Saturday 4th January 1969
Fellows Park, Walsall
Ground Capacity:- 20,000
Kick Off:- 15:00
Entry Fee:- 2'- 6d (12 1/2p)
Programme:- 1'- (5p)
Venue #1
This wasn't my first visit to Fellows Park but it was my first big game there as it was a FA cup 3rd round match against first division opposition in the form of Tottenham Hotspur in fact they're only meeting in football league and cup history. I was only 8 years old at the time and not long being a regular at the ground, Walsall was the team of my parents they were Walsall born and bread and of course my Dad used to take me in those days. I did follow Walsall through the 70's and parts of the 80's but then developed a passion to visit other grounds and watch other teams.
Fellows Park isn't there now demolished to build a Morrisons superstore back in the early 90's and that was, for me, the end of my infatuation with the team but it had been dwindling for a while before.
I've never considered Bescot stadium the home of the team I once supported for me Walsall lost their identification since moving from Fellows park, so far as I'm concerned Walsall f.c. ceased to exist when the old ground was demolished and they moved half a mile away to play in Bescot.
It was a big part of my childhood spent most of every other Saturday there plus games in mid week, had some great times and some bad times as most football fans will be familiar with the various teams they support. It was the place where I took my now Wife of 28 years for our second date and was a defining moment in our relationship.
In 1988 when my Dad died the hearse passed the ground so they could both pay respects to one and other as Fellows park only had 2 more years left as the venue to entertain the towns footballing followers. If I could go back in time I would love to watch one last game there I really do miss the place it was a big part of my life for so many years.
MAIN STAND (Wallows lane)
The Wallows Lane stand or the Main stand as it's better known had the only seating at Fellows park it was a covered block of seats which straddled the half way line with terracing to either side and in front of the seating area. Called the Wallows Lane Stand after the road that ran behind it. This was the only part of the ground that I never went in to watch a match or just to look around.
THE POPULAR TERRACE
I've never heard of this title for this particular terracing for this side of the pitch to my family and friends and majority of Walsall fans of the time was called the Laundry terrace. When the Laundry was knocked down in 1960 and a small terrace built and called the Railway end because of the Walsall to Birmingham railway track running behind it. People didn't want to loose the name Laundry End and so called the Popular Terrace by the name. A partition was built so as two thirds of the terrace could be used by away supporters as this terrace was covered were the Railway end was not and so the visitors support had some cover from the weather.
My Mother worked in this terrace back in the 30's/40's as her Uncle ran the refreshment stall and my Mom used to serve tea here during games..
HILLARY STREET END (Street End)
Hillary street was the name of the ground from when Walsall first played there until the 1930's when it was renamed Fellows park after their director. This is where I watched most of the games at Fellows park from. On this particular occasion I was standing on the corner of the Hillary street end that adjoins the Popular terrace, I usually sat on the wall by the corner flag but couldn't get anywhere near this day with the vast crowd that was attending.
Hillary Street was the name of the street that ran behind the terrace it had a school that was attended by my Mother and 3 of my elder siblings back in their day. It was the main terrace for Walsall supporters although I have known this end given to away supporters with a large following such as Manchester United back in 1975 for a replay 3rd round FA cup tie. We were put in the Railway end but after about half a hour of the gates opening we were spilling over the wall and marched into the Hillary street end which was mainly empty. Great night Walsall won 3-2 and went on to beat Newcastle in the 4th round.
RAILWAY END
As I've mentioned earlier this was known as the Laundry End up until 1960 as it had a Laundry and a big partitioning wall built at the back of the goal. Spectators weren't allowed to watch the game here until the Laundry and wall was knocked down and a small terrace was built and called the Railway end for obvious reasons.
There have been some great events happen at this end especially around the time of this match for Walsall had a player who had a tremendous powerful shot with his left peg Colin "Canonball" Taylor a left winger who signed for Walsall on three separate occasions. I remember one game against Shrewsbury and Walsall were awarded a penalty at the Railway end and Taylor placed the ball to take. I swear you could hear the Shrews keepers knees knocking in the Street end as Taylor's reputation was known throughout the leagues. Taylor ran up to hit the ball and the Shrewsbury keeper dropped to the floor to get out the way as Canonball Taylor struck the ball through the net and over onto the railway track and this was an old fashioned laced up case ball not the light plastic efforts they play with today.
WALSALL ... 0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR ... 1
Once again faced by opposition from a higher league Walsall raised their game to an almost unparalleled degree in the third round of the F.A cup at Fellows Park on Saturday before going down to Tottenham Hotspur by a solitary goal scored by that prince of marksmen Jimmy Greaves.
The irony of it was that the goal should appear so simple and should follow a move in which Walsall had almost taken what would have been a deserved lead.
Tommy Watson cut inside just as the Spurs defenders were advancing up field to apply their offside trap. For once it failed and Watson on his day the fastest man afield went racing down the middle.
In his anxiety to make sure he took the ball that little bit too far forward, against a goalkeeper with an almost unbelievable reach and gigantic hands. When Watson did decide to shoot the ball was smothered and it was from Jennings clearance that Spurs scored the only goal of the game 15 minutes from the end.
The ball found the head of centre forward Mike England wandering out on the left. He glanced the ball inside where right winger Jenkins was waiting. Jenkins who had otherwise spent an undistinguished afternoon swayed past the ball taking two defenders with him and leaving Greaves on his own 12 yards out to strike the ball past a despondent Bob Wesson in the Walsall goal.
Spurs like the England side that won the world cup are wingless these days and relied on the tall Mike England centre half turned forward for the day to create their attacking movements, only once was he able to turn his heading ability to good accounts but it was enough to sink gallant Walsall.
Walsall created far more chances than their visitors and in the first half Jennings smothered a Watson shot, McMorron shot only a foot over the bar and right on the interval Beal kicked away when Jennings dropped the ball after being challenged by Watson.
Kinnear lost the ball to Wilson just 8 minutes after the restart but Jennings spotted the danger and came right to the edge of the penalty area in an ungainly sprawl to prevent the ball getting into the goalmouth.
The best move of the match came in the 62nd minute when Wilson gained possession on the touchline nearly on the half-way mark. Cutting in swiftly the home centre forward beat 3 men including goalkeeper Jennings before sliding the ball towards goal. Kinnear atoned for his earlier error by coming across to clear the danger.
In the 70th minute Jennings went down to save a great shot from Morris. Five minutes later after Watson had failed to beat Jennings came the Spurs winner and the end of Walsall's cup glory for another year. Beaten but certainly not disgraced.
MATCH DETAILS
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