1952–53 Blackpool F.C. season

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Blackpool F.C.
1952–53 season
ManagerJoe Smith
First Division7th
FA CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Stan Mortensen &
Allan Brown (15)
All: Stan Mortensen (18)
Highest home attendance36,159 vs Preston North End, First Division, 25 August 1952
Lowest home attendance13,284 vs Stoke City, First Division. 15 April 1953
Average home league attendance25,835

The 1952–53 season was Blackpool F.C.'s 45th season (42nd consecutive) in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing seventh.

They were also the winners of the FA Cup, the only time they have done so to date, beating Bolton Wanderers 4–3 in the final. Although it subsequently became known as "The Matthews Final", Stan Mortensen, Blackpool's top scorer in all competitions that season, scored a hat-trick in the match. It remained the only such feat achieved in an FA Cup Final held at the original Wembley Stadium.

Stan Mortensen was the club's top scorer for the ninth consecutive season, with eighteen goals in all competitions. He shared the accolade in the league with Allan Brown. The two scored fifteen goals apiece.

First-team squad[]

Name Position(s) Nationality Place of birth Date of Birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
George Farm GK Scotland Slateford (1924-06-13)13 June 1924 (aged 27) 177 0 Scotland Hibernian September 1948 Free transfer
Willie Hall GK England Walton-le-Dale (1926-02-06)6 February 1926 (aged 26) 0 0 England Preston North End July 1949
Harry Sharratt GK England Wigan (1929-12-16)16 December 1929 (aged 22) 0 0 England Wigan Athletic May 1952
Full-backs
John Crosland FB England Lytham St Annes (1922-11-10)10 November 1922 (aged 29) 38 0 England Ansdell Rovers May 1946
David Frith FB England Liverpool (1929-03-17)17 March 1929 (aged 23) 0 0 Apprentice May 1949
Tommy Garrett LB England South Shields (1926-02-28)28 February 1926 (aged 26) 114 0 England Horden Colliery Welfare October 1944
Roy Gratrix FB England Salford (1932-02-09)9 February 1932 (aged 20) 0 0 England Taylor Brothers March 1953
Dai Powell LB Wales Swansea (1935-01-19)19 January 1935 (aged 17) 0 0 Apprentice December 1952
Eddie Shimwell RB England Birchover (1920-02-27)27 February 1920 (aged 32) 219 7 England Sheffield United 20 December 1946 £7,000
Jackie Wright FB England Atherton (1926-08-11)11 August 1926 (aged 25) 54 0 England Mossley June 1946
Half-backs
Jack Ainscough CH England Adlington (1926-03-26)26 March 1926 (aged 26) 2 0 England Astley Bridge August 1949
Ewan Fenton RH Scotland Dundee (1929-11-17)17 November 1929 (aged 22) 34 1 Scotland Lochee Harp November 1946
Stan Hepton WH England Leeds (1932-12-03)3 December 1932 (aged 19) 0 0 England Ashley Road Methodists March 1950
Harry Johnston CH/LH/RH England Manchester (1919-09-26)26 September 1919 (aged 32) 297 11 England Droylsden October 1936 Free transfer
Hughie Kelly LH Scotland Valleyfield (1923-07-23)23 July 1923 (aged 28) 167 3 Scotland Jeanfield Swifts August 1944
Cyril Robinson LH England Bulwell (1929-03-04)4 March 1929 (aged 23) 11 2 England Mansfield Town September 1949
Forwards
Allan Brown IF Scotland Kennoway (1926-10-12)12 October 1926 (aged 25) 61 19 Scotland East Fife December 1950 £26,500
Dave Durie IF England Blackpool (1931-08-13)13 August 1931 (aged 20) 0 0 England Oxford Amateurs May 1952
Sandy Harris OR Scotland Hong Kong (1934-10-22)22 October 1934 (aged 17) 0 0 Scotland Scone November 1951
Albert Hobson OR England Glossop (1925-04-07)7 April 1925 (aged 27) 42 1 England Glossop August 1945
Stanley Matthews OR England Stoke-on-Trent (1915-02-01)1 February 1915 (aged 37) 164 5 England Stoke City 10 May 1947 £11,500
George McKnight IF Northern Ireland Newtownards (1923-11-17)17 November 1923 (aged 28) 41 10 Northern Ireland Coleraine June 1946
Stan Mortensen CF England South Shields (1921-05-26)26 May 1921 (aged 31) 242 170 England South Shields ex-schoolboys May 1938
Jackie Mudie IF Scotland Dundee (1930-04-10)10 April 1930 (aged 22) 61 25 Scotland Lochee Harp May 1947
Bill Perry OL England Johannesburg (1930-09-10)10 September 1930 (aged 21) 98 10 Union of South Africa Johannesburg Rangers November 1949
Alan Withers OL England Bulwell (1930-10-20)20 October 1930 (aged 21) 14 6 England Aspley Boys Club 4 July 1949
Graham Williams OF Wales Wrexham (1936-12-31)31 December 1936 (aged 15) 0 0 England Wolverhampton Wanderers
Billy Wright OL England Blackpool (1931-03-04)4 March 1931 (aged 21) 5 1 Apprentice May 1950
Len Stephenson CF England Blackpool (1930-07-14)14 July 1930 (aged 21) 4 1 England Highfield Youth Club November 1948
Ernie Taylor IF England Sunderland (1925-09-02)2 September 1925 (aged 26) 31 5 England Newcastle United 10 October 1951 £25,000

Source: [1]

Competitions[]

Overall record[]

Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
First Division 23 August 1952 25 April 1953 Matchday 1 7th 42 19 9 14 71 70 +1 045.24
FA Cup 10 January 1953 2 May 1953 Third Round Winners 7 6 1 0 14 8 +6 085.71
Total 49 25 10 14 85 78 +7 051.02

Source: Competitions

Football League First Division[]

Main article: 1952–53 Football League § First Division

League table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
5 Charlton Athletic 42 19 11 12 77 63 1.222 49
6 Burnley 42 18 12 12 67 52 1.288 48
7 Blackpool 42 19 9 14 71 70 1.014 47 FA Cup winners
8 Manchester United 42 18 10 14 69 72 0.958 46
9 Sunderland 42 15 13 14 68 82 0.829 43
Source:[citation needed]

Results[]

In summary[]
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts W D L GF GA Pts W D L GF GA Pts
42 19 9 14 71 70 1.014 47 13 5 3 45 22 31 6 4 11 26 48 16

Source:[citation needed]

By matchday[]
Matchday123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAHAHHAAHAHAHHAAHHA
ResultWDWWLWWWWLWLLDLWDDWLWDLLLDDWWLWWLLWWWDLDWL
Position1213643213223465664544578910878777777657547
Source: 11v11
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
In detail[]
23 August 1952 (1952-08-23) 1 Portsmouth 0–2 Blackpool Portsmouth
Brown Goal 4'
Mortensen Goal 49'		 Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 43,478
Referee: R.J. Leafe
25 August 1952 (1952-08-25) 2 Blackpool 1–1 Preston North End Blackpool
Mortensen Goal Wayman Goal 37' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 36,159
Referee: C. Fletcher
30 August 1952 (1952-08-30) 3 Blackpool 3–0 Bolton Wanderers Blackpool
Taylor Goal
Matthews Goal
Barrass Goal (o.g.)		 Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 31,317
Referee: F. Thurman
6 September 1952 (1952-09-06) 4 Aston Villa 1–5 Blackpool Aston
Dixon Goal Taylor Goal
Mortensen Goal
Brown GoalGoalGoal		 Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 52,688
Referee: A.E. Ellis
10 September 1952 (1952-09-10) 5 Chelsea 4–0 Blackpool Fulham
Bentley Goal 5'
Gray Goal 11'
McNichol Goal 69', 90'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 47,632
Referee: F.L. Overton
13 September 1952 (1952-09-13) 6 Blackpool 2–0 Sunderland Blackpool
Mortensen Goal
Perry Goal		 Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 35,350
Referee: A.W. Luty
15 September 1952 (1952-09-15) 7 Blackpool 3–1 Chelsea Blackpool
Perry Goal
Mortensen Goal
Matthews Goal		 Bentley Goal 4' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 28,892
Referee: F.L. Overton
20 September 1952 (1952-09-20) 8 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–5 Blackpool Wolverhampton
Flowers Goal 42'
Swinbourne Goal 64'		 Mortensen Goal 28'
Matthews Goal 34'
Perry Goal 49'
Taylor Goal 68'
Brown Goal 80'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 48,598
Referee: C. Fletcher
27 September 1952 (1952-09-27) 9 Blackpool 8–4 Charlton Athletic Blackpool
Hammond Goal 6' (o.g.)
Brown Goal 7', 43', 44'
Mortensen Goal 26'
Garrett Goal 46'
Matthews Goal 63'
Taylor Goal 65'		 Evans Goal 29', 70'
Lock Goal 75' (pen.)
Vaughan Goal 82'		 Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 33,498
Referee: C.W. Bucknall
4 October 1952 (1952-10-04) 10 Arsenal 3–1 Blackpool Highbury
Logie Goal
Roper GoalGoal		 Taylor Goal 20' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 66,642
Referee: J.R. Dunbar
11 October 1952 (1952-10-11) 11 Blackpool 4–2 Burnley Blackpool
Mortensen Goal 33'
Perry Goal 60', 70'
Brown Goal 82' (pen.)		 Elliott Goal 62' (pen.)
Shannon Goal 72'		 Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 35,671
Referee: G. Black
18 October 1952 (1952-10-18) 12 Tottenham Hotspur 4–0 Blackpool Tottenham
Ramsey Goal (pen.)
Duquemin Goal
Baily GoalGoal		 Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 53,928
Referee: P.F. Power
25 October 1952 (1952-10-25) 13 Blackpool 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday Blackpool
Woodhead Goal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 28,162
Referee: T.W. Glendenning
1 November 1952 (1952-11-01) 14 Cardiff City 2–2 Blackpool Cardiff
Northcott Goal
Chisholm Goal		 Taylor Goal
Hobson Goal		 Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 43,662
Referee: H. Ball
8 November 1952 (1952-11-08) 15 Blackpool 0–2 Newcastle United Blackpool
Robledo Goal
Goal		 Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 26,362
Referee: T. Seymour
15 November 1952 (1952-11-15) 16 West Bromwich Albion 0–1 Blackpool West Bromwich
Mortensen Goal Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 33,712
Referee: L.N. Peake
22 November 1952 (1952-11-22) 17 Blackpool 1–1 Middlesbrough Blackpool
Brown Goal 7' Goal 9' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 19,934
Referee: A. Wilkinson
29 November 1952 (1952-11-29) 18 Liverpool 2–2 Blackpool Liverpool
Payne GoalGoal Perry Goal
Taylor Goal		 Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 32,336
Referee: H. Jackson
6 December 1952 (1952-12-06) 19 Blackpool 4–1 Manchester City Blackpool
Brown GoalGoal
Mortensen Goal
Taylor Goal		 Williamson Goal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 19,496
Referee: R.P. Hartley
13 December 1952 (1952-12-13) 20 Stoke City 4–0 Blackpool Stoke-on-Trent
Mountford Goal
Oscroft GoalGoal
Fenton Goal (o.g.)		 Stadium: Victoria Ground
Attendance: 19,118
Referee: B.J. Flanagan
20 December 1952 (1952-12-20) 21 Blackpool 3–2 Portsmouth Blackpool
Fenton Goal
Perry Goal
Taylor Goal		 Harris Goal 37'
Froggatt Goal 88'		 Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 13,562
Referee: R.J. Leafe
25 December 1952 (1952-12-25) 22 Blackpool 0–0 Manchester United Blackpool
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 27,778
Referee: W.H.E. Evans
26 December 1952 (1952-12-26) 23 Manchester United 2–1 Blackpool Manchester
Carey Goal 40'
Lewis Goal 80'		 Mortensen Goal 10' Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 49,934
Referee: W.H.E. Evans
1 January 1953 (1953-01-01) 24 Preston North End 4–2 Blackpool Preston
Wayman Goal
Morrison Goal
Finney Goal		 Hobson Goal
Perry Goal		 Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 30,696
Referee: C. Fletcher
3 January 1953 (1953-01-03) 25 Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Blackpool Bolton
Wheeler GoalGoalGoal
Moir Goal		 Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 36,572
Referee: F. Thurman
17 January 1953 (1953-01-17) 26 Blackpool 1–1 Aston Villa Blackpool
Mudie Goal Gibson Goal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 21,258
Referee: A.E. Ellis
24 January 1953 (1953-01-24) 27 Sunderland 1–1 Blackpool Sunderland
Wright Goal Hepton Goal Stadium: Roker Park
Attendance: 53,653
Referee: A.W. Luty
7 February 1953 (1953-02-07) 28 Blackpool 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Blackpool
Brown Goal 4', 84' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 21,702
Referee: C. Fletcher
21 February 1953 (1953-02-21) 29 Blackpool 3–2 Arsenal Blackpool
Mudie Goal 20', 27'
Brown Goal 85'		 Mercer Goal 54'
Goring Goal 77'		 Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 30,034
Referee: J.R. Dunbar
23 February 1953 (1953-02-23) 30 Charlton Athletic 2–0 Blackpool Charlton
Firmani Goal 7'
Kiernan Goal 31'		 Hepton Goal Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 15,913
Referee: C.W. Bucknall
3 March 1953 (1953-03-03) 31 Burnley 0–1 Blackpool Burnley
Perry Goal 65' Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 20,874
Referee: G. Black
7 March 1953 (1953-03-07) 32 Blackpool 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur Blackpool
Mudie Goal
Perry Goal		 Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 26,796
Referee: P.F. Power
14 March 1953 (1953-03-14) 33 Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Blackpool Sheffield
Marriott Goal
Sewell Goal		 Perry Goal 65' Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 40,961
Referee: T.W. Glendenning
25 March 1953 (1953-03-25) 34 Blackpool 0–1 Cardiff City Blackpool
Northcott Goal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 15,227
Referee: H. Ball
28 March 1953 (1953-03-28) 35 Newcastle United 0–1 Blackpool Newcastle upon Tyne
Taylor Goal Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 41,205
Referee: T. Seymour
3 April 1953 (1953-04-03) 36 Blackpool 2–1 Derby County Blackpool
Taylor Goal
Mortensen Goal		 McLaren Goal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 27,382
Referee: E. Plinston
4 April 1953 (1953-04-04) 37 Blackpool 2–0 West Bromwich Albion Blackpool
Mortensen GoalGoal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 30,592
Referee: L.N. Peake
6 April 1953 (1953-04-06) 38 Derby County 1–1 Blackpool Derby
Lee Goal Mortensen Goal Stadium: The Baseball Ground
Attendance: 24,795
Referee: E. Plinston
11 April 1953 (1953-04-11) 39 Middlesbrough 1–1 Blackpool Middlesbrough
Mannion Goal 14'
Fitzsimons Goal 32', 43'
Spuhler Goal 36', 79'		 Durie Goal 11' Stadium: Ayresome Park
Attendance: 38,847
Referee: A. Wilkinson
15 April 1953 (1953-04-15) 40 Blackpool 1–1 Stoke City Blackpool
Perry Goal Mountford Goal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 13,284
Referee: B.J. Flanagan
18 April 1953 (1953-04-18) 41 Blackpool 3–1 Liverpool Blackpool
Garrett Goal
Perry Goal
Mudie Goal		 Smyth Goal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 20,073
Referee: G. Gibson
25 April 1953 (1953-04-25) 42 Manchester City 5–0 Blackpool Manchester
Cuncliffe Goal
McCourt Goal
Spirdle GoalGoal
Williamson Goal		 Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 35,507
Referee: R.P. Hartley

FA Cup[]

Main article: 1952–53 FA Cup
10 January 1953 (1953-01-10) Third Round Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Blackpool Sheffield
Sewell Goal 75' Matthews Goal
Taylor Goal		 Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 60,199
Referee: H. Jackson
31 January 1953 (1953-01-31) Fourth Round Blackpool 1–0 Huddersfield Town Blackpool
Garrett Goal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 29,293
Referee: B.M. Griffiths
14 February 1953 (1953-02-14) Fifth Round Blackpool 1–1 Southampton Blackpool
Perry Goal Horton Goal Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 27,543
Referee: B.J. Flanagan
18 February 1953 (1953-02-18) Fifth Round replay Southampton 1–2 Blackpool Southampton
Walker Goal Horton Goal 47' (o.g.)
Brown Goal 49'		 Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 29,223
Referee: B.J. Flanagan
28 February 1953 (1953-02-28) Sixth Round Arsenal 1–2 Blackpool London
Logie Goal Brown Goal
Taylor Goal		 Stadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 69,158
Referee: A.W. Luty
21 March 1953 (1953-03-21) Semi-final Blackpool 2–1 Tottenham Hotspur Aston
Perry Goal 8'
Mudie Goal 89'		 Duquemin Goal 50' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 68,221
Referee: A.E. Ellis
2 May 1953 (1953-05-02) Final Blackpool 4–3 Bolton Wanderers Wembley
15:00 BST Mortensen Goal 35', 68', 89'
Perry Goal 90+2'		 Lofthouse Goal 2'
Moir Goal 40'
Bell Goal 55'		 Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
Referee: B.M. Griffiths

Squad statistics[]

Appearances and goals[]

Pos. Nat. Name First Division FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Scotland George Farm 38 0 7 0 45 0
GK England Willie Hall 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK England Harry Sharratt 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF England John Crosland 25 0 3 0 28 0
DF England David Frith 10 0 0 0 10 0
DF England Tommy Garrett 38 2 7 1 40 3
DF England Roy Gratrix 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF Wales Dai Powell 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF England Eddie Shimwell 35 0 7 0 42 0
DF England Jackie Wright 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF England Jack Ainscough 4 0 0 0 4 0
MF Scotland Ewan Fenton 28 1 6 0 34 1
MF England Stan Hepton 1 1 0 0 1 1
MF England Harry Johnston 36 0 7 0 43 0
MF Scotland Hughie Kelly 31 0 3 0 34 0
MF England Cyril Robinson 2 0 1 0 3 0
FW Scotland Allan Brown 26 15 5 2 31 17
FW England Dave Durie 8 1 0 0 8 1
FW Scotland Sandy Harris 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW England Albert Hobson 17 2 0 0 17 2
FW England Stanley Matthews 20 4 7 1 27 5
FW Northern Ireland George McKnight 2 0 1 0 3 0
FW England Stan Mortensen 34 15 2 3 36 18
FW Scotland Jackie Mudie 20 5 7 1 27 6
FW England Bill Perry 36 12 7 3 43 15
FW England Alan Withers 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW Wales Graham Williams 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England Billy Wright 7 0 0 0 7 0
FW England Len Stephenson 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England Ernie Taylor 38 11 7 2 45 13
Players used: 24
Goals scored: 85
(including 3 own goals)

Goalscorers[]

Rank Pos. Player First Division FA Cup Total
1 FW England Stan Mortensen 15 3 18
2 FW Scotland Allan Brown 15 2 17
3 FW England Bill Perry 12 3 15
4 FW England Ernie Taylor 11 2 13
5 FW Scotland Jackie Mudie 5 1 6
6 FW England Stanley Matthews 4 1 5
7 DF England Tommy Garrett 2 1 3
8 FW England Albert Hobson 2 0 2
9 MF Scotland Ewan Fenton 1 0 1
MF England Stan Hepton 1 0 1
FW England Dave Durie 1 0 1
Own Goals 2 1 3
Total 71 14 85

Clean sheets[]

Rank Pos. Player First Division FA Cup Total
1 GK Scotland George Farm 10 1 11

Transfers[]

Transfers in[]

Date Pos. Nat. Name From Fee
May 1952 GK England Harry Sharratt Wigan Athletic —
May 1952 IF England Dave Durie Oxford Amateurs —
December 1952 LB Wales Dai Powell Free agency —
March 1953 FB England Roy Gratrix Taylor Brothers —
OF Wales Graham Williams Wolverhampton Wanderers —

Transfers out[]

Date Pos. Nat. Name To Fee
May 1952 CH England Eric Hayward Retired —

References[]

General[]

Books

  • Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.

Websites

Specific[]

  1. ^ Blackpool F.C. 1952–53 Squad at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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