1949–50 Southampton F.C. season

August 2022 August 2022 Southampton F.C. 1949–50 Penn Barrow Bill Dodgin (to July 1949)Sid Cann (from July 1949) The Dell Second Division 4th FA Cup Third round Charlie Wayman (24) Charlie Wayman (26) 30,240 v Tottenham Hotspur (8 October 1949) 20,689 v Bury(4 February 1950) 23,895 5–0 v Hull City(5 November 1949) 0–4 v Swansea Town(10 September 1949)0–4 v Tottenham Hotspur (25 February 1950) _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _3whitehoops FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 003366 FF0000 1948–49 1950–51 The 1949–50 season was the 49th year of competitive football played by Southampton F.C., the club's 23rd season as members of the Football League, and their 21st competing in the Second Division.http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/history Southampton Complete History Statto.com 16 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 fourth place in the league table, having gained 52 from a possible 84 points with 19 wins, 14 draws and nine losses – missing out on promotion only on goal average.https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1949-50.html Season 1949-50 English League Tables, 1888-2008 Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 16 August 2022 The club also competed in the FA Cup, losing a third round replay against Northampton Town.https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engcup1950.html England FA Challenge Cup 1949-50 England FA Challenge Cup Finals Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 16 August 2022 After narrowly missing out on promotion to the First Division during the previous season, Southampton looked to build on their squad with two big signings in the summer of 1949: winger Ernie Jones for £6,000 (plus Alf Ramsey) from Tottenham Hotspur,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ernie-jones/ Ernie Jones SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 followed by Jack Edwards for £10,000 from Nottingham Forest.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/jack-edwards/ Jack Edwards SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 Ramsey made his long-touted move away from the club,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/alf-ramsey/ Alf Ramsey SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 who also sent Tommy Rudkin to Bristol City,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/tom-rudkin/ Tom Rudkin SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 Albie Roles to Gloucester City,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/albie-roles/ Albie Roles SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 George Horsfall to Southend United,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/george-horsfall/ George Horsfall SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 and Bill Heaton (who had only joined in February) to Stalybridge Celtic.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bill-heaton/ Bill Heaton SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 Bill Dodgin left the club as manager in July 1949 and was replaced by assistant Sid Cann.Holley Chalk 2003 14 The new manager continued to sign players throughout the season, adding Bryn Elliott, Bill Molloy and Tom Lowder in October 1949,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bryn-elliott/ Bryn Elliott SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/billy-molloy/ Billy Molloy SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/tom-lowder/ Tom Lowder SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 followed by right-back Alex Anderson, and inside-forwards Jimmy McGowan and Ernie Stevenson in early 1950 (the last of whom the Saints paid Cardiff City a "five-figure fee" for, as well as sending Wilf Grant to the club).https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/sandy-anderson/ Sandy Anderson SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/jimmy-mcgowan/ Jimmy McGowan SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ernie-stevenson/ Ernie Stevenson SaintsPlayers.co.uk 15 August 2022 During the season, 25 players appeared for Southampton in all competitions. George Curtis, converted from winger to wing-half, featured in more games than any other player, being ever present in both the league and FA Cup with 44 appearances.Holley Chalk 2003 17 Centre-forward Charlie Wayman finished as Southampton's top scorer with 24 goals in the league and two in the FA Cup. The club attracted an average home league attendance at The Dell of 23,895 – slightly less than the previous season. The highest league attendance was 30,240 against eventual Second Division champions Tottenham Hotspur on 8 October 1949; the lowest was 20,689 against Bury on 4 February 1950. Second Division Season summary Southampton had a poor start to the 1949–50 season, losing their first three fixtures against Grimsby Town, Barnsley and Queens Park Rangers to find themselves at the bottom of the league table. Hard-fought victories over Preston North End (recently relegated from the First Division) and West Ham United gave the Saints their crucial first few points, as the new players began to settle in with their teammates. In the three months between mid-September and mid-December, the team went on an unbeaten run of 13 games to jump all the way from 19th to fourth in the table, picking up key wins in the process over fellow promotion-hopefuls Leeds United and recently promoted Hull City (the Saints' 5–0 victory was the club's biggest win of the season, and featured a hat-trick for Charlie Wayman), as well as hard-fought draws with championship contenders Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday.Holley Chalk 2003 15 Going into the new year with two more wins, Southampton found themselves regularly occupying a top-five position in the league table. After dropping to seventh in the table following two losses in January, Southampton picked up wins over Bury and Sheffield United in February to return to the top five, with mixed fortunes over their next few games seeing them climb and fall between fourth and sixth.Holley Chalk 2003 16 After a joint-record season loss of 0–4 against leaders Tottenham, the Saints boosted their squad with the additions of forwards Jimmy McGowan and Ernie Stevenson, both of whom played central roles in the last run of fixtures. With their new recruits, Southampton saw an improved run of form, remaining unbeaten for their last nine games of the season. However, despite closely fought wins over key promotion rivals, including Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, the Saints were unable to obtain promotion and finished the season in fourth place – the final game of the season saw Wednesday secure the second promotion spot after drawing with league champions Tottenham due to their slightly higher goal average, with Sheffield United finishing in third after beating Hull 5–0. Final league table Second Division y SOU RSSSF Results by matchday table b Round Ground H / A / A / H / H / A / A / H / A / A / H / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / H / A / A / H / H Result L / L / L / D / W / W / L / W / D / W / D / W / W / W / D / D / D / W / D / D / L / D / W / W / L / L / W / W / D / L / W / D / L / W / W / D / W / W / D / D / W / W Position 16 / 21 / 22 / 20 / 18 / 14 / 19 / 17 / 16 / 13 / 14 / 11 / 10 / 5 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 6 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 6 / 5 / 6 / 6 / 5 / 4 / 6 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss 1st 2nd 3rd red1 statto.com Match reports 1 20 August 1949 Southampton 1–2 Grimsby Town Edwards 63 Briggs 12 53 The Dell Southampton 26,222 L 2 24 August 1949 Barnsley 2–1 Southampton Griffiths 39Baxter Wayman 60 Oakwell Barnsley 17,762 L 3 27 August 1949 Queens Park Rangers 1–0 Southampton Hudson 26 Loftus Road London 23,040 L 4 31 August 1949 Southampton 0–0 Barnsley The Dell Southampton 22,319 D 5 3 September 1949 Southampton 1–0 Preston North End Bates 64 The Dell Southampton 26,317 W 6 5 September 1949 West Ham United 1–2 Southampton Robinson 60 pen. Wayman 25Bates 28 Boleyn Ground London 26,317 W 7 10 September 1949 Swansea Town 4–0 Southampton Paul 44 pen. 87 pen.Richards 65O'Driscoll 89 Vetch Field Swansea 29,000 L 8 17 September 1949 Southampton 2–1 Leeds United Wayman 7 15 Harrison 85 The Dell Southampton 23,214 W 9 24 September 1949 Bury 1–1 Southampton Bodle 82 Bates 72 Gigg Lane Bury 15,095 D 10 1 October 1949 Coventry City 1–2 Southampton Roberts 56 Edwards 36Day 53 Highfield Road Coventry 22,549 W 11 8 October 1949 Southampton 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur Bates 87 Walters 48 The Dell Southampton 30,240 D 12 22 October 1949 Southampton 3–1 Blackburn Rovers Bates 19Wayman 21Day 29 Wharton 45 The Dell Southampton 21,406 W 13 29 October 1949 Brentford 0–1 Southampton Jones Griffin Park London 21,860 W 14 5 November 1949 Southampton 5–0 Hull City Wayman 5 9 50Bates 35Edwards 78 The Dell Southampton 23,275 W 15 12 November 1949 Sheffield Wednesday 2–2 Southampton Wayman 8Edwards 19 Froggatt 54Whitcomb 79 Hillsborough Stadium Sheffield 32,146 D 16 19 November 1949 Southampton 3–3 Plymouth Argyle Bates 25 82Wayman 30 Dews 56Williams 59Strauss 75 The Dell Southampton 25,129 D 17 26 November 1949 Chesterfield 0–0 Southampton Saltergate Chesterfield 10,605 D 18 3 December 1949 Southampton 3–1 Bradford Park Avenue Edwards 24 pen.Day 35Bates 72 Henry 5 The Dell Southampton 20,876 W 19 10 December 1949 Leicester City 2–2 Southampton Griffiths 7Lee 70 Wayman 6Bates 69 Filbert Street Leicester 22,167 D 20 17 December 1949 Grimsby Town 1–1 Southampton Cairns 55 Wayman 23 Blundell Park Cleethorpes 14,000 D 21 24 December 1949 Southampton 1–2 Queens Park Rangers Wayman 60 Neary 68 The Dell Southampton 21,391 L 22 26 December 1949 Luton Town 1–1 Southampton Cooke 31 pen. Wayman 12 Kenilworth Road Luton 18,765 D 23 27 December 1949 Southampton 2–1 Luton Town Day Bates Kiernan 63 The Dell Southampton 26,928 W 24 31 December 1949 Preston North End 0–3 Southampton Wayman 19 31Day 72 Deepdale Preston 27,000 W 25 14 January 1950 Southampton 1–2 Swansea Town Wayman 32 Lucas 58Allchurch 78 The Dell Southampton 24,674 L 26 21 January 1950 Leeds United 1–0 Southampton Williams 82 Elland Road Leeds 38,500 L 27 4 February 1950 Southampton 4–1 Bury Wayman 8 79Day 62Bates 82 Massart 54 The Dell Southampton 20,689 W 28 11 February 1950 Sheffield United 0–1 Southampton Wheatley 75 Bramall Lane Sheffield 30,000 W 29 18 February 1950 Southampton 1–1 Coventry City Veck 77 Wilkins 11 o.g. The Dell Southampton 23,412 D 30 25 February 1950 Tottenham Hotspur 4–0 Southampton Medley 19 25Rees 73Duquemin 79 White Hart Lane London 70,302 L 31 4 March 1950 Southampton 3–1 Cardiff City Day 5McGowan 11Bates 72 The Dell Southampton 23,375 W 32 11 March 1950 Blackburn Rovers 0–0 Southampton Ewood Park Blackburn 18,300 D 33 18 March 1950 Southampton 2–3 Brentford Day 10 69 Paton 30Dare 44Mallett 73 o.g. The Dell Southampton 22,429 L 34 25 March 1950 Hull City 1–2 Southampton Gibson 32 Stevenson 17 89 Boothferry Park Kingston upon Hull 32,000 W 35 1 April 1950 Southampton 1–0 Chesterfield Stevenson 67 The Dell Southampton 21,964 W 36 8 April 1950 Bradford Park Avenue 0–0 Southampton Horsfall Stadium Bradford 16,363 D 37 10 April 1950 Southampton 1–0 Sheffield United Wayman 82 The Dell Southampton 23,528 W 38 15 April 1950 Southampton 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday Wayman 51 The Dell Southampton 28,529 W 39 17 April 1950 Cardiff City 1–1 Southampton Edwards 35 Wayman 25 Ninian Park Cardiff 21,247 D 40 22 April 1950 Plymouth Argyle 0–0 Southampton Home Park Plymouth 22,873 D 41 29 April 1950 Southampton 5–3 Leicester City Bates 7 22Wayman 34 61Stevenson 63 pen. Lee 5 65Barlow 67 The Dell Southampton 21,091 W 42 6 May 1950 Southampton 3–2 West Ham United Jones 49 56Stevenson 69 Robinson 22 35 The Dell Southampton 24,778 W FA Cup Northampton Town (7 January 1950) Southampton entered the 1949–50 FA Cup in the third round, drawn against Third Division South promotion contenders Northampton Town. In front of a record crowd of 23,209 at Northampton's County Ground, the visitors took the lead in the 18th minute against the run of play, when Augie Scott followed up from Eric Day's blocked shot to make it 1–0.Holley Chalk 2003 308 In the next minute, however, the hosts equalised through Tommy McCulloch, who took advantage of a mistake by George Curtis to take possession and score with a low shot. Going into half-time, Southampton were reduced to ten men when Ernie Jones had to be taken off on a stretcher after breaking his ankle, while Ron Wheatley and Ted Bates played on with minor injuries. After the break, Northampton sought to take advantage of the reduced Saints (who also lost Eric Webber towards the end), coming close to going in front on numerous occasions but for the Southampton defence and the crossbar; ultimately, the game finished level, and a replay was scheduled. Northampton Town replay (11 January 1950) With a depleted first team due to injuries, Southampton struggled to gain a hold on the home replay against Northampton, with the visiting Cobblers enjoying the majority of possession and goal-scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes. The game remained goalless going into half-time, before three goals came in the first five minutes after the break – first, Arthur Dixon put the visitors in front with a header from a corner; the next minute, Charlie Wayman headed in a cross from Eric Day, and a couple of minutes after that Wayman scored a second due to a mistake by goalkeeper Jack Ansell. After leading for just over 10 minutes, the Saints conceded an equaliser through Gwyn Hughes as the result of another corner, before in the 80th minute a third goal from a corner came courtesy of Maurice Candlin. Round 3 7 January 1950 Northampton Town 1–1 Southampton McCulloch 19 Scott 18 County Ground Northampton 23,209 D Round 3 replay 11 January 1950 Southampton 2–3 Northampton Town Dixon 46Hughes 62Candlin 80 Wayman 47 49 The Dell Southampton 24,806 L Additional friendlies Southampton played one friendly during the 1949–50 season, beating Third Division South side Torquay United 1–0 on 28 January 1950, the only goal scored by reserves player Reginald Dare.Holley Chalk 2003 308 Shortly after the conclusion of the league campaign, the team went on a Scandinavian tour which included five exhibition matches. The first, against Danish side Aalborg, ended in a 6–2 win for the travelling Saints, with Charlie Wayman scoring four goals and Ted Bates and Eric Day each scoring one. The victory was followed by a 2–1 loss at Helsingborg, a 1–1 draw with side Copenhagen, a 1–0 win over Aarhus, and a 2–2 draw with Esbjerg. Friendly 28 January 1950 Southampton 1–0 Torquay United Dare The Dell Southampton W Friendly 25 May 1950 Aalborg 2–6 Southampton Wayman Bates Day Denmark W Friendly 29 May 1950 Helsingborg 2–1 Southampton Bates Sweden L Friendly 1 June 1950 Copenhagen 1–1 Southampton Denmark D Friendly 5 June 1950 Aarhus 0–1 Southampton Bates Denmark W Friendly 8 June 1950 Esbjerg 2–2 Southampton Wayman Denmark D Squad statistics NamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsAlex AndersonFB Full backSCO800080Ted BallardFB Full backENG18020200Ted BatesFW ForwardENG3315203515Ian BlackGK GoalkeeperSCO39020410Stan ClementsHB Half backENG001010George CurtisHB Half backENG42020440Reginald DareFW ForwardENG000000Eric DayFW ForwardENG38920409Jack EdwardsFW ForwardENG28500285Bill ElleringtonFB Full backENG24000240Bryn ElliottHB Half backENG200020José GallegoFW ForwardESP000000Jack GregoryFB Full backENG000000Ernie JonesFW ForwardWAL30310313Walter JuddFW ForwardENG000000Tom LowderFW ForwardENG10000100Jimmy McGowanFW ForwardSCO310031Joe MallettHB Half backENG38000380John MitchellFW ForwardENG000000Bill MolloyFW ForwardENG100010Bill RochfordFB Full backENG14000140Augie ScottFW ForwardENG402161George SmithHB Half backENG000000Len StansbridgeGK GoalkeeperENG300030Ernie StevensonFW ForwardENG11500115Bobby VeckFW ForwardENG210021Charlie WaymanFW ForwardENG3624223826Eric WebberHB Half backENG42010430Ron WheatleyHB Half backENG8120101Ken WilkinsFW ForwardENG000000Len WilkinsHB Half backENG24020260Players with appearances who left the club before the end of the seasonWilf GrantFW ForwardENG401050 Most appearances No. NumberNamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalApps. AppearancesMins. Minutes playedApps. AppearancesMins. Minutes playedApps. AppearancesMins. Minutes played% % of games1George CurtisHB Half backENG423,7802180443,960100%2Eric WebberHB Half backENG423,780190433,87097.73%3Ian BlackGK GoalkeeperSCO393,5102180413,69093.18%4Eric DayFW ForwardENG383,4202180403,60090.91%5Joe MallettHB Half backENG383,42000383,42086.36%Charlie WaymanFW ForwardENG363,2402180383,42086.36%7Ted BatesFW ForwardENG332,9702180353,15079.55%8Ernie JonesFW ForwardENG302,700190312,79070.45%9Jack EdwardsFW ForwardENG282,52000282,52063.64%10Len WilkinsHB Half backENG242,1602180262,34059.09% Top goalscorers No. NumberNamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGPG Goals per game1Charlie WaymanFW ForwardENG24362226380.682Ted BatesFW ForwardENG15330215350.433Eric DayFW ForwardENG938029400.234Ernie StevensonFW ForwardENG511005110.45Jack EdwardsFW ForwardENG528005280.186Ernie JonesFW ForwardENG330013310.107Bobby VeckFW ForwardENG1200120.50Jimmy McGowanFW ForwardSCO1300130.33Augie ScottFW ForwardENG0412160.17Ron WheatleyFW ForwardENG18021100.10 Transfers Players transferred inDatePos.NameClubFeeRef.May 1949FW ForwardWAL Ernie JonesENG Tottenham Hotspur£6,000"spurs" Ernie Jones transferred to Southampton in exchange for £6,000 and Alf Ramsey moving to Tottenham Hotspur.June 1949FW ForwardENG Reginald DareENG Alton TownFreehttps://grecianarchive.exeter.ac.uk/items/show/1016 Dare, Reginald The Grecian Archive 17 August 2022 June 1949FW ForwardENG Jack EdwardsENG Nottingham Forest£10,000August 1949FW ForwardENG Walter JuddENG NomanslandFreehttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/walter-judd/ Wally Judd SaintsPlayers.co.uk 17 August 2022 October 1949HB Half backENG Bryn ElliottENG Boston UnitedFreeOctober 1949FW ForwardENG Bill MolloyENG Coventry CityFreeOctober 1949FW ForwardENG Tom LowderENG Boston UnitedFreeOctober 1949FW ForwardENG Ken WilkinsENG SunderlandFreehttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ken-wilkins/ Ken Wilkins SaintsPlayers.co.uk 17 August 2022 January 1950FB Full backSCO Alex AndersonSCO Forfar AthleticFreeMarch 1950FW ForwardSCO Jimmy McGowanENG Grimsby TownFreeMarch 1950FW ForwardENG Ernie StevensonENG Cardiff City£10,000+"cardiff" Ernie Stevenson transferred to Southampton in exchange for a five-figure fee and Wilf Grant moving to Cardiff City.Players transferred outDatePos.NameClubFeeRef.May 1949FB Full backENG Alf RamseyENG Tottenham HotspurExchange"spurs"May 1949FW ForwardENG Tommy RudkinENG Bristol CityFreeJune 1949FB Full backENG Albie RolesENG Gloucester CityFreeJuly 1949HB Half backAUS George HorsfallENG Southend UnitedFreeSeptember 1949HB Half backENG Bill Dodgin Jr.ENG FulhamFreeHolley Chalk 2003 612September 1949FW ForwardENG Bill HeatonENG Stalybridge CelticFreeMarch 1950FW ForwardENG Wilf GrantENG Cardiff CityExchange"cardiff" 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