Chapter 2 - A False Dawn / Anyone for French
As we trudged out of Castle Station on that cold and wet January 1958 night,
our dreams of the Wembley Towers shattered for another year, a small voice was
heard to say, cheer up folks its double French with 'Gunner' on Monday morning.
Gloom turned to despondency and eventually to thoughts of suicide. It rather
mirrored the rest of the Cobblers 1957/58 season!
 1957/58 saw the demise of the Third North & Third South Regional
Divisions to be replaced by national Third and Fourth Divisions. Some bright
enterprising spark at the Football Association thought it would be progress.
In the event, it was far from it, running costs for these small clubs soared
overnight and part time players who hitherto, could balance a full working week
(including a Saturday Morning) with playing on a Saturday afternoon and nightime
training, found it beyond their endurance and the patience of their employers.
The visit of Workington Town to Torquay United could well have been a trip to
'Outer Mongolia' in those days. Without the modern day motorway systems and
luxury coaches, travel by road especially in mid-winter, took on the air of high
adventure. Of course, until Dr Beeching's axe fell in 1962, we did have rail
system that literally went everywhere, providing that is, you had the time and
money to expend.
Anyway, when last ball was kicked of the 1957/58 season sometime during April
'58 it was decided the top twelve placed clubs in each Regional Division would
form the new Third National Division.
Oh woe!!! Oh woe!!! what position do you reckon the Cobblers had finished in.
You've got it! 'Thirteenth', it could not have 19th or 20th or even last. True
to the Cobblers fortunes it had to be Thirteenth. The coming 1958/59 Season
would herald romantic visits to places such as Hartlepool, Workington, Southport
or even Barrow-in-Furness.
 1957/58 also saw the conclusion of the careers of those legendary wingers
Jack English and Tommy " Flash" Fowler. The dream of a ground of its
own was still born, despite Councillor Wilf Walker, chairman of the leisure
committee of the Town Council (and a dedicated Cobblers fan) commissioning the
borough architect to design a ground in Delapre Park, surrounded by a sports
hall and golf complex. The golf complex is there although the only sign of the
football stadium was a model that came to light in the 1980's when the idea of a
new ground was revived by the Council.
Life at Trinity High continued much the same. Rugby was king, and welsh rugby
in particular was more a religion rather than a sport. For the small community
of Cobblers supporters we were more ignored than abused. Policy seemed to be
total disbelief that the 'ball' was round. I know how those poor souls felt when
it was unpopular not to believe that the world was flat.
Were we bitter? Never!!! Help was on its way in the form of our own 'Welsh
Messiah'.
Dave Bowen Cometh!!!!!!
To Be Continued.................. |
