Football League Third Division North versus South representative matches

The Football League Third Division North and Football League Third Division South were the third tiers of the English football league pyramid from 1921 to 1958, run by The Football League. It was the highest level where the division was split into more than one league.

From 1954 to 1955 season until 1957–58 season, there was a series of games between teams representing the divisions.

The representative games

1954–55 - played at Reading F.C. ground on 16 March 1955. Attendance 10,438. South won 2–0.[1][2][3][4][5]

1955–56 - played at Accrington Stanley F.C. ground on 13 October 1955. Attendance 10,521. Draw 3–3.[2][3][4][5]

The second half of the match was broadcast on BBC television, which was the first occasion that a match had been televised from Peel Park.[2]

Don Mills scored for the South in the first half. Reg Ryan equalised with a penalty in the second half, followed by goals from John Thomas Connor for the North and Ernie Morgan for the South. The final score was 3–3.[6]

1956–57 - played at Coventry City F.C. ground on 8 October 1956. Attendance 14,500. South won 2–1.[3][4][5]

1956–57 - played at Stockport County F.C. ground on 2 April 1957. Attendance 12,372. Won by North 2–1.[4][5]

W Holden scored the first goal for the North, which was followed by an equaliser by Neil Langman for the South. Soon after the start of the second half, Ron Greener failed to score for the North from a penalty. The winning goal was scored by Alf Ackerman for the North in the last minute of the game.[7]

1957–58 - played at Crystal Palace F.C. ground on 30 October 1957. Draw 2–2.[5][8]

The teams and officials

The following players and officials were selected to participate in the representative games.

South Vs. North 16 March 1955[1]


The North Team

PositionNameClub
1Ray MinshullSouthport
2Bob Jackson[9]Oldham
3Jimmy HarrowerAccrington Stanley
4Ken FurphyDarlington
5Dave BlakeyChesterfield
6Frank ClempsonStockport County
7Arthur Kaye[9]Barnsley[9]
8Jimmy Prescott[9]Southport
9George Stewart[9]Accrington Stanley
10George SmithChesterfield
11Merfyn JonesScunthorpe
ManagerMr. Fred EmeryCarlisle United

The Officials

OfficialNameFrom
RefereeMr. J. H. HusbandLondon
Linesman (Red Flag)Mr. C.B. BroomeLondon
Linesman (Yellow Flag)Mr. S. W. BarkerBexleyheath

North Vs. South 13 October 1955[2]

The South Team

PositionNameClub
1Reg MatthewsCoventry City
2Stanley CharltonLeyton Orient
3Alex JardineMillwall
4Noel SimpsonCoventry City
5Douglas ReesIpswich Town
6Ronnie AshmanNorwich City
7Roland MillsNorthampton Town
8Peter HillCoventry City
9Maurice CookWatford
10Ernie MorganGillingham
11Jimmy WheelerReading
ManagerMr. Alec StockLeyton Orient
TrainerMr. L. GoreLeyton Orient

Note: Although Peter Hill of Coventry was selected at number 8 for the South, D Mills of Torquay started the game.[6]

The Officials

OfficialNameFrom
RefereeMr. K. A. CollingeSale
Linesman (Red Flag)Mr. J. S. McLoughlinManchester
Linesman (Yellow Flag)Mr. R. SleddonPreston

South Vs. North 8 October 1956[3]


The North Team

PositionNameClub
1Malcolm NewlandsWorkington
2Malcolm CurrieBradford City
3Jack BrownswordScunthorpe United
4Albert MaysDerby County
5Watty MooreHartlepools United
6Charlie SneddonAccrington Stanley
7Gerry BurrellChesterfield
8Ron HewittWrexham
9Ken JohnsonHartlepools United
10George DarwinMansfield Town
11George LukeHartlepools United
ReserveRon PowellChesterfield
ReserveReg RyanDerby County
ManagerHarry StorerDerby County
TrainerBilly NewtonStockport County

The Officials

OfficialNameFrom
RefereeMr. Arthur E. EllisHalifax
LinesmanMr. H. HornerKenilworth
LinesmanMr. A. WaltersWarwick

North Vs. South 2 April 1957[4]


The South Team

PositionNameClub
1Peter Pickering[9]Northampton
2Alex JardineMillwall
3George Fisher[9]Colchester
4Glen Wilson[9]Brighton
5Patrick ParkerSouthampton
6John ElsworthyIpswich
7Mike HellawellQueens Park Rangers
8Don MillsTorquay
9Neil Langman [9]Plymouth
10Ted PhillipsIpswich
11Reg Cutler[9]Bournemouth
ReserveKen CooteBrentford
ReserveMaurice EvansReading
Manager
Trainer

Note: Although Ted Phillips of Ipswich was selected at number 10 for the South, Dorman of Walsall started the game.[7]

The Officials

OfficialNameFrom
Referee
Linesman
Linesman

South Vs. North 30 October 1957[5]

The North Team

PositionNameClub
1Roy MacLarenBury
2Eddie RobertsonBury
3Paul FeaseyHull City
4Jack BertoliniWorkington
5Wally TaylorSouthport
6Charlie CroweMansfield
7John TomlinsonChesterfield
8Ivor BroadisCarlisle United
9George StewartAccrington Stanley
10Bill HoldenStockport County
11George LukeHartlepools
ReserveRon ThompsonCarlisle United
ReserveTommy NeillBury
ManagerMr. Peter JacksonBradford City

The Officials

OfficialNameFrom
RefereeMr. D. T. BluesRichmond
Linesman (Red Flag)Mr. D. W. BradleySelsdon
Linesman (Yellow Flag)Mr. C. H. RogersN. Kensington

References