge.
Manager Johnny Carey has played against England for three different countries. He was captain of the Republic of Ireland team the last time these two countries met, in September 1949 and was also captain of the Éire team in the friendly defeat in September 1946..He debuted for the Ireland team against England in September 1946, playing again in November 1947 and October 1948.
 
2-3-5 Kelly -
Donovan, Cantwell -
Farrell, Mackey, Saward -
Ringstead, Whelan, Curtis, Fitzsimons, Haverty
Averages: Age 26 years 7 days Appearances/Goals 7.9 1.5
 
             Match Report by Mike Payne

ENGLAND moved a step nearer to the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden as they beat off the challenge of the Republic of Ireland. Although the scoreline looks convincing enough. the actual performance by the home side was not entirely inspiring. For long periods in the second half, Eire were on top, producing a clever brand of football that at times was reminiscent of Hungary or Austria at their best. Alas, for the Irish, they could find no finish to this attractive approach play.

England did all the damage in the first half and their start was undoubtedly Johnny Haynes. He really looked the part and his all around contribution  was once again the key. With John Atyeo being used in a twin-pronged attack alongside Tommy Taylor, the home side took the lead in the ninth minute.


Stan Matthews showed some skilful footwork before laying the ball inside to Ronnie Clayton. The wing-half then produced a lovely through pass and Taylor raced in, sold a dummy to the defence, and hit a good shot past Kelly. Just after the quarter-hour, England made it 2-0 when Haynes fed Tom Finney. When the winger's pass came inside Taylor was there again to fire an 18-yard shot past a strangely flat-footed Kelly. England attacked at will and before the interval they added two more goals.

Many of their best attacks had involved the in-form Finney. His influence on the first half was enormous and it was the Preston player who set up number three. Receiving possession from Duncan Edwards, he cut inside and hit a fierce shot at goal. Kelly could only parry the ball upwards and before the goalkeeper could recover, Atyeo pounced to head home.

Almost immediately poor Kelly was again fishing the ball out of the back of his net, this time after Taylor had soared gloriously to head in Finney's corner. The scoreline was emphatic to say the least with Taylor having scored his eighth goal in only three and a half internationals. It is often difficult for a team to raise their game in the second half when they are so far in front and that is just how it proved as England gave a lethargic display after the break.

All credit to the Irish, though, as they refused to give up and, indeed, came back at them strongly.

England looked jaded with Edwards, particularly, looking very tired after his many games in the season just ended. The Irish put some excellent football together at this stage and scored a deserved goal when Curtis headed in a left-wing centre from little Joe Haverty. They continually pressed forward and Farrell shot high over when well placed. Shortly after that incident Alan Hodgkinson was relieved to see Whelan's close-range shot crash against the crossbar.

Those missed chances did not help Ireland's cause at all and just to rub salt into the wound, England snatched a fifth goal in the last minute. Haynes and Finney again combined and from Finney's pass Atyeo was again the man in the right position to beat Kelly.

Now England faced two different return games in Copenhagen and Dublin to see who goes to Sweden. It would not be easy for them.

       

             Match Report by Norman Giller

A second successive Tommy Taylor hat-trick - all his goals coming in the first-half - and two from John Atyeo crushed an outgunned Irish team in this second of England's four World Cup qualifying matches. This was, sadly, to be the last match in which Jeff Hall and Roger Byrne were to partner each other. Jeff contracted polio and died on April 4 1959. Born in Scunthorpe on September  7 1929, he started his career as an amateur with Bradford Park Avenue before becoming a regular in Birmingham City's defence. He would have had, statistically, the best individual England record of any player but for the 2-1 defeat by Wales in 1955. In 17 matches he was on the beaten side only once. England won twelve of the games and drew four. Roger Byrne was his partner in every game.
  

             Match Report by Glen Isherwood

Both teams had already beaten Denmark at home in Group One They had met each other only twice before, England had won 1-0 at Dalymount Park, Dublin, in 1946. Ireland surprisingly winning 2-0 at Goodison Park three years later. England's first home defeat by a foreign team. Ireland had yet to qualify for a World Cup.
In the ninth minute of Wembley's first World Cup match Tommy Taylor opened the scoring, taking a pass from Clayton to shoot England in front. Nine minutes later Finney's pass gave Taylor the chance to score again and once more Kelly was beaten. Then Kelly just saved from Finney but John Atyeo headed in the rebound.
Taylor completed a first half hat-trick with a header from a Finney corner. England relaxed a little in the second half and the Irish pulled one back when Dermot Curtis headed in a centre from Haverty but in the dying seconds England restored their four-goal advantage when Finney crossed and Atyeo came charging in to score again.
England won the group 11 days later with a 1-1 draw in the return at Dalymount Park. This was only achieved, however, by a last-minute equaliser from Atyeo. It was to be 19 years before Republic of Ireland appeared at Wembley again.
At the age of 42 Stan Matthews made his 27th and final appearance at Wembley. Strangely he never scored at the stadium.

  

             Match Report as appears in the F.A. Yearbook 1957-58 page 34

In the second of England's World Cup preliminary matches, 52,000 people saw the home team win at Wembley against the Irish Republic by 5 goals to 1. As a spectacle, the match was virtually over long before half-time, when England led by three goals from Taylor and one from Atyeo. This comfortable margin of goals undoubtedly removed much of the inspiration from the English attacking machine in the second half, and the Irish forwards, especially Haverty, played some good football before Curtis scored for them. Shortly before the final whistle, however, Atyeo scored again with a first time drive from Finney's centre and England finished easy winners against a side whose defence was far short of World Cup standards.
  

Other World Cup Qualifying Football Results
Group Nine: 
 
6:45pm BST Scotland 4 Spain 2
 
Hampden Park, Glasgow (88,873)
Mudie 22, 70, 79, Hewie 41 (pen) ~
Suárez 1
9, Kubala 28
Live on BBC TV - commentators George Davidson and Peter Thomson
    
    
Scotland kicked off their qualifying campaign with a hard-fought victory, taking the lead three times before getting the better of their opponents, who had already dropped a point to the other team in the group, Switzerland, two months earlier, in Madrid.
 
        In Other News....
It was on 8 May 1957 that 48-year-old, Mac (Macdonald) Daly, a popular Scottish television personality, who had fronted animal shows on both channels and was a leading authority on dog handling, was killed when his car overturned in a ditch just a mile from his Buckinghamshire home. His wife, Gwen was also injured, but survived the crash and recovered.
             Source Notes
TheFA.com
soccerscene.ie
Original newspaper reports
Official matchday programme
Glen Isherwood's Wembley: The Complete Record
  Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record
Norman Giller, Football Author
The Complete Book of the British Charts
Reuters
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