1953–54 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

The 1953–54 season was the 55th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. They played in the First Division, then the highest level of English football.

Wolverhampton Wanderers
1953–54 season
ChairmanJimmy Baker
ManagerStan Cullis
First Division1st (1st title)
FA Cup3rd Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Dennis Wilshaw (25)
All: Dennis Wilshaw (26)
Highest home attendance56,590 (vs West Bromwich, 14 November 1953)
Lowest home attendance19,617 (vs Bolton Wanderers, 23 March 1954)
Average home league attendance36,340 (league only)

The season was a major success as the team won the League championship for the first time in their history, pipping local rivals West Bromwich Albion. Winning the title was a breakthrough for the club after three times previously finishing runners-up.

Season review

After an opening day mauling away at Burnley, the team found its feet and enjoyed a run of five successive wins to reach second place. The table was led by their Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion. Both teams kept up a relentless pace before Christmas, with Wolves producing a run that brought 31 points out of a possible 36, including defeating West Brom 1–0. At the halfway mark only Burnley and newly promoted Huddersfield Town were managing to keep pace with the top two.

Defeat in their Christmas fixture against Aston Villa lost Wolves the top spot they had gained for the first time a week earlier. The start of 1954 brought an instant exit from the FA Cup at the hands of fellow Midlanders Birmingham City, but also saw them return to the top of the table. A run of three defeats in four though – including the end of their 11-game unbeaten away record (a club record) – allowed West Brom to regain top spot.

While March saw Wolves suffer further defeats, their main rival's form proved even worse. A second Black Country derby victory for Wolves against them in early April brought them level on points at the summit, second only on goal average with only five games remaining. Wolves then claimed top spot for the first time since early January the following week after thrashing Charlton 5–0.

The Easter period proved the pivotal twist in the title race. A 4–0 thumping of Huddersfield gave Wolves' goal average a further boost, while West Brom were held to a draw by Aston Villa. As was then traditional, the fixtures were reversed the following day, with decisive results. Although both title chasers lost, West Brom's 1–6 hammering at Villa Park left their goal average far short of Wolves' with just a single game to play.

Only a huge loss for Wolves coupled with a big win for Albion could alter the outcome of the championship on the final day. In the event, neither happened, Albion went down to defeat at Portsmouth, while Wolves' 2–0 victory over Tottenham confirmed their first ever league championship.

Results

Football League First Division
See also: 1953–54 Football League

A total of 22 teams competed in the First Division in the 1953–54 season. Each team would play every other team twice, once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Two points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats.

19 August 1953 1Burnley4–1Wolverhampton WanderersBurnley
18:30 BST Shannon  62', 86'
Holden  64'
Pilkington  70'		 Swinbourne  2' Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 32,822
Referee: A. Holland
22 August 1953 2Manchester City0–4Wolverhampton WanderersManchester
15:00 BST Wilshaw  18'
Slater  36'
Swinbourne  56', 83'		 Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 22,729
Referee: A. Murdoch
26 August 1953 3Sunderland3–2Wolverhampton WanderersSunderland
18:30 BST T. Wright  18'
Shackleton  26'
Ford  52'		 Hancocks  63' (pen.)
Wilshaw  81'		 Stadium: Roker Park
Attendance: 57,135
Referee: T. L. Wood
29 August 1953 4Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Cardiff CityWolverhampton
15:00 BST Wilshaw  34'
Mullen  38'
Hancocks  39' (pen.)		 Grant  13' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 33,221
Referee: W. H. Clapton
31 August 1953 5Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1SunderlandWolverhampton
18:15 BST Wilshaw  35'
Mullen  68'
Swinbourne  70'		 T. Wright  2' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 41,442
Referee: T. L. Wood
5 September 1953 6Arsenal2–3Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
15:00 BST Roper  25'
Holton  41'		 Broadbent  22'
Wilshaw  33'
Hancocks  88'		 Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 60,460
Referee: G. Gibson
7 September 1953 7Wolverhampton Wanderers2–1LiverpoolWolverhampton
18:00 BST Swinbourne  44'
Broadbent  88'		 Jackson  87' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 35,701
Referee: K. A. Collinge
12 September 1953 8Wolverhampton Wanderers4–3PortsmouthWolverhampton
15:00 BST Wilshaw  2', 3', 37'
Swinbourne  86'		 Gordon  7', 48'
Harris  44'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 36,524
Referee: N. C. Taylor
16 September 1953 9Liverpool1–1Wolverhampton WanderersLiverpool
17:45 BST Jones  69' Wilshaw  40' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 29,848
Referee: K. A. Collinge
19 September 1953 10Blackpool0–0Wolverhampton WanderersBlackpool
15:00 BST Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 35,074
Referee: J. V. Sherlock
26 September 1953 11Wolverhampton Wanderers8–1ChelseaWolverhampton
15:00 BST Hancocks  3' (pen.)
Wilshaw  48'
Swinbourne  61', 79'
Broadbent  71'
Mullen  86'		 Bentley  76' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 36,134
Referee: J. H. Clough
3 October 1953 12Sheffield United3–3Wolverhampton WanderersSheffield
15:00 BST Ringstead  19', 48'
Bottom  27'		 Hancocks  10'
Wilshaw  31'
Swinbourne  84'		 Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 35,961
Referee: F. S. Flander
10 October 1953 13Newcastle United1–2Wolverhampton WanderersNewcastle
15:00 GMT Mulgrew  7' Smith  81'
Swinbourne  88'		 Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 39,913
Referee: F. Thurman
17 October 1953 14Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Manchester UnitedWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Hancocks  16' (pen.)
Broadbent  43'
Swinbourne  72'		 Taylor  30' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 40,084
Referee: L. A. Brown
24 October 1953 15Bolton Wanderers1–1Wolverhampton WanderersBolton
15:00 GMT Moir  44' Hancocks  26' Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 40,027
Referee: W. Ratcliffe
31 October 1953 16Wolverhampton Wanderers1–0Preston North EndWolverhampton
14:45 GMT Wilshaw  55' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 34,211
Referee: A. W. Luty
7 November 1953 17Middlesbrough3–3Wolverhampton WanderersMiddlesbrough
14:30 GMT Fitzsimons  22'
McPherson  56'
Hartnett  73'		 Swinbourne  16'
Hancocks  43'
Wilshaw  86'		 Stadium: Ayresome Park
Attendance: 24,284
Referee: R. P. Hartley
14 November 1953 18Wolverhampton Wanderers1–0West Bromwich AlbionWolverhampton
14:30 GMT Mullen  4' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 56,590
Referee: F. Cowen
21 November 1953 19Charlton Athletic0–2Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
14:15 GMT Broadbent  24'
Hancocks  54'		 Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 35,595
Referee: A. A. Howlett
28 November 1953 20Wolverhampton Wanderers4–1Sheffield WednesdayWolverhampton
14:15 GMT Wilshaw  12'
Hancocks  40' (pen.)
Swinbourne  49', 80'		 Woodhead  6' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 35,154
Referee: J. H. Clough
5 December 1953 21Tottenham Hotspur2–3Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
14:15 GMT Bennett  26'
Duquemin  59'		 Wilshaw  53'
Broadbent  54'
Hancocks  78'		 Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 48,164
Referee: S. V. Davis
12 December 1953 22Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2BurnleyWolverhampton
14:15 GMT Hancocks  84' Holden  32', 54' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 35,043
Referee: A. Holland
19 December 1953 23Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Manchester CityWolverhampton
14:15 GMT Hancocks  36' (pen.)
Wilshaw  62'		 Davies  26' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,606
Referee: A. Murdoch
24 December 1953 24Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2Aston VillaWolverhampton
14:15 GMT Wilshaw  22' Dixon  55'
McParland  80'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 40,536
Referee: J. McCann
26 December 1953 25Aston Villa1–2Wolverhampton WanderersBirmingham
14:15 GMT Thompson  28' Hancocks  31'
Wilshaw  88'		 Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 49,123
Referee: J. McCann
2 January 1954 26Cardiff City1–3Wolverhampton WanderersCardiff
14:30 GMT Nugent  59' Swinbourne  20'
Wilshaw  37'
Hancocks  82'		 Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 47,113
Referee: W. H. Clapton
16 January 1954 27Wolverhampton Wanderers0–2ArsenalWolverhampton
14:45 GMT Logie  9'
Lishman  85'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 45,974
Referee: G. Gibson
23 January 1954 28Portsmouth2–0Wolverhampton WanderersPortsmouth
14:45 GMT Dickinson  8'
Reid  63'		 Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 35,312
Referee: N. C. Taylor
6 February 1954 29Wolverhampton Wanderers4–1BlackpoolWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Hancocks  17'
Swinbourne  54', 84', 85'		 Stephenson  69' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,795
Referee: J. V. Sherlock
13 February 1954 30Chelsea4–2Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
15:00 GMT Bentley  1', 69'
Parsons  9'
Stubbs  62'		 Swinbourne  19'
Wilshaw  64'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 60,289
Referee: J. H. Clough
20 February 1954 31Wolverhampton Wanderers6–1Sheffield UnitedWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Swinbourne  33', 44'
Hancocks  46', 66'
Broadbent  84'
Wilshaw  89'		 Cross  86' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,823
Referee: F. S. Fiander
27 February 1954 32Wolverhampton Wanderers3–2Newcastle UnitedWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Broadbent  4'
Wilshaw  20'
Slater  86'		 Milburn  80'
Broadis  84'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 38,592
Referee: F. Thurman
6 March 1954 33Manchester United1–0Wolverhampton WanderersManchester
15:00 GMT Berry  84' Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 40,774
Referee: A. Brown
20 March 1954 34Preston North End0–1Wolverhampton WanderersPreston
15:00 GMT Wilshaw  80' Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 28,857
Referee: A. W. Luty
24 March 1954 35Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1Bolton WanderersWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Broadbent  42' Lofthouse  10' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 19,617
Referee: W. Ratcliffe
27 March 1954 36Wolverhampton Wanderers2–4MiddlesbroughWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Broadbent  73', 78' Watkin  3'
McPherson  12', 88'
Delapenha  34' (pen.)		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 29,145
Referee: R. P. Hartley
10 April 1954 38Wolverhampton Wanderers5–0Charlton AthleticWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Hancocks  7', 70'
Wilshaw  12'
Mullen  53', 59'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 35,028
Referee: A. A. Howlett
17 April 1954 39Sheffield Wednesday0–0Wolverhampton WanderersSheffield
15:00 BST Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 40,707
Referee: J. H. Clough
19 April 1954 40Wolverhampton Wanderers4–0Huddersfield TownWolverhampton
15:00 BST Mullen  2'
Hancocks  34'
Broadbent  86'
Wilshaw  89'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 42,862
Referee: W. J. Gaiger
20 April 1954 41Huddersfield Town2–1Wolverhampton WanderersHuddersfield
15:00 BST Glazzard  4'
McGarry  63'		 Wilshaw  43' Stadium: Leeds Road
Attendance: 35,814
Referee: W. J. Gaiger
24 April 1954 42Wolverhampton Wanderers2–0Tottenham HotspurWolverhampton
15:00 BST Swinbourne  18', 68' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 44,055
Referee: S. V. Davis
Final table
Pos Club Pld W D L F A GA Pts
1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 25 7 10 96 56 1.714 57
2 West Bromwich Albion 42 22 9 11 86 63 1.365 53
3 Huddersfield Town 42 20 11 11 78 61 1.279 51
Results by round
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
ResultLWLWWWWWDDWDWWDWDWWWWLWLWWLLWLWWLWDLWWDWLW
Position151215954322333223222221211112222222222211111
Source:
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup
See also: 1953–54 FA Cup

As a First Division team, Wolves entered the competition at the third round stage. The draw for this round was made on 14 December 1953.

Players
Pos. Nationality Player Football League FA Cup Total
1  England Nigel Sims 8 1 9 0
2  England Jack Short 26 1 27 0
3  England Roy Pritchard 27 1 28 0
4  England Bill Slater (footballer) 39 1 40 2
5  England Bill Shorthouse 40 1 41 0
6  England Billy Wright (c) 39 1 40 0
7  England Johnny Hancocks 42 1 43 24
8  England Ronnie Stockin 6 0 6 0
9  England Roy Swinbourne 40 1 41 24
10  England Dennis Wilshaw 39 1 40 26
11  England Jimmy Mullen 38 1 39 7
12  England Peter Broadbent 36 1 37 12
13  England Bert Williams 34 0 34 0
14  England Len Gibbons 1 0 1 0
15  England Norman Deeley 6 0 6 0
16  England Ray Chatham 1 0 1 0
17  Scotland Bill Baxter 5 0 5 0
18  England Ron Flowers 15 0 15 0
19  England Les Smith 4 0 4 1
20  England Bill Gutteridge 2 0 2 0
21  South Africa Eddie Stuart 12 0 12 0
22  England Eddie Clamp 2 0 2 0

Top scorer
P. Nationality Player Position Football League FA Cup Total
1  England Dennis Wilshaw Forward 25 1 26
2  England Johnny Hancocks Forward 24 0 24
3  England Roy Swinbourne Forward 24 0 24
4  England Peter Broadbent Midfielder 12 0 12
5  England Jimmy Mullen Midfielder 7 0 7

Most appearances
P. Nationality Player Position Football League FA Cup Total
1  England Johnny Hancocks Forward 42 1 43
2  England Bill Shorthouse Defender 40 1 41
3  England Roy Swinbourne Forward 40 1 41
4  England Bill Slater Defender 39 1 40
5  England Dennis Wilshaw Forward 39 1 40

Transfers

In
Date Player From
November 1953 Bill BaxterAston Villa

Out
Date Player To
January 1954 Ray ChathamNotts County
gollark: Oh, never mind, I have access, it's just very jittery.
gollark: Also, I can't access the server AutoBotRobot runs on any more.
gollark: Hmm. I suspect that my patch to make ++choose ignore excessively large numbers *may* have failed.
gollark: Well then use it??!??!?!?!
gollark: What?
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.