1950–51 Southampton F.C. season

August 2022 August 2022 Southampton F.C. 1950–51 Penn Barrow Sid Cann The Dell Second Division 12th FA Cup Fourth round Eddy Brown (20) Eddy Brown (22) 27,306 v Preston North End (31 March 1951) 13,922 v Chesterfield(28 April 1951) 21,770 5–1 v Grimsby Town(17 March 1951) 0–4 v Brentford(26 December 1950) _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _3whitehoops FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 FF0000 1949–50 1951–52 The 1950–51 season was the 50th year of competitive football played by Southampton F.C., the club's 24th season as members of the Football League, and their 22nd playing in the Second Division.http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/history Southampton Complete History Statto.com 18 August 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20161001204812/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/history 1 October 2016 live dmy-all The Saints finished the campaign in 12th place in the league table, having gained 43 from a possible 84 points with 15 wins, 13 draws and 14 losses.https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1950-51.html Season 1950-51 English League Tables, 1888-2008 Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 18 August 2022 The club also competed in the FA Cup, losing in the fourth round at First Division side Sunderland after a third round replay win over Notts County.https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engcup1951.html England FA Challenge Cup 1950-51 England FA Challenge Cup Finals Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 18 August 2022 After another frustrating season in which they missed out on promotion only on goal average, Southampton saw some key players depart in the summer of 1950. First-choice goalkeeper Ian Black joined former manager Bill Dodgin at Fulham,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ian-black/ Ian Black SaintsPlayers.co.uk 18 August 2022 with Hugh Kelly taking his place in exchange.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/hugh-kelly/ Hugh Kelly SaintsPlayers.co.uk 18 August 2022 He was followed by mainstay full-back Bill Rochford, who many fans had expected to succeed Dodgin as manager, to Colchester United;https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bill-rochford/ Bill Rochford SaintsPlayers.co.uk 18 August 2022 Norman Kirkman joined from Leicester City in his place.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/norman-kirkman/ Norman Kirkman SaintsPlayers.co.uk 18 August 2022 Also leaving the club prior to the start of the league campaign were José Gallego,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/jose-gallego/ José Gallego SaintsPlayers.co.uk 18 August 2022 George Smith,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/george-smith/ George Smith SaintsPlayers.co.uk 18 August 2022 and Bobby Veck.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bobby-veck/ Bobby Veck SaintsPlayers.co.uk 18 August 2022 It wasn't until just after the league had started, however, that the biggest transfer of the season took place – star forward Charlie Wayman, who had been the side's top scorer for the last three seasons, requested a move to Preston North End for a "substantial fee" and the exchange of Eddy Brown in return.Holley Chalk 2003 18 Partway through the year, Southampton signed Scottish goalkeeper John Christie from Ayr United.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/john-christie/ John Christie SaintsPlayers.co.uk 18 August 2022 During the season, 27 players appeared for Southampton in all competitions. Left-half Joe Mallett featured in more games than any other player, being ever present in both the league and FA Cup with 44 appearances.Holley Chalk 2003 21 New centre-forward Eddy Brown finished as Southampton's top scorer, with 20 goals in the league and two in the FA Cup. The club attracted an average home league attendance at The Dell of 21,770. The highest league attendance was 27,306 against league leaders (and eventual champions) Preston North End on 31 March 1951; the lowest was 13,922 against bottom-two side Chesterfield on 28 April 1951, the day of the 1951 FA Cup Final. Second Division Season summary Southampton kicked off the 1950–51 league campaign with a six-game unbeaten run, including a 2–1 opening day win over Barnsley, a tight 1–0 victory over fellow 1949–50 promotion contenders Sheffield United, and a late 1–0 away win over Luton Town. Despite finding themselves third in the league table and immediately vying for a promotion challenge, the absence of centre-forward Charlie Wayman early on had meant that goals were hard to find. In the second week of September, the club lost their star striker to Preston North End, who were looking to return to the top flight after being relegated two seasons previously, with the Lancashire side paying a "substantial fee" and sending Eddy Brown to take his place in the Saints squad. Brown's debut saw the team beating Leeds United 2–0, but over the next month four losses in five fixtures saw the Saints dropping as low as ninth in the table. Successive 1–0 home wins over Notts County and Bury ensured the team remained competitive in the top half of the league.Holley Chalk 2003 19 In the run-up to Christmas, Southampton picked up their form to move up the table. During November, the side picked up a hard-fought 5–4 win against Coventry City, before surprising recently-relegated Manchester City at Maine Road with a 3–2 win, to move back up to sixth in the Second Division table. Despite a 2–2 draw with Leicester City in the middle of a winning streak, in December the Saints continued their strong run with another 3–2 away win over struggling Chesterfield, followed by hard-fought 1–0 and 2–1 wins over Barnsley and fellow promotion contenders Sheffield United, respectively. Going into Christmas, the team had climbed all the way to the top of the table. Their run of good form ended on Boxing Day, however, when they suffered their biggest defeat of the season losing 0–4 to 19th-placed Brentford, with all four goals scored by prolific frontman Billy Dare. The loss saw the Saints drop four places to fifth in the table, and would mark the last time all season they occupied a promotion spot.http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/1950-1951/results Southampton results for the 1950-1951 season statto.com https://web.archive.org/web/20150915233217/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/1950-1951/results 15 September 2015 19 August 2022 live After ascending to the top of the table in December, the Saints fell quickly to the bottom half of the league when they went nine games without a win between Boxing Day 1950 and mid-March 1951. Going into the new year, Southampton suffered defeats at the hands of Leeds United, Swansea Town, Hull City and Birmingham City, as well as dropping points at home to Luton Town and West Ham United. A season-high 5–1 thrashing of bottom-placed Grimsby Town was enough to keep Southampton's Second Division status safe, but the team's form continued to suffer as they failed to pick up wins over sides much lower in the league table – losing at the end of March to both Queens Park Rangers and Bury.Holley Chalk 2003 20 In their home fixture against Preston on 31 March, the Saints came back from 1–3 down to draw 3–3 with the league leaders (the point securing their promotion), preventing the eventual champions from breaking the Football League record of 14 consecutive wins. Six points from their final ten (including another win over Manchester City) meant that Southampton finished 12th in the Second Division table – disappointing when compared with 1948–49 and 1949–50, both of which almost ended in promotion to the First Division. Final league table Second Division y SOU RSSSF Results by matchday table b Round Ground A / H / H / A / A / H / H / A / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / A / H / H / A / H / A / H / H Result W / D / W / D / W / D / W / L / L / W / L / L / D / W / L / W / L / W / W / D / W / W / W / L / D / L / D / L / L / L / D / D / W / L / L / D / D / D / W / L / D / W Position 6 / 5 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 6 / 4 / 6 / 9 / 8 / 6 / 7 / 6 / 8 / 6 / 6 / 5 / 5 / 3 / 1 / 5 / 4 / 6 / 6 / 7 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 12 / 9 / 12 / 14 / 12 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 12 / 13 / 12 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss 1st 2nd 3rd red1 statto.com Match reports 1 19 August 1950 Barnsley 1–2 Southampton Wright 42 Bates 8 18 Oakwell Barnsley 19,835 W 2 23 August 1950 Southampton 1–1 Doncaster Rovers Edwards 83 Tindill 24 The Dell Southampton 24,579 D 3 26 August 1950 Southampton 1–0 Sheffield United Ellerington 77 pen. The Dell Southampton 22,859 W 4 30 August 1950 Doncaster Rovers 0–0 Southampton Belle Vue Doncaster 23,389 D 5 2 September 1950 Luton Town 0–1 Southampton Bates 84 Kenilworth Road Luton 16,942 W 6 6 September 1950 Southampton 1–1 Blackburn Rovers Day 10 Todd 75 The Dell Southampton 22,561 D 7 9 September 1950 Southampton 2–0 Leeds United Bates 9Edwards 39 The Dell Southampton 25,806 W 8 11 September 1950 Blackburn Rovers 1–0 Southampton Graham 11 Ewood Park Blackburn 17,515 L 9 16 September 1950 West Ham United 3–0 Southampton Gazzard 4 19Robinson Boleyn Ground London 22,500 L 10 23 September 1950 Southampton 2–1 Swansea Town Day 1Brown 82 Howarth 31 The Dell Southampton 22,420 W 11 30 September 1950 Hull City 4–1 Southampton Harrison 6 56Ackerman 37 58 Brown 19 Boothferry Park Kingston upon Hull 25,000 L 12 7 October 1950 Southampton 0–2 Birmingham City Green 81Smith 89 The Dell Southampton 25,499 L 13 14 October 1950 Cardiff City 2–2 Southampton Blair 1Mallett 33 o.g. Stevenson 66 82 Ninian Park Cardiff 27,000 D 14 21 October 1950 Southampton 1–0 Notts County Brown 48 The Dell Southampton 25,905 W 15 28 October 1950 Grimsby Town 4–2 Southampton Bloomer 5 11 53 55 Brown 12Bates 85 Blundell Park Cleethorpes 13,383 L 16 4 November 1950 Southampton 1–0 Bury Brown 30 The Dell Southampton 20,335 W 17 11 November 1950 Preston North End 3–2 Southampton Wayman 4 16Quigley 68 Day 22Brown 40 Deepdale Preston 32,000 L 18 18 November 1950 Southampton 5–4 Coventry City Bates Day Brown Edwards 80 Roberts Chisholm Allen Lockhart The Dell Southampton 22,438 W 19 25 November 1950 Manchester City 2–3 Southampton Westcott 14Haddleton 86 Bates 19Day 22Edwards 43 Maine Road Manchester 38,972 W 20 2 December 1950 Southampton 2–2 Leicester City Brown 80Bates 88 Adam 2Rowley 31 The Dell Southampton 22,375 D 21 9 December 1950 Chesterfield 2–3 Southampton Marron 7 81 Bates 58Day 60 70 Saltergate Chesterfield 12,200 W 22 16 December 1950 Southampton 1–0 Barnsley Brown 53 The Dell Southampton 17,207 W 23 23 December 1950 Sheffield United 1–2 Southampton Furniss 36 pen. Edwards 7Brown 50 Bramall Lane Sheffield 27,013 W 24 26 December 1950 Brentford 4–0 Southampton Dare 27 32 Griffin Park London 22,435 L 25 30 December 1950 Southampton 1–1 Luton Town Bates 40 Stobbart 90 The Dell Southampton 21,094 D 26 13 January 1951 Leeds United 5–3 Southampton Williams 18Browning 35 67 69Burden 76 Brown 65Day 78Stevenson 81 Elland Road Leeds 29,253 L 27 20 January 1951 Southampton 2–2 West Ham United Brown 47Ellerington 63 pen. Gazzard 21Robinson 62 The Dell Southampton 21,167 D 28 3 February 1951 Swansea Town 2–1 Southampton Thomas 17Turnbull 24 Brown 65 Vetch Field Swansea 17,451 L 29 17 February 1951 Southampton 2–3 Hull City Dudley 25 64 Carter 59Harrison 72Gerrie 84 The Dell Southampton 23,720 L 30 28 February 1951 Birmingham City 2–1 Southampton Smith 30Stewart 80 K. Wilkins 70 St Andrew's Birmingham 12,593 L 31 3 March 1951 Southampton 1–1 Cardiff City Edwards 29 pen. Edwards 56 The Dell Southampton 23,493 D 32 10 March 1951 Notts County 2–2 Southampton Sewell 32Leuty 55 Brown 22Dudley 52 Meadow Lane Nottingham 25,712 D 33 17 March 1951 Southampton 5–1 Grimsby Town Brown 2 68Day 20Dudley 32 67 Cairns 66 The Dell Southampton 14,598 W 34 23 March 1951 Queens Park Rangers 2–0 Southampton Smith Farrow 79 Loftus Road London 19,711 L 35 24 March 1951 Bury 1–0 Southampton Daniel 89 Gigg Lane Bury 11,433 L 36 26 March 1951 Southampton 2–2 Queens Park Rangers Dudley 41 61 Farrow 59Addinall 84 The Dell Southampton 20,875 D 37 31 March 1951 Southampton 3–3 Preston North End Brown 41 80Edwards 64 Wayman 6Horton 13 62 The Dell Southampton 27,306 D 38 7 April 1951 Coventry City 2–2 Southampton Roberts 20Lockhart 84 pen. Edwards 45Curtis 69 Highfield Road Coventry 20,156 D 39 14 April 1951 Southampton 2–1 Manchester City Day 1Brown 45 Hart 15 The Dell Southampton 24,579 W 40 21 April 1951 Leicester City 3–1 Southampton Baldwin 34Dryburgh 62 72 Dudley 80 Filbert Street Leicester 16,000 L 41 28 April 1951 Southampton 1–1 Chesterfield Brown 80 Hudson 11 The Dell Southampton 13,922 D 42 5 May 1951 Southampton 2–1 Brentford Brown 24Day 74 Monk 51 The Dell Southampton 14,441 W FA Cup Notts County (6 January 1951) Southampton entered the 1950–51 FA Cup in the third round, drawn away against fellow Second Division side Notts County. The travelling Saints quickly took control of the game, opening the scoring after 11 minutes when Eddy Brown beat several defenders to convert from close range.Holley Chalk 2003 309 Just four minutes later, Brown doubled his (and his side's) tally when he followed up from a Jack Edwards header that ricocheted off the crossbar. Notts County came close to responding before the half-time break through Bob Crookes and Tom Johnston, but they were denied by Saints goalkeeper Hugh Kelly and defender Bill Ellerington, respectively. Early in the second half, it was the away side that asserted its dominance once again, with Brown almost scoring a hat-trick within seconds of the restart, before Eric Day scored off the post following a setup that involved both Brown and Ted Bates. County did finally score through Frank Broome just before the hour mark, but a few minutes later Day scored his second and Southampton's fourth with a "marvellous individual effort" in which he beat multiple defenders. Both Brown and Day came close to completing hat-tricks, but the final two goals came courtesy of a Leon Leuty penalty and a late Alex Simpson goal. Sunderland (27 January 1951) In the fourth round, Southampton travelled north again to face frequent FA Cup rivals, Sunderland of the First Division. Much of the first half was an even affair, with both sides enjoying chances on goal, but it was the hosts who broke the deadlock just three minutes before half-time, when Dickie Davis followed up a shot from Trevor Ford that had been saved by Hugh Kelly.Holley Chalk 2003 310 The other side of the break, Davis scored a second for the Black Cats in the 51st minute, taking advantage of a poor clearance off the goal line by Ellerington. Despite mounting several attacks late on, Southampton were unable to respond. Round 3 6 January 1951 Notts County 3–4 Southampton Broome 57Leuty pen.Simpson 86 Brown 11 15Day 49 63 Meadow Lane Nottingham 29,260 W Round 4 27 January 1951 Sunderland 2–0 Southampton Davis 42 51 Roker Park Sunderland 61,319 L Additional friendlies Southampton played a number of friendly matches during the 1950–51 season. The first, on 31 October 1950, saw the Saints hosting local Third Division South side Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in the Dell's first ever floodlit fixture, which ended goalless after a one-hour playtime.Holley Chalk 2003 425 The second exhibition, on 10 February 1951, also ended in a draw as the Saints held top-flight Middlesbrough to a 1–1 finish – Southampton's goal was scored by Frank Dudley, who was making his first appearance for the club after signing from Leeds United. The Saints played Bournemouth & Boscombe again two weeks after the Middlesbrough fixture, this time at Dean Court, beating them 3–2 thanks to a hat-trick for Dudley. A 0–1 loss at Midland League side Boston United in April was followed by a 2–0 win over a Jersey XI side in May, a few days after the conclusion of the league campaign. A couple of weeks later, Southampton hosted two exhibitions as part of the celebrations for the Festival of Britain – first, they beat Swiss side Servette 3–0 thanks to goals from Brown, George Curtis and Eric Day, followed by a 3–3 draw with Danish side Kjøbenhavns Boldklub – all three goals coming from Brown. Friendly 31 October 1950 Southampton 0–0 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic The Dell Southampton D Friendly 10 February 1951 Southampton 1–1 Middlesbrough Dudley The Dell Southampton D Friendly 24 February 1951 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2–3 Southampton Dudley Dean Court Bournemouth W Friendly 23 April 1951 Boston United 1–0 Southampton York Street Boston L Friendly 9 May 1951 Jersey XI 0–2 Southampton Brown Edwards Jersey W Friendly 14 May 1951 Southampton 3–0 Servette Brown Curtis Eric Day The Dell Southampton W Friendly 19 May 1951 Southampton 3–3 Kjøbenhavns Boldklub Brown The Dell Southampton D Squad statistics NamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsAlex AndersonFB Full backSCO900090Ted BallardFB Full backENG21000210Ted BatesFW ForwardENG2910203110Eddy BrownFW ForwardENG3620223822John ChristieGK GoalkeeperSCO500050Stan ClementsHB Half backENG14000140George CurtisHB Half backENG37120391Eric DayFW ForwardENG3712223914Frank DudleyFW ForwardENG15800158Jack EdwardsFW ForwardENG36820388Bill ElleringtonFB Full backENG34220362Bryn ElliottHB Half backENG23020250Jack GregoryFB Full backENG600060Ernie JonesFW ForwardWAL12100121Walter JuddFW ForwardENG100010Hugh KellyGK GoalkeeperIRL28020300Norman KirkmanFB Full backENG13020150Tom LowderFW ForwardENG300030Jimmy McGowanFW ForwardSCO000000Joe MallettHB Half backENG42020440John MitchellFW ForwardENG700070Augie ScottFW ForwardENG000000Peter SillettFB Full backENG000000Len StansbridgeGK GoalkeeperENG400040Eddie ThomasGK GoalkeeperENG500050Eric WebberHB Half backENG28020300Ron WheatleyHB Half backENG100010Ken WilkinsFW ForwardENG210021Len WilkinsHB Half backENG200020Players with appearances who left the club before the end of the seasonErnie StevensonFW ForwardENG12300123 Most appearances No. NumberNamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalApps. AppearancesMins. Minutes playedApps. AppearancesMins. Minutes playedApps. AppearancesMins. Minutes played% % of games1Joe MallettHB Half backENG423,7802180443,960100%2George CurtisHB Half backENG373,3302180393,51088.64%Eric DayFW ForwardENG373,3302180393,51088.64%4Eddy BrownFW ForwardENG363,2402180383,42086.36%Jack EdwardsFW ForwardENG363,2402180383,42086.36%6Bill ElleringtonFB Full backENG343,0602180363,24081.82%7Ted BatesFW ForwardENG292,6102180312,79070.45%8Hugh KellyGK GoalkeeperIRL282,5202180302,70068.18%Eric WebberHB Half backENG282,5202180302,70068.18%10Bryn ElliottHB Half backENG232,0702180252,25056.82% Top goalscorers No. NumberNamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGPG Goals per game1Eddy BrownFW ForwardENG20362222380.582Eric DayFW ForwardENG12372214390.363Ted BatesFW ForwardENG10290210310.324Frank DudleyFW ForwardENG815008150.53Jack EdwardsFW ForwardENG836028380.216Ernie StevensonFW ForwardENG312003120.257Bill ElleringtonFB Full backENG234022360.068Ken WilkinsFW ForwardENG1200120.50Ernie JonesFW ForwardENG112001120.08George CurtisHB Half backENG137021390.03 Transfers Players transferred inDatePos.NameClubFeeRef.May 1950GK GoalkeeperENG Eddie ThomasENG Swindon TownFreehttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/eddie-thomas/ Eddie Thomas SaintsPlayers.co.uk 19 August 2022 June 1950FB Full backENG Peter SillettENG NomanslandFreehttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/peter-sillett/ Peter Sillett SaintsPlayers.co.uk 19 August 2022 July 1950GK GoalkeeperIRL Hugh KellyENG FulhamExchange"fulham" Hugh Kelly transferred to Southampton in exchange for Ian Black moving to Fulham.July 1950FB Full backENG Norman KirkmanENG Leicester CityFreeSeptember 1950FW ForwardENG Eddy BrownENG Preston North EndExchange"preston" Preston North End bought Charlie Wayman for a "substantial fee" and the exchange of Eddy Brown.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/eddy-brown/ Eddy Brown SaintsPlayers.co.uk 19 August 2022 January 1951GK GoalkeeperSCO John ChristieSCO Ayr UnitedFreeFebruary 1951FW ForwardENG Frank DudleyENG Leeds UnitedExchange"leeds" Frank Dudley transferred to Southampton in exchange for Ernie Stevenson moving to Leeds United.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/frank-dudley/ Frank Dudley SaintsPlayers.co.uk 19 August 2022 Players transferred outDatePos.NameClubFeeRef.Summer 1950FW ForwardESP José GallegoENG Colchester UnitedFreeMay 1950FW ForwardENG George SmithENG Crystal PalaceFreeJuly 1950GK GoalkeeperSCO Ian BlackENG FulhamExchange"fulham"July 1950FB Full backENG Bill RochfordENG Colchester UnitedFreeJuly 1950FW ForwardENG Bobby VeckENG GillinghamFreeAugust 1950FW ForwardENG Reginald DareENG Exeter CityFreehttps://grecianarchive.exeter.ac.uk/items/show/1016 Dare, Reginald The Grecian Archive 17 August 2022 September 1950FW ForwardENG Charlie WaymanENG Preston North EndUndisclosed"preston"https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/charlie-wayman/ Charlie Wayman SaintsPlayers.co.uk 19 August 2022 February 1951FW ForwardENG Ernie StevensonENG Leeds UnitedExchange"leeds"https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ernie-stevenson/ Ernie Stevenson SaintsPlayers.co.uk 19 August 2022 Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.Summer 1950FW ForwardENG Bill MolloyWAL Newport CountyNovember 1950https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/billy-molloy/ Billy Molloy SaintsPlayers.co.uk 19 August 2022 Footnotes References Bibliography Chalk Gary Holley Duncan Bull David November 2013 All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC Hagiology Publishing Bristol, England 978-0-9926864-0-6 Holley Duncan Chalk Gary Bull David 2003 In That Number: A Post-War Chronicle of Southampton FC Hagiology Publishing Bristol, England 0-9534474-3-X Category:Southampton F.C. seasons Southampton