Matchday Memories: On This Day 1935 – City Score 7, Stun County In Home Starter & Start Title Hopes!

Harry Storer

On this day (7th September 1935), not far off ninety years ago, in CCFC’s Division Three South season of 1935-36 (when they eventually became Champions)  the ‘Bantams’ were facing their third fixture of the season, which had not started particularly auspiciously, under legendary manager Harry Storer. In their first two games ‘the Bantams’ (as they were nicknamed until the JH era in the sixties) had been beaten in their opener at Reading by the odd goal in three and drawn 2-2 in midweek at Millwall‘s Den. 

Les Jones

Today was their first game of the season at Highfield Road, Newport County were the opponents, and a pretty good crowd of 17,138 had turned out in the hopes of seeing CCFC’s first win. They, perhaps, were not quite expecting the size of the victory! The 7-1 scoreline became one the club’s best ever home wins though it was soon beaten later in the season (in November) when Crystal Palace were thrashed 8-1!

On this day, City’s scoring came from just three forwards, Clarrie Bourton (who bagged a hat-trick) and both Welsh international Les Jones and Scottish inside ‘Jock‘ Lauderdale got a couple each. Les scored CCFC’s opener after only ten minutes but signs of the goal avalanche to come were slow to appear. It wasn’t until just before the break, when ‘Jock’ scored two quickfire goals within a minute, that County’s resistance started to crumble.

A 3-0 half time lead gave the home team a good platform and early in the second period Clarrie started to exert his influence, netting in the 48th and 53rd minutes to put on ‘the Old Five’. The Welsh team’s Billy Thomas scored on the hour to give County a brief respite but it only took another ten minutes for Les to get his second and Clarrie completed his hat-trick, and a crushing City victory, on 74 minutes

City’s team that day was:-

Horace Pearson, Vic Brown, Charlie Bisby, Billy Frith, George Mason, Harry Boileau, George McNestry, ‘Jock’ Lauderdale, Clarrie Bourton, Les Jones and Arthur Fitton

Lewis Page‘s Ironsides XI lined up as follows:-

Arthur Briggs, Eddie Jenkins, Jimmy Kelso, Tom Helsby, Joe Craven, Billy Burgess, Tommy Green, Bobby McKay, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Parle and Billy Thomas           

Referee:- A.Horwood (Walton on Thames)

Clarrie the CCFC goal machine

Irresistable City got the ‘Old Five’ again at Highfield Road in mid-week tanning Millwall in the return by 5-0!  However, the Welsh side eventually got their league revenge in City’s first game of 1936 on January 4th beating the Bantams 2-1. City’s goal was scored by, guess who, Clarrie Bourton?

Clarrie’s record total strike rate was 180 in 241 first team outings (1931-38) whilst Les scored 74 goals in his 145 CCFC first team appearances (1933-38) before being transferred to Arsenal. On their way to the Division Three South title in 1935-36  they won 24 out of their 42 games, racking up big scores at home and only losing once at HR (but that was to come in December). The free scoring side scored three or more eighteen times during the season and scored ‘The Old Five’ or more on seven occasions in clocking up their 108 league goals).

CCFC 1935-36

The Sky Blues gained their Division Three South title (and promotion) by a single point from Luton Town. Down at the bottom Newport County finished next to bottom with only 22nd placed Exeter City beneath them as companions in misery. Both were forced to re-apply for entry into the Football League and both were voted back!

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