On this day (17th May 1947), Coventry City were in Division Two, nearing the end of their second post-war ‘real’ season, and performing pretty well under Manager Dick Bayliss. On this day seventy-five years ago, with three games remaining and undefeated in their past four D2 games, Dick selected a team to face Plymouth Argyle at Highfield Road, a week after the Bantams overcame East Midlands rivals Leicester City 3-1 at the same venue.
The winter of 1947 had been terrible, causing great inconvenience and many postponements, including this fixture originally. In October, the Bantams drew with the ‘Pilgrims’ in Devon, scoring four goals each. Argyle’s manager was Capt. Jack Tresarden! Today, CCFC won another home game, but only by a solitary penalty goal scored by inside-left Ted Roberts.
The game drew a large crowd of 16,713 to Coventry City’s home stadium. City had failed to obtain special League dispensation for Robinson ‘Bob’ Newsome (who had recently joined from West Bromwich Albion) to play in the game since he had been signed after the transfer window had closed. Also missing was defender Charlie Elliott, who had been released to play cricket for Derbyshire County Cricket Club after the football season had ended.
Though City were clearly missing their injured prolific No.9 George Lowrie, they were largely on top of the game and were awarded their penalty (for hands by the Pilgrims’ Pat Jones), which Ted easily converted, twenty minutes in. There were a number of interruptions for injuries, with players on both sides taken to the sidelines for periods of treatment. The 1-0 half-time lead remained until the end, though Argyle could have snatched an equalizer in the second half.
Coventry City’s lineup was as follows:
George Mason (captain), Don Dearson, Dennis Simpson, Fred Bett, Norman Smith, Ted Roberts, and Emilio Aldecoa.
Emilio was one of two Basque exiles (the other being Jose Bilbao) who were signed by the team after fleeing Spain in the late 1930s during the Civil War. He was ‘booked’ for this game! Ted’s son is Dudley Roberts, a CCFC forward who played for the Sky Blues in the 1960s (and was a CCFPA member until his recent death).
Plymouth Argyle’s line-up was as follows:
Bill Short, George Silk, Pat Jones, Jack Davis, Bob Warren, Alex Dyer, Syd Rawlings, Marcus Murphy, Dave Thomas, and Billy Strauss. Referee: L.E. Gibbs (Reading).
This season, the team finished a respectable ninth in Division Two. Manchester City were crowned champions, while Burnley finished second.
The Argyle finished nineteenth, four points ahead of the two relegated Welsh clubs, Swansea Town and Newport County.
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