Matchday Memories: On This Day 1958 – CCFC Conquer Canaries Courtesy One Of Billy’s Hills!

Billy Frith- Manager

On this evening (21st April) in 1958 the Third Division South was entering it very final stages. CCFC had replaced its manager during the season, Harry Warren lasting until September 1957 and former CCFC wing half Billy Frith had taken over for his second stint in the Highfield Road hot seat.

‘The Bantams’ as we were nicknamed in those days had three games left to play and after a very patchy season were still looking over their shoulders near the bottom and perhaps grateful that the regional nature of the English leagues bottom tier would be re-organised for next season. The bottom half of both Southern and Northern Third Divisions were destined to join together to make a new bottom tier, Division Four – and City were bound to be in it as they finished nineteenth out of 24 clubs (unlike today’s opponents fifth placed Norwich City). The Canaries would eventually finish eightth and therefore stay in the new Third Division. 

Ray Hill 1957-58

There was a modest crowd of only 7,532 in Highfield Road as the season petered out and they saw the team lower in the league conquer the higher placed one by the odd goal in three. Some left early before City’s late winner. The two teams had fought out a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road only the previous March. The Bantams goal then was scored by Frank Austin and the home side only equalised in the dying seconds of the game.

Both Bantams’ goals today were scored by one of the three Hills who appeared in the City side around this time, outside left Ray Hill (currently a veteran Association member). The other two were both great club servants, forward (and captain this day) Peter Hill who, on hanging up his boots became a CCFC trainer (and later kit-man) and joined CCFPA before his passing.  Young Brian Hill was soon to see promotion from Division Four next season at the first time of asking with Billy and then ride Jimmy Hill‘s ‘Sky Blue Express’ all the way from Division Three the top flight between 1961-67! Brian along with JH were Association members before they died.

Ray’s first goal equalised a ninteenth minute lead taken by the Canaries with a header from Jimmy Moran. The half-time score of 1-1 looked destined to be the final score too until Ray glided in his second in the last minute!

Billy Frith‘s Bantams that day lined up as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-

Charlie Ashcroft, Lol Harvey & Frank Austin; Brian Nicholas, George Curtis & Iain Jamieson; F.David Smith, Vernon Griffiths, Jimmy Rogers, Jack Boxley & Ray Hill

Peter Hill

Jimmy Hill, CCFC winger

Apart from Ray we believe all the rest of this Bantams playing squad have since passed away (most recently Lol, Brian and George). Brian and Lol were ‘Ricoh Regulars’ at Sky Blues home games prior to their respective illnesses and subsequent deaths. George went on to become ‘Mr Coventry City’ as player, later manager (with the F.A.Cup as a trophy) and chief exec. and subsequently a Life President of the club. Iain also became a Director and Chairman of CCFC before his death.

Archie Macauley‘s Canaries lined up as follows:-

Ken Nethercott; Roy McCrohan & Roy Lockwood; Bobby Wilson, Barry Butler & Matt Crowe; Johnny Gavin, Jimmy Moran, Terry Allcock, Derrick Lythgoe & Bobby Brennan              Referee: Mr P.Sant (Crewe)

CCFC 1957-58 early

City played Gillingham in a double header for their last two games drawing 1-1 at Highfield Road five days with Peter Hill on the scoresheet, later losing there 3-2 in the last game with the Bantams goals scored by Brian Hill and Peter (again). In a statistical quirk, in CCFC’s last four games all City’s goals came from Hills, 3 from Peter, 2 from Ray and 1 from Brian! 

Brighton escaped to the Second Division as Divivion Three South Champs two points clear of both Brentford and Plymouth Argyle. As said earlier the bottom half of the division were demoted to the new Division Four but the bottom two clubs Millwall and Exeter City still had to seek re-election to the league as well (and were both successful).

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