Nuneaton’s Footballing Heritage Nuneaton Borough 1945-1958 – Part 2 Contents Page No. 1954-1955 ..................................................................................... 255 1955-1956 ..................................................................................... 283 1956-1957 ..................................................................................... 314 1957-1958 ..................................................................................... 342 Acknowledgements ...................................................................... 372 Nuneaton Borough 1945-1958 – Part 2 Borough’s Old And New Players Final Trial Match Nuneaton Borough FC announce that last season’s players Nuneaton Borough’s trial match at Manor Park on Saturday, who have re-signed are A. Barber, F. Woolner, S. Smith, revealed little that was not already known. It served in E. Thornton, M. Snowball, D. Kernick, T. Hughes, T. Whitcroft, the main to show that the majority of last season’s well C. Phillips, W. Jessop, H. Upton, J. Bottrill, M. Hartopp, established regulars have lost none of their skill during the J. Keeling, D. Townsend, M. Porter, R. Lines, C. Evans, T. Phillips. close season. The new signings are: J. Ayton, former Leicester City inside- There were, however, one of two other bright spots which forward; S. Bromley, an inside-forward who had league gave a certain amount of satisfaction. One of these came experience with Walsall FC last season; A. Pollard, inside- from the latest signing, outside-right Bobby Barker, from forward, Brierley Hill and former Aston Villa player; J. Davison, Worcester City, whose performance did much to ease the full-back with Hinckley Athletic last season; S. Deeley, centre- minds of those fearing the worst now that Morrow has left forward with Dudley last season and formerly with Aston Villa; for Lockheed. On this showing it would appear that Hughie’s S. James, former Birmingham City winger who was with Lye departure might not be so badly felt as some though Town last season; D. West, left-back from Symington Sports; originally. Barker displayed a fine turn of speed, a natural C. Brain, centre or inside-forward recently demobilised from tendency to move into the middle to add to a defence’s RAF, who was with Atherstone Town; I. Gazeley, who returns to discomfiture, and was not afraid to shoot when the occasion the club on completion of National Service. presented itself. The players report for training on Tuesday next and practice Another new boy to shine was ex-Walsall player Bromley – a matches both private and public will be played on dates tireless right-half, who characterised his play with some between August 5 and 19. Local players desirous of having a accurate passing as he moved up as a sixth forward. With trial with the club should send particulars to Mr W. Boffin, 4, Dudley Kernick, his counterpart, and a regular member of Kingsway, Nuneaton, or to the hon. secretary, Mr P. Osborne, last season’s side also putting up a competent performance, Newtown Road, Nuneaton. an obvious difficulty cropped up as to the occupier of the position. It is announced that the prices of admission to Manor Park next season will be: Birmingham and District League Kernick, in fact, featured in the highlight of the match when matches: admission to ground, adults 1s. 3d., boys 9d., stand he cracked in a 30 yards left-footer, which flew into the corner 1s. 3d. extra (tax inclusive); South Warwickshire League of the net past the helpless Barber. matches: admission to ground, adults 9d., boys 6d., stand 6d. Talking of Barber, I doubt whether he has ever had a harder extra (tax inclusive). trial game. In the second half, particularly, he was kept Season tickets admitting holder to all the league matches, constantly on his toes, and only by bringing off his very best including stand, 50s. (tax inclusive). did he keep down the Red and White goal tally to two. The directors reluctantly have decided to make a small increase Apart from one mistake which gave Cyril Phillips an easy goal, to the ground charge for the Birmingham and District League Tommy Hughes behaved with all his old assurance, while fixtures, thus falling in line with many of the other clubs in the Mick Snowball carried on where he left off last April, playing competition. Practically all the clubs were making this charge as well as ever. last season in view of the cost of materials, equipment, etc., Stan Smith has had more comfortable matches, but he is which has increased 50 per cent, during the past two seasons. unlikely to meet a smarter winger during the season than Bill Jessop. The outside-left seemed to be fully recovered from Borough Lose Morrow the injury which caused him so much trouble last season. Tommy Whitcroft had a quiet game, contenting himself with Hughie Morrow will not be taking things easy. staying with the Borough after all. He has signed this week for With all members of last season’s defence available, the Lockheed, his former club, and Borough have players whose abilities are unquestioned, but it is understood that he will in attack it is a somewhat different proposition. Problem reside in Leamington. spots may well be the three inside forward positions. Not enough was seen of Ayton (Leicester City), Deeley (Dudley), To counteract the departure of Pollard (Brierley Hill) and other newcomers to form any Morrow, Borough directors are sound opinion and whether three of them can blend together negotiating for the signature of into a goalscoring trio remains to be seen. another forward with previous League experience. Should these efforts be successful he New right-winger James was given few opportunities to will be included in Saturday’s trial game. shine. The score, if it matters, was Blue and Whites 2 (Pollard and Deeley), Red and Whites 2 (Phillips and Kernick). 255 Nuneaton’s Footballing Heritage Nuneaton Borough 1945-1958 – Part 2 1954-55 The general impression left by the game was that here again was another very useful Borough side in the making. All the Nuneaton Borough v Hednesford Town 21-08-1954 new players did well. Bromley was an indefatigable worker Borough: Barber; Thornton and Snowball; Bromley, Hughes and at right-half and never neglected to go up with his forwards. Whitcroft; James, Barker, Phillips, Ayton and Jessop. Barker and Ayton were inside men not afraid to hold the ball, Hednesford: Turner; Smith and H. Hill; Dyas, Dew and Lee; Boot, while James was perhaps the most effective forward because Toussaint, D. Hill, Corbett and Cole. he cut out the frills and wasted no chances of having a crack at goal. Jessop would have done better had he adopted the same routine. Phillips made little impression on Dew. Obviously there is plenty of craft in this Borough attack, but can the forwards match that craft with shooting ability? If they can, then there may not be a great deal to worry about. Hednesford were flattered by the result. Two very lucky goals put them in a position their play never warranted. Even so they were lucky to share the points. Wolves A v Nuneaton Borough 23-08-1954 Wolves A: Sidebottom; Showell and Harris; Bolton, Wolverson and Howells; Lill, Thomson, Bonson, Murray and Booth. Borough: Barber; Thornton and Snowball; Bromley, Hughes and Whitcroft; James, Barker, Phillips, Pollard and Jessop. Borough made the journey to face Wolves A in a Birmingham League (Northern) fixture. Borough were compelled to make one change. Ayton, who This was the Borough team which drew with Hednesford in the opening scored two of the three goals against Hednesford, had a match of the season. Back row (left to right): Barker, Dave Lapworth swollen knee and his place was taken by Pollard, who was (trainer), Phillips, Whitcroft, Barber, Ayton, Thornton. Front row: James, not nearly so effective, and Phillips again had a lean time. Bromley, Hughes, Snowball, Jessop. Photo: Nuneaton Observer James “Bobby” Barker and Jessop often had the strong Borough welcomed Hednesford Town to Manor Park for the Wolves’ defence in dire straits. Barker was a human dynamo; first Birmingham League (Northern) game of the season. he kept up a terrific pace throughout and carved many Between the 12th and 15th minute of the first-half, Hednesford openings. James and Jessop were first-rate wingers. got three goals. Corbett obtained the first from a free-kick, and Wolves took the lead after 15 minutes when Murray shot past there followed almost immediately two more of the gift variety. Barber following a clever run by Lill. Borough fought back The first came when Barber, out of goal, was unable to get back like tigers and Sidebottom was lucky to save one shot from in time to prevent a Bromley pass intended for the goalkeeper, Barker and then Phillips missed an easy chance. crossing the line; the other when a Toussaint shot struck Borough equalised seven minutes after the break when a long Whitcroft and was deflected into the net. ball up the middle saw Phillips shoot hard at Sidebottom, Both before and after these shock goals, Borough were who partially saved, but the ball crossed the line and ended the better side. In fact, for most of the second-half the up in the bottom of the net. Phillips looked to be in an offside Hednesford defence was kept working at full stretch and was position, but neither referee or linesman indicated that such lucky to concede only three goals. was the case. Barker made all the running for James to slip the ball past Eight minutes later, following a delightful run by Jessop and a Turner for Borough’s opening goal after half-an-hour’s play. clever inside pass to Whitcroft, the latter raced on a few yards At 70 minutes Ayton rounded off good work by James to get and then delivered a scorching shot, which on its way into the second; and seven minutes from the end the same player the net touched a home defender, putting Sidebottom in a got an equaliser with a cleverly-placed shot.