Craven Cottage

[Cottager58]

THE STORY HAS A GREAT ESCAPE


1961 As the title suggests and it is as well to be upfront - season 1961/62 was an absolute nail biter. In March the team were 4pts adrift at the bottom of the 1st Division and life was looking gloomy.

Lessons from the previous season didn’t seem to have been learnt. The Maestro was still pulling the strings but seasoned players Jimmy Hill and Roy Bentley left on free transfers before the season start.

You must log in or register to see images

Five others also went and there were no new signings.


It all started well enough but the Cottage was to be lulled into a false sense of security. In September and October the team only lost 1 match in 11, and that was 5-3 to League leaders Burnley. The eventual winners, Ipswich, had been beaten 4-2 away, a point was taken at Stamford Bridge and Everton, Leicester, Aston Villa and West Ham were all beaten at the Cottage. By the end of October, Fulham were nestling comfortably in 5th spot and had won over new admirers. One journalist wrote,

“Once in a decade - with luck - you will see a boy like Fulham’s Alan Mullery.”

Then, inexplicably, the wheels came off the trolley and with a series of home defeats, there was a total loss of confidence. From the beginning of November until the end of February the team won only one match and lost all of the other fourteen. Bad luck played a small part - against Wolves there was an element of déjà vu when Tony Macedo was injured and Jim Langley had to go in goal (like the Sheffield Wednesday game the previous season) and although Fulham looked the more likely to score, a late goal by Jim Murray gave Wolves both points.


Snow fell in the Christmas week and in London was over 6 inches deep, so fans had to settle for watching the new BBC TV programme “Z Cars” instead of football. It wasn’t until January the 13th that the first League match of the New year was played. The visitors to the Cottage that day
were bottom of the table Chelsea.

You must log in or register to see images

The only goal in the first half was scored by Fulham’s Barry Mealand - for Chelsea!

In a quick-fire 7 minutes, the 36,000 fans saw Graham Leggat equalise, Andy Malcolm restore Chelsea’s lead and Bobby Tambling put them further ahead from the penalty spot. Fulham came back with goals from Tosh Chamberlain and Eddie Lowe inside 2 minutes to put the team level. Hopes of a point were dashed however when a flying header in the last minute by Peter Brabook saw Chelsea go home 4-3 winners.


The bad run continued and by the first week of February Fulham hit 22nd place and stayed there for two months. If things were gloomy at the Cottage, they were even worse up North where one of the founding members of the Football League, Accrington Stanley, folded at the beginning of March because of huge debts and had to leave the League. For Fulham though the tide turned when Sheffield United came to the Cottage. An early goal by Eddie Lowe inspired the team and they tore into high flying United (sitting in 6th position) with two more goals, by Maurice Cook and a 3-0 half time lead. The Blades pulled two back but Cook went on to complete his hat trick and Graham Leggat added a fifth and a 5-2 victory.

This was followed by a run of 4 wins, 1 draw and only 1 loss. All the points were of course crucial and the 5-2 victory over Arsenal at the cottage was very satisfying but in that spree of points the one that was to matter most was the 3-0 win against relegation rivals Cardiff at Ninian Park. This was starkly illuminated by two defeats by West Brom in the Easter “double header”. This left Fulham and Cardiff fighting out a relegation spot, both on 31pts and with 2 games to play.

On the last Saturday of the season Fulham took on Manchester United at the home and Cardiff travelled to Everton.

The highest gate of the season, over 40,000, crammed into the Cottage and the delighted faithful saw first half goals by Maurice Cook and Graham Leggat give Fulham a 2-0 victory. They had to wait until ’The Pink’ came out that evening however to hear that Everton had thrashed Cardiff 8-3 and Fulham’s survival was guaranteed - our goal average [that’s what is was then, not ‘goal difference‘] was far superior and the last game was academic. Which was just as well since we went down 4-2 at Upton Park. The game was nonetheless a milestone for George Cohen marking his 200th game for the Club.

Fulham finished in 20th place on 33 pts, one more than Cardiff. The defence had been settled for virtually the whole season - the regulars being Macedo, Cohen, Langley, Mullery, Dodgin and Lowe. Barry Mealand, who had made his debut in October and, despite that misfortune against Chelsea, had deputised well for Jim Langley when needed. This was borne out particularly in the game against Sheffield United which arguably “saved the season”

You must log in or register to see images

The forward line was the problem however. Both Chamberlain and Leggat were absent for long periods through injury. In January, perhaps inspired by Cliff Richards’ No1 in the Hit Parade, “The Young Ones”, Beddy Jezzard had tried youngsters Brian O’Connell and David Metchick. Metchick was a promising player with numerous England Youth caps and a flair for goals. However, possibly because of his age and size, Beddy played him on the wing rather than his natural inside forward position. He suffered because this and coming into a team that had lost confidence and fell by the wayside. Beddy also, in a desparate attempt to improve things, signed Scottish International Jacky Henderson from Arsenal but by this time he was past his best and made little impact. His signing did however mean O’Connell switching wings with a modicum of success.

Overall though the score sheet tells the tale. Maurice Cook was top scorer on 15 (more than half of them coming in the last 11 games), followed by Graham Leggat on 13 and Pat O’Connell on 8. This was the lowest total for the Club’s top scorer in 10 years, since season 1951/52 - the last time we were relegated!

Nonetheless Fulham survived, Craven Cottage breathed again and went into the close season with a smirk on it’s face - Chelsea were relegated as the bottom club in the Division.

 

[Cottager58]

THE STORY GOES FOR CUP GLORY


1962 With a disastrous 11 defeats on the bounce including an unprecedented 7 losses at the Cottage, there was no reason that the FA Cup in season 1961/62 would bring any joy.


The first tie was a comfortable win over Hartlepools on January the 2nd at the Cottage. Two Maurice Cook goals and a third by Johnny Key gave the team a 3-1 win and a fourth round game at home against Third Division Walsall. The 30,000 crowd were stunned as the visitors took a 2-0 lead and seemed to be coasting to victory but late goals from Maurice Cook and Jacky Henderson saved the day. In the replay, goals by Eddie Lowe and David Metchick eased Fulham into the 5th round.


Again the draw was kind to Fulham, with another home tie against Third Division opposition Port Vale, who had knocked out Sunderland in the previous round. Yet again it was far from a walk-over, with Tony Macedo at times keeping Fulham in the game and it was only a controversial penalty by Jim Langley late on that settled matters as you’ll see in this video



[video=youtube;MFizyeyDiik]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFizyeyDiik&feature=player_detailpage[/video]



The quarter-final draw brought First Division opponents for the first time in the form of Blackburn Rovers. But it was yet another at the Cottage watched by 30,000. Again Fulham had to come from behind as Stan Halsey of the Sunday Pictorial reported:

HEROIC HAYNES

Fulham 2 Blackburn 2

Fulham struck real Cup-fighting form against Blackburn. The climax to a match of many dramatic moments came three minutes from the end. And it brought Johnny Haynes, Fulham’s England skipper, one the most successful moments of his glittering success story.

Blackburn were leading 2-1 and seemed set for their seventeenth semi-final when Fulham staged a tremendous fighting finale. A great Alan Mullery effort hit the bar. Blackburn goalkeeper Fred Else made a spectacular save.

Then entered Haynes - using his loaf in every sense of the word. Leggat crossed the ball. Cook moved to meet it and in doing so proved the perfect decoy He drew the defenders out of their tightly covering stockade and Haynes headed in. At this high spot moment I saw the flicker of a linesman’s [as they were named then] flag. After the game Else claimed that Haynes was offside. “I had the Cook part of the move covered.“ Fred told me, “But when Haynes, from what I thought an offside position, moved in. I could not stop the ball.”

So it ended 2-2. Earlier in the match, Jim Langley had uncharacteristically missed a penalty and Fulham’s first equaliser had come from an own-goal by Matt Woods. It was the second the Blackburn centre-half have scored for Fulham that season, having beaten his own keeper in the League match when Fulham had won 2-0 at Ewood Park back in November. The only goal in the replay was a spectacular drive by Maurice Cook but that was more than enough to see Fulham through to a semi-final tie against League leaders Burnley.


An all London final was in prospect with Cup holders Spurs facing Manchester United in the other semi. Fulham travelled to Villa Park and 60,000 saw an enthralling match in conditions that included sleet, bright sunshine and a snowstorm.


With Mullery, Lowe and Haynes in superb form it was Fulham who looked the top of the Division side and a Graham Leggat goal was no more they deserved in the first 45 minutes. Against the run of play John Connelly equalised. You can get a flavour of the atmosphere and a taste of the match up to that point in this video -



[video=youtube;FcSXFtDqahM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FcSXFtDqahM[/video]



Unfortunately it stops just short of the most telling incident in the whole game. Ken Jones of the Daily Mirror can take over -

Fulham Robbed As Cook Goes Sprawling

Fulham 1 Burnley 1

Fulham, the 12-1 Cup outsiders from Craven Cottage, were robbed of a penalty and the chance of a glittering, golden ride to Wembley in one tragic moment at Villa Park on Saturday.

Every Fulham footballer and fan screamed for a spot kick as centre forward hero Maurice Cook was sent sprawling by Burnley ’keeper Adam Blacklaw in the seventy-fifth minute. And no one will ever change my view that West Bromwich referee Bill Clements was cruelly wrong to wave play on with a decision that put the breath back into battered Burnley.

Cook, who had flipped the ball past a desperate, scrambling Blacklaw when he was crashed, told me afterwards, “We were locked 1-1 with them and should have been four up - Johnny put me through with one of his specials. I did it all right for once, drew Blacklaw, eased round him and he floored me with a rugby tackle. The ref waved play on but afterwards came up to me in the dressing room and said to me, “sorry Maurice, we all make mistakes.” What a mistake! We’d have been in the Final.”

No one in the game suffered more than Cook. For half an hour he ran Burnley an centre half Tommy Cummings ragged. Two of his headers - both from gigantic Jimmy Langley throw ins - flashed into the hands of Blacklaw who was lucky to rob Cook and Fulham of glory.

Also, unfortunately, a picture accompanying the Mirror article can’t be reproduced here. It asks the question, “Would you have given a penalty?” and has the caption “Burnley ’keeper Blacklaw sticks out the foot which sends Fulham’s goal-bound centre forward Cook stumbling into a penalty dispute at Villa Park”. Having seen it ’live’ the author is in doubt what the correct decision should have been and it shouldn‘t have been in favour of the chubby ‘keeper.


The same Fulham team took the field in the replay at Leciester nine days later

You must log in or register to see images

and for half an hour the team continued where they had left off at Villa Park. But after 30 minutes there came a crucial turning point. Eddie Lowe put Graham Legatt through and only a desperate save by Blacklaw kept the score at 0-0. Straight from the clearance Burnley attacked down the right wing and Jimmy Robson converted Ray Pointer’s cross from close range. Robson added a second after the interval which sealed the game although Jim Langley scored from 20 yards two minutes from time. The highlights can be seen in this video -



[video=youtube;nfhLLVpN7FQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nfhLLVpN7FQ[/video]







The draw for the early rounds had been kind to the Club. They did not meet a First Division side until the quarter finals and were drawn at home in each of the first four rounds before the semi final. At the end of the day though the luck ran out in the form of a dreadful referee’s decision and yet another Wembley dream was dashed. On the plus side there was the consolation that the Cup run had restored the team’s confidence. Because of this they were able to the more valuable target of staying in the 1st Division.


And moreover, Craven Cottage had the prospect of a facelift to look forward

 

[Cottager58]

THE STORY LIGHTS UP


1962 Before the start of season 1962/63 there were a number of changes to Craven Cottage. An electronic scoreboard was built and the old advertising hoardings, for so long a feature of the riverside terraces (and a vantage point for youngsters), were replaced by flagpoles. Each carrying the flag of one of the 22 First Division teams.

You must log in or register to see images

At the same time floodlights were installed - if you remember from an earlier ‘Chapter’, the Fulham Board had rejected installing them at that time, believing them to be a ’fad’ and that the idea would never catch on! Fulham in fact were the last First Division side to have floodlights and that they did now was thanks to the Supporters Club, who came up with the money to pay for them. In the dressing room the players teased Tosh Chamberlain, saying that they improved his performance because he couldn’t sleep with the light on. The first game under the lights was a midweek home fixture against Sheffield Wednesday in September. The team rose to the occasion, winning 4-1, with Maurice Cook getting a hat trick. It was also Tony Macedo’s 199th game for the Club.


In the close season the Club made one new signing, bringing back Bobby Robson the player they had controversially sold to West Bromwich in 1956 for £25,000. Fulham paid £20,000 for his return and the player doubled his wages in the deal.

You must log in or register to see images

Bobby in pre-season preparation at the Training Ground at Ewell

Originally an inside forward he had been converted into a wing half and had won 20 England caps, many of them playing with Johnny Haynes. In those games, the pair had developed a superb understanding in midfield. Robson was a cool, cultured half back and there was great anticipation that he would bring stability to a defence which had on occasion shown signs of panic.


The anticipation and expectation of Robson’s return to Craven Cottage was cancelled out after the second game of the season however. Fulham had played a midweek against Sheffield United, which they lost 2-0, and were due to play Bolton the following Saturday. Johnny Haynes remained in the North between the games and was involved in a spectacular car crash in Blackpool. Johnny damaged both legs and months of intensive treat followed. He only played in six more matches that season.


While this was a serious blow to Fulham, it was a personal tragedy for Haynes. The previous April he had won his 50th cap and then had led England in the 1962 World Cup Finals in Chile. Although England’s performances were disappointing overall, they had reached the quarter-finals, only to be beaten by the brilliant Brazilian side that went on to win the trophy.

You must log in or register to see images

Following England’s defeat, the manager Walter Winterbottom resigned and was replaced by Alf Ramsey. His tactical ideas were far different and Johnny Hayne’s style, with it’s emphasis on long penetrating passes to fast raiding wingers or bustling centre forwards, would possibly not have suited Ramsey’s approach. Johnny’s injury in the car accident saved the new manager from making any immediate decisions. Nonetheless, although Haynes was to show in later seasons that he had not lost any of his brilliance, Ramsey never selected him.

You must log in or register to see images

After 56 matches, Johnny Hayne’s international career was over.


The results in the early part of season1962/63 showed how badly Johnny Haynes was missed. With Maurice Cook switching to Inside right, Jacky Henderson to inside left and Stan Brown coming in at centre forward, Fulham won only five of their first twenty-three League games and were in 21st position.at the turn of the year. Injuries to other players had played a part - Brian O’Connell, Bobby Robson, Graham Leggatt, Alan Mullery, George Cohen and Eddie Lowe all missed several games. And worst of all, in November during a game against Aston Villa centre half Bill Dodgin Jnr broke his leg. Fulham recorded their first away win of the season in that game (2-1 with goals from Jacky Henderson and Stan Brown) but Dodgin didn’t play again that season. Indeed it virtually ended his playing career, for he played only seven games in the next season before moving into coaching/management.


Apart from a 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, all the other wins had been by the odd goal. A goal a game was all the forwards had been able to manage and only bottom club, Leyton Orient, had scored fewer.


While those at Craven Cottage grew concerned the winter of 1962-63 struck. As Christmas approached there was nothing particularly untoward about the weather, some rain, a gale or two, but come Boxing Day, 26th December, all that was to change when the first heavy snow fell in the afternoon. It snowed again every day until the 29th December when blizzards were forecast. At New Year there was between 6" and 12" of snow lying and temperatures were regularly below freezing during the day. The “Big Freeze of 1963”, as it became know, set in - it was one of the coldest winters on record. Water pipes burst, food prices rose, there were power cuts, the Thames froze over and … there was no football for 6 weeks, despite some valiant efforts

You must log in or register to see images

The serious business of football started again in the first week of February with a Cup tie against West Ham. Having held out with 0-0 draw at upton park Fulham went down 2-1 in the replay, Bobby Robson scoring. However, the team seemed to have benefited from the break and bolstered by the return of Johnny Haynes in a match sandwiched between the two Cup games, took a point away to Leyton Orient (1-1 with Maurice Cook[/] getting the goal. Then a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest began a run of eight consecutive wins - unheard of !!


This, despite losing Johnny Haynes again, this time to knee injury in the second of those wins (against Blackburn Rovers.. Tony Macedo had kept six clean sheets. Two trips to Manchester in four days had seen wins over Manchester City (3-2) and Manchester United (2-0). And the Cup defeat to West Ham was avenged with a 2-0 victory. And the team had climbed to 10th position. The bubble burst after that West Ham game and only one of the last ten games was a win. That win coupled with four draws was enough to see the team safely home in 16th place.

The final month of the season brought a game of mixed emotions. Eddie ‘Sticks’ Lowe played his final game for the Club in a match against Birmingham at home. He had signed along with his brother Reg from Aston Villa in a £15,000 transfer deal in 1950, and this was Eddie’s 474th League appearance easily beating trainer Frank Penn’s record of 429 games.

You must log in or register to see images

Before the match Eddie was presented with a canteen of cutlery by the Supporters Club Birmingham seemed determined not to spoil Eddie’s day. The match ended 3-3 and Birmingham players scored five of the goals.


All at Craven Cottage wondered what kind of bonanza the new season would bring.

 

[Cottager58]

THE STORY HAS A BOXING DAY PRESENT


Part 1

1963 The first game of the season was away to Everton. You can skip this video of the highlights if you don’t want to watch the inevitable Goodison outcome.


[video=youtube;6Q9AfU5o-S0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q9AfU5o-S0&list=PL63D5576D8B140FD1&feature=player_detailpage[/video]


Two home wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham followed. That took the team into a horrendous schedule of nine games in September and the start could not have been worse - four straight losses. They rallied with wins over Burnley, Leicester and Bolton although tucked in between the last was a humbling loss (5-3) away to Colchester in the League Cup. The last game in this series was a defeat (1-0) away to Blackpool. The most disappointing factor was that, of the title contenders, the only one played so far had been Everton in that opening game.

By the time the middle of December was reached, Fulham were hovering at the lower end of the table in 18th place and facing the return game against Everton. That master of the commentary, John Arlott takes over:

Fulham Snatch A Point

Fulham 2 Everton 2

It is always a pleasure to go to Craven Cottage for there is a happy amateur air about Fulham; and yesterday that quality saved them a point which, a few minutes before, had seemed utterly remote.

Even with five reserves and a man playing out of position, Everton were the better-ordered and more impressive side. But in the first five minutes their makeshift defence was so hesitant that Leggat and Cook had, and missed, chances to win the match.

Then Everton settled to competent blanketing with at need, nine men back in defence. Still, when they moved to the attack, with Temple twisting through at high speed, Young subtly adroit, and Vernon an asp at inside forward, striking with cold direct precision, they thre the Fulham defence into flurries of desperation.

Haynes is slowly but steadily playing his way back towards his old standard. His lately mended leg stll doesn’t want to be thrown into the marginal tackle, but he grow stronger and more assertive week by week. His labours however brought little reward. Key always yielded to the last defender: Cook bumbled faithfully but was out of his class: Leggat is miscast as a centre forward and Howfield has yet to show that he is more than a Third Division footballer.

Soon Everton looked altogether too professional and, after a quarter of an hour, they took the lead expertly. Harris moved up unmarked for a free kick from the right and reverse-headed it so that Macedo could only touch it as it went into the bottom left of his goal.

At the start of the second half Everton’s Hill shot gloriously on the turn and Macedo, with his fingernails, turned it over the goal. Then from crosses by Haynes and Key, Leggat, though out-reached and out-weighed, twice almost headed Fulham level.

Suddenly, Everton brought the ball out of defence. Temple squirmed in like an eel and left the Fulham defence so staggered that Young had only to touch his short cross into goal. Surely now the game was settled and Everton looked in unworried control. But then this was Fulham: Key took a corner kick, Cook with his solitary talent, headed it on and Keetch, outstretched, kicked it from level with his chin past Rankin.

Fulham struggled, stroved, erred; strove again, as time ran out. Less than a minute left and Mullery, from deep in his own half, struck an old-fashioned long, high ball down the middle, Cook faithfully fell in behind it but it was Heslop’s ball; he moved up to take it, hesitated, moved back, and as he pondered, Cook shambling on, hooked it awkwardly but clear of the stranded Rankin to draw the match. Everton looked thunderstruck, Fulham laughed: they were both justified.

It is always good to have an independent view but with due respect to the much, and justifiably, rated Mr Arlott, he treats poor Maurice Cook rather unfairly. Cook roasted the Everton centre half, Heslop, (who always seemed to have awful games against Fulham) all afternoon and his goal was well executed. The Bobby Keetch goal he also underplays somewhat. It was an absolute gem which would have had the current era of pundits drooling all the way to ’goal of the year’. Then again the Author could be demonstrating bias.



The team held Birmingham to a 0-0 draw away from home a week later. The game wasn’t without controversy however - a Fulham fan who was at the match recounted the incident in question -

It was an awful game – one of those when you think the teams have agreed on a 0 – 0 draw from the start but midway through the second half, Bertie Auld and Johnny Haynes clashed in midfield. Haynes took some terrible stick from close marking defenders over the years but rarely retaliated, preferring to let his skill and passing do the retaliation. However, something different must have gone down with the sinister Auld, one of my least favourite players; do you remember the heinous scenes in the World Clubs Championship when he was sent off among three or four others for Celtic against Racing Club in Buenos Aires?

Anyway, suddenly Johnny was pursuing Auld, who had the ball, and seemed to be swinging punches at the little toad. Auld stopped in his tracks and head butted Haynes who fell in a heap on the turf. Cook, who was about 20 yards away, lumbered over to protect his friend and captain, towering above the diminutive Auld, and was sent packing with a haymaker of a right that landed just below his eye. He too ended p a crumpled heap on the Birmingham turf.

When the mayhem died down, Haynes and Auld were sent off – Johnny for the first time in his career, Auld for about the tenth, and Cook was carried off. Haynes received a week’s suspension and Auld four weeks. Cook had a bit of trouble restoring his pride but nothing more.

Speaking to Alan Mullery on the train going back to London, we asked, “How come Maurice got punched?” “Sticking his big nose into things as usual,” replied Mullery.

 

[Cottager58]

Part 2

The next game was on Thursday 26th December. Boxing day that year was a gloomy winter’s day lit up by an astonishing 66 goals in 10 First Division games. Even the emerging Beatles with their third No. 1 in the Hit Parade (this one knocked Gerry and the Pacemaker’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” off the top spot) were overshadowed. Among the high scoring games there was -

* Blackburn’s 8-2 win at Upton Park. The Hammers, with seven ‘B’s’ in their line-up - Bond, Burkett, Bovington, Brown Brabook, Boyce and Byrne as well as Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst - had no answer to Bryan Douglas. The Daily Telegraph reported that, “he turned his side into a torturing conundrum which West Ham could not begin to solve. Fred Pickering and Andy McEvoy got hat tricks. In the return at Ewood two days later, West Ham, waltzed them off the park, winning 3-1.

* Burnley stopping at six against Manchester United with Andy Lochead getting a hat trick against them. United duly returned the compliment two days later winning 5-1 at Old Trafford with George Best scoring his first goal for them.

* Roger Hunt scoring four of Liverpool’s six against Stoke. Liverpool went on to win the title that year, in what was to be a period of ’Red Domination’.

* Chelsea’s five at Blackpool, where their final goal was scored by Terry Venenables

* Don Howe scoring a late equaliser to give West Bromwich a 4-4 draw against Tottenham, who were without Danny Blanchflower and Dave Mackay. Jimmy Greaves only managed to score twice.


And then there was Fulham. Maurice Cook played at centre forward broken nose and all (from the Birmingham game). In the opening minutes Leggat broke down the right wing and sent over a ferocious cross. Both Cook and Haynes were well placed, but Haynes called to Cook to take it. Despite the injured nose Cook went for the ball without any hesitation and headed home.


This illustrates Maurice Cook’s attitude and helps explain why he was such a popular player at Craven Cottage.


Cook’s goal was the start of an avalanche, inspired by Graham Leggat who skimmed over the soggy surface. The paper cutting and banner headline included in the ‘Chapter for 1958/59’ gives all the details of his exploits in this game. Suffice to say here, that he scored 4 goals and had a hand in 3 others.

You must log in or register to see images

Three of his goals were scored in as many minutes, which still stands as the fastest ever recorded hat trick in the top flight. His second was his 100th goal for Fulham.

Bobby Howfield, a left winger signed earlier in the year also grabbed a hat trick. Bobby was an experienced player having been with Crewe, Aldershot and Watford in the lower divisions but never really made an impact at the Cottage - Mr Arlott may be more astute than given credit for, after all! Other goals were scored by Alan Mullery and Bobby Robson. The score was actually 8-1 with 72 minutes left but the faithful fans stayed in expection and two of the goals in the last 90 seconds saw Fulham romp in to a record breaking 10-1 victory. [The team had scored ten before - in 1931 - but the opposition that day scored twice and it was in a lower division, so arguably takes second place!] In the return game two days later, true to form, Ipswich won 4-2.


It had been a cracker of a Boxing day all round and seven players scored individual hat tricks.


The New Year didn’t bring any joy in the FA Cup - a comfortable home win, 4-1 against Luton in the 3rd round, was followed by a quick exit going down 2-0 away to Blackburn Rovers. In the remaining 18 games of the season the team took a point a game which kept them just above the danger zone. March however showed that Fulham could hold their own with the best. In three consecutive home matches they beat Liverpool, the eventual champions, 1-0 thanks to a goal by Reg Stratton; runners up Manchester United were held to a draw (2-2); as were fourth placed Spurs (1-1). Best of all though was a 2-1 win against title contenders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Fulham finished in 15th place on 39pts., one place and one point better than the previous season.

Yet again the team had Craven Cottage to thank for their position, only 9pts having been won on the road.

 

[Cottager58]

THE STORY TAKES STOCK


Part 1

1964 Not Alex Stock - that’s for later. This ‘Chapter’ is a stock take of the company store with Fulham have been 5 years in the top division.

In those five years there hadn’t been any significant signing, with the exception of Bobby Robson and he was on his second wind. General Manager Frank Osborne and Team Manager Beddy Jezzard had remained loyal to the experienced players.

In the season just finished (season 1963/64), a number of players had reached centuries of playing for Fulham. Bobby Robson played in his 200th in the game away to West Bromwich; Tosh Chamberlain was nearing his 200th; Tony Macedo was nearing his 250th game; Jim Langley had played his 300th, in the home game against Blackburn Rovers; George Cohen his 300th in the game away to Shefffield United; and Johnny Haynes his 400th in the game at home to Bolton.


And, they were all still very much part of the Fulham set up. There were other, older players who had played there part but had moved on during those five years. Among them were:

John Doherty and Dave Edwards who emigrated to Australia. Ken Hewkins had returned to South Africa. Others like Joe Stapleton, Alf Stokes, Robin Lawler and Jacky Henderson drifted into non-league football. Derek Lampe had been forced out of the game through injury. Eddie Lowe, Jimmy Hill

You must log in or register to see images

and Bill Dodgin Jnr had become managers or coaches. And Roy Bentley had also gone, spending a year at QPR before taking the job as manager of Reading.

You must log in or register to see images

Osborne and Jezzard hadn’t denied youngsters however and a fair number had been given an opportunity of first team football. It’s fair to say that only a few of them became regulars, however.


No player made a more dramatic start to his professional career in those years than 19 year old centre forward Alan Jones. In his debut against Bolton at the Cottage in 1960, he scored with his first kick after 35 seconds ! Alan scored six more in six other outings in season 1959/60 but never played for the League side again.

Brian Sullivan and Reg Stratton were two youth internationals who also failed to make the grade. Stratton had won amateur international caps with Woking and scored in the 1958 Amateur Cup final but he only played 24 League games in his six years at the Cottage - although he did famously get the winner in the 1-0 win over Liverpool last season. Sullivan who had been hailed as the new Johnny Haynes, fared even worse. He only played in 2 League games.

Other youngsters who failed to take the chance when it was offered were, goalkeeper Martin Townsend[/B[, full back Bobby Drake and winger Mike Brown. Drake was the son of the legendary Arsenal centre forward and Chelsea manager, Ted Drake, who later came to the Cottage as Chief Scout. Another who had started promisingly but never recovered from a broken leg was Barry Mealand, who might have been a professional golfer. [The injury Barry suffered was in fact in the season to come - at Highbury in October 1965.]


Several younsters did make the breakthrough however, and became firm favourites at Craven Cottage. In terms of the number of games they played, the most important discoveries were Stan Brown and Steve Earle.


Stan Brown made his debut in the horrible defeat to Sheffield United in 1961 and had to wait until season 1962/63 before he won a regular place. His early first team career was at inside or centre forward but he later took over at wing half and found his rightful position. In that position

You must log in or register to see images

he was ideally suited to the emerging 4-3-3 formation and was an absolute powerhouse in the midfield three. A model professional, Brown played in 397 games for Fulham before moving on to Brighton.


Steve Earle was another long serving player for the Club, playing in 327 games and scoring 108 goals. Earle was a beautifully balanced footballer who could play on the wing or in the centre. He had a good shot in both feet and could head well. He made his debut at Nottingham Forest in February 1964 and scored in the following match, his home debut in a game against Blackpool.

You must log in or register to see images

In the next ten seasons he was the leading or next highest scorer six times and the Story will have more to say about Steve in later ‘Chapters’. Not least about the times he linked up with Les Barrett and Alan Clarke then later with Jimmy Conway to form one of the most exciting front lines seen at Craven Cottage since the 1950s. In the meantime let some other Fulham legends tell you about Steve Earle of Fulham:


[video=youtube;t6QV_tK7vrg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t6QV_tK7vrg[/video]

 

[Cottager58]

Part 2


Two other juniors who emerged between 1960 and 1964 made fewer appearances, but won reputations for their individual style and joined the ranks of Craven Cottage characters. Back in 1961, a fresh-faced 16-year-old called Rodney Marsh arrived at Fulham and began to excite the fans like no other player had ever done.

You must log in or register to see images

Blessed with the most extravagant skills and a personality to match, he was built to entertain. And entertain he did. For the next five years the faithful stood and watched in awe of his outrageously prodigious talent.


It didn’t take long for the buzz to start that something special was happening down in the Reserves. Pretty soon the second string were attracting thousands of spectators each week instead of the usual one man and his dog. They were there for one reason and one reason only - to watch young Rodney strut his stuff. Excited as the fans were to watch him, Marsh was just as thrilled to be there


“As a young kid of 16, it was like giving a donkey some strawberries,” he laughed. “I just loved it. I loved absolutely everything about it. For the first three years at Fulham I could do nothing wrong. I don’t know what it was, I just played some magic football. I remember huge crowds turning up at Reserve games. The enclosure would always be packed and I’d always make sure I played close to that side so that I would be close to the crowd - I’d switch wings at half-time!”

He hit 51 goals in total for the Junior and Reserve sides and made his first team debut against Aston Villa in February 1963. He scored the only goal of the game with a brilliant volley from the edge of the box into the far side of the net. Much more will be said about young Mr Marsh in the next ’Chapter’


An over-indulgence in the finer points of the game was never a failing of Fulham’s other character of the early 1960’s. Bobby Keetch made his debut against Sheffield United in the League Cup in September 1961, but had to wait until September 1962 before taking his bow in First Division football.

You must log in or register to see images

He was brought in at centre half to replace Bill Dodgin Jnr, who had broken his leg, but later switched to left back.

He was a wholehearted defender, all action and little sublety, whose approach was described by the press as “cavalier” -

On a sunny Saturday afternoon when Keetch ran out onto the pitch, blonde curls blowing in the breeze high ankle boots gleaming, he looked all the world like a spanish bull snorting and stamping the ground searching for his first victim

One Fulham fan remembers him in a similar vein -

Keetchy was an imposing figure with a shock of shiny blonde hair and an aristocratic bearing yet he played in a swashbuckling, physical style that often bordered on the filthy. He was once sent off in reserve game after five minutes for persistent dirty play! He he had a two year long vendetta with Burnley striker, Willie Irvine, which culminated in a wild kick to the Burnley man’s knee on a freezing night at the Cottage and saw our Bob given his marching orders.

He was one of the friendliest of players, always ready to chat with us Fulham fans, and once he climbed the railings around the pitch at the Den to “speak” to a Millwall supporter who accused him of being a “bottle blonde” during another reserve game.

Although Bobby was not a particularly skillful player he stuck close to opposing strikers and had a good record against players such as Derek Dougan, Peter Osgood and Dennis Law and he always seemed to play his best against better players. Even George Best

You must log in or register to see images

Bobby was a man of contrasts though and his off-the-field image was very different. A connoisseur of fine art and antiques, he drove a silver Lotus Elan sports car, bought his suits from a Mayfair tailor, ate at the Chanterelle in South Kensington, and drank with Annigoni, the opera singer, and one of two train robbers at the Pheasantry Club in Chelsea. Often photographed horse riding in Rotten Row, Bobby dressed like a lord of the manor. Sadly Bobby had a stroke in 1996 and passed away at the too early age of 54.


Yet another Fulham junior, although by now he was 22 and had over 200 League games under his belt, left in march 1964. To say that Alan Mullery’s transfer to Spurs for £72,500 was controversial would be a gross understatement. Not least because while the transfer took place after the home win over Liverpool, it had been arranged beforehand and the team were told at half time.


So, when looking forwards and taking all things into account, Craven Cottage wasn’t sure whether to hang out the balloons or take them down.

You must log in or register to see images

 

[Cottager58]

The Story is taking a commercial break for a few days - the thought of delving into the world of Vic Buckingham straight away is too much.


In the meantime here are a couple of more relaxing shots of some of the Team also having a break

You must log in or register to see images

You must log in or register to see images