Memory Match
Saturday 14th November 1959; FA Cup First Round Proper - Darlington v Prescot Cables
In this feature we will look at the second – and last time – that Prescot Cables reached the first round proper of the FA Cup – 60 years ago this year. (written in November 2019)
Cables opened their campaign in the 1959/60 FA Cup against Flint Town United. The home fans were wary of Welsh opposition, having been eliminated from the Cup by Welsh teams seven times since the war. Despite an injury crisis at the club, the Cables eased to a 4-0 home victory, with emergency centre forward, Harry Grisedale, grabbing a hat-trick and the other goal from Ronnie King. Two days earlier, Harry had bagged six goals in a 7 – 1 win over South Liverpool in the Liverpool Senior Cup!
A single, Ted Forshaw goal in a hard fought victory at Earlestown in the second qualifying round, saw Cables come up against another Welsh side, in Bangor City. Once again, the Welshmen proved no match for the rampant Tigers at Hope Street, going down by 4 goals to 1, with Grisedale netting another hat trick, and Ronnie King, the scorers.
So, for the second time in three seasons, Cables had reached the final qualifying round of the Cup, and hopes were high when they were awarded a home tie against Cheshire league side, Altrincham. In a tight, pulsating game, the Cables came out on top, by the only goal, headed home by Ted Forshaw, sparking “the loudest and longest roar Prescot has heard for many a moon; caps flung into the air by jubilant fans; players swarming round the scorer with triumphant glee.”
So, for the second time in three season they had secured a place in the draw for the First Round Proper. Cables and Burscough were the only clubs from the Lancashire Combination to reach the main draw. After their disappointing trip to Hartlepool two years earlier, could Cables get a league club, at home this time? Alas no, and it would be another trip to the North East, this time to face Darlington on 14th November 1959.
Club secretary, Eddie Parkinson, commented, “Naturally, we do not relish the idea of having to travel to almost the same district where our cup aspirations ended two seasons ago, but we are not pessimistic. We feel our team will give a good account of Lancashire Combination football. But it would have been so much rosier and nicer had we been favoured with a home draw. Our ambition was to bring an English League club to Hope Street for the first time in our history: it would have pleased a band of loyalists whose support has helped Prescot into the first round proper for a second time in three years.”
It was claimed that the Prescot Cables team and officials made non-League soccer history on the evening of Friday 13th November 1959, when they flew from Speke Airport to Leeds-Bradford Aerodrome at Yeadon, for their overnight headquarters in Harrogate, before continuing by coach to Darlington on the Saturday morning.
Despite an indifferent away record in the league, Cables supporters were optimistic of achieving a shock at Darlington and around 1.000 supporters were expected to travel to the North-East, by excursion train and motor coach to back The Tigers. They were confident that their team could, at least, hold the League side to a draw and bring them back to Hope Street for the replay. With utility man, Harry Grisedale, having switched to centre forward in place of Ted Forshaw, and already having 15 goals to his name, they felt that Cables would be a match for anyone on their own turf.
Prescot had named a strong eleven, with Harry Grisedale continuing up front, alongside Ted Forshaw, and ex Southport man, Don Henderson at the centre of defence. The former Huddersfield Town, Southport and Witton Albion player, Jimmy Pennington, was named at inside-right. This was only his second appearance in the first team after a year's lay-off through an injury he sustained in a Cables' trial match in August, 1958.
The match began in teeming rain, and early raids by Prescot ruffled Darlington, as Grisedale tested home ‘keeper, Tinsley, with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area. The home side quickly got into their stride and with fine prompting from half backs Furphy and Bulch began to play some attractive football. Quaker’s full back, Henderson brought the best out of Frank Garton when he came up and sent in a low shot on the turn. This caused panic in the Prescot goalmouth and the visitors were lucky not to find themselves in arrears.
But a confidence-sapping first goal looked near and it was a heart-breaker for the Cables’ defence and their loyal supporters when it came. In the 16th minute the ball ran out for a throw-in on the left side of the pitch. Frank Phillips directed the throw towards his goalkeeper, who came out to collect it. However, Frank Garton slipped on the sodden turf at the vital moment, under a challenge from the Quakers’ centre forward Morton. The goalkeeper lost a tussle for possession and Morton shot at an empty goal. Cables captain, Ken Fletcher, in a desperate attempt to stop the ball on the line, could only manage to help it into his own goal.
In the 26th minute Darlington went two up when Poole beat two men on the wing before putting over a centre which Redfearn headed home, under a challenge from Fletcher. Darlington were now dominating the play and Prescot were in trouble every time the home forwards got the ball. The visiting defence was being overworked with Frank Garton and centre half Don Henderson doing some sterling work.
The game was over as a contest in the 37th minute when Darlington went three up when Poole headed home direct from a corner.
Half-time. Darlington 3, Prescot Cables nil.
The League side were yards faster than Cables, hit the ball hard and true, tackled speedily and effectively and passed with the knowledge that a colleague would be in the right place to take it. With the advantage in every department, Darlington continued to hammer at the Prescot goal but their play became a little casual and their finishing was sloppy. Consequently, a number of openings were wasted, although Poole hit the post with a tremendous shot. Cables did play some of their best football after the break, but only once was the Darlington goal in the picture —when Jimmy Pennington sent in a long range shot which Tinsley saved. Otherwise Prescot were playing with their backs to the wall, and it was no surprise when Darlington scored their fourth and final goal in the 81st minute, when Morton headed home a cross from Poole.
Defeat was by no means a surprise, but the Prescot supporters were disappointed by how quickly their hopes of an upset were banished. The Darlington side’s tactics, to attack by the shortest possible route (what we would now call the long-ball game) caused the Cables’ defence great difficulty, which was, perhaps, not reflected in the final score. Had Darlington’s finishing been better, the defeat could have been much greater. In contrast, Prescot played too closely and overdid the back-passing, and were able to mount few worthwhile attacks.
Final Score: Darlington 4 Prescot Cables 0
Darlington: Tinsley, Dunn, Henderson, Furphy, Greener, Bulch, Rayment, Poole, Morton, Milner, Redfearn
Prescot Cables: Frank Garton, Ken Fletcher (captain), Keith Hayward, Ronnie Mercer, Don Henderson, Frank Phillips, George Graham, Jimmy Pennington, Ted Forshaw, Harry Grisedale, Johnny Smith
Referee: Mr J Bellwood (Liversedge)
Attendance: 5,944
As well as the disappointing defeat, Prescot’s moment in the national spotlight was also dimmed somewhat by being referred to on the television as Prescot Central!
Prescot Cables have not managed to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup since.
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