England Match No. 292 - Wales - 10 November 1954 (original) (raw)

"BENTLEY HAT-TRICK BEATS WALES" Daily Mirror

Officials from Scotland	England Party	UK ruling on substitutes	Wales
Referee (black) Charles Edward Faultless 46 (5 March 1908), Glasgow.	Teams were presented to the Guest of Honour, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, KG.
flame flag Linesmen orange flag
George Levack Kirkcaldy	James Frater Darvel

England Team

Rank	No official ranking system established; ELO rating 5th	Colours	The 1954 Umbro home uniform -White v-necked short-sleeved continental jerseys, blue shorts, black socks with white tops.
P first of 43, W 1 - D 0 - L 0 - F 3 - A 2.
Captain	Billy Wright	Manager	Walter Winterbottom, 41 (31 March 1913),appointed as FA national director of coaching/team manager on 8 July 1946;
record 48th of 90, W 28 - D 9 - L 11 - F 118 - A 76.	P 66th of 139, W 41 - D 13 - L 12 - F 192 - A 97,one abandoned.
	³	Team chosen by Selection Committee , headed by Harold Shentall, on Sunday, 7 November.
England Lineup
	seven changes to the previous match (Wood, Byrne, Wright & Matthews remain)	league position (7 November)
	Wood, Raymond E.	23_152 days_	11 June 1931	G	Manchester United FC (FL 3rd)	2	2ᵍᵃ
2	Staniforth, Ronald	30*211 days*	13 April 1924	RB	Huddersfield Town AFC (FL 6th)	7	0
3******	Byrne, Roger W.	25_63 days_	8 September 1929	LB	Manchester United FC (FL 3rd)	8	0
4	Phillips, Leonard H.	32_60 days_	11 September 1922	RHB	Portsmouth FC (FL 4th)	2	0
5	Wright, William A.	30_277 days_	6 February 1924	CHB	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL TOP)	63	3
most apps 1952-54
741	6	Slater, William J.	27_195 days_	29 April 1927	LHB	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL TOP)	1	0
the 24th Wanderer to represent England
7****	Matthews, Stanley	39*282 days*	1 February 1915	OR	Blackpool FC (FL 19th)	40	9
oldest outfield player	the fourth & oldestplayer to reach the 40-app milestone
8	Bentley, T.F. Roy	30*177 days*	17 May 1924	IR	Chelsea FC (FL 12th)	9	6
	the 173rd (40th post-war) brace, the 47th (10th post-war) hattrick scored
9****	Allen, Ronald	25*299 days*	15 January 1929	CF	West Bromwich Albion FC (FL 11th)	4	1
10	Shackleton, Leonard F.	32*191 days*	3 May 1922	IL	Sunderland AFC (FL 2nd)	4	0
742	11	Blunstone, Frank	20*24 days*	17 October 1934	OL	Chelsea FC (FL 12th)	1	0
the 16th Chelsea player to represent England
reserve:	Bill McGarry (Huddersfield Town FC (FL 6th))
team changes:	Nat Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers FC (FL 9th)) was named as the original centre-forward, with Ronnie Allen at outside-left. The unused Blunstone was called into the team two days previously, with Allen reverting to his natural forward berth.
team notes:	Bill Slater and Frank Blunstone become Winterbottom's 90th and 91st players that he has fielded.
records:	This is the first time that an England hattrick has solely contributed to England's victory.

2-3-5	Wood - Staniforth, Byrne -Phillips, Wright, Slater - Matthews, Bentley, Allen, Shackleton, Blunstone.
Averages:	Age	28 years 344 days	Appearances/Goals	12.8	1.5

****Wales Team

Rank	No official ranking system established; ELO rating 32nd	Colours	Made by Umbro -Red jerseys with white collars/cuffs, white shorts with red side stripe, red socks with white tops.
Captain	Alf Sherwood	Selection	International Selection Committee, consisting of nine men, team chosen on Tuesday, 2 November 1954
**** Wales Lineup**
	King, John	20*346 days*	29 November 1933	G	Swansea Town FC	1	3ᵍᵃ
2	Williams, Stuart G.	24*124 days*	9 July 1930	RB	West Bromwich Albion FC, England	2	0
3	Sherwood, Alfred T.	30*362 days*	13 November 1923	LB	Cardiff City FC	34	0
4	Paul, Roy	34_206 days_	18 April 1920	RHB	Manchester City FC, England	29	1
5	Daniel, W. Raymond, injured off 37th min. Returned 47th min.	26*8 days*	2 November 1928	CHB	Sunderland AFC, England	16	0
6	Sullivan, Derrick, injured off 40th min., returned for 2nd half.	24*92 days*	10 August 1930	LHB	Cardiff City FC	5	0
7	Tapscott, Derek.R	22_133 days_	30 June 1932	OR	Arsenal FC, England	4	0
8	Ford, Trevor	31*40 days*	1 October 1923	IR	Cardiff City FC	32	22
mst goals
9	Charles, W.John	22_318 days_	27 December 1931	CF	Leeds United AFC, England	12	7
10******	Allchurch, Ivor J.	24_329 days_	16 December 1929	IL	Swansea Town FC	20	8
11	Clarke, Royston J.	29_162 days_	1 June 1925	OL	Manchester City FC, England	21	4
reserve:	Mel Charles (Swansea Town FC)
team notes:	Ray Daniel went off the field with a cut over his right eye. Derrick Sullivan was stretchered off with concussion.

2-3-5	King -Williams, Sherwood -Paul, Daniel, Sullivan - Tapscott, Ford, Charles, Allchurch, Clarke
Averages:	Age	26 years 194 days	Appearances/Goals	16.0	3.6
Sunderland AFC have the unusual distinction of providing a player for each of the home nations over this matchday, with the appearance of Ray Daniel for Wales and Len Shackleton for England, Billy Bingham played for Ireland and Willie Fraser for Scotland.

Match Report by Mike Payne

What a difference a month makes! After their abysmal performance in Belfast, England came back to Wembley to produce a tremendous display which augered well for the future. It was a stirring game from start to finish which built up a thrilling climax with England's late flurry deciding the issue.

On a dismal, rain-soaked November day, the two sides served up some lovely football. Wales contributed much to the game and can consider themselves unlucky not to gain some reward out of it. Over 91,000 people soaked up the atmosphere — and the rain — and they really enjoyed this game.

England soon moved into a smooth rhythm. With some much improved passing they put together some sparkling moves and, but for Ronnie Allen missing a couple of chances, might have taken the lead. As it was, Wales were to do just that in the 35th minute.

Ford, who sold a clever dummy to Billy Wright, allowed the ball to run on to Allchurch. The inside-forward hit a low cross into the middle which Ray Wood failed to cut out. Before anyone could clear the danger, the mighty Charles roared in to score. The Welsh number-nine was magnificent and his duel with Wright was probably the highlight of the game. To the England skipper's credit he contained him well, calling upon all his skill and experience.

Despite the Welsh lead, England continued with their excellent football. The visiting defenders held on doggedly, though, and at half-time they still had their lead.

England's new inspiration was coming from their wing-halves. Len Phillips and Bill Slater gave fine performances with Phillips always seeming to have that extra yard on the ball. Having played so badly in Belfast, it was also heartening to see the forwards play with so much conviction. Although they missed chances, they all contributed well with Stanley Matthews, Frank Blunstone and Len Shackleton particularly impressive.

Both goalkeepers made fingertip saves as the game continued after the break and it was obvious that England's pressure must bring its rewards. It came with 20 minutes left. Good work by Shackleton and Blunstone gave Matthews the chance to run at Sullivan. A typical burst by the mercurial winger ended with a lovely cross which Roy Bentley outjumped him to head in England in front.

Wales were down but by no means out and a few moments later their fans went wild when they saw Charles once again emphasise his power. This time he declined the obvious pass to Tapscott and elected to swivel and fire in a thunderous shot low past the startled Wood from the edge of the box to make it 2-2.

England were not to be denied, though, and just before the end Phillips found Blunstone with a pass and the winger, capped a promising debut to send a fine low centre into the middle where, once again, Bentley's strength saw him run the ball into the net. The England number-eight thus completed a memorable hat-trick.

Although Ford and Allchurch only just failed with shots at the other end before the final whistle, England had won an excellent victory. To the lasting pleasure of their fans it was the way their team played that was more important. Their football, at times, was a delight.

Match Report by Norman Giller

Roy Bentley, at last forgiven for his part in the 1950 World Cup humiliation against the United States, celebrated his recall by sinking Wales with a hat-trick. Two of his goals came from headers at the far post after he had exchanged passes with Matthews. John Charles, leading the Welsh attack with fire and flair, scored twice to bring the scores level at 2-2 before Bentley completed his hat-trick two minutes from the end of a thrilling match played on a rain-saturated Wembley surface. Bentley's Chelsea team-mate Frank Blunstone made his England debut on the left wing and Bill Slater played alongside his Wolves skipper Billy Wright in his first international match. The duel between John Charles and Billy Wright was worth the admission money on its own. Two great and talented competitors locked in a struggle for supremacy. Charles won on points, but it would have been a knockout against any other England centre-half that the selectors had tried since the Neil Franklin fiasco. Wright managed to shut the big man out for most of the match, but he took the two chances that came his way in dynamic style.

Match Report by Glen Isherwood

England, the reigning British Champions, had already beaten Northern Ireland 2-0 at Windsor Park. Wales had lost 1-0 to Scotland at Ninian Park and, as in 1952, had to avoid defeat to retain their interest in the Championship.
They took the lead when a cross by Allchurch was converted by John Charles. Wales held this until 20 minutes to go when Roy Bentley headed in from Matthews' centre. Four minutes later King misjudged Byrne's cross and Bentley scored again. Wales took less than a minute to draw level with a clever piece of skill from Charles as he turned swiftly to send a low drive past Wood. England took the points, however, when Blunstone crossed and Bentley came charging in to complete his hat-trick.
Wales avoided finishing bottom by defeating Northern Ireland 3-2 at Windsor Park. England and Scotland were once again left to decide the destiny of the British Championship. The following season Wales beat England for the first time since the war.

Match Report as appears in the F.A. Yearbook 1955-56 pages 26-27

For this match at Wembley on November 10th, England completely remodelled her side. In every way it was a memorable afternoon: exciting, dramatic, and occasionally glimpses of really first-class football. England did well to win, though one could not yet say they were a 'complete' team.
Wales had the bad luck to lose two players through injury shortly before half-time; and although they were both back on the field five minutes after the interval, it was difficult to say how much these accidents affected their play. They certainly deserved their half-time lead of one goal to nil; what is more, they held it until 20 minutes from time. Then things really began to happen. Matthews laid on a perfect centre for Bentley to head an equalise; three minutes later the same player headed another one from a long pass by Byrne; one minute later Charles equalised for Wales; and eight minutes from the end Matthews again tied up the Welsh defenders and Bentley completed a noteworthy hat-trick to give England the narrow victory.

In Other News....

It was on 11 November 1954 that London County Council announced plans to build a National Youth and Sports Centre on the site of the Crystal Palace football pitch which had staged twenty FA Cup Finals and four internationals between England and Scotland before the first world war. It was to cost £2.9 million and featured a national athletics stadium, but it would be another ten years before it opened, in 1964.

Source Notes

| TheFA.com Original newspaper reports Wales' Complete Who's Who since 1946 The Complete Book of the British Charts Glen Isherwood's Wembley: The Complete Record | | Rothman's Yearbooks Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record Norman Giller, Football Author British Pathé Drew Herbertson, Scottish FA historian | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |