Tottenham v Bolton 1948 FA Cup Match Report

Tottenham and Bolton meet on Tuesday at White Hart Lane in their re-arranged FA Cup 6th Round tie which was abandoned  a week ago on Saturday because of the cardiac arrest suffered by Fabrice Muamba, the Bolton midfield player.  At the time as the medical staff worked with him on the pitch and as he was carried to the ambulance, there were very grave concerns about him but thankfully he has taken remarkable early steps in his recovery and all wish him continued progress in the coming weeks.

Bolton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur  FA Cup 3rd Round 1947 - 48

While writing the previous article for this blog, Spurs FA Cup Record against Bolton, I came across this match report for their 1948 meeting in an old scrapbook which I had bought in an auction at Sportingold.  That season, Spurs who were in the old 2nd Division progressed to the semi-final where they lost out in extra time to Blackpool who had only equalised in the final minutes of normal time.  To reach that stage Spurs had defeated Bolton (a) 2 - 0 (aet), West Bromwich Albion (h) 3 - 1, Leicester City (h) 5 - 2 and Southampton (a) 1 - 0.

Bolton were in the 1st Division and the match was played at their old ground, Burnden Park, where Spurs had won the FA Cup Final in 1901 in a replay against Sheffield United.  In season 1947-48, the football authorities decided to dispense with replays so as to avoid unnecessary absenteeism from work in the early post war years.  As the game was level after ninety minutes, extra time was played.

The following is a transcript of the match report from a newspaper of the time.
10th January, 1948 

Scored When 

On His Knees  

Bolton Wand.  0  Tottenham H.  2 (aet)

Extra time produced the goals and 

most of the thrills at Bolton.  Up

 to the end of the first 90 minutes

 the game was of a rather mediocre

 kind with Spurs definitely revealing

 the greater craft and understanding.

Bolton put in plenty of pressure, 

but made no real impression on a 

strong defence in which Ditchburn 

and Woodward were in masterly form.

When extra time started Spurs 

would have taken the lead on their 

merits but for Brook heading Baily's 

shot away with Hanson yards out of goal.

Almost immediately afterwards, 

however, Atkinson missed his 

tackle and let in Duquemin who 

shot from a splendid goal after running 

30 yards with the ball.

Bolton's strenous efforts to get 

on terms and the constant danger 

from Tottenham breakaways made 

the game end on an exciting note 

and there was a dramatic finale 

when Duquemin went almost on his 

knees to head a second goal almost on time. 

Spurs's only fault was that they 

allowed this match to last too long.  

They were obviously superior to 

Bolton in football art, but with their 

greater speed in attack they should 

have had Bolton's shaky defence 

beaten well inside 90 minutes.

Baily, at inside right, was the 

cleverest forager on the field, and 

both Cox and Stevens were good on 

the wing although the latter faced 

Bolton's best defender in Roberts.

Team: Ditchburn; Tickridge, Buckingham; Nicholson, Woodward, Burgess; Cox, Baily, Duquemin, Bennett, Stevens 

The team contained five of the players who would be part of the successful Tottenham 'Push and Run' side at the turn of the decade - Ted Ditchburn, Bill Nicholson, Ronnie Burgess, Eddie Baily and Len Duquemin. 

When Has This Happened for Spurs?

When have Spurs ever benefited from refereeing decisions in a game to such an extent as happened against Stoke last weekend?  In almost fifty years of supporting the club I can't think of any examples.

Pre-order: (use Code LH1)

Now that the win over Sunderland has restored our equilibrium, I've been thinking about that loss at the Brittania Stadium and if there has ever been a similar example where Tottenham have been the benefactors of such a display of refereeing where so many mistakes went in our favour and handed us victory on a plate.

Stoke had a number of decisions which went in their favour, courtesy of referee Chris Foy and his assistants:

• Peter Crouch clearly handled the ball in the lead up to the first goal
• Younes Kaboul was dragged down as he jumped for the ball at a corner
• Shawcross handled the ball on the line from Kaboul's shot
• Emmanuel Adebayor's disallowed goal was two yards on-side
• William Gallas was fouled as he went to for a tap-in
• Another handball from a Defoe shot
• Kaboul's dismissal from two soft yellow cards with the second coming when the Stoke player advanced from an offside position
• Woodgate could have had a second yellow card in the first half for a foul on Parker 

Now some will say, "Move on - get over it," and I have but it's out of interest that I ask the question.

When have Spurs ever benefited from refereeing decisions in a game to such an extent as happened against Stoke last weekend?

Every team has been gifted a win where an offside goal was allowed or an undeserved penalty awarded or a crucial decision went in their favour but I'm thinking about times when it appeared that almost every decision was favourable and resulted in a Tottenham win.

It's appropriate to raise the topic a week on from the Stoke game as I was reminded when I was reading 'Vertigo' by John Crace at the weekend that our next opponents, Chelsea, had favourable decisions at Stamford Bridge last season which gave them the three points - the Lampard shot which Heurelho Gomes allowed to slip past him but recovered only for the goal to be awarded and then, their winning goal was offside.

It is undeniable that against Stoke, Spurs found themselves into a difficult position because of poor defending in the first half but the refereeing decisions prevented them from making a comeback and possibly winning the game.  It is also true that if Gomes had dealt properly with Lampard's shot - basic goalkeeping - then Chelsea wouldn't have had the boost of going in level at the interval and that his mistake was the cause of Spurs' downfall.

Our selective 'Spurs' memory always allows us to remember the mistakes that have gone against us while deleting those which were favourable but I can't remember any occasion when Tottenham benefited in such a dramatic way when winning a game since I started following them in 1965.

The one occasion that I do know of when they did have the advantage of poor refereeing which enabled them to win a game was as far back as April, 1952, a few months before my birth.  Spurs beat Huddersfield Town 1 - 0 at White Hart Lane thanks to a goal similar to the one Blackburn scored last month from a corner where Pedersen dribbled into the penalty area having been the only player to touch the ball.  His cross was then finished off by Junior Hoilett. 

Eddie Baily

In Spurs game Eddie Baily who later became Assistant to Bill Nicholson at Spurs, took a corner but the ball struck the referee and rebounded to Baily who crossed for Len Duquemin to head the winning goal.  The goal should have been disallowed as no other player touched the ball before Baily played it a second time.  Despite much protesting from the Huddersfield players the referee was unmoved and his decision stood giving Tottenham the two points for the win with Huddersfield suffering relegation at the season's end.

If anyone can suggest examples of occasions when Spurs wins have come about through controversial decisions by the officials, I would like to know about them. 

Spurs in History - 28th August

28th August, 1950

Spurs 4 Bolton Wanderers 2 (1st Division)

After winning promotion Spurs made a difficult start to life in the 1st Division. They lost their first game at home to Blackpool by 4-1 but then won at Bolton (4-1) and drew at Arsenal (2-2). They completed the ‘double’ over Bolton with goals from Len Duquemin(2), Eddie Baily and an own goal.

The results for the next few games were unconvincing until the ‘push and run’ team found its feet at the end of September when they commenced a run of eight successive victories.

Spurs in History - 18th June

18th June, 1952

Spurs 8 Quebec F.A. 0 (Friendly in Montreal)

Spurs long close season tour to North America finally came to an end with this victory.

They remained undefeated throughout the tour, winning all ten matches played, eight against local opposition and two exhibition games against Manchester United.

The goals were scored by Sid McClellan (3) who had replaced Len Duquemin who had been injured in an early tackle, Les Bennett (3), Ralph Wetton and Les Medley. Two days later, the party set off on the seven day return voyage on the ‘Empress of Canada.’

Spurs in History - 28th May

28th May, 1952

Saskatchewan F.A. 1 Spurs 18 (eighteen!) (Friendly)

The second game of the North American tour threw up this record score. Conflicting details of the scorers and half-time score exist but Spurs official handbook for 1952-53 states that as Spurs were 14-0 ahead at half-time, the teams exchanged goalkeepers and Ted Ditchburn’s display ensured that Spurs only scored four in the second half.

In other records, Sid McClellan is credited with scoring nine goals, Les Bennett (3), Len Duquemin (2), Dennis Uphill (2) and Chris Adams (2), although these don’t match the statistics and account given in the Handbook.

Spurs v Huddersfield Town 1952 - Controversial Goal

The Huddersfield 'Goal' Controversy

The old football adage goes that ‘things even themselves out over the course of the season.’ In many cases this will be true – close calls for off-side, a goal given or disallowed or a penalty awarded for or against. However, Spurs still await retribution for the Mendes 'goal' at Old Trafford a few season's ago.

Perhaps, in the case of Mendes disallowed goal, the wrong will not be righted in a season – it might be more like a lifetime. Having supported Spurs for forty years I can not recall any occasion when something similar occurred either for or against Spurs. However, just three months before I was born Spurs benefited greatly from a referee making a serious mistake.

On Wednesday afternoon, 2nd April, 1952 Spurs were at home to Huddersfield Town who were bottom of the table fighting against relegation while Spurs as defending Champions were in fourth position. The game attracted the lowest attendance of the season, 22,396 and was playing out to an uneventful and dull scoreless draw when Spurs were awarded a corner in the final minute. The referee took up a position nearer the corner flag than the goal and when Eddie Baily took the kick the ball hit the referee and rebounded to him. Baily immediately played the ball a second time, putting in a cross which Len Duquemin headed into the Huddersfield goal. The referee awarded a goal which brought uproar from the Huddersfield players and officials but even after consulting the linesman, the referee stood by his decision.

The referee had made a serious mistake as Baily should not have played the ball twice without another player touching it. Huddersfield should have been awarded a free-kick from the position where Baily played the ball for the second time.

At first, the Huddersfield players refused to re-start the game but there was no mass harassment of the referee and although everyone knew there had been a mistake the result had to stand. In the next programme, Spurs commented on the incident, ‘The referee’s decision is final, and even if we have been the gainers in this instance there have been previous cases in which we have been the sufferers.’

At the end of the season Huddersfield were relegated by three points and while the point they lost that day did not relegate them mathematically, an extra point from that game may have inspired the players to greater efforts in the final six matches of the season. Spurs went on to finish second behind Manchester United and ahead of Arsenal on goal difference so for once Spurs managed to put one over their North London rivals as a result of that game.

Spurs in History - 2nd April

Eddie Baily who later became Bill Nicholson's Assistant, was involved in the controversial goal which defeated Huddersfield Town

2nd April, 1952

Spurs 1 Huddersfield Town 0 (1st Division)

Controversy surrounded the only goal scored by Len Duquemin and added to Huddersfield’s problems as they tried to avoid relegation. With only a minute remaining, the lowest attendance of the season saw an amazing goal to Spurs. From a corner taken by Eddie Baily, the ball hit the referee and rebounded to Baily who immediately centred for Duquemin to head the winning goal.

The goal should have been disallowed because Baily had played the ball twice without another player touching it. Huddersfield appealed but the result had to stand and they were relegated at the end of the season. The point that Huddersfield lost that day did not cause their relegation but if they had gained an unexpected point it might have inspired the players to greater effort in their final games.

Spurs in History - 9th March

9th March, 1953

Spurs 1 Birmingham City 0 F.A.Cup 6th Round 2nd Replay at Molineaux

Today everything must be instant - coffee, fast food, connection to the internet, mobile phones, penalty shoot-outs - but in 1953 there was time for replays and second replays and third replays or as many as were required to settle the tie. No quick fix as we have today - extra time and a penalty shoot-out.

While the League Cup in all its forms has already lost replays and Arsene Wenger may want rid of them in the FA Cup so that he can concentrate on other things of greater importance, 'the Arsenal end of season party' - the replay brought an added something to the competition as clubs battled it out over a number of games for the right to progress to the next round.

This tie against Birmingham City who were in the 2nd Division went to three games before Spurs went through to the semi-finals. The original match was at St Andrews where Spurs earned a 1-1 draw with a goal from Les Bennett. In the replay at White Hart Lane Bennett again scored and with Len Duquemin ensured a 2-2 draw after extra time. The third game was played in the Midlands at the neutral venue of Molineaux, Wolves ground, and Spurs won with a goal from Sonny Walters.

Spurs in History - 14th February

Spurs' 1949 team - Back row: Nicholson, Ramsay, Clarke,Ditchburn, Burgess (captain), Medley. Front row: Withers, Walters, Rees, Duquemin, Baily - and the only change for the Cup game aginst Halifax was Les Bennett replacing Rees.

14th February, 1953

Halifax Town 0 Spurs 3 FA Cup 5th Round

Spurs had required replays to defeat tranmere and Preston in the previous rounds so a difficult 5th Round F.A.Cup tie was anticipated as Halifax, in the old 3rd Division (North), had overcome two 1st Division sides, Cardiff and Stoke, in the previous rounds. The match was in doubt due to overnight snow but the pitch was cleared sufficiently for it to proceed although the pitch had to be marked out in blue dye.

The first half was very close and remained goalless but after half time Spurs started to take control. Within ten minutes Spurs scored through Les Bennett and although the home team rallied, Spurs were encouraged and went further ahead when Len Duquemin scored. Duquemin had a goal disallowed and then two minutes later Bennett scored his second to give Spurs a convincing victory in difficult conditions.

Team: Ditchburn, Ramsey, Willis, Nicholson, Clarke, Burgess, Walters, Bennett, Duquemen, Baily, Medley.

Spurs' opponents in the 6th Round were Birmingham City with the game to be played at St. Andrews two weeks later, 28th February.

'D' Team for Tottenham-Spur

The 'D' team of current and former Spurs players is a mix of famous White Hart Lane 'Legends' and those who made a few appearances for the club.

Ted Ditchburn

GK: Ted Ditchburn - member of 'Push and Run' team - 575 appearances for Spurs.

RB: Simon Davies - Welsh International midfielder who could play full-back - early 2000s

LB: Michael Dillon - played occasionally in the team of early 1970s

CD: Michael Dawson - impressive member of current team

CD: Gary Doherty - Republic of Ireland International

M: Terry Dyson - winger for 'Double' team

M: Edgar Davids - current player and Dutch International

M: Jimmy Dimmock - member of 1920s - scorer of FA Cup winning goal in 1921.

F: Jermain Defoe - current striker and England International

F: Len Duquemin - centre forward for 'Push and run' team

F: John Duncan - goal scorer for the team of late 1970s - Scottish International

Sub: Gordon Durie - Scottish International - early 1990s