HTAFC - Season 1965/66

[Deleted]

SEASON 1965 / 66 Saw Manchester City crowned as Second Division champions, with a second placed Southampton also gaining promotion to the top flight of English football, in a season that went right down to the wire.

Town finished 4th, just below Coventry City, only three points away from promotion. The final home game of the season against Coventry on the 7th May effectively ended Town's dream of promotion - so very very close!

Town made the 5th round of the FA cup, before losing to Sheffield Wednesday.

BOLTON - 7 SEP 65


MAN CITY - 9 OCT 65


CARLISLE - 4 DEC 65


SOUTHAMPTON - 8 JAN 66


HARTLEPOOL - 24 JAN 66





LEYTON ORIENT - 29 JAN 66


BRISTOL CITY - 19 FEB 66


CRYSTAL PALACE - 26 FEB 66


BIRMINGHAM - 15 MAR 66


CHARLTON - 19 MAR 66


NORWICH - 9 APR 66


PORTSMOUTH - 11 APR 66


BURY - 19 APR 66


CARDIFF - 23 APR 66


COVENTRY - 7 MAY 66

[Walton-on-the-Hill Terrier]

I'll start by commenting on the Hartlepool United FA Cup game. This was my first ever FA Cup game. It was played on a Monday night because the original game was postponed due to a frozen pitch. In those days in the FA Cup when there was a colour clash it was common for the home team to change strip, hence Town wore white shirts and black shorts.

Hartlepool were bottom of the league yet the game attracted over 24,500, about 10k above average league gates. Brian Clough was in his first managerial job.

I remember this as a classic Cup game. I also remember the Hartlepool's goalkeeper, John Simpkin, being a, er, large chap.

[Walton-on-the-Hill Terrier]

Coventry City was my first ever defeat. What a game to lose! The highlights were shown on MOTD with cameras behind the goal at the Open End.

[Deleted]

And here is that MOTD video - heartbreak for the Town.

[Christ in Shades (art)]

I like how they refer to it as a '4 pointer', it's a 6 pointer nowadays.

[Stewpot]

Jun 24, 2017 19:34:40 GMT 1 @stufoster said:

And here is that MOTD video - heartbreak for the Town.

Notice all the Town fans running on the track just after kick off, to get to the open end from the cowshed.

[Stewpot]

Got to know Allan Gilliver well when he took on steward/groundsman job at Brighouse Cricket Club in the 70's. Opened the batting for the 1st eleven in the Bradford League 1st division. He even joined our Sunday League football team with his best mate Bobby Ham. Sadly now not in the best of health, another unfortunate ex-player suffering with dementia.

[Michael Moon]

Thanks for this,fantastic to look back,it was a heartbreak as they say because Town had been near or at the top all season,as a 12 year old schoolboy I have great memories of that season especially as my boyhood hero was Tony Leighton,a family friend,what a smashing bloke!

[philincalifornia]

Jul 1, 2017 9:10:13 GMT 1 Michael Moon said:

Thanks for this,fantastic to look back,it was a heartbreak as they say because Town had been near or at the top all season,as a 12 year old schoolboy I have great memories of that season especially as my boyhood hero was Tony Leighton,a family friend,what a smashing bloke!

He was. After the 20th time I asked him for his autograph, he must have been thinking "Haven't I given this lad my autograph before?". Never stopped him though.

[septuagenarian]

Remember this season very well because it was so frustrating to miss out on promotion by losing the last two games after being 1st or 2nd for most of the season.  I attended the away match against Manchester City at New Year and there was a massive crowd, but unfortunately Town lost 0-2.  One of the goals was scored by Mick Doyle - a soaring header - and I can see it now! 

[Nickhudds.UTT]

Love these nostalgic threads.

[detox]

that was a great season...shame about the end but we had a good side there...