50 Years Ago Today: Historic match 27th December 1965

[pjdaly]

50 years have today passed by since I attended one of the most bizarre, not to mention historic, matches I have witnessed at Holker Street.

This was the day that Bob Knox went into the football record books for the second time. Substitutes had been permitted for the first time at the outset of the 1965-66 season and on the first day of that season Bob scored in a 4-2 home win against Wrexham on 21-8-65, thus becoming the first substitute to score a goal. Not content with that (and although it is not specified in the following match report) Bob became the first substitute to go in goals and save a penalty in the fixture against Doncaster Rovers at Holker Street on 27-12-65. Bob’s save came at the Steelworks End (Crossbar End) and I can see it now in my mind’s eye as he dived low to his right to stop Alick Jeffrey’s spot-kick. I was behind the wall at the other end, the Holker Street end, and it didn’t appear from where I was that the penalty was well struck but Bob, a mere 19 years of age at the time, still had to get down sharpish to save it.

If that were not enough, both teams’ goalkeepers were carted off the field during the match and I don’t think I have witnessed that at another Barrow match before or since. What’s more, all three goals came in the first ten minutes and were scored against the regular ‘keepers. When each substitute ‘keeper came on they endeavoured to keep clean-sheets against their own names.

This was really a delayed Boxing Day match for if I recall correctly football was never played on a Sunday in those days so it was actually played on the Bank Holiday Monday afternoon of 27th December 1965. Doncaster went on to win the 4th Division title that season yet we not only won the match at Holker Street but proceeded just over 24 hours later (on the Tuesday night of 28th December 1965) to draw with them 1-1 in the Christmas return match at Belle Vue. Bob Tait scored our goal in that match. It was virtually the same team that turned out that next day with the only change being the return of regular first-choice ‘keeper Lance Millard. All 10 outfield players were the same for both days.

Barrow ended the 1965-66 season in 12th position which was a marked improvement on the struggles of preceding seasons. Little did we know at that time just how much Barrow were on the up and that the following season, with the canny additions of Fred Else, Eric Harrison, Billy McAdams and Tony Field, 1966-67 would go on to be Barrow’s biggest accomplishment in their history with promotion into the 3rd flight of English football.

The following is the Evening Mail match report:

BARROW 2 DONCASTER ROVERS 1, Monday 27th December 1965
By Bob Herbert (Evening Mail Tuesday 28th December 1965)

During jesting on trips to away games, part-timer Bob Knox has repeatedly told his Barrow AFC colleagues that he was waiting for his chance to play in goal. And while the other players appreciated that he was versatile, as far as being able to fill all the roles in a forward line, none of them imagined that his “utility” tag went as far as keeping goal. However, Bob had voiced his claims so often it was becoming something of a worn-out joke – but there was no joke about the performance he gave against Doncaster Rovers at Holker Street yesterday when he eventually got the chance to achieve his ambition. It was in unfortunate circumstances that his opportunity came with Lionel Duffin, back on first team duty after a lengthy absence, being carried off in the 34th minute with concussion following a collision with Doncaster leader Laurie Sheffield.

Bob made the most of his chance. He punched the ball away like a veteran ‘keeper when Rovers tried dangerous crosses and he was always covering with a safe pair of hands when they sent in drives.

He was extra smart in turning a crafty Alick Jeffrey lob over the top and crowned his performance in the 56th minute when he smothered a penalty taken by the one-time England Under-23 international.
It was a vital save, for a goal might have been the encouragement Doncaster needed. But it was only justice that the shot didn’t find the net for it was somewhat harshly given – against Keith Eddy for pushing.

However it was just one of the many peculiar decisions given by the referee who seemed determined to ruin what was a fairly good game in difficult conditions.

And while Knox stole the glory it was a fine team display that earned Barrow what was a rather unexpected victory after the way they had crashed to Barnsley in their previous match.

The rock-hard ground made ball-control difficult but the Barrow players overcame this problem more than their visitors and with a little more luck the final margin would have been something in the region of 5-1. Jim Mulholland was the main sufferer in this respect for in the second half – after Doncaster lost their ‘keeper Bob Dawson with a dislocated collar-bone after a 61st minute crash with Roy McCarthy – he sent in five shots that flashed across the goalmouth only to go inches outside the far post.

Wingers McCarthy and Brian Pilkington showed they had too much speed for the men covering them and they paved the way to both Barrow goals.

In the sixth minute, Pilkington’s free-kick was deflected by Mulholland for Eddy to steer it home and then two minutes later McCarthy got to a smart Eddy pass and Mick Hartland was in the middle to mark his return after a cartilage operation with a smartly taken goal.

Doncaster’s reply came two minutes later – with many spectators still queuing outside the ground. A free-kick was unjustly awarded against Brian Arrowsmith, who was booked just before half-time, and Sheffield got up to head Tony Coleman’s cross just under the bar.

Then Jimmy Mallon had to clear off the Barrow line but after that the home goal was never in danger for Doncaster’s attack was firmly kept in check.

So Barrow kept launching raids and wing-half Graham Ricketts, who took over in goal, found himself with plenty to do although he kept a clean sheet.

Barrow:
Duffin, Mallon, Edwards, Eddy, Arrowsmith, Smith, McCarthy, Tait, Mulholland, Hartland, Pilkington. Substitute: R.Knox

Doncaster:
Dawson, Kelly, Nicholson, Wylie, Ripley, Ricketts, Wilson, Jeffrey, Sheffield, Gilfillan, Coleman. Substitute: Watton

Referee: Mr N. Callender (Richmond)
Attendance: 6,712

Footnote:
What happened to the main protagonists in this never-to-be-forgotten match?
Our stretchered-off ‘keeper Lionel Duffin still lives in Barrow but these days his son John is the more renowned Duffin of the family with his portraits of Holker Street scenes.

Bob Knox sadly died at the young age of 60 in 2006. As the article suggested, Bob was very versatile and although we were a shambles in 1971-72, when we went out of the FL, Bob Knox was startlingly impressive playing at left full-back. I remember a pal of mine saying he only kept going to Holker Street in that darkest of seasons for one reason – quote – “to watch Bob Knox, he’s brilliant”.

Local lad Keith Eddy was the victim of relentless stick from the Barrow faithful for being supposedly useless. Keith went on to skipper Sheffield United in the top flight and later in his career played for New York Cosmos alongside Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. Apparently not good enough for Barrow fans though! I believe Keith still lives in the States, it seems Tulsa, Oklahoma, perhaps.

Mick Hartland I believe lives in Southport.

Reporter Bob Herbert: Still to be spotted to this day in the Holker Street press-box!

Doncaster’s Alick Jeffrey was a prodigy; read the articles about him on the net! He was the “superstar” of the lower leagues because of his early days in football which were wrecked by a broken leg. Rumours suggest though that his broken leg saved him from being on Man Utd’s fatal trip to Munich in 1958. He passed away in 2000 at the young age of 61.

Laurie Sheffield, who got Doncaster’s goal, appears to be hugely rated to this day by those who remember him playing for their club.

[Middleton Nick]

You are the official Barrow AFC historian PJ.

[greenarmour]

Great post that. Knocker never got bored telling that story, as young lads that used to travel away on the players bus (for the princely sum of 50p)it brought back great memories.

[Moonwatcher]

Great post PJ, very entertaining read! Does anyone remember Steve Knox, who played for us in the 90s? I always assumed he was the son of Bob, or at least a relation, as he was also very versatile, and a decent cricketer, like Bob.

[pjdaly]

Inquisitive little drop-shot there, Moonwatcher, that asks questions. Well - - - erm - - - one question, anyway. Yes, Steve is indeed the son of Bob. I remember I used to see Bob on the Popular Ray Wilkie side watching his son play for us just a few years back.

[Steelworks End]

Memories, pjdaly, memories!

I, too, was standing on the Holker End terrace, just to the left of the goal as you look towards the pitch (having changed ends at half time) and can clearly remember Knox's penalty save as clearly as if it was yesterday.

Like you, I didn't think the penalty was particularly well taken by Jeffrey - I guess a top striker against a stand-in 'keeper, it was a foregone conclusion in his mind - but it still needed to be saved. And nothing should be taken away from Bob Knox; he made a save that any regular goalkeeper would have been proud of.

I can remember as Jeffrey ran up to the ball and placed it towards Knox's left. Then, for a split second, a stunned silence from the Holker End before a loud roar; "He's saved it!"

There was Bob Knox lying on the ground, the ball clutched firmly to his chest.

At times, Knox had his critics at Barrow - which player didn't face the criticism from the Popular Side? - but that day fifty years ago, he was a hero to all who were there to witness him taking his place in the record books.

[Suffolk Blue]

I went with my parents to every home game between early 65 to 72. Cant remember much of this game as I was only 5 at the time. I do however remember the earlier game v Wrexham, when Knox appeared as a substitute for the first time. I can recall it having been predicted that it would happen so waiting for it and hoping it would be us that were the first.

Difficult for todays supporters to appreciate how strange it was to see another outfield player appear and another disappear for the first time. How could this be correct? Surely we were changing our team? That just wasn't fair was it? And if one team changed a player shouldn't the other do have to do the same to even things up?

Like most things in life in those days Football used to "suffer" change begrudgingly. Hence why something as innocent as a substitute seemed such a revolutionary thing at the time - and took several years to convince the Football League to implement.

[Bigfathoss]

My old bloke, Steve Bundy, reckons he is the reason that Robert Preston Knox was used to being in goals. They were at the grammar school together but my dad was more into his cross country in those days and Bobby played CF for the school team but, when it came to inter-form matches, Bobby normally went in the nets and my dad went CF. He's sat here feeding me this story right now and he looks like he is telling the truth FWIW.
There you go.

[SKIPPER]

No surprise really that 'opportunity' was a good goalkeeper. Wasn't he Barrow Boys 'keeper in the day (whatever happened to town Boys' teams-always got free tickets in junior school). I was,unlike many, never worried when he was drafted in to the team as I knew he would always give 100 percent. Often wondered since how he would have fared playing at our level now.

[ant]

Remember having a few run out`s for Barrow boys at HS back in late 60`s under the magical floodlights.(dreams do come true!) Recall rainy nights, but due to height of slag bank back then was never very windy. Do names like "North and West Riding" ( One fixture) still exist after all these years?

[glasgow_blue]

Love hearing these old memories, we should never forget them. Show's the history of a much loved football club. Keep em coming say I

[Swattylad]

This brings back memories.
I played for Barrow Boys back then, together with Bob and his brother Mike.
Bob never played full-time goalkeeper for us at that time...that was Roger Wilde, but he did put the gloves on at every opportunity.
Others I remember in the team were Peter Evans; Dave Duckworth; Graham McKeating (His Dad Vince played for GB Rugby); Pete Townsend; Me (Bryan Wilson), Dave Postlethwaite and others I don't remember their names. I have attached a picture. Perhaps someone will put names to faces. The names I mentioned are in no particular order.

[Swattylad]

In order:
Back row left to right...
Mike Knox, Dave Duckworth, Peter Evans, Roger Wilde, Graham McKeating, Pete Townsend, unknown
Front left to right...
Pete Moffet, Bryan Wilson, Bob Knox, Unknown, Dave or Pete Postlethwaite.

[Wintergreen]

Just when I had given up hope – a proper thread that has not descended into a moronic chavfest.
Also perhaps worthy of note – Dave Duckworth one time county champion squash player; poor lad has mobility problems now.

[Swattylad]

Sorry to hear that. If you are in touch with him, give him my best wishes for the coming year.
I did meet up with Peter Evans a year or so ago when I was over visiting family.
We had dinner at the Abbey House with our respective wives. Pete was in good shape.
He's the one supplied me with the above picture.