Matchday Memories: On This Day 1958 – CCFC Hit Chester For ‘Old Five’ On Ron & George’s Debut

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Chester (h) 29-11-1958 action

Billy Frith- Manager 1959

On this day (29th November) in 1958, former CCFC player and now ‘gaffer’ for the second time, Billy Frith was leading the club’s efforts to get out of a novel predicament. They had finished in the lower half of the regionalised Division Three South in 1957-58 condemning them to a place in the newly constituted ‘nationalised’ Division Four.

‘The Bantams’ (as they were then nicknamed) were faced with the task of getting out of the bottom tier at the first attempt and the side were making a decent fist of it, winning half their twenty games so far and losing only five, with plenty of goals going in. Today they faced Chester and would get the first of four straight wins over the side from Cheshire.

The Bantams’ George Stewart

Ron in 1958

Two players were making their debuts for CCFC in this game at Highfield Road, George Stewart a proven goalscorer from Accrington Stanley and attacking wing half from Nottingham Forest soon to become a club Legend Ron Farmer. Ron became one of the most popular City players of all time and stayed with the club through its sixties Sky Blue transformation all the way to evetually playing for CCFC in Division One in 1967. Ron was a long-term member of this Association and a regular at Sky Blues home games until his recent passing. Today’s game was an auspicious start as CCFC won 5-1 and, although Ron did not find the net George did and both had fine debuts.

Peter Hill

Paddy Ryan

Apart from George’s debut goal in the 32nd minute, long time club servant Peter Hill got a brace and City’s other goals came from Irish inside forward Reg. ‘Paddy’ Ryan and another proven City striker Ray Straw. Ex England international Stan Pearson got the visitor’s consolation nineteen minutes from time flicking home past City’s Alf Wood – the first he had conceded at  home since City’s trainer had returned to the game age 41 as an emergency ‘keeper!

Stewart, Hill and Ryan all scored their goals in a six minute blitz followed by City’s fifth, a header from Ray Straw in the second period.

City’s team that day lined up (CCFPA members underlined):-

Alf Wood in action

Alf Wood*, Roy Kirk*, Lol Harvey*, Brian Nicholas*, George Curtis*, Ron Farmer*, Peter Hill*, Ray Straw*, George Stewart*, Reg. Ryan* and Alan Daley*

 All those City players asterisked have since passed away

John Harris‘ Seals team was as follows:-

Ron Howells, Ron Hughes, Bill Souter, Bobby Hunt, Jack Saunders, Jimmy Mason, Billy Foulkes, Norman Bullock, Bobby Williams, Stan Pearson and Gordon Richards.         Referee:- A.Murdoch (Sheffield)

Four matches before season’s end CCFC went to Chester in the return and came back with a 1-1 draw (George Stewart scored again).

CCFC 1958-59 D4 Runners Up

City eventually finished runners up in Division Four but that was sufficient to see them promoted with Champions Port Vale. Third placed York City and Shrewsbury Town in fourth also went up. The Seals finished thirteenth. At the bottom were (in descending order) Oldham Athletic, Aldershot, Barrow and Southport. The quartet all had to reapply for election to the Football League and all four were successful in their bid.

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

 

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