Matchday Memories: On This Day 1954 – CCFC’s Kirk Kills Cobblers With Freak 80 Yarder!

On this day (20th November) in 1954  CCFC veteran defender Roy Kirk netted the only goal of the game, and it was a freak, in an F.A.Cup first round tie at Northampton Town‘s County Ground to see City through to a second round Highfield Road date with Scunthorpe United! The ‘Bantams’ as City were then known were doing OK in the old Third Division South and new acting manager (and former CCFC defender) Charlie Elliott was only facing his third game in charge after taking over from ‘gaffer’ Jack Fairbrother at the end of October. Poor Jack had only been in post since January 1954 when tragedy struck as his wife died in an accident at home and he resigned for personal reasons’ to ensure he could look after his two small children.

Alf Wood in action

Charlie’s Boys had lost 1-0 at Southend United but beaten Aldershot 2-1 in the league the previous Saturday so were hopeful of a result today against a club from the same division. The match was decided when, somerwhat fortuitously, Roy’s huge eighty yard clearance from his own penalty area flew into the Cobblers’ half and contrived to bounce over their ‘keeper none other than popular former City shotstopper Alf Wood. There was a good crowd of 14,680 (including a good number of CCFC fans) packed into the County ground which was also where Northants CC played their cricket. Unusually football spectators one one side of the circular ground were asked to watch from temporary shallowly tiered wooden benches laid along the length of the football pitch with much cricket turf behind them!