1957: goal gluts and tragedies
Goal gluts, broken bones and assassinations – cup finals in the late ’50s were lively affairs
GOALS GALORE
For the first time since 1931-32, all four divisional champions net more than 100 goals. Third Division North winners Derby rack up 111, while Ted Phillips (above) nets a club-record 46 as southern victors Ipswich seal top spot under manager Alf Ramsey.
THE MAGICAL TRIO
Without a Scudetto win since 1952, Juventus president Umberto Agnelli breaks the world transfer record when he agrees to pay River Plate £93,000 for striker Omar Sivori in May. He is joined by Leeds forward John Charles, the pair linking up with Giampiero Boniperti to form the ‘Magical Trio’. Three Serie A titles and two Italian Cups in four seasons follow.
THAT’S SOME CHEEK
Aston Villa winger Peter Mcparland’s collision with Ray Wood in May’s FA Cup final leaves the Manchester United keeper unconscious after breaking a cheekbone. With the FA refusing to allow substitutes, Jackie Blanchflower deputises in goal and Wood later reappears out on the wing, but a virtual passenger. It almost certainly costs the Red Devils the Double. Ouch.
TRAGEDY IN PARIS
Present at May’s Coupe de France final in Colombes is Ali Chekkal, the former vice-president of the Algerian Assembly. Opposed to independence from France, he watches Toulouse beat Angers 6-3, but is shot afterwards by Mohammed bin Sadok, an unemployed plumber. “I chose him as he was the last Muslim friend of the French,” says the assassin.
CELTIC’S HAMPDEN HAMMERING
Reigning Scottish champions Rangers are hot favourites to defeat Celtic in the League Cup final in October, but a Billy Mcphail hat-trick inflicts a Bhoys hammering. Celtic supporters will sing: “Oh Hampden in the sun, Celtic 7 Rangers 1,” for years to come, commemorating what remains the largest winning margin in any British cup final and the Gers’ heaviest League Cup drubbing.
JIMMY’S JOY
Jimmy Greaves scores on his Chelsea debut in a 1-1 August draw with Spurs. The 17-year-old’s strike – which comes to typify many of the 356 First Division goals that will follow – is a simple tap-in from short range.
“GOOD GAME, LADS”
Miguel Munoz and Roger Byrne shake hands before Real Madrid beat Manchester United 5-3 on aggregate to reach the European Cup final. The Red Devils defied an FA order not to take part in the tournament, while Madrid were only back in because Saarland had reunified with West Germany.