Matchday Memories: On This Day 1956 – Raynor’s Raiders Hobble Hoops In The Smoke!

George Raynor

On this Good Friday (30th March) afternoon in 1956 Coventry City were eight games away from the end of their season in Division Three South and not doing too badly, especially at home under their boss George Raynor who had taken over from Jesse Carver the previous December. Having said that the Bantams had failed to score in their last two games and last time out, six days ago, had lost by three clear goals at Shrewsbury Town.

This was the first time this season City had met today’s opponents, Queen’s Park Rangers. This match was played at Loftus Road in London but they would meet again soon enough at Highfield Road for the return on April 3rd. Raynor’s men put down a marker by beating Q.P.R. 2-1 in front of a Shepherd’s Bush crowd of 10,898. However, despite doing a lot of pressing themselves, they had to overturn a half-time deficit scored by the Hoop’s No.9 Bobby Cameron three minutes before the break. He pounced on a headed clearance with a fine 20 yarder from the edge of the box.

Dennis Uphill CCFC

CCFC’s Ken McPherson

City’s goals were both netted by forwards who were regular scorers for CCFC. Both inside right Dennis Uphill and No.9 Ken McPherson went on to be joint league top scorers for CCFC that season with thirteen goals in 25 appearances from Ken and another thirteen from Dennis in all 31 appearances.  Dennis’ goal came two minutes after the hour with a well taken angled effort. Ken’s winner ten minutes from time was scored from close range after good work from Peter Hill and winger Ray Sambrook. 

City’s soon to be England international ‘keeper Reg Matthews had to be on his best form to keep Rangers out as they sought to equalise. The defeat made the home team nervously look over their shoulders as they slipped down the table. The home fans in the 10,898 crowd went home worried.

Coventry City’s Reg Matthews

Coventry City’s Bantams lined up with the following winning XI today:-

Reg. Matthews; Ken Jones & Frank Austin; Jim Regan, Roy Kirk & Noel Simpson; Eric Johnson, Dennis Uphill, Ken McPherson, Peter Hill & Ray Sambrook

Both Ken McPherson and Peter Hill (who went on to become a CCFC coach and later kitman) joined CCFPA before their deaths.

Jack Taylor‘s defeated Q.P.R. XI was:-

Harry Brown; Pat Woods & Tony Ingham, Joby Dean, Mike Powell & Peter Angell; Billy McKay, Arthur Longbottom, Willie Clark, Bobby Cameron & Pat Kerrins    Referee:- J.Kelly (Lancashire)

The following day after this game City beat Ipswich Town 3-1 at Highfield Road and then met Q.P.R. in the return, also in Coventry. They duly completed the ‘double’ over the Londoners, this time beating them 4-1, and both Ken and Dennis scored again alongside Ron Newman and Ray Sambrook.

CCFC 1955-56 in tracksuits

Coventry City must have been quite pleased by their eightth place finish though they were well adrift (seventeen points) of the Champions, Leyton Orient.

Q.P.R. survived the 1955-56 Division Three South season in eighteenth position five places and five points above the re-election spots occupied by Crystal Palace and bottom club Swindon Town (both of whom got the votes to play the following season).

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.