Chapter 8 – ‘Life in the Second Division’
I was through the last line of defence with only the goalie to
beat.
I did my little shuffle, the goalie went to ground and I slipped the
ball over him into the empty net.
Goal!!!!!!!!!!!! was the sound from all corners of the
Racecourse.
Sadly this outbreak of elation was not directed at my wonder
goal, but in response to radio commentary, at another goal scored by
the Cobblers at Roker Park, on their way to giving the famous
Sunderland a 4-1 home drubbing!
The only voice, directed at me from the touchline, was that of my
current girlfriend who was complaining that she was cold and wanted
to go home. It was a funny thing about female support. Before you
asked them out, they would stand on the touchline in all weathers
marvelling at your silky skills. Once they had got you tagged, the
enthusiasm quickly evaporated.
I remember well, sometime later, how ‘her in doors who must be
obeyed’, would snuggle up to me behind the goal at the Hotel End and
cheer on the Cobblers, or stand cheering me on at Kingsthorpe Rec in
the wind, rain or snow. Strange, that once the engagement ring was
on the finger, she was heard to say ‘I don’t think you will have
time for this when we are married, what with the decorating, the
gardening, taking me shopping and of course, mother will expect us
for tea.’ I must remember to ask George Best, next time I see him,
how he handle ‘tea with mother versus Liverpool at Old Trafford’.
I have transgressed again. Back to the Cobblers.
I well remember the return match with Sunderland at the County
Ground that season. It was played on a rutted icy pitch, which would
have been declared totally unfit by today’s standards. That wily
Welshman sent his team out in baseball boots. Sunderland on the
other hand, had only their one size, fits all, boots with bloody
great studs. The match resembled a slapstick comedy, with the
Cobblers strolling majestically around the pitch like Torvill &
Dean, whilst the Sunderland team looked as though they were circus
clowns, appearing on stakes for the first time. Needless to say, it
was a walk over for the Cobblers, with a splendid 5-1 victory, with
Barry Lines having one of his finest games.
The Cobblers finished a creditable 11th position in the Second
Division at the end of the 1963/64 season. We all awaited the coming
season wondering whether they would be able to stay up. Little did
we know!
They made a slow and not too promising start, losing their
opening game 1-0 at Middlesboro, and with only three points to their
name after four games. Not exactly promotion material. But we forgot
how that wily Welshman could weave his magic, and it was not long
before the Cobblers were topping the league.
However, not everybody was happy, the media and the pundits were
highly critical of the Cobblers tactics, remarking that they would
make great security guards, and that they put not losing before
entertainment. To be honest, by today’s standards, I suppose it
would be questionable whether the Cobblers would have finished many
games without several players being red carded. ‘Killer Kurila’
would have been banned for life for some of his tackles.
The Cobblers clinched promotion to the First Division on
Saturday, 17th April 1965 with a 4-1 victory over Bury at their Gigg
Lane Ground. I was there with my good old dad, god bless him, for he
is no longer with us. But he always said, that it was one of his
lifetime’s ambitions, to see the Cobblers in the top Division.
Don Martin scored two great goals. Bobby Brown scored the third,
and man of the match Joe Kiernan grabbed his first goal of the
season, with a magnificent shot from 20 Yards.
The Team that day was: Harvey, Foley, Everitt, Leck, Carr,
Kiernan, Walden, Martin, Brown, Hunt, Robson.
A civic reception for the team, was held at the Guildhall
following the final home game, and we bagged a pint in every pub on
the way there from the County Ground. I don’t remember returning
home or work the following day. However, work in those days,
consisted mostly of looking for long lost files in the strong room,
which acted as an excellent hide away for nursing hangovers,
especially if a kind female filing clerk was there to ……..!!!
To be continued : The Final Chapter ‘Short but Sweet’
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