Scunthorpe United v Carlisle

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne, Crosby, Foster, Williams (Hinds 66), Taylor, Goodwin, Baraclough, Sparrow, Torpey (Beckford 60), Sharp (Hurst 86)
Subs not used:
Lillis, Butler

Carlisle :
Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Aranalde, Gall, Vipond (Joyce 63), Thirlwell, Smith, Johann Smith, Garner
Subs not used:
Howarth, Holmes, Hawley, Arnison

SULSESC REPORT

by Vic Duke at Glanford Park

AND lo it came to pass just as I had foretold in January.

We received the champions’ trophy after the last home game of the season against Carlisle United, just as we had in 1957-58. I have had to wait 49 years for a repeat performance. What a day! It makes up for all those terrible days at Rochdale, Stockport, Bury, Plymouth, Blackpool, etc.

Predictably the Bent Lawyer was heaving when I arrived at 12.30; virtually the whole of SULSESC was there except Neil and Karen (for obvious reasons). Andrew, stalwart of the Manchester sub-group of SULSESC, had commandeered two prime seats to watch the Manchester derby. The least said about that disaster the better, other than that we endured it for 85 minutes and were the last to leave for Glanford Park. However, our taxi from the station was able to drive untroubled right to the stadium because by 2.45 most of the crowd was already in.

To make up for Blackpool, the Iron played like champions and ran out easy 3-0 winners. The only surprise was no goal from Billy Sharp. He did neatly set up Cleveland Taylor for the first goal on 41 minutes. Swansong Superstar Steve Torpey headed on a cross to set up a cracking volley into the top left corner of the net from Matt Sparrow – 47 minutes, 2-0, game over.

After his one hour cameo, Swansong Superstar waved goodbye, the applause was generous, though only Lager Girl is really going to miss him. His replacement Jermaine Beckford took only four minutes to nick the ball past the goalie and make the score 3-0.

After the final whistle, the presentation of the trophy with a tear in my eye thinking of my grandfather in 1958. Cue celebrations all round. Swigs from Andrew’s flask of brandy made up for our lack of champagne.

Incidentally, the players’ celebrations were more restrained in 1958. No showering with champagne and no boing-ing up and down which are de rigeur nowadays. Solid handshakes and sturdy backslaps were the order of the day.

How do the two champions compare? It’s difficult to judge after 49 years. Using the modern three points for a win formula, the lads of 57-58 would have got 95 points and been 10 points clear of Accrington Stanley in second place. The ‘58 team lost two more games but also won three more – in other words, the current team drew more often.

In both cases the goal difference was +38, the distinguishing feature being that the ‘58 champions scored 88 goals as against 73 for the 2007 winners. So the current team had the better defence but the boys of ‘58 had the better attack.

All that remains now is for next season’s team to match the best ever fourth in Division Two, which would mean a place in the playoffs – how about that?