Ted Roberts
On this day (May 1st) back in 1948 Coventry City were being managed by Former Player Billy Frith (for his first stint as 'gaffer') and facing their last game of the Division Two season, at home to Derbyshire outfit Chesterfield Town. The 'Bantams' (as they were then nicknamed) were having a reasonable campaign in the second full post-war season and, though they had been mauled 6-2 in the Lion's Den at Millwall in London on April 24th had fought back four days later to win on their return to London, 2-0 at Fulham.
A crowd of 12,193 were present at Highfield Road hoping to see CCFC finish the season on the up. They were not disappointed as the Bantams ran out 3-0 winners over the 'Spireites', despite the slippery conditions, scoring all their goals in the first half. Future CCFC inside forward Tommy Capel was in the north Derbyshire side that day. Both (especially) at Forest and later at City he joined a successful left wing partnership with Colin Collindridge who, until his death a few years ago aged 98, was CCFPA's oldest member!
Fred Gardner
The home team's goals came as follows. First, after fourteen minutes City's Irish international winger Norman Lockhart forced a corner and Ted Roberts was able to head his corner home cleanly. Then, four minutes after the half-hour Ted tricked Norman Kirkham in the box, as Chesterfield 'keeper Ray Middleton left his goal, and passed unselfishly to Fred Gardner who shot easily into the empty net.
Finally, six minutes before the interval 'Plum' Warner outpaced Kirkham down the centre to shoot past 'keeper Ray Middleton. The 3-0 win was adequate compensation for City's high scoring defeat at Saltergate the previous mid December when the Bantams went down by the odd goal in seven!
Billy Frith 1947
Billy Frith's chosen XI that day was:-
Alf Wood; Harry Barratt & Dennis Tooze; Ron Cox, George Mason & Stan Smith; 'Plum' Warner, Alex McIntosh, Ted Roberts, Fred Gardner & Norman Lockhart
Ted, a long time prolific striker from 1936-52 for City, is the father of another CCFC No.9 Dudley Roberts (now a CCFPA member) who played for the Sky Blues in the 1960s.
Bob Brocklebank's Spireites XI lined up as follows:-
Ray Middleton; Stan Milburn & Norman Kirkman; Syd Goodfellow, Ken Booker & Peter Robinson; Arthur Hall, Bobby Southall, George Bradshaw, Tommy Capel & Harold Roberts Referee:- J.H.Parker (Macclesfield)
CCFC 1947-48
The Bantams finished this Division Two season firmly mid table. It was a tight league as only two point separated City in tentth place from Chesterfield Town in sixteenth and only seven points to twentieth placed Bury, the club that just escaped the drop. The relegated pair was Doncaster Rovers and bottom club Millwall.
City's close Midland rivals Birmingham took the title from runners up Newcastle United who were three points adrift.
Thanks to CCFPA's Mike Young for sourcing the images. Share Post