Post by Budleigh on Jan 10, 2010 10:33:14 GMT
This is the programme for United's away game at Bristol City on Tuesday evening, August the 31st, 1954 in the Third Division (South).
It was our fourth game of the campaign in which we drew 1-1 in front of 18,773 spectators, Ron Shaw getting our goal. We had already played Bristol City at home the previous week in a 2-2 draw in front of 11,000.
Neither Dobbie and Mills played in this match, being replaced by John Dougan and Billy Thomas.
There are a number of interesting notes in the programme, not least the first paragraph in which the reason for the switch to the new gold & yellow strip, a story which most will know, comes straight from the horses mouth, so to speak. Note also how United have lost players to the services.
The 'author' of the programme notes (manager Beasley?) then goes on to write an interesting piece on the rise of foreign tactics and ideas in the game and how it was impacting on the English game and starting to show us up and how the removing of players for National Service disrupts clubs.
The Chairman of City is Harry Dolman, who held the post for some thirty-plus years and after whom the Dolman stand at Ashton Gate is names.
And what a trainer to have, Wilf Copping. Formerly of Leeds, Arsenal and England and one of a number of so-called 'hard-men' to be associated with Bristol (Norman Hunter carried on the tradition) and the player who coined the phrase 'the first man in a tackle never gets hurt'. He was obviously brought in by Albert 'Pat' Beasley, the Bristol City player/manager with whom Copping played at Arsenal in the thirties.
It was our fourth game of the campaign in which we drew 1-1 in front of 18,773 spectators, Ron Shaw getting our goal. We had already played Bristol City at home the previous week in a 2-2 draw in front of 11,000.
Neither Dobbie and Mills played in this match, being replaced by John Dougan and Billy Thomas.
There are a number of interesting notes in the programme, not least the first paragraph in which the reason for the switch to the new gold & yellow strip, a story which most will know, comes straight from the horses mouth, so to speak. Note also how United have lost players to the services.
The 'author' of the programme notes (manager Beasley?) then goes on to write an interesting piece on the rise of foreign tactics and ideas in the game and how it was impacting on the English game and starting to show us up and how the removing of players for National Service disrupts clubs.
The Chairman of City is Harry Dolman, who held the post for some thirty-plus years and after whom the Dolman stand at Ashton Gate is names.
And what a trainer to have, Wilf Copping. Formerly of Leeds, Arsenal and England and one of a number of so-called 'hard-men' to be associated with Bristol (Norman Hunter carried on the tradition) and the player who coined the phrase 'the first man in a tackle never gets hurt'. He was obviously brought in by Albert 'Pat' Beasley, the Bristol City player/manager with whom Copping played at Arsenal in the thirties.
I was under the impression that "Pigsty Hill" drew it's name from the derogatory name given to the covered terrace (now known as "The Wedlock" ~ and half of it the domain for the away fans) at the Ashton Gate end of the ground; but maybe I was being wound up Brizzle Style when I was told that drunken tale whilst in The Star (as it was in those times too many years ago) after a Sheffield Wednesday game at The Gate.