Chapter 4 - 'A Welsh Genius Arrives'
The end of the 50's decade saw the Cobblers making themselves
at home in the basement of English football. To most of the football world
it, seemed to be their rightful place. Even the most diehard supporter had
accepted his lot, with the prospect of seeing a top team at the County Ground
only once or twice in their lifetime.
However, others had different ideas. They had dreams
that they began to share with others, and when the then Manager Dave Smith
slipped quietly away into the night, (we did not hound and publicly sack failed
managers in those days) rumours began to circulate that a big name with new
ideas was on the way.
Many of us had watched the grainy black and white pictures on
television of the 1958 World Cup held in Sweden, and had seen a leader of men
captain a gallant welsh side, that was only eliminated 1-0 in the quarter finals
by the eventual World Champions Brazil which included a new super hero named
Pele (you see there was life before Wayne Rooney).
 David
Lloyd Bowen was the man who was going to lead the Cobblers to the promised
land. Well some said he could at least get us out of the fourth division.
Others dreamed of the second division but were quickly ridiculed. No one
mentioned the first division!!!!!
According to the records Dave took charge during 1959/60
Season. I cannot find out the actual date. Perhaps a reader, if
there are any out there, can enlighten me. Anyway, we finished the season
6th which was a slight improvement on the previous 8th. We all knew we had
to be patient. 'Rome was not built in a day'. Getting the Cobblers
promotion could be classed as an even bigger task.
There was no glorious cup runs during this period. In
fact, I well remember being dumped out of the cup by non-league Tooting &
Mitcham United on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon at their famous Sandy Lane
Ground where five figure crowds were the norm during their regular giant killing
runs in the 40's & 50's.
The Cobblers played most of the game with ten men after Jim
Bannister had broken his leg early in the game. This was after we had
endured a torturous tube journey to Tooting Broadway, and the very uncomfortable
wooden bench seating in a grandstand, which would have miserably failed today's
Health & Safety Regulations.
The only bright spark of the day was waiting back at Euston
Station under the Doric Arch in the Great Hall, and meeting and getting the
autographs of that great Burnley side who were First Division Champions in
1959/60 and represented us in the European Cup in the following season.
All the players were happy to stop and talk to the fans and none refused to give
autographs. They were ordinary beings, earning no more than the average
wage and thanking their lucky stars that they were blessed with a talent that
kept them out of the pits and factories of the north.
We dreamed that day of some day playing alongside the likes
of Burnley. Perhaps Dave could make it happen. Little did we know!!!!!!
To Be Continued……
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