Depleted Blackpool did little shooting
Sunderland 1, Blackpool 0
AFTER one of the sternest struggles seen at Roker Park this season Blackpool retired beaten last night, writes an “Evening Gazette” Sunderland correspondent.
Davis scored the only goal during a rough-and-tumble in front of Robinson in the 21st minute of the second half.
In that furious Sunderland attack a bunch of legs on the goal-line saved Robinson’s charge miraculously on four occasions. When the ball was finally forced over the line it was no more than Sunderland were worth.
Blackpool had to play the second half with Munro at left back and Suart in the dressing room nursing a damaged ankle!
Just before the interval Suart attempted to head a high ball near the halfway line, and when he landed back on his feet his right ankle seemed to turn under him. He resumed at outside-left but only for a few minutes.
LOPSIDED ATTACK
Munro gave a game display in the back division, but the attack naturally became lopsided, and there was little danger to the Sunderland goal in the second half.
Indeed, in the first half, apart from a shot by Munro which hit the post and came back into the arms of Mapson, good approach work by both teams only revealed the strength of the defences.
Stan Mortensen looked leg-weary, and Stanley Matthews was too closely watched to be seen to the best advantage. He certainly had Hudgell worried, but the back was given plenty of assistance, even Reynolds going back more than once to tackle Matthews.
NOT MASTERED
Hayward stood resolute in the penalty area, but he never really mastered Davis, and Johnston was frequently drawn out of position by Shackleton’s tactics of moving over to the right while Jackie Robinson filled the gap.
The attendance of 61,084 was a League match record for Roker Park, beating by nearly 2,000 that at the Good Friday game with the Wolves.
Teams:
SUNDERLAND: Mapson; Stelling, Hudgell, Scotson, Hall, Wright, Duns, Robinson, Davis, Shackleton and Reynolds.
BLACKPOOL: Robinson; Shimwell, Suart, Johnston, Hayward, Kelly, Matthews, Munro, Mortensen, McCall, and Rickett.
Referee: Mr. F. Seymour (Wakefield).
Result:
SUNDERLAND 1 (Davis 21 mins)
BLACKPOOL 0.
Jottings from the World of Sport
BY "SPECTATOR" 12 April 1948
IT is a merry cycle of parodies which Tommy Nicholson, the Blackpool Odeon organist, has written for Cup Final week in Blackpool.
Every man in the Wembley team has a song to himself in it.
It opens with a couple of verses to the tune of “I do like to be beside the seaside”:
Oh we do want the Cup beside the seaside,
Oh we do want to see it by the sea
For we all want to march along the Prom, Prom. Prom
shouting Joyfully, “We have Won! Won!! Won !!!
So then here’s to the team that’s from the seaside.
Let's cheer them on to victory.
With Joe Smith to guide them there
How can any team compare with good old Blackpool beside the sea.
***
To Joe Robinson are dedicated lines written to the signature tune of Wilf Pickles’ radio feature:
Have a go, Joe!
Go on and have a go.
Stop every shot no matter if it comes in high or low.
Or even if it’s jet-propelled with atom bombs in tow..
Stop it, Joe! Have a go!
The full-backs are the subjects of a "O. Mr. Porter ” parody:
Oh, Mister Shimwell and Suart too,
Defend the goal with all you’ve got, Don’t let United through.
And if they reach the goal line Kick everything you see.
But don’t kick the linesmen, or the poor old referee.
HARRY JOHNSTON, the captain, is given a new version of “O, Johnny!”;
Oh. Harry, oh, Harry, bring back that Cup,.
Oh. Harry, oh, Harry, please don’t give up.
You’ll be the town’s own pride and joy.
And then you’ll hear us cheering
The boys who helped to win it.
And, towards the finale, “Bless ’Em All ” has these new words:
They say there are trains leaving Blackpool each day.
South-bound for Wembley’s shore. Heavily laden with Black-pud-lians
Cheering the team they adore,
And they say down at Wembley there’s not the least doubt.
The F.A. officials were seen to say with a grin,
“Well, we don’t know who’ll win, but we’re painting the Cup Tangerine.”
Mr. Ronald J. Brunt, the Odeon manager, is inviting the team and Manager Joe Smith to hear this hymn of praise and afterwards. with managerial consent, to be presented to the audience from the stage at one of next week’s shows.
It should make a nice little evening.
***
RAIL and coach tickets - and tickets for a half-crown packed lunch on the train - are being issued at Mr. W. H. Orrys shop in Church-street, between 6 and 8 p.m., tomorrow (Thursday) to members of Blackpool F.C. Supporters Club, who, for a variety of causes, but chiefly because they have already qualified for a Wembley pass as season ticketholders, have not had a Final ticket out of the Supporters Club’s quota.
The Supporters Club have organised special coach excursions and booked a couple of trains.
“WHAT a grand little team man Alec Munro is. Twice in three days this 5ft. 5in. of dour fighting Scot has played a second half as a full-back and never given an inch.
Such a small full-back, even in a crisis, has seldom been seen on a First Division field. One of greater courage in an unfamiliar position has never been seen.
Nor is this the only time this season that he has been transferred to the full-back line. He played there at Stamford. Bridge against Chelsea in December after Eddie Shimwell had gone hobbling out on to one of the wings of the forward line - and that, with the exception of the Arsenal match at Easter, was Blackpool’s best game of the season. Munro may be a little man - but he has a singularly big heart.
A PLEASANT little ceremony took place in the boardroom of “The Evening Gazette ” today when a cheque for £50 was handed to Harry Johnston, captain of Blackpool football team, and Stanley Mortensen.
Thereby hangs a tale. When the Blackpool players were planning their souvenir publication, Stanley Matthews approached “ The Evening Gazette ” to print and publish it for them.
This would gladly have been done, but it was found impossible to get the paper to do it, and reluctantly the job had to be declined.
Wanted to help
IN view of the fact, however, that this book is for the benefit of the Blackpool Cup team, the directors of “The Evening Gazette” felt that they would like to help in some tangible form.
So today, Messrs. Herbert and Harold Grime, on behalf of their colleagues, presented the £50 gift towards the expenses.
“We wish you the best of luck,” said Herbert, handing over the cheque. “And if you play dike you did against the Arsenal, you will knock them for six.”
“Thank you very much,” said Harry, “ we shall certainly do our best.”
Stanley Matthews should have been present, but had to go to Manchester urgently at the last moment.
White, blue and tangerine
BLACKPOOL’S uniform for Wembley, now officially approved: White shirts, black shorts, and black stockings with white tops.
Manchester United’s New Look will be: Royal blue shirts with white collars, white shorts and royal blue stockings with white tops. Both goalkeepers will wear green jerseys.
And, after all that, there is no particular reason why Blackpool fans should not storm London in tangerine and white and the Manchester battalions in red and white.
Which is what both will probably do.
***
Mystery man offered £50 for Cup ticket
A MYSTERY man walked into Blackpool Town Hall today, took 10 £5 notes from his wallet, and told officials that, was the price he was prepared to pay for a Wembley Cup Final ticket.
But no one could oblige, and the visitor left with a remark that he would return on Saturday morning to see the Mayor (Coun. J. R. Furness, J.P.)
The man’s name was revealed, though in the course of conversations he said that he -
Flew from South Africa to this country last week-end.
Saw the first Wembley Cup Final and is determined, “by hook or by crook,” to see this one.
Is a Blackpool man who went to South Africa 25 years ago after working as a bricklayer on the Gynn estate.
Is now a representative of the South African Government, - and is in this country for four months on a building-labour recruiting campaign.
An “Evening Gazette” reporter asked a Town Hall official why the mystery visitor was not asked his name.
Replied the official: We were too staggered with the offer of £50 for a ticket to think of such question.
Latest report is that a guinea ticket was exchanged in Blackpool last night for 40 rolls of wallpaper.
P.S. - Price of wallpapers range these days from 2s. to £1 a roll - when you can get it. Average 10s.
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