Matchday Memories: On This Day 1956 – George’s Guys Get Great Grecians Win

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On this day (21st January) way back in 1956 Coventry City were a fair to middling Division Three South side under the management of George Raynor who had taken over from Jesse Carver at the turn of this year. George had a globe trotting managerial career, coming to Coventry from top Italian club Lazio and then going on to manage the Sweden National XI. Amongst other players recruited, in 1955 he had signed for City Steve ‘Kalamazoo’ Mokone, the first black South African to play professional football in Europe. Steve later became a CCFPA member but sadly has since passed away.

Dennis Uphill CCFC

CCFC came back from the south west with two points and the win by beating Exeter City by the odd goal in five. A crowd of 7,472 watched the game. The ‘Bantams’ (as City were known in the pre Sky Blue era) pipped the Grecians with goals from Dennis Uphill (a brace) and one from wholehearted fair haired centre-forward Ken McPherson. The Bantams were unchanged from last time out.

In fact the home side, who were missing a trio of regulars due to the flu, took the lead with a headed goal from left winger Graham Rees following a free kick outside the box after only twelve minutes. However, it only took Dennis ten minutes to get his name on the scoresheet to equalise and five minutes before time he doubled up with a first time shot from a Ray Sambrook pass to send the visitors in at half-time a goal to the good.

CCFC’s Ken McPherson

Exeter made a second half comeback and twelve minutes after the break had equalised through Eddie Murphy connecting with a ball which skidded across the Bantams’ penalty area. It was left to Ken to finish the game off as he slammed home a half chance with only five minutes left on the clock to secure the win for the Bantams.

George Raynor

Raynor’s CCFC team that day was:-

Reg Matthews; Frank Austin & Charlie Timmins; Iain Jamieson, Roy Kirk & Noel Simpson; Eric Johnson, Dennis Uphill, Ken McPherson, Peter Hill & Ray Sambrook.

Reg became England goalkeeper whilst still playing in the Third Division with CCFC. Iain later became a Director and Chairman of the club and Charlie, Ken and Peter later in life all became Association members. All members of the team have sadly since passed away.

Torquay United put out the following XI:-

George Hunter; Steve Parr & Arnold Mitchell; Dick Walton, Keith Harvey & Ray John; Ian Grinney, Ronny Burke, Ray Iggleden, Eddie Murphy & Graham Rees                                 Referee: J.Bean (Porth, Glamorgan)

A CCFC XI 1955-56

The win completed a run of seven league wins out of the last nine fixtures. Overall honours were now even between the two sides as they had fought out a 1-1 draw at Highfield Road back in September and the previous November the Grecians had knocked the Bantams out of the Third Round of the F.A.Cup at St.James Park by the only goal of the game!

City finished eighth in Division Three South this season with Exeter City considerably lower in sixteenth spot. Leyton Orient took the title and Crystal Palace and bottom club Swindon Town were required to seek re-election (successfully).

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images

 

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