1952/53 Season
Tim Harrison (June 2009)
This article looks back to Belper Town's first full season in the Central Alliance League, 1952/53, using the programmes of the time to give a feel for what it may have been like watching the team over 50 years ago.
The league itself was made up of a combination of colliery & miners welfare teams, Linby, Creswell, Shirebrook, Langwith, Clay Cross Works sides like Brush Sports, British Ropes, Ransome & Marles along with the likes of Belper Town, Gresley Rovers, Retford Town and local sides, Ilkeston Town and Heanor Athletic (as they were known then).
The Belper Town we watch today are in fact the fourth incarnation of a team in the town. The Nailers were reformed for the last time in 1951. They took over the remaining fixtures of Mansfield "A' for the tail end of the 1951/52 season. The following season saw the "Nailers' or the "Town' as they were also called at the time, start with a full fixture list of their own.
The year of 1952 saw the Coronation of our present Queen, the first use of a mechanical heart in a patient, the US detonated the first hydrogen bomb. In December of that year the Great Smog descended on London. This killer fog coined the word "smog' a combination of the words "smoke" and "fog".
Martin O'Neill, the Northern Irish footballer was born on March 1st . Martin would later go on to fame with Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side and then as Celtic manager
Back in Belper the 1952/53 season began on August 23rd with a home game against Linby Colliery. The game resulted in a 3-2 win with goals from Brough, Rawson and Dennis Carter (brother of Clarence Carter who also featured in those early line ups). Dennis is a relative of Andy Carter who played for Belper in the 70's and 80's and still holds the position of Board member today.
The programme for the game is a typical 1950's issue (left). Made up of four pages and printed on light blue paper, the programme carries an advert for the Talbot Hotel on the front cover. The same public house that stands at the foot of Bridgehill today (parts of which date back to 1660). This is the place where the players used to get changed before walking over the river bridge to the ground. The copy in my collection contains a handout asking for people to join the Proposed Belper Town Supporters Club.
Below the heading STOP PRESS. PROPOSED BELPER TOWN SUPPORTERS CLUB.
was the somewhat ambitious request:
"WANTED 1000 MEMBERS !!!"
It then goes on to say:
"A determined effort is being made by a small group of supporters of Belper Town FC to form a Supporters Club. This will, undoubtedly, prove to be a great asset to the Club, when formed. Will all those interested please fill in the attached form, and post or hand in to - K.Newton, Printer (over R. W. Pickering's Boot Repair Service), STRUTT STREET, BELPER. If sufficient support is forthcoming a public meeting will be called to elect a committee and officials".
With an average home crowd today around the 250 level, it would be totally unthinkable to set out to sign up 1,000 people to a Belper Town Supporters Club today, It was a different story in the 1950's. Crowds over the 1,000 mark were commonplace at the Meadow.
The programme for the game with Ransome & Marles on August 30th 1952 featured a different front cover to the Linby layout. This one had what we would call today an "Editorial' under the title "FROM THE CLUB TO YOU..."the attendance for the Linby game was referred to in glowing terms:
". "The attendance at the opening matches was gratifying and, judging by the enthusiasm of the men and women on the touchline, the number will grow steadily. But we've still a long way to go before we reach the opening "gate" of Ilkeston Town. They had 3,392 on the ground. The official attendance at the match with Linby Colliery was 1,624 and the receipts totalled £64-18-6. For the Heanor Athletic match on Wednesday, 1,573 people paid for admission and the receipts were £63-19-6.
The back page of the Ransome & Marles programme reminds fans that there are still a few season tickets available for the Towns Central Alliance matches at a cost of "Gents 15/- Ladies 7/6" It isn't hard to imagine what would happen in this day and age if Belper Town were to advertise season tickets with a different "Male and Female' price....
Ransome & Marles were one of the works sides in the Central Alliance League. The company (formed in 1900) is still based in Newark today, making bearings. They once played Peterborough United at London Road in front of 8,431 people, which may not sound a large crowd until you consider it was in 1948 and both sides were competing in the Midland League at the time (Posh won 3-1). An internet search today will only reveal a Cricket Club under the same name at Elm Avenue Newark. Sadly there is no sign of a football club.
After two away trips that saw Belper winning 3-0 at Matlock Town and drawing 3-3 at Sutton Town it was the return game with the Gladiators at the Christ Church Meadow (as it was called in those days). Another 3-3 draw meant that Belper remained unbeaten in the league at the time although a tough trip to Bolsover colliery side, Creswell was the next fixture. Matlock's "Programme' was infact called an "Official Team Sheet" and cost 2d rather then the 3d that most other sides were charging for their 4 page productions.
Matlock's effort for the visit of Belper on September 4th was a single pale blue sheet with a suggested line up for each team along with a list of the current squad (although in those days the word squad was replaced with the words "members of the Playing Staff of Matlock Town Football Club").
Between the Matlock and the Creswell games (September 13th 1952) Belper entertained British Ropes in the First Round of the League Cup. British Ropes were, as the name suggests a works team. Based in Retford, the company were originally formed in 1924 by the merger of 8 companies (7 of which produced wire rope and one that manufactured binder twine). A 3-1 victory for Belper saw them through to a 2nd round tie with opening day opponents Linby. The colliery side showed no festive spirit towards their Derbyshire visitors in the game when it was played on December 20th. A 0-5 reverse saw the end of Belper's first attempt at winning the league cup.
The trip to Bolsover proved a step too far for the Nailers and they experienced their first league defeat of the season as Creswell ran out 3-0 winners. The Creswell programme was the usual 4 pager but was for sale at 2d rather than the 3d that the other clubs were asking. Having said that, apart from the front and back covers which have obviously been printed professionally, the inside looks a real schoolboy effort, put together using what looks like a typewriter and a stencil. No editorial for the men and ladies of Creswell to read at half-time.
A second successive away trip saw Belper beaten again - this time 0-2 at South Normanton on September 24th. This defeat was quickly reversed when Normanton made the trip to Belper 10 days later. The Nailers easily gained revenge by winning 6-1. Although the figure of 1,000 members was still some way off in the optimistic future, the South Normanton programme reported that the supporters club membership has risen to over 100. It was also reported that a junior section had been opened to make the club available to young and old alike. The supporters club would deal with the question of transport to Belper's away games, more of that later in this article.
While the programmes themselves have a 1950's look and feel to them, for me it is the content that shouts of days gone by. The programme for the visit of Bentinck Miners Welfare on 18th October refers back to the 1-0 against Nottingham Forest "A' a week previously. It is clear that Belper were on top from the description in the editorial.
"It would have been a fitting gesture to Knibbs the Nottingham Forest "A' goalkeeper if, after the match with the Town last Saturday the spectators had struck up the song "Little man you've had a busy day"
The song was recorded by many famous singers over the years including Perry Como (1946) and Paul Robeson (1934).
The supporters club was rapidly becoming an important part of the Nailers set up. Even a part of the editorial was given over to "Supporters Club Notes" which advised that the Ilkeston Town Supporters Club were one of many to send a letter wishing the club success in it's new venture. The lads and lasses of "Ilson also invited the club to visit for a "social evening' - if that isn't a 1950's thing I don't know what is.
A league table in the Bentinck programme shows 4 sides at the top of the Alliance League with 14 points. Ilkeston sat top having played 8 games, Creswell had played 9 games, Belper sat in 3rd with Sutton Town in 4th, both having played 10 games. A 6-3 win with 2 goals each for Len Slack and Jim Veacock and single strikes from Carter and Rawson meant Belper would remain joint top for at least another week.
The Reserve league table made even better viewing for the Belper fans as the 2nd XI were top after 8 games although they had played 2 games more than 2nd placed Burton Albion Reserves.
At the beginning of November 1952 there is a reference to the new changing rooms on the ground in the editorial for the visit of British Ropes in the league.
"The new dressing rooms on the ground are proving a great boon to the players and match officials alike and several complimentary messages have been passed to the club by visiting teams. The real benefit will, of course, be felt in a few weeks time when the hard weather is with us. Players and officials will then be able to step straight onto the field and off again without having to walk any distance in the cold and in damp and dirty clothes"
The Ropes obviously enjoyed the new surroundings and took a point back to Retford with them after a 3-3 draw -Phil Bibby (2) and Dennis Carter scoring for Belper.
The programme cover gave over the bottom third to the Belper Town Supporters Club. There was a cartoon bandsman playing a large drum to go with the heading "Forthcoming Events" While there was a Grand Whist Drive at the Catholic Clubroom on Nov 7th it was the NON-STOP DANCING at the River Gardens on December 5th that was the big draw. The music was to be provided by two of the Country's leading bands "Peter Cavendish & his Band plus The Wally Froggatt Hawaiian Serenaders. The tickets were just 3/- each, heady days indeed for the people of Belper.
This Belper Town entered the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup for the first time in 1952 at the preliminary stage with a home tie against Brighton Road Old Boys. A 3-3 draw resulted in a reply (no extra time and penalties in those days). Following another draw in the replay (1-1) Belper finally hit their stride back at the Meadow at the start of December with an impressive 8-4 win in the second replay.
Loughborough's Brush Sports came to visit on November 15th but the programme notes were more concerned with the admission prices than the game itself. An increase in the cost of getting into the games for the ladies of Belper was obviously raising questions around the town. The editorial begins with "Supporters - particularly the ladies - will no doubt be asking the question:
"Why was it necessary to raise the price of admission for the ladies to 1/- for all Central Alliance matches?" It will be recalled that this charge was made last year, but at the commencement of the present season the Management Committee felt that some concession should be made to the ladies and agreed that the charge should be reduced to sixpence - the same as that for pensioners and children. Basing their calculation on the average attendance for the few home matches last season, the Committee anticipated that "gates" this year would be in the region of 2,000. Unfortunately the expected increase has not materialised and although the attendances at home games this season have so far averaged about 1,500, the receipts have proved not sufficient to meet the ever-increasing costs and at the same time enable the club to put aside for rainy days.
It then goes on to explain the potential increase in revenue from this change:
It is estimated that the club has about 300 regular supporters among the ladies and if none withdraws support then the extra sixpences will give the club a further income of £7. 10s a home match - a sum which will go a long way towards improving the club finances. The cost of running a Central Alliance team today is about £40 a match"
The match itself resulted in a 5-1 win for Belper, Slack, Brough, Veacock (2) and Lear doing the damage. The month of November also saw Belper beat British Ropes away.
An unusual fact is that every match Belper played in November 1952 was against a side whose name began with the letter "B'. British Ropes (twice), Brush Sports and Brighton Road Old Boys (twice).
December started with the previously mentioned defeat of Brighton Road Old Boys in the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup as. The next game was also in the same competition, a trip to Gresley Rovers.
The Gresley programme welcomed Belper Town, and went on to say that it had been no less than 49 years since Belper had been the visitors. The previous visit was in 1903, also for a cup tie, but that was at the Church Street Ground. Gresley won that tie but the Nailers got their long awaited revenge by winning this time by 2 goals to nil. Their next opponents would be South Normanton in the 2nd Round.
As was usual in the 50's and 60's teams turned out on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, usually against the same opponents. The opposition for Belpers two festive games were Langwith Welfare. A 3-3 draw at Langwith was followed by a Boxing Day defeat at Belper (1-4). The following day it was another away trip, this time to Long Eaton Town (note the Town in the title, not United).
Over 400 Belper Town fans made the journey to "The Stadium' at Long Eaton by special train, organised by British Rail in conjunction with the Supporters Club. This influx of Nailers fans gave Long Eaton a record gate for the season so far. Len Slack and Dennis Carter scored the goals that gave Belper a 2-0 win. The Long Eaton "Programme' like the Matlock Town programme was also a single sheet Pale Blue production - no sign of a selling price on it.
Belpers "first footers' of 1953 were Creswell Colliery, the side that inflicted the first league defeat back in September. Belper sat 4th in the table before the game while their opponents were in 3rd, both on 24 points although the pitmen had a game in hand and a superior goal average. A Carter penalty, two from Harrison and one from Peter Howe saw Belper to a fine 4-3 victory to leapfrog their opponents in the table.
The Belper programme now carried an additional suggestion at the foot of page two. "Half-Time Cup O' Char ? - Supporters' Refreshment Bar !" the message was carried over to the bottom of page three with: "To Clear Your Throat for that "Meadows Roar !" - A Cup of Tea at the Refreshment Bar"
January continued with second visit of the season from South Normanton, this time for a Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup tie. Having already beaten South Normanton 6-1 at home in an ill tempered game which saw both captains dismissed from the field and lost 0-2 at South Normanton it was to be the deciding match of the season between the two.
The programme notes suggested that the days opponents:
"have a reputation as a strong home side who are decidedly weak when on an opponents ground. Of their ten away games so far this season they have lost seven, being victorious only twice."
The assessment proved correct as Belper came out on top in a closely fought game by the odd goal in five. This win set up a semi final tie with one of the Reserves' opponents for the season, Duffield United.
The league table in the South Normanton programme showed that Belper had slipped back to 6th in the table as the other teams had played more games than the Nailers.
There was still time for 2 more games before the end of January - Home to Coalville Town (Won 3-1) and another trip to Gresley on the final day of the month. Only one visit in 49 years and then two trips in as many months. A 2-2 draw was a decent result against a side who had showed early promise and had lead the table in November with three games in hand over 2nd placed Sutton Town.
The surprising 0-4 reverse at lowly Coalville Town was the last game before the Senior Cup Semi Final tie with Duffield United. Whether it was this, or the fact that they were being "skippered" for the day by an ex-Duffield player making his debut, Belper comfortable dismissed their near-neighbours by eight goals to nil. The programme picks up the reason for this strange combination of debut and captain combination.
"It is not often a player captains a team on the day that he makes his debut. Yet such is the case today for Don Warner, who joined Belper from Gresley Rovers about a month ago, is the "skipper" against Duffield United in the semi-final of the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup. To some it may seem odd that a newcomer to the first team should captain it. The reason is that Don is a former Duffield United player and the Town's selection committee in choosing him for this important match, extended the gesture and made him "skipper" against his old club.
Younger readers may not be aware but in those days the team selection was made by a committee rather than a manager despite the fact that there was a Team Manager (Mr L.Peat). It was not unusual for the team line up for the following days match to appear in the Belper News which was published on a Friday in those days.
The eight goals that saw Belper through to a Baseball Ground final against Ilkeston Town were scored by Slack, Harrison (3), Carter (1), Rawson (2) and an own goal from Duffields Poxon.
A trip to Retford resulted in a 3-5 defeat against Brush Sports to bring February to a close. The reputation of the Belper supporters was getting known as the Sports programme contained these favourable words:
"We understand that a considerable number of Belper Town's supporters will be visiting Loughborough today. In view of their club's successful season this is hardly surprising. It will be recalled that Brown's Lane (Home of Brush Sports) was the setting for the inaugral fixture in the Central Alliance last season, when they came up against our Birmingham League XI. Since that date they have proved to be one of the best teams in the League and cannot be ignored as championship contenders"
March did not start any better then February ended as Long Eaton Town gained revenge for the 2-0 defeat at the Stadium, winning by the same score at Christ Church Meadow. A week later a visit to Ransome & Marles also ended in defeat (1-2). The remaining two matches of March saw easier opposition for Belper as they travelled to the two sides in last and second last places in the table. Firstly Bentinck were defeated by 4 goals to 1and then the short hop to Heanor Athletic and a comfortable 7-3 win.
April 3rd was the date of the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup Final at Derby County's baseball Ground. Sadly for the men of Belper there was to be no fairy tale ending to their first attempt at the Senior cup. An Ilkeston side, sitting 2nd in the table with 4 games in hand and only 1 point to make up on Sutton Town, proved too strong for Belper. Despite goals from Brough and Harrison, Ilkeston won the cup in front of 9,974 fans by 4 goals to 2.
The following day Belper started out on a run of 11 league games in April with a 4-0 win at Shirebrook Miners Welfare. Two days later it was Shirebrooks turn to visit Belper and in front of 2,043 people the visitors won 4-3. The programme advised the fans that the management committee were to renew their application for admission to the FA Cup competition next season.
Belper had applied the previous season but as they said themselves, the club was little know in football circles, but this time they added that their application could be supported by a full season in the Central Alliance, plus a very creditable record of successes.
For the record, Belper were not admitted to the FA Cup until season 1956/57 where they were drawn away to Gresley Rovers. The game ended in a 3-7 defeat. The following season Belper recorded their first ever victory in the competition with a 1st Qualifying Round win over Clay Cross at Belper (they went on to reach the 4th Qualifying Round before bowing out 1-2 at Spalding United - but that is another story).
Four days after the Senior Cup Final against their Ilkeston, the Robins came to Belper for a league game. Belper again failed to get the better of their Derbyshire opponents and Ilkeston went away with the points from a 3-0 win. Ilkestons former title contenders Sutton Town came to Belper four days later. Before the game the teams sat 7th and 8th in the table. Belper were two points ahead but Sutton had 2 games in hand. Sutton hammered in 7 as the season started to fade for the new boys.
Another four days passed and it was Nottingham Forests "A' team that came calling. Belper could only manage a 3-3 draw as their worst run of the season continued.
As if Belper didn't have enough games to fit in to the end of the season as it was, they also entertained a Derby County side in the Charity Cup Final. As in the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup Final against Ilkeston, the opposition proved too strong to the score of 2-4.
Things did not improve over the next two games for the men from the Meadows. Trips to Retford Town (Lost 1-4) and 2nd placed Clay Cross (Lost 1-2) set up a trip to table toppers Ilkeston.
Having drawn 2-2 at home to Sheffield Wednesday four days earlier Ilkeston were still smarting from a 1-2 defeat at mid-table Coalville Town just two days before. The league leaders were in no mood to let slip their grip on the title. Sitting 2 points clear of Clay Cross with two games in hand (and 4 left to play), this was a must win for Ilkeston. A 3-1 win was just what they needed.
Although disappointing for Belper, when compared with how some sides had fared against Ilkeston it wasn't a bad scoreline. In December 1952 Ilkeston played six games against Langwith (DSC), Clay Cross, Ransome & Marles, Heanor Athletic, and Loughborough United. The result sequence read (Ilkeston score first) 5-1, 6-3, 7-3, 7-2, 8-0 and 2-1
It seemed unlikely that yet another game the following night would bring an end to the Belper Town supporters misery but the home match with Retford Town finally saw the end to a run of 7 league games without a win.
Two days on and it was Clay Cross again, this time at home. A closely fought game saw Belper defeated (2-3). A home game with Gresley as the opponents, saw a 6-2 victory for Belper and was a great filip for the players and fans. Unfortunately the form was not sustained to the last game of the season as Linby Colliery, who had waited since the opening day of the season to gain revenge, won 2-0 at home.
So, after a long and no doubt tiring nine months, the Black and Amber of Belper Town had completed their first full season in the Central Alliance League. They had acquitted themselves well and as a bonus had reached their first ever Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup Final.
The challenge to the club for the 1953/54 season was to improve on their league position and to go one step further and win the Cup.
This article is written in memory of a dear friend Arthur Sims, who is greatly missed by all at Belper Town Football Club. Arthur left me the programmes featured in this article.
This article looks back to Belper Town's first full season in the Central Alliance League, 1952/53, using the programmes of the time to give a feel for what it may have been like watching the team over 50 years ago.
The league itself was made up of a combination of colliery & miners welfare teams, Linby, Creswell, Shirebrook, Langwith, Clay Cross Works sides like Brush Sports, British Ropes, Ransome & Marles along with the likes of Belper Town, Gresley Rovers, Retford Town and local sides, Ilkeston Town and Heanor Athletic (as they were known then).
The Belper Town we watch today are in fact the fourth incarnation of a team in the town. The Nailers were reformed for the last time in 1951. They took over the remaining fixtures of Mansfield "A' for the tail end of the 1951/52 season. The following season saw the "Nailers' or the "Town' as they were also called at the time, start with a full fixture list of their own.
The year of 1952 saw the Coronation of our present Queen, the first use of a mechanical heart in a patient, the US detonated the first hydrogen bomb. In December of that year the Great Smog descended on London. This killer fog coined the word "smog' a combination of the words "smoke" and "fog".
Martin O'Neill, the Northern Irish footballer was born on March 1st . Martin would later go on to fame with Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side and then as Celtic manager
Back in Belper the 1952/53 season began on August 23rd with a home game against Linby Colliery. The game resulted in a 3-2 win with goals from Brough, Rawson and Dennis Carter (brother of Clarence Carter who also featured in those early line ups). Dennis is a relative of Andy Carter who played for Belper in the 70's and 80's and still holds the position of Board member today.
The programme for the game is a typical 1950's issue (left). Made up of four pages and printed on light blue paper, the programme carries an advert for the Talbot Hotel on the front cover. The same public house that stands at the foot of Bridgehill today (parts of which date back to 1660). This is the place where the players used to get changed before walking over the river bridge to the ground. The copy in my collection contains a handout asking for people to join the Proposed Belper Town Supporters Club.
Below the heading STOP PRESS. PROPOSED BELPER TOWN SUPPORTERS CLUB.
was the somewhat ambitious request:
"WANTED 1000 MEMBERS !!!"
It then goes on to say:
"A determined effort is being made by a small group of supporters of Belper Town FC to form a Supporters Club. This will, undoubtedly, prove to be a great asset to the Club, when formed. Will all those interested please fill in the attached form, and post or hand in to - K.Newton, Printer (over R. W. Pickering's Boot Repair Service), STRUTT STREET, BELPER. If sufficient support is forthcoming a public meeting will be called to elect a committee and officials".
With an average home crowd today around the 250 level, it would be totally unthinkable to set out to sign up 1,000 people to a Belper Town Supporters Club today, It was a different story in the 1950's. Crowds over the 1,000 mark were commonplace at the Meadow.
The programme for the game with Ransome & Marles on August 30th 1952 featured a different front cover to the Linby layout. This one had what we would call today an "Editorial' under the title "FROM THE CLUB TO YOU..."the attendance for the Linby game was referred to in glowing terms:
". "The attendance at the opening matches was gratifying and, judging by the enthusiasm of the men and women on the touchline, the number will grow steadily. But we've still a long way to go before we reach the opening "gate" of Ilkeston Town. They had 3,392 on the ground. The official attendance at the match with Linby Colliery was 1,624 and the receipts totalled £64-18-6. For the Heanor Athletic match on Wednesday, 1,573 people paid for admission and the receipts were £63-19-6.
The back page of the Ransome & Marles programme reminds fans that there are still a few season tickets available for the Towns Central Alliance matches at a cost of "Gents 15/- Ladies 7/6" It isn't hard to imagine what would happen in this day and age if Belper Town were to advertise season tickets with a different "Male and Female' price....
Ransome & Marles were one of the works sides in the Central Alliance League. The company (formed in 1900) is still based in Newark today, making bearings. They once played Peterborough United at London Road in front of 8,431 people, which may not sound a large crowd until you consider it was in 1948 and both sides were competing in the Midland League at the time (Posh won 3-1). An internet search today will only reveal a Cricket Club under the same name at Elm Avenue Newark. Sadly there is no sign of a football club.
After two away trips that saw Belper winning 3-0 at Matlock Town and drawing 3-3 at Sutton Town it was the return game with the Gladiators at the Christ Church Meadow (as it was called in those days). Another 3-3 draw meant that Belper remained unbeaten in the league at the time although a tough trip to Bolsover colliery side, Creswell was the next fixture. Matlock's "Programme' was infact called an "Official Team Sheet" and cost 2d rather then the 3d that most other sides were charging for their 4 page productions.
Matlock's effort for the visit of Belper on September 4th was a single pale blue sheet with a suggested line up for each team along with a list of the current squad (although in those days the word squad was replaced with the words "members of the Playing Staff of Matlock Town Football Club").
Between the Matlock and the Creswell games (September 13th 1952) Belper entertained British Ropes in the First Round of the League Cup. British Ropes were, as the name suggests a works team. Based in Retford, the company were originally formed in 1924 by the merger of 8 companies (7 of which produced wire rope and one that manufactured binder twine). A 3-1 victory for Belper saw them through to a 2nd round tie with opening day opponents Linby. The colliery side showed no festive spirit towards their Derbyshire visitors in the game when it was played on December 20th. A 0-5 reverse saw the end of Belper's first attempt at winning the league cup.
The trip to Bolsover proved a step too far for the Nailers and they experienced their first league defeat of the season as Creswell ran out 3-0 winners. The Creswell programme was the usual 4 pager but was for sale at 2d rather than the 3d that the other clubs were asking. Having said that, apart from the front and back covers which have obviously been printed professionally, the inside looks a real schoolboy effort, put together using what looks like a typewriter and a stencil. No editorial for the men and ladies of Creswell to read at half-time.
A second successive away trip saw Belper beaten again - this time 0-2 at South Normanton on September 24th. This defeat was quickly reversed when Normanton made the trip to Belper 10 days later. The Nailers easily gained revenge by winning 6-1. Although the figure of 1,000 members was still some way off in the optimistic future, the South Normanton programme reported that the supporters club membership has risen to over 100. It was also reported that a junior section had been opened to make the club available to young and old alike. The supporters club would deal with the question of transport to Belper's away games, more of that later in this article.
While the programmes themselves have a 1950's look and feel to them, for me it is the content that shouts of days gone by. The programme for the visit of Bentinck Miners Welfare on 18th October refers back to the 1-0 against Nottingham Forest "A' a week previously. It is clear that Belper were on top from the description in the editorial.
"It would have been a fitting gesture to Knibbs the Nottingham Forest "A' goalkeeper if, after the match with the Town last Saturday the spectators had struck up the song "Little man you've had a busy day"
The song was recorded by many famous singers over the years including Perry Como (1946) and Paul Robeson (1934).
The supporters club was rapidly becoming an important part of the Nailers set up. Even a part of the editorial was given over to "Supporters Club Notes" which advised that the Ilkeston Town Supporters Club were one of many to send a letter wishing the club success in it's new venture. The lads and lasses of "Ilson also invited the club to visit for a "social evening' - if that isn't a 1950's thing I don't know what is.
A league table in the Bentinck programme shows 4 sides at the top of the Alliance League with 14 points. Ilkeston sat top having played 8 games, Creswell had played 9 games, Belper sat in 3rd with Sutton Town in 4th, both having played 10 games. A 6-3 win with 2 goals each for Len Slack and Jim Veacock and single strikes from Carter and Rawson meant Belper would remain joint top for at least another week.
The Reserve league table made even better viewing for the Belper fans as the 2nd XI were top after 8 games although they had played 2 games more than 2nd placed Burton Albion Reserves.
At the beginning of November 1952 there is a reference to the new changing rooms on the ground in the editorial for the visit of British Ropes in the league.
"The new dressing rooms on the ground are proving a great boon to the players and match officials alike and several complimentary messages have been passed to the club by visiting teams. The real benefit will, of course, be felt in a few weeks time when the hard weather is with us. Players and officials will then be able to step straight onto the field and off again without having to walk any distance in the cold and in damp and dirty clothes"
The Ropes obviously enjoyed the new surroundings and took a point back to Retford with them after a 3-3 draw -Phil Bibby (2) and Dennis Carter scoring for Belper.
The programme cover gave over the bottom third to the Belper Town Supporters Club. There was a cartoon bandsman playing a large drum to go with the heading "Forthcoming Events" While there was a Grand Whist Drive at the Catholic Clubroom on Nov 7th it was the NON-STOP DANCING at the River Gardens on December 5th that was the big draw. The music was to be provided by two of the Country's leading bands "Peter Cavendish & his Band plus The Wally Froggatt Hawaiian Serenaders. The tickets were just 3/- each, heady days indeed for the people of Belper.
This Belper Town entered the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup for the first time in 1952 at the preliminary stage with a home tie against Brighton Road Old Boys. A 3-3 draw resulted in a reply (no extra time and penalties in those days). Following another draw in the replay (1-1) Belper finally hit their stride back at the Meadow at the start of December with an impressive 8-4 win in the second replay.
Loughborough's Brush Sports came to visit on November 15th but the programme notes were more concerned with the admission prices than the game itself. An increase in the cost of getting into the games for the ladies of Belper was obviously raising questions around the town. The editorial begins with "Supporters - particularly the ladies - will no doubt be asking the question:
"Why was it necessary to raise the price of admission for the ladies to 1/- for all Central Alliance matches?" It will be recalled that this charge was made last year, but at the commencement of the present season the Management Committee felt that some concession should be made to the ladies and agreed that the charge should be reduced to sixpence - the same as that for pensioners and children. Basing their calculation on the average attendance for the few home matches last season, the Committee anticipated that "gates" this year would be in the region of 2,000. Unfortunately the expected increase has not materialised and although the attendances at home games this season have so far averaged about 1,500, the receipts have proved not sufficient to meet the ever-increasing costs and at the same time enable the club to put aside for rainy days.
It then goes on to explain the potential increase in revenue from this change:
It is estimated that the club has about 300 regular supporters among the ladies and if none withdraws support then the extra sixpences will give the club a further income of £7. 10s a home match - a sum which will go a long way towards improving the club finances. The cost of running a Central Alliance team today is about £40 a match"
The match itself resulted in a 5-1 win for Belper, Slack, Brough, Veacock (2) and Lear doing the damage. The month of November also saw Belper beat British Ropes away.
An unusual fact is that every match Belper played in November 1952 was against a side whose name began with the letter "B'. British Ropes (twice), Brush Sports and Brighton Road Old Boys (twice).
December started with the previously mentioned defeat of Brighton Road Old Boys in the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup as. The next game was also in the same competition, a trip to Gresley Rovers.
The Gresley programme welcomed Belper Town, and went on to say that it had been no less than 49 years since Belper had been the visitors. The previous visit was in 1903, also for a cup tie, but that was at the Church Street Ground. Gresley won that tie but the Nailers got their long awaited revenge by winning this time by 2 goals to nil. Their next opponents would be South Normanton in the 2nd Round.
As was usual in the 50's and 60's teams turned out on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, usually against the same opponents. The opposition for Belpers two festive games were Langwith Welfare. A 3-3 draw at Langwith was followed by a Boxing Day defeat at Belper (1-4). The following day it was another away trip, this time to Long Eaton Town (note the Town in the title, not United).
Over 400 Belper Town fans made the journey to "The Stadium' at Long Eaton by special train, organised by British Rail in conjunction with the Supporters Club. This influx of Nailers fans gave Long Eaton a record gate for the season so far. Len Slack and Dennis Carter scored the goals that gave Belper a 2-0 win. The Long Eaton "Programme' like the Matlock Town programme was also a single sheet Pale Blue production - no sign of a selling price on it.
Belpers "first footers' of 1953 were Creswell Colliery, the side that inflicted the first league defeat back in September. Belper sat 4th in the table before the game while their opponents were in 3rd, both on 24 points although the pitmen had a game in hand and a superior goal average. A Carter penalty, two from Harrison and one from Peter Howe saw Belper to a fine 4-3 victory to leapfrog their opponents in the table.
The Belper programme now carried an additional suggestion at the foot of page two. "Half-Time Cup O' Char ? - Supporters' Refreshment Bar !" the message was carried over to the bottom of page three with: "To Clear Your Throat for that "Meadows Roar !" - A Cup of Tea at the Refreshment Bar"
January continued with second visit of the season from South Normanton, this time for a Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup tie. Having already beaten South Normanton 6-1 at home in an ill tempered game which saw both captains dismissed from the field and lost 0-2 at South Normanton it was to be the deciding match of the season between the two.
The programme notes suggested that the days opponents:
"have a reputation as a strong home side who are decidedly weak when on an opponents ground. Of their ten away games so far this season they have lost seven, being victorious only twice."
The assessment proved correct as Belper came out on top in a closely fought game by the odd goal in five. This win set up a semi final tie with one of the Reserves' opponents for the season, Duffield United.
The league table in the South Normanton programme showed that Belper had slipped back to 6th in the table as the other teams had played more games than the Nailers.
There was still time for 2 more games before the end of January - Home to Coalville Town (Won 3-1) and another trip to Gresley on the final day of the month. Only one visit in 49 years and then two trips in as many months. A 2-2 draw was a decent result against a side who had showed early promise and had lead the table in November with three games in hand over 2nd placed Sutton Town.
The surprising 0-4 reverse at lowly Coalville Town was the last game before the Senior Cup Semi Final tie with Duffield United. Whether it was this, or the fact that they were being "skippered" for the day by an ex-Duffield player making his debut, Belper comfortable dismissed their near-neighbours by eight goals to nil. The programme picks up the reason for this strange combination of debut and captain combination.
"It is not often a player captains a team on the day that he makes his debut. Yet such is the case today for Don Warner, who joined Belper from Gresley Rovers about a month ago, is the "skipper" against Duffield United in the semi-final of the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup. To some it may seem odd that a newcomer to the first team should captain it. The reason is that Don is a former Duffield United player and the Town's selection committee in choosing him for this important match, extended the gesture and made him "skipper" against his old club.
Younger readers may not be aware but in those days the team selection was made by a committee rather than a manager despite the fact that there was a Team Manager (Mr L.Peat). It was not unusual for the team line up for the following days match to appear in the Belper News which was published on a Friday in those days.
The eight goals that saw Belper through to a Baseball Ground final against Ilkeston Town were scored by Slack, Harrison (3), Carter (1), Rawson (2) and an own goal from Duffields Poxon.
A trip to Retford resulted in a 3-5 defeat against Brush Sports to bring February to a close. The reputation of the Belper supporters was getting known as the Sports programme contained these favourable words:
"We understand that a considerable number of Belper Town's supporters will be visiting Loughborough today. In view of their club's successful season this is hardly surprising. It will be recalled that Brown's Lane (Home of Brush Sports) was the setting for the inaugral fixture in the Central Alliance last season, when they came up against our Birmingham League XI. Since that date they have proved to be one of the best teams in the League and cannot be ignored as championship contenders"
March did not start any better then February ended as Long Eaton Town gained revenge for the 2-0 defeat at the Stadium, winning by the same score at Christ Church Meadow. A week later a visit to Ransome & Marles also ended in defeat (1-2). The remaining two matches of March saw easier opposition for Belper as they travelled to the two sides in last and second last places in the table. Firstly Bentinck were defeated by 4 goals to 1and then the short hop to Heanor Athletic and a comfortable 7-3 win.
April 3rd was the date of the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup Final at Derby County's baseball Ground. Sadly for the men of Belper there was to be no fairy tale ending to their first attempt at the Senior cup. An Ilkeston side, sitting 2nd in the table with 4 games in hand and only 1 point to make up on Sutton Town, proved too strong for Belper. Despite goals from Brough and Harrison, Ilkeston won the cup in front of 9,974 fans by 4 goals to 2.
The following day Belper started out on a run of 11 league games in April with a 4-0 win at Shirebrook Miners Welfare. Two days later it was Shirebrooks turn to visit Belper and in front of 2,043 people the visitors won 4-3. The programme advised the fans that the management committee were to renew their application for admission to the FA Cup competition next season.
Belper had applied the previous season but as they said themselves, the club was little know in football circles, but this time they added that their application could be supported by a full season in the Central Alliance, plus a very creditable record of successes.
For the record, Belper were not admitted to the FA Cup until season 1956/57 where they were drawn away to Gresley Rovers. The game ended in a 3-7 defeat. The following season Belper recorded their first ever victory in the competition with a 1st Qualifying Round win over Clay Cross at Belper (they went on to reach the 4th Qualifying Round before bowing out 1-2 at Spalding United - but that is another story).
Four days after the Senior Cup Final against their Ilkeston, the Robins came to Belper for a league game. Belper again failed to get the better of their Derbyshire opponents and Ilkeston went away with the points from a 3-0 win. Ilkestons former title contenders Sutton Town came to Belper four days later. Before the game the teams sat 7th and 8th in the table. Belper were two points ahead but Sutton had 2 games in hand. Sutton hammered in 7 as the season started to fade for the new boys.
Another four days passed and it was Nottingham Forests "A' team that came calling. Belper could only manage a 3-3 draw as their worst run of the season continued.
As if Belper didn't have enough games to fit in to the end of the season as it was, they also entertained a Derby County side in the Charity Cup Final. As in the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup Final against Ilkeston, the opposition proved too strong to the score of 2-4.
Things did not improve over the next two games for the men from the Meadows. Trips to Retford Town (Lost 1-4) and 2nd placed Clay Cross (Lost 1-2) set up a trip to table toppers Ilkeston.
Having drawn 2-2 at home to Sheffield Wednesday four days earlier Ilkeston were still smarting from a 1-2 defeat at mid-table Coalville Town just two days before. The league leaders were in no mood to let slip their grip on the title. Sitting 2 points clear of Clay Cross with two games in hand (and 4 left to play), this was a must win for Ilkeston. A 3-1 win was just what they needed.
Although disappointing for Belper, when compared with how some sides had fared against Ilkeston it wasn't a bad scoreline. In December 1952 Ilkeston played six games against Langwith (DSC), Clay Cross, Ransome & Marles, Heanor Athletic, and Loughborough United. The result sequence read (Ilkeston score first) 5-1, 6-3, 7-3, 7-2, 8-0 and 2-1
It seemed unlikely that yet another game the following night would bring an end to the Belper Town supporters misery but the home match with Retford Town finally saw the end to a run of 7 league games without a win.
Two days on and it was Clay Cross again, this time at home. A closely fought game saw Belper defeated (2-3). A home game with Gresley as the opponents, saw a 6-2 victory for Belper and was a great filip for the players and fans. Unfortunately the form was not sustained to the last game of the season as Linby Colliery, who had waited since the opening day of the season to gain revenge, won 2-0 at home.
So, after a long and no doubt tiring nine months, the Black and Amber of Belper Town had completed their first full season in the Central Alliance League. They had acquitted themselves well and as a bonus had reached their first ever Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup Final.
The challenge to the club for the 1953/54 season was to improve on their league position and to go one step further and win the Cup.
This article is written in memory of a dear friend Arthur Sims, who is greatly missed by all at Belper Town Football Club. Arthur left me the programmes featured in this article.
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