Matchday Memories: On This Day 1958 – ‘Toffee’ Straw Nods Two To Nail Northampton

Billy Frith- Manager 1959

The ‘Bantams’, as CCFC were known in the pre Jimmy Hill days, were playing in the old Division Four in 1958-59. They had arrived in the new fourth tier as a result of finishing in the bottom half of the Third Division South the previous season prior to re-organisation. Just as in 2017-18 when the Sky Blues managed to get straight out of the fourth tier (currently League Two) at the first attempt, this time they also got promoted without finishing in the top spot!

Ray ‘Toffee’ Straw

JH‘s predecessor, former CCFC wing half Billy Frith was managing CCFC this season (in his second spell in the hot seat) and after a disappointing winless first three games started to ensure his teams got the measure of the opposition at this level. The club’s goals mainly came from Ilkeston born former miner and ex Derby County inside forward Ray Straw and successive centre forwards, Bristol City signing Jimmy Rogers and his December replacement Scot George Stewart (signed from Accrington Stanley). Ray got thirty League and Cup goals for City this season, Jim fourteen and George fifteen out of the club’s 92 goals netted.

Sports Argus Report of the game

On this day (18th October) in 1958 local rivals Northampton Town were the visitors to Highfield Road and a bumper crowd of 22,281 turned out to see them. Apart from a 1-2 home loss to fellow promotion challengers Carlisle United at the end of September the Bantams were undefeated in Coventry with six wins out of eight and this game went with the form book as Frith’s men defeated the Cobblers by two clear goals, and it was Ray ‘Toffee’ Straw who got both with a brace of headers on 58 and 62 minutes!

By the end of the season that Carlisle United defeat was the only time the Bantam’s colours were lowered on home soil as the club got immediate promotion to Division Three by achieving runners up spot. Ray ended up making 158 first team appearances for CCFC scoring a massive 87 goals in the process over his four seasons with CCFC. When Ray started out in the new Division Three in 1958-59 he became the first player in the country to play in all six divisions of the English League each side of restructuring, with the Rams (i.e Divisions 1, 2, 3 North) and CCFC (Division 3 South, 4 and Division Three)! Ray eventually moved to Mansfield Town in close season 1961 finishing off in non league football with Lockheed (AP) Leamington two years later.

For the record the Bantams team that October day was (those that later joined CCFPA are underlined):-

Alf Wood*, Roy Kirk*, Lol Harvey*, Brian Nicholas*, George Curtis*, Mick Kearns, Peter Hill*, Ray Straw*, Jimmy Rogers*, Reg Ryan* and Ken Satchwell*.

Barry Hawkings in action

George and Mick rode JH’s ‘Sky Blue Express’ all the way to Division One and George became Sky Blue Manager and enjoyed the club’s 1987 F.A.Cup success at Wembley. Sadly, nearly all of these CCFC veterans (most recently the ‘Iron Man’ and Brian) have since passed away (*) but we are pleased to say that Mick is an active member as was Brian until his death, being a regular at Sky Blues home games up until the COVID emergency!

The Cobblers lined up:-

Reg Elvey, Jimmy Bannister, Ron Patterson, Ray Yeoman, Ben Collins, Roly Mills, Barry Hawkings, Kevin Baron, Ollie Norris, Alan Woan and Tommy Fowler.

CCFPA member (the late) Barry Hawkings who played in the forward line of the Cobblers’ team also played for Coventry City earlier in the 1950s. The Bantams finished the season with only one home defeat all season!

CCFC 1959-60

Northampton Town’s County ground (which also doubled as the County cricket pitch in summer months) was often a difficult place to visit for the Bantams and it was no exception this season as they walloped us 4-0 there in early March! In the end,they finished eighth in Division Four as the Bantams waved this bottom league ‘goodbye’! 

Champions Port Vale, York City (who were third on goal difference to City) and fourth placed Shrewsbury Town were all promoted. Down at the other end of the table (in descending order) Oldham Athletic, Aldershot, Barrow and Southport all were forced to seek (successfully) re-election to the FL.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.