1947–48 Southampton F.C. season

August 2022 August 2022 Southampton F.C. 1947–48 Alf Jukes Bill Dodgin The Dell Second Division 3rd FA Cup Sixth round Charlie Wayman (17) Charlie Wayman (19) 27,330 v West Bromwich Albion (27 March 1948) 15,280 v Fulham(21 April 1948) 20,717 6–1 v Doncaster Rovers(20 December 1947) 0–5 v Newcastle United(25 October 1947) _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _whitetop FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 003366 003366 1946–47 1948–49 The 1947–48 season was the 47th year of competitive football played by Southampton F.C., the club's 21st season as members of the Football League, and their 19th competing in the Second Division.http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/history Southampton Complete History Statto.com 11 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 third place in the league table, having gained 52 from a possible 84 points with 21 wins, ten draws and 11 losses.https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1947-48.html Season 1947-48 English League Tables, 1888-2008 Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 11 August 2022 The club also competed in the FA Cup, making it to the sixth round before being eliminated by fellow Second Division side Tottenham Hotspur.https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engcup1948.html England FA Challenge Cup 1947-48 England FA Challenge Cup Finals Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 11 August 2022 After an underwhelming first post-war league performance the previous season, Southampton manager Bill Dodgin made a number of new signings before the start of the 1947–48 campaign. One of the biggest deals in the summer of 1947 was the sale of winger Don Roper to Arsenal, for whom the First Division side paid £12,000 as well as transferring two of their own forwards – George Curtis and Tommy Rudkin.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/don-roper/ Don Roper SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 Also signed in the summer were Luton Town forward Augie Scott,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/augie-scott/ Augie Scott SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 Leyton Orient full-back Ted Ballard,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ted-ballard/ Ted Ballard SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 and young Scottish forward George Beattie.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/george-beattie/ George Beattie SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 Dodgin continued signing new players during the first half of the season, adding winger Billy Wrigglesworth and centre-forward Charlie Wayman in October,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/billy-wrigglesworth/ Billy Wrigglesworth SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/charlie-wayman/ Charlie Wayman SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 followed by Scottish goalkeeper Ian Black in December.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ian-black/ Ian Black SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 All three played central roles in the second half of the season.Holley Chalk 2003 9 During the season, 23 players appeared for Southampton in all competitions. Full-back Alf Ramsey featured in more games than any other player, being ever present in both the league and FA Cup with 46 appearances. Charlie Wayman, who joined the club a few months after the season started, finished as Southampton's top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions – 17 in the league and two in the FA Cup. The club attracted an average home league attendance at The Dell of 20,717 – the highest league attendance was 27,330 against West Bromwich Albion, although this was surpassed in the FA Cup fifth round against Swindon Town which was attended by 29,134.Holley Chalk 2003 305 Second Division Season summary Southampton's start to the 1947–48 league campaign brought mixed fortunes. The side won just four of its first ten games, failing to pick up victories over recently promoted sides Doncaster Rovers (with whom they drew 1–1 in the opening fixture) and Cardiff City (by whom they were thrashed 1–5), which left them in the bottom half of the table.Holley Chalk 2003 6 The team's performances picked up starting in November after they had signed prolific Newcastle United centre-forward Charlie Wayman, who helped them secure wins against title challengers Birmingham City, as well as mid-table sides Barnsley and Luton Town.Holley Chalk 2003 7 In December, the club won three games in a row (including a season-record 6–1 return win over Doncaster) to reach the top five of the league table by Boxing Day. In his first ten games at the Saints, Wayman scored eight times. With new signing Ian Black taking over in goal, Southampton started the new year on strong form, embarking on an unbeaten run of nine league games between 31 January and 29 March 1948; the run included a 5–1 home win over relegation-threatened Millwall, a 1–0 away win against Coventry City, and a 4–2 victory over eventual Second Division runners-up Newcastle United in which Wayman scored twice in three minutes against his former club.Holley Chalk 2003 8 By the end of March, Southampton were in the running for promotion to the First Division, however after two wins in early April against Barnsley and Plymouth Argyle, it was predicted by local newspaper the Southern Daily Echo that the team could "forget about promotion". Four wins from their last five games saw Southampton climb from fifth to third, where they finished just four points behind second. Final league table Second Division y SOU RSSSF Results by matchday table b Round Ground A / H / H / A / H / A / A / H / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / H / A / H / A / A / H / H / A / A / H / A / H / H / A / A / H / A / A / H / H / A Result D / W / L / W / W / L / L / D / W / L / D / W / W / L / W / L / W / L / W / D / W / W / W / L / D / L / W / W / D / W / W / D / W / D / D / L / L / W / W / W / W / D Position 12 / 6 / 12 / 5 / 4 / 6 / 15 / 14 / 7 / 13 / 12 / 9 / 8 / 10 / 9 / 9 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 7 / 7 / 5 / 6 / 6 / 7 / 6 / 5 / 5 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 5 / 5 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss 1st 2nd 3rd red1 statto.com Match results 1 23 August 1947 Doncaster Rovers 1–1 Southampton Maddison 37 Bradley 5 Belle Vue Doncaster 30,000 D 2 27 August 1947 Southampton 3–1 Sheffield Wednesday Ramsey 57 pen.Bradley 7289 Hunt 6 The Dell Southampton 16,751 W 3 30 August 1947 Southampton 1–2 Leeds United Bradley 77 Short 40Wakefield 44 The Dell Southampton 20,801 L 4 1 September 1947 Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Southampton Dailey 31 Bradley 3375 Hillsborough Stadium Sheffield 23,077 W 5 6 September 1947 Southampton 1–0 Bury Bradley 7 The Dell Southampton 17,617 W 6 8 September 1947 Cardiff City 5–1 Southampton Webber 20 o.g.Rees Richards 70Moore Day 49 Ninian Park Cardiff 40,000 L 7 13 September 1947 West Ham United 2–0 Southampton Wood 3Hall 38 Boleyn Ground London 20,709 L 8 17 September 1947 Southampton 2–2 Cardiff City Bradley 22Day 73 McBennett 32 67 The Dell Southampton 17,000 D 9 20 September 1947 Southampton 3–0 Chesterfield Day 4 13 74 The Dell Southampton 18,590 W 10 27 September 1947 Millwall 3–0 Southampton Mansfield 57Jinks 83Woodward 88 The Den London 23,000 L 11 4 October 1947 Southampton 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur Day 4 Duquemin 53 The Dell Southampton 23,480 D 12 11 October 1947 Fulham 0–2 Southampton Bates 16 50 Craven Cottage London 24,437 W 13 18 October 1947 Southampton 3–1 Coventry City Bates 26Ramsey 37 pen.Wrigglesworth 71 Roberts 53 pen. The Dell Southampton 21,767 W 14 25 October 1947 Newcastle United 5–0 Southampton Milburn 30Stobbart 32Walker 53 83Pearson 75 St James' Park Newcastle upon Tyne 50,000 L 15 1 November 1947 Southampton 2–0 Birmingham City Curts 5Ramsey 80 pen. The Dell Southampton 27,000 W 16 8 November 1947 West Bromwich Albion 1–0 Southampton Smith 51 The Hawthorns West Bromwich 35,000 L 17 15 November 1947 Southampton 4–1 Barnsley Wayman Wrigglesworth 39Bates 44 Robledo The Dell Southampton 21,563 W 18 22 November 1947 Plymouth Argyle 3–1 Southampton Squires 12Tadman 35Strauss 86 Wayman 23 Home Park Plymouth 21,561 L 19 29 November 1947 Southampton 3–1 Luton Town Curtis 12Wayman 43Ellerington 80 Soo 87 The Dell Southampton 18,369 W 20 6 December 1947 Brentford 2–2 Southampton Dawson 40Nelson 44 Day 46Wayman 47 Griffin Park London 18,660 D 21 13 December 1947 Southampton 3–1 Leicester City Wrigglesworth 10Bates 35Day 65 Adam 9 The Dell Southampton 18,441 W 22 20 December 1947 Southampton 6–1 Doncaster Rovers Wayman 5 77Curtis 15Ramsey 19Wrigglesworth 34Day 71 Gillespie 74 The Dell Southampton 17,925 W 23 26 December 1947 Bradford Park Avenue 1–3 Southampton Downie Wayman 5 79Ellerington 15 pen. Horsfall Stadium Bradford 22,823 W 24 27 December 1947 Southampton 1–2 Bradford Park Avenue Greenwood 80 o.g. Henry 44Donaldson 70 The Dell Southampton 24,734 L 25 3 January 1948 Leeds United 0–0 Southampton Elland Road Leeds 23,194 D 26 17 January 1948 Bury 3–0 Southampton Bellis 25Halton pen.Daniel 89 Gigg Lane Bury 13,679 L 27 31 January 1948 Southampton 3–1 West Ham United Bates 25 49Wayman 90 Wright 30 The Dell Southampton 20,178 W 28 14 February 1948 Southampton 5–1 Millwall Bates 29 36Day 46Wayman 54Grant 81 Mansfield 90 The Dell Southampton 19,625 W 29 21 February 1948 Tottenham Hotspur 0–0 Southampton White Hart Lane London 29,784 D 30 6 March 1948 Coventry City 0–1 Southampton Scott 49 Highfield Road Coventry 23,687 W 31 13 March 1948 Southampton 4–2 Newcastle United Scott 1Wayman 4 7Grant 59 Sibley 46Milburn 88 The Dell Southampton 26,780 W 32 20 March 1948 Birmingham City 0–0 Southampton St Andrew's Birmingham 42,000 D 33 26 March 1948 Southampton 2–1 Nottingham Forest Wayman 18Scott 27 Lee The Dell Southampton 22,788 W 34 27 March 1948 Southampton 1–1 West Bromwich Albion Scott 75 Rowley 65 The Dell Southampton 27,330 D 35 29 March 1948 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Southampton Wilkins 68 Ellerington 44 pen. City Ground Nottingham 24,738 D 36 3 April 1948 Barnsley 2–1 Southampton Harston 55Griffiths 79 Grant 2 Oakwell Barnsley 20,000 L 37 10 April 1948 Southampton 2–3 Plymouth Argyle Wayman 55 Edds 5 13 80 The Dell Southampton 20,544 L 38 14 April 1948 Chesterfield 0–1 Southampton Wayman 27 Saltergate Chesterfield 13,378 W 39 17 April 1948 Luton Town 0–2 Southampton Ramsey 13 pen.Scott 74 Kenilworth Road Luton 17,202 W 40 21 April 1948 Southampton 1–0 Fulham Wayman 85 The Dell Southampton 15,280 W 41 24 April 1948 Southampton 2–1 Brentford Grant 2 82 Gibbons 44 The Dell Southampton 18,512 W 42 28 April 1948 Leicester City 0–0 Southampton Filbert Street Leicester 17,874 D FA Cup Sunderland (10 January 1948) Southampton entered the 1947–48 FA Cup in the third round, hosting First Division strugglers Sunderland – who had previously knocked the Saints out of the competition in 1931, 1932 and 1937 – on 10 January 1948. The first half saw both sides enjoying chances on the opposition's goal, with Sunderland initially dominating possession but frequently being denied by the Saints defence (including goalkeeper Ian Black, who was making his home debut).Holley Chalk 2003 304 The game remained goalless at half-time, after which the visiting side returned to piling on the pressure, almost scoring through three successive chances for Eddie Burbanks. Around the hour mark, Charlie Wayman came close to scoring for the home side, but his shot hit the post and rebounded off a defender for a corner. It was this set piece which ultimately led to the only goal of the game, when Southampton's Eric Day scrambled the ball into the Sunderland net for 1–0. Both goalkeepers continued to perform in the closing minutes of the game to deny either side another chance. Blackburn Rovers (24 January 1948) Another home tie in the fourth round two weeks later saw Southampton hosting Blackburn Rovers who, like Sunderland, were fighting against relegation from the top tier of the Football League. Despite starting well, the Saints went behind after just 11 minutes, when Rovers wing-half Jackie Campbell put the visitors ahead; just a minute later, however, the hosts responded and Eric Day scored an equaliser. Both sides enjoyed a number of chances on goal throughout the rest of the first half, but it was Southampton who made it 2–1 through Charlie Wayman shortly before the break. The home side enjoyed the majority of possession early in the second half, but it was Blackburn who scored next when Charlie McClelland equalised with a close range strike. In the final five minutes, with Southampton on the back foot and a replay looking likely, Day scored his second and the Saints' third of the game to send the Hampshire side through to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927. Swindon Town (7 February 1948) Southampton's fifth round tie saw them hosting yet again, this time with Third Division South side Swindon Town making the trip to The Dell, bringing "several thousand" fans to contribute to a season-high attendance of 29,134 (with "thousands" more denied entry). Swindon were reduced to ten men after just eight minutes when right-back Harry Kaye injured his ankle; subsequently, Southampton broke the deadlock after 24 minutes when Charlie Wayman scored "one of the most remarkable goals ever seen in football", according to local newspaper the Southern Daily Echo. Just over ten minutes after the half-time break, the hosts doubled their lead through George Curtis, who headed in from an Alf Ramsey free kick. Two minutes later, it was 3–0 through a Jimmy Ithell own goal, caused by an attack by Wayman.Holley Chalk 2003 306 Tottenham Hotspur (28 February 1948) In their first sixth round home tie ever, Southampton hosted Second Division rivals Tottenham Hotspur on 28 February 1948. Both teams enjoyed spells of possession and goal-scoring chances in the first 45 minutes – Spurs almost went ahead through Ernie Jones and Len Duquemin on a number of occasions, while the Saints came close just before the break courtesy of a Ted Bates header which was just pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Ted Ditchburn. The first half ended goalless, before Southampton increased the pressure in the second half with plenty of shots and corners in the Spurs half; George Curtis came closest to scoring, when his low shot was cleared off the line by Tottenham full-back Sid Tickridge. It was the visitors, however, who scored the only goal of the fixture in the 75th minute, when Les Bennett scored a goal from 20 yards with his left foot, despite the assertion that he "couldn't kick a ball with his left foot" according to Southampton centre-half Joe Mallett.Holley Chalk 2003 307 Southampton were unable to respond and Tottenham went through. Round 3 10 January 1948 Southampton 1–0 Sunderland Day The Dell Southampton 24,288 W Round 4 24 January 1948 Southampton 3–2 Blackburn Rovers Day 12 85Wayman Campbell 11McClelland The Dell Southampton 24,274 W Round 5 7 February 1948 Southampton 3–0 Swindon Town Wayman 24Curtis 55Ithell 57 o.g. The Dell Southampton 29,134 W Round 6 28 February 1948 Southampton 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur Bennett 75 The Dell Southampton 28,425 L Post-season friendlies Following the end of the league campaign, Southampton embarked on a tour of Brazil to play eight friendly matches. The first four fixtures ended in losses: 0–4 at Fluminense, 1–3 at Botafogo (Bill Ellerington scoring the consolation for the visitors), 2–4 at São Paulo (Saints goals scored by Bill Rochford and Charlie Wayman), and 1–2 at Portuguesa (Wayman scoring for Southampton).Holley Chalk 2003 424 The travelling Saints won the next two matches, 2–1 against Corinthians with goals from Wilf Grant and George Curtis, and 3–1 against Flamengo thanks to goals from Wayman (twice) and Augie Scott. The last two games of the Brazilian tour were a 1–2 loss at Vasco da Gama and a 1–1 draw with Minas Gerais (Wayman scored in both games). Friendly 16 May 1948 Fluminense 4–0 Southampton Rio de Janeiro, Brazil L Friendly 20 May 1948 Botafogo 3–1 Southampton Ellerington Rio de Janeiro, Brazil L Friendly 25 May 1948 São Paulo 4–2 Southampton Rochford Wayman São Paulo, Brazil L Friendly 29 May 1948 Portuguesa 2–1 Southampton Wayman L Friendly 2 June 1948 Corinthians 1–2 Southampton Grant Curtis São Paulo, Brazil W Friendly 6 June 1948 Flamengo 1–3 Southampton Wayman Scott Rio de Janeiro, Brazil W Friendly 10 June 1948 Vasco da Gama 2–1 Southampton Wayman Rio de Janeiro, Brazil L Friendly 13 June 1948 Minas Gerais 1–1 Southampton Wayman Belo Horizonte, Brazil D Squad statistics NamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsTed BallardFB Full backENG700070Ted BatesFW ForwardENG2210402610George BeattieFW ForwardSCO100010Ian BlackGK GoalkeeperSCO17040210Stan ClementsHB Half backENG13000130George CurtisFW ForwardENG41341454Eric DayFW ForwardENG3510433913Bill ElleringtonFB Full backENG9310103George EphgraveGK GoalkeeperENG700070Wilf GrantFW ForwardENG19511206Jack GregoryFB Full backENG000000George HorsfallHB Half backAUS000000George LewisFW ForwardWAL15000150Joe MallettHB Half backENG32040360Alf RamseyFB Full backENG42540465Bill RochfordFB Full backENG35030380Albie RolesFB Full backENG000000Tommy RudkinFW ForwardENG501060Augie ScottFW ForwardENG20500205George SmithHB Half backENG39040430Len StansbridgeGK GoalkeeperENG18000180Bobby VeckFW ForwardENG600060Charlie WaymanFW ForwardENG2717423119Eric WebberHB Half backENG29040330Len WilkinsHB Half backENG000000Billy WrigglesworthFW ForwardENG12420144Players with appearances who left the club before the end of the seasonJack BradleyFW ForwardENG11800118 Most appearances No. NumberNamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalApps. AppearancesMins. Minutes playedApps. AppearancesMins. Minutes playedApps. AppearancesMins. Minutes played% % of games1Alf RamseyFB Full backENG423,7804360464,140100%2George CurtisFW ForwardENG413,6904360454,05097.83%3George SmithHB Half backENG393,5104360433,87093.48%4Eric DayFW ForwardENG353,1504360393,51084.78%5Bill RochfordFB Full backENG353,1503270383,42082.61%6Joe MallettHB Half backENG322,8804360363,24078.26%7Eric WebberHB Half backENG292,6104360332,97071.74%8Charlie WaymanFW ForwardENG272,4304360312,79067.39%9Ted BatesFW ForwardENG221,9804360262,34056.52%10Ian BlackGK GoalkeeperSCO171,5304360211,89045.65% Top goalscorers No. NumberNamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGPG Goals per game1Charlie WaymanFW ForwardENG17272419310.612Eric DayFW ForwardENG10353413390.333Ted BatesFW ForwardENG10220410260.384Jack BradleyFW ForwardENG811008110.735Wilf GrantFW ForwardENG519116200.306Augie ScottFW ForwardENG520005200.25Alf RamseyFB Full backENG542045460.118Billy WrigglesworthFW ForwardENG412024160.29George CurtisFW ForwardENG341144450.0910Bill ElleringtonFB Full backENG39013100.30 Transfers Players transferred inDatePos.NameClubFeeRef.June 1947FB Full backENG Ted BallardENG Leyton OrientExchangeTed Ballard transferred to Southampton in exchange for Bill Stroud moving to Leyton Orient.July 1947FW ForwardENG Augie ScottENG Luton TownFreeAugust 1947FW ForwardSCO George BeattieSCO RosemountFreeAugust 1947FW ForwardENG George CurtisENG ArsenalExchange"arsenal" George Curtis and Tommy Rudkin transferred to Southampton in exchange for £12,000 and Don Roper moving to Arsenal.August 1947FW ForwardENG Tommy RudkinENG ArsenalExchange"arsenal"October 1947FW ForwardENG Charlie WaymanENG Newcastle United£10,000Charlie Wayman's £10,000 transfer fee was a club record at the time.October 1947FW ForwardENG Billy WrigglesworthENG Bolton WanderersExchange"bolton" Billy Wrigglesworth transferred to Southampton in exchange for £8,000 and Jack Bradley moving to Bolton Wanderers.December 1947GK GoalkeeperSCO Ian BlackSCO Aberdeen£1,000Players transferred outDatePos.NameClubFeeRef.August 1947FW ForwardENG Don RoperENG Arsenal£12,000"arsenal"October 1947FW ForwardENG Jack BradleyENG Bolton Wanderers£8,000"bolton"https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/jack-bradley/ Jack Bradley SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.Pre-seasonFW ForwardENG Billy BevisENG Winchester CitySeptember 1947https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bill-bevis/ Bill Bevis SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 Pre-seasonHB Half backENG Bill BushbyENG Cowes SportsLate 1947https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bill-bushby/ Bill Bushby SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 August 2022 Pre-seasonHB Half backENG Ken FisherENG WatfordAugust 1947Holley Chalk 2003 4Holley Chalk 2003 612Pre-seasonFW ForwardENG Alf FreemanENG Crystal PalaceAugust 1948https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/alf-freeman/ Alf Freeman SaintsPlayers.co.uk 11 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