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#Post#: 30232--------------------------------------------------
The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: ajb95
Date: April 22, 2021, 4:11 am
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Hi
Just on a clear out of my later Grandad’s old collections and
have come across an old newspaper cutting of the Busby Babes’
final league match before that terrible disaster in Feb 1958.
From a newspaper 20 years on: “On 1 February 1958, Arsenal
hosted reigning league champions Manchester United at Highbury.
A massive crowd of 63,578 turned up to see the Busby Babes. They
saw what has been described as “the greatest game ever seen” by
those who were there. The thrilling game finished 5-4 in favour
of the visitors. However, it would be the last time this
talented young team were seen in England..”
From the Times: “When arsenal play as they did yesterday their
most pungent critics remain silent. They were beaten by the a
magnificent side but their spirit was unquestionable.”
In the programme which is absolute gold dust - Referee shown as
G W Pullin from Bristol, and the linesman were C N English from
Chelmsford and K R B Hale also from Bristol
#Post#: 30237--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: April 22, 2021, 6:22 am
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Gilbert Pullin
Charles English
Kenneth Hale
#Post#: 30238--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: Acme Thunderer
Date: April 22, 2021, 7:22 am
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This from olddeagle in October 2018:
Pullin always sticks in my memory because I saw him do Arsenal
4, Man Utd 5 at Highbury the week before Munich, the last time
some of those lads played in England. I was only 7 so can't say
I have any great recall of his performance.
Great photos, thanks for posting them. I can't find a programme
on line to identify the linesmen, Spurs v Man City, but perhaps
some Spurs supporters out there will have one?
HTML https://ratetheref.createaforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8.0;attach=152
Gilbert' son got in touch with RTR around about the same time.
His comments included:
"Thanks for the contact I was at the match, Spurs v Man City,
what really happened was Dad gave a penalty to Tottenham with 1
min of the first half to go. Cliff Jones took some time to place
ball this was in the 47min which meant in those days the penalty
had to be taken to end the half. Jones took the penalty,
Trautman parried the ball, Dad blew his whistle, Jones then put
the ball into the net,answer no goal.
Dad was accepted onto the football league as a linesman now
assistant in 1947 being promoted to the middle in 1951 and all
the time never sent a player off, always saying its easy to send
a player off, the hardest job was keeping them on.
Dad joined the GFA after starting his own league in 1962 and was
Chairman up until his death in 1991. I served with him all that
time, then took over from him in 1992 as Chairman/Secretary up
until May 2018 when due to lack of teams we decided to fold, a
very sad day after some 55 years service. I still serve on the
GFA as a FA trained Chairman, Cups Committee and also look after
the 3G pitch which we have to brush twice a week. all as
volunteer.
In 2013 I was awarded a 50 year award.
Hope this gives you some insight."
There is a picture of Gilbert with his linesman in civvies, one
of whom I thought was Harry New, before the Spurs v Man City
game.
HTML https://ratetheref.createaforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8.0;attach=145;image
#Post#: 30262--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: Ref Fan
Date: April 23, 2021, 3:40 am
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--- Quote from: ajb95 link ---
>
> Hi
>
> Just on a clear out of my later Grandad’s old collections and
have come across an old newspaper cutting of the Busby Babes’
final league match before that terrible disaster in Feb 1958.
>
> From a newspaper 20 years on: “On 1 February 1958, Arsenal
hosted reigning league champions Manchester United at Highbury.
A massive crowd of 63,578 turned up to see the Busby Babes. They
saw what has been described as “the greatest game ever seen” by
those who were there. The thrilling game finished 5-4 in favour
of the visitors. However, it would be the last time this
talented young team were seen in England..”
>
> From the Times: “When arsenal play as they did yesterday their
most pungent critics remain silent. They were beaten by the a
magnificent side but their spirit was unquestionable.”
>
> In the programme which is absolute gold dust - Referee shown
as G W Pullin from Bristol, and the linesman were C N English
from Chelmsford and K R B Hale also from Bristol
>
--- End Quote ---
Thanks for that ajb95. My very first visit to Old Trafford with
a friend and his Dad was the season before Munich, and was also
against Arsenal. It was another high scoring and brilliant
game. From Wiki and United's 1956/57 season:
9 February 1957
Edwards, Taylor
I expect someone could produce the Arsenal scorers and the
referee.
A wonderful memory. I think my next visit was to the first
match after Munich on 19th February with my father when United
played Sheffield Wednesday in a FA Cup Tie; a very emotional
occasion when United won 3-0.
#Post#: 30278--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: April 23, 2021, 8:19 am
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Alf Bond (Fulham) refereed the Sheffield Wednesday cup tie
#Post#: 30280--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: jad
Date: April 23, 2021, 8:32 am
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9 February 1957: Manchester U. vs Arsenal
Referee: F.B. Coultas (Hull)
Linesmen: R. Birkinshaw (Rotherham) & W.L. Bennett (Birmingham)
Both of Arsenal's goals were scored by Herd; Manchester U.'s
goals were scored by Berry (2), Whelan (2), Duncan Edwards and
Taylor.
Information from
HTML https://footballfacts.ru/match/463272-manchesteryunaytedmanchesterarsenallondon62
#Post#: 30283--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: April 23, 2021, 8:55 am
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9 Feb 1957 v Arsenal
Frank Coultas went on to referee that season's cup final, Ray
Birkinshaw and Wilf Bennett were on the lines
David Herd gave Arsenal the lead after 5 mins and made it 2-2
after 37, he later played for M.U.
Bill Whelan 15 & 78, Jonny Berry 27 & 49 pen, Duncan Edwards 29,
Tommy Taylor 57 with Berry also missing a late penalty, scored
for M.U.
#Post#: 30287--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: Ref Fan
Date: April 23, 2021, 10:38 am
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So United even got 2 penalties in those days. [emoji1]
It was an unhappy Cup Final for United as they lost the match
2-1 and lost goalkeeper Ray Wood to a charge (some reports
called it an assault) by Peter McParland who scored both Villa
goals. It made for a somewhat controversial Final for Mr Coultas
although challenges of that nature were more likely to be
allowed in those days.
Ironically, United suffered a similar fate the following year
when Lofthouse barged Harry Gregg and ball into the net and
Bolton won 2-0. That Cup Final of course was only a few months
after the Munich disaster and was refereed by Jack Sherlock.
#Post#: 30288--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: ajb95
Date: April 23, 2021, 10:40 am
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--- Quote from: Ref Fan link ---
>
> So United even got 2 penalties in those days. [emoji1]
>
> It was an unhappy Cup Final for United as they lost the match
2-1 and lost goalkeeper Ray Wood to a charge (some reports
called it an assault) by Peter McParland who scored both Villa
goals. It made for a somewhat controversial Final for Mr Coultas
although challenges of that nature were more likely to be
allowed in those days.
>
> Ironically, United suffered a similar fate the following year
when Lofthouse barged Harry Gregg and ball into the net and
Bolton won 2-0. That Cup Final of course was only a few months
after the Munich disaster and was refereed by Jack Sherlock.
>
--- End Quote ---
Indeed two acts of thuggery if you watch the old pathe
highlights - they wouldn’t get away with that kind of foul play
now
#Post#: 30292--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Busby Babes’ final match on UK soil
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: April 23, 2021, 11:23 am
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But that was what was permitted at the time, not the referee
failing to penalise it
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