FIFTY years ago this week, on a frozen Springfield pitch, a team of First Division Wanderers, from Wolverhampton, dropped in to face their Island namesakes as part of Jersey Wanderers FC’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
The fixture, played on 31 January 1972, helped add further weight to a growing list of elite clubs who were willing to cross the Channel for a mid-season exhibition, with ‘the Wolves’ arriving just three months after Manchester United’s visit to play St Ouen FC.
The Midland-club used the trip to give their players a break from training, although their president, John Ireland, later admitted that his side was given a ‘hard work-out’ by the Wanderers players.
‘We were tremendously impressed by your boys,’ said Ireland, during a post-match dinner held at Hotel de France. ‘They kept on coming, kept going, never gave up trying, never resorted to dirty tactics or clogging and kept our lads running.’
Jersey Wanderers president Francis ‘Danny’ Le Marquand said it was unfortunate that the cold weather had kept the attendance down, although the number of spectators present – 1,700 –would break modern-day records by some distance.
Today, 50 years to the day since it first appeared in the Jersey Evening Post, we republish the match report, in full; written by Bill Custard and Reg Cridland.
THE famous Wolves, four times FA Cup winners, three times First Division champions, and currently placed sixth in the fight for the premier title, delighted an approximate 1,700 crowd at Springfield yesterday evening with an exhibition of direct and skilful soccer.Exchanges were keen and lively on a frozen surface, leading to Wolves manager Bill MGarry commenting soon after the final whistle: ‘Considering the conditions it was a most entertaining game’.
Immediately after the arrival in mid-afternoon of the Wolves’ party from Birmingham, McGarry went to Springfield to inspect the pitch. Obviously he was worried about the hard condition of the ground. He carried out a most thorough inspection before deciding that the game could be played.
The match was staged by Jersey Wanderers, reigning champions of Island senior football, to commemorate their 75th anniversary. Before kick-off the teams were introduced to the chairman of the Wolves, Mr J Ireland, the president of the Jersey Football Association, Mr C Dupré, and Mr F Le Marquand, president of the Jersey Wanderers.
Prior to the start, and during the interval, highly-appreciated selections were played by the 7th Jersey Company Band of the Boys Brigade, conducted by Captain B Snell.
Second-half guest players
Jersey Wanderers played the first half without any guest players but, after the interval, included Wolves players Hugh Curran, a Scottish international, and Daniel Hegan, formerly of Sunderland, Ipswich Town and West Bromwich Albion.
In their old gold coloured shirts and black shorts the Wolves attacked from the start, favouring a fast open game. Andy Barnes, in the home goal, was soon in action, bringing off several smart saves. Great interest in particular was centred on the visitors personality man, Irish international striker Derek Dougan, and it was most appropriate that it was he who opened the scoring – in the 15th minute – heading in from a right-wing cross.
Keeping manager McGarry’s promise that they would go for goals, Wolves never let up. In one instance Ken Hibbitt, an Under-23 England international, went close with a good shot.
The local Wanderers managed the odd raid and in one of these Bernie O’Boyle went near with a good effort.
Goals from McCalliog
Dougan was always prominent in visiting attacks with David Wagstaffe, one time with Manchester City, a real menace on the left. Inside-forward Jim McCalliog demonstrated real thrust and it was he who stretched the Wolves lead to 2-0 after half an hour and it was the same player who made it 3-0 just six minutes from the break – netting with a hard drive.
For the last session the Wolves substituted Gerald Taylor for Francis Munro in defence.
During this session Jersey Wanderers brought on Bill McAvinue, Keith Hopkins, Higgens, Dave Parker and Roy Buesnel ensuring that all their first team squad appeared.
Soon after the resumption Dougan put Wolves 4-0 in front and just afterwards McCalliog completed his hat-trick.
The visitors’ prevision play was a great feature as they continued to dominate. Dougan shot just over in another fast Wolves’ raid.
Playing especially well for the home Wanderers was Doug McIntosh, he got through a lot of work in the middle of the defence with high credit, reading the game well from start to finish.
In the 65th minute Wanderers’ goalkeeper Barnes was injured as he rose for a high ball with Dougan. After attention both players left the field – Dougan walking off nursing a sore shoulder and Barnes being carried off with a badly bruised knee.
It was noticeable that Parkes, the Wolves’ ‘keeper, wore track suit bottoms to protect his legs on the bone hard surface. Barnes, however, braved the elements in shorts and took several hard knocks before that final injury. He was replaced by Keith Hopkins, the latter favouring track suit trousers!
Wolves penalty miss
In the 68th minute Kenneth Hibbitt grabbed the visitors’ sixth goal with a fierce swerving drive from the right.
Several minutes afterwards McCalliog recorded his fourth goal and his side’s seventh.
The Wolves were awarded a penalty a few minutes later but Hibbitt put the ball over the bar from the resultant spot-kick. Referee Paul Tomlinson, untroubled, allowed play to flow smoothly.
In the dying minutes the Wolves brought their final goal tally to nine through Sunderland and Richards. Hopkins produced good form in the home goal in strong Wolves’ pressure.
