Matchday Memories: On This Day 1957 – Season Ends Away & CCFC’s Sambrook Sorts The Shots

On this day (27th April) way back in 1957 Coventry City were languishing in Division Three South at the end of a fairly nondescript season under manager Harry Warren (in his only full season in charge).

On this last day of the season the ‘Bantams’ finished off a mini ‘end of term’ revival by getting their fourth straight win, this time at at the Recreation Ground, Aldershot FC‘s home. 

CCFC had a degree of confidence today as they had won 2-1 at both Bournemouth and Gillingham in this purple patch, as well as beating ‘Boscombe’ 4-2 in the return at Highfield Road in mid week.

Ray Sambrook 1957

There were only 4,607 in the ‘Shots cramped little ground to watch the Bantams’ narrow win achieved by a single goal scored by winger Ray Sambrook in the 53rd minute of the game finishing easily after Aldershot ‘keeper Keith Amos parried a Jimmy Rogers cross shot.  This third away win in a row was good going as they had only won one other league game on their travels all season. It also gave them a spring ‘double’ over the Shots whom they had comprehensively beaten 5-1 at Highfield Road in late March. The City scorers then were Jim Rogers, Ken McPherson (a brace), Ray Sambrook and a Ralph Wetton own goal.

CCFC Manager- Harry Warren 1956-58

Harry Warren‘s CCFC’s team that day lined up:-

Alf Wood; Bill Patrick & Charlie Timmins; Frank Austin, Roy Kirk & Iain Jamieson; Jim Rogers, Alan Moore, Ken McPherson, Jack Boxley & Ray Sambrook

Alf Wood in action

City goalie Alf Wood was a great club servant joining CCFC in December 1935 and appearing for the club in eight seasons plus the war years before moving to Northampton Town in December 1951. He then returned as a player-coach in July 1955 and in September 1958 came in as emergency cover at age 43 for a dozen consecutive games and was only on the losing side twice! He finally hung his boots up after 246 CCFC appearances in 1959! Iain Jamieson later became a club director (1973) and chairman (1983)! Charlie, Iain and Ken became CCFPA members before their deaths a few years back.

That day’s defeated Aldershot team, managed by Harry Evans, was:-

Keith Amos; Stan Jefferson & Jimmy Jackson; Ralph Wetton, John Price & Gordon Neave; Jimmy Gaynor, Ken Flint, Tom Richardson, Norman Menzies & Arthur Tyrer              Referee:- E.T.Jennings (Stourbridge)

As a result of the late April ‘purple patch’ CCFC finished sixteenth in Division Three South in 1956-57 and their opponents today Aldershot were placed three places lower. Swindon Town and Norwich City finished at the foot of the table and were required (successfully) to seek re-election to the Football League.

It must have been galling for them but the Canaries’ East Anglian rivals Ipswich Town were promoted as Division Three South Champions!

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