Matchday Memories: On This Day 1959 – Bantams D4 Promotion Push Sees Palace Punished!

Billy Frith- Manager 1959

On this day (11th April) in 1959 CCFC had six games left to play in the inaugural season of the newly re-organised Division Four. They had dropped into the Football League basement after finishing in the bottom half of the regionalised Southern section of the Third Division the previous season.

In the pre-Sky Blue era the club were nicknamed ‘the Bantams’ and their fortunes were guided by former player now Manager Billy Frith (in his second spell in charge at Highfield Road). Billy had kept the Bantams there or there abouts all season and was looking for a final push to ensure they left the bottom tier at their first attempt. A response was also needed as they had suffered a disappointing 3-0 reverse at promotion rivals Port Vale the previous Saturday and had failed to score in the five games before that.

The Bantams’ George Stewart

City’s opponents today were Crystal Palace with whom they had drawn 1-1 (thanks to an own goal) in London on 22nd November last. Today, Billy got his required recovery bounce as the Bantams beat the Glaziers by two clear goals at Highfield Road in front of a crowd of 12,485! Billy had replaced both wingers, David Smith replacing late CCFPA member Ken Satchwell on the right and reliable tricky winger, Bristolian, Jack Boxley was in place of Alan ‘Digger’ Daley on the left wing.

Jack Boxley

The home team’s scorers were George Stewart, our latest No.9, signed in November from Accrington Stanley to boost the goals for column (who re-found his form in this game) and Jack Boxley. After a goal-less first half, George’s goal came in the 52nd minute and Jack’s eighteen minutes from time. The success kicked off an unbeaten run to the very last match of the season and ensured a second place finish and promotion!

Billy’s Boys that day lined up as follows:-

Arthur Lightening; Roy Kirk & Lol Harvey; George Curtis, Frank Austin & Ron Farmer, F.David Smith, Peter Wyer, George Stewart, Reg Ryan & Jack Boxley.

George in 1958

Ron in 1958

Young George Curtis (left), who was then in the early years of his long CCFC career, went on to be both Chief Exec. of the club and co-managed them to their 1987 F.A.Cup victory at Wembley. Along with footballing ‘partner in crime’ John Sillett at Highfield Road (both as players and part of City’s management team) they both became CCFC Life Presidents until their respective deaths all too recently.

Both those CCFC stalwarts plus Lol, Peter and Ron (all underlined above) who were all Ricoh regulars before their deaths in recent years, later became CCFPA members!

City celebrating promotion in 1959

Arthur Rowe‘s Palace side took the field as follows:-

Vic Rouse; Bert Howe & Alf Noakes; Roy Summersby, Len Choules & Terry Long; Gerry Priestley, Johnny McNichol, Tommy Barnett, Johnny Byrne & Ray Colfar Referee:- R.H.Chandler (Chester)

The City’s exertions pleasingly meant that they went up in second place with champions Port Vale, third place York City and fourth placed Shrewsbury Town.

The quartet that had to seek re-election to the League (all were successful) were in descending order Oldham Athletic, Aldershot, Barrow and Southport.