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Wolves v Sheff U 1955

Programme of the Week Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United 15th October 1955

The latest in a series about football programmes from my collection that relate to a game being played in the next few days.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United 2019 / 2020

It’s European Competition week and for the first time in 39 seasons, Wolves are competing. They are in north Portugal and will play SC Braga later today. Braga lead the mini group by one point, having beaten Wolves earlier in the competition. But a point will see both teams progress to the knockout stages in the New Year.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are 5th in the Premier League. They have drawn three and won two of their last five games. After a shaky start to the season, Wolves have defied those who said they would be unable to maintain last season’s form and compete in Europe.

Sheffield United are also making a mockery of pre-season predictions! This is their first season back in the Premier League and they were most pundits’ certainties to be relegated.

Presently, they sit 6th in the table, one position and one point behind Wolverhampton Wanderers. They too have drawn three and won two of their last five games. In their last game, the led Manchester United 2-0; went 2-3 down and equalised late on to share the points.

Three points for either team on Sunday will not lead to much progress up the league. United would overtake Wolves and the Wanderers would inch close to Chelsea in 4th, who are seven points ahead.

A draw could let Burnley or Arsenal into 5th place.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United 15th October 1955

The season is between 10 and 12 games in. The previous season, defending champions Wolves finished runners up to Chelsea. Sheffield United finished a very respectable 13th; 15 points above city rivals Sheffield Wednesday, who were relegated!

United have played 11 games so far, they have won 3 and drawn 2. United are 17th in the First Division at this point. Wolves have played 10 games, winning 5 and drawing 1. They are presently 11th

Three clubs share top spot (separated by goal average!) Blackpool; West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United.

Sheffield United have come off the back of a 1-1 home draw with Manchester City. Wolverhampton Wanderers have just been beaten 3-4 in a thriller at Old Trafford.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United 15th October 1955 – Match Programme

It’s the classic Wolves programme of the day. There are 8 pages and it has the gold and white cover, with the heavier gold and black cover still a couple of season away from its introduction.

On the cover, the image of the Molineux I grew up with. Viewed from the South Bank, the iconic clock is visible on top of the Molineux Street Stand. This stand still has lower level terracing, though seats would be introduced during the summer of 1960.

Linking the Molineux Street Stand and the North Bank is the famous ‘cowshed’, much loved by us youngsters growing up.

The programme cover also details Wolves roll of honour.

The inside cover lists the teams, and opposite on page three there are notes by “Wanderer”. In his update, Wanderer tells us that Billy Wright; Bert Williams and Dennis Wilshaw will all be absent at Newcastle next week due to England call ups. No international break in those days!

(England lost 2-1 to Wales in Cardiff! Derek Tapscott and Cliff Jones scored for Wales; a John Charles own goal was England’s only response).

At the end of his notes, Wanderer welcomes Sheffield United and their new Manager Joe Mercer.

Ivan Sharpe

For many years, Wolverhampton Wanderers programme gave the centre pages over to respected journalist Ivan Sharpe. His musings were an education in football, and he wrote weekly for the Wolves, up until his death in February 1978. The latest issue of Backpass Magazine has a great tribute to him.

Page 6 carries the league tables alongside fixtures and results to date. Page 7 has small photos of Wolves three named England internationals and the team sheets from Wolves games last weekend.

The back cover lists the days main games. Chelsea face Tottenham Hotspur in London and in Yorkshire Sheffield Wednesday host Leeds United.

The programme cost 3d.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United 15th October 1955 – The Main Men

Spoilt for choice from this game! Not only do we have England legends Cullis and Mercer in the hotseats, but we’ve already highlighted Wolves three England players called away for next week.

But in an era where football is diminishing as a contact sport, let’s consider two really ‘hard men’!

Each is playing left half for their team – the engine room of midfield.

Jim Iley

Jim Iley joined Sheffield United from Pontefract Collieries. He is in the middle of a 99 game four year spell at United. Thereafter he moved to Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest. At Forest he was known as Gentleman Jim – a tough tackling gentleman! In the 1960’s Jim Iley made 232 appearances for Newcastle United and was capped once by England at U23 level.

When his playing career ended, Jim managed Peterborough United; Barnsley; Blackburn Rovers and Bury.

Eddie Clamp

Ask Wolves fans of a certain age about hard tackling wing halves and one name always crops up! But Eddie Clamp could play football; he wasn’t just a hardman! In my view, Eddie Clamp was as instrumental in Stan Cullis’ two great fifties sides as the maestro Peter Broadbent.

Eddie Clamp made his debut in the 1953/54 Championship winning team and played over 240 games for the club. He won two Championship Medals in 1958 & 1959 and an FA Cup winners medal in 1960. He played four times for England in 1958. Each time he was part of an all Wolves half back line with Bill Slater and Billy Wright.

Ironically, when Eddie moved on from Wolves to Arsenal, it was his manger and former teammate Billy Wright who then shipped him out to Stoke City!

Edwin ‘Chopper’ Clamp was an absolute childhood hero of mine.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United 15th October 1955 – The outcome

A crowd of 33,232 sees Wolverhampton Wanderers edge the game 3-2. Goals from Johnny Hancocks; Roy Swinbourne and Dennis Wilshaw seal the win.

It’s not a bad season for the Wolves. They end up joint second with Blackpool albeit both are 11 points behind champions Manchester United.

Not such good news for Sheffield United. Not only are they relegated finishing bottom of the league, but neighbours Sheffield Wednesday are promoted from Division two as Champions!

Good luck to both teams on Sunday; just a bit more good luck to the Wolves! 😊

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