On This Day (26 January 1952): Ford back in the groove, but could some Focus have brought more success?
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There were chances galore for both teams down south, but some rare harmony between two of their talismanic talents gave Sunderland the cutting edge this time…
Sunderland fans often wonder how things would have panned out had the big-name pair of Len Shackleton and Trevor Ford struck up more of a relationship during the early 1950s. Both undoubtedly top-class players, albeit with their foibles, the duo appeared to rub each other the other wrong way both on and off the pitch, and their simmering rivalry would often be a distraction for a hugely talented squad of individuals that could be guilty of tripping themselves up through a lack of teamwork or discipline.
When things did click, however, the side were highly entertaining and capable of giving anybody a game, whether that was at home or on the road. The 1951-52 season, for example, saw Bill Murray's outfit pick up several notable away wins, starting with the opener at Derby County in which both Shackleton and Ford notched on route to a 4-3 success. Ford, however, underwent a bit of a goal drought after that match, and his first Roker goal of the campaign didn't arrive until early December.
A blistering spell ensued thereafter, with six more strikes coming along in the next five outings, before another barren patch – made more frustrating for the Welsh international when his nemesis grabbed a double against Liverpool in January. The Shackleton brace was part of a 3-0 victory, the first of the calendar year, with the next fixture being at league leaders Portsmouth on this day.
Despite the long journey and almost going behind in the first few seconds when Johnny Mapson had to make a smart double save, Sunderland were soon in full flow and during the first half they carved out a string of presentable openings. Unfortunately for the quarrelling couple, however, and their teammates, nobody seemed to have packed their shooting boots, and they were just two of the players who saw chances go begging.
Mapson was kept busy at the other end too, and made an excellent stop to prevent Jimmy Scoular scoring from distance, but when it seemed as if he would be beaten on the stroke of half time few were expecting what happened next – Sunderland were suddenly leading a charmed life as Pompey wasted three near open goals in the space of a few seconds, only to see the Lads break away right up the middle of the pitch and go ahead themselves through Ford.
In an opening 45 minutes characterised by wasteful finishing, Ford had regained his composure and scored with the type of powerful and accurate shooting he was justly famed for, and it was a standard the hosts could only dream of, for they were again profligate in the second half. Mapson scrambled an Ike Clark header off the line and later he somehow managed to block an attempt from Duggie Reid even though he was lying flat on the ground, and then as the game progressed Sunderland began stepping things up.
Mapson and George Aitken, whose solid defensive work and intelligent use of the ball was vital, were certainly Sunderland's most sturdy performers but as was so often the case it was the distinctive brilliance of Shackleton that brought the side back on the front foot. Ernie Butler only just managed to turn one of his free kicks over the bar, and then after some rare interplay with Ford, 'Shack' had a goal-bound shot flicked away when Phil Gunter somehow contorted himself and got his heel in the way.
Dickie Davis, playing as an inside forward, was unlucky to drive a stinging effort a fraction wide also. So often an understudy after the arrival of Ford, there were some observers, both on the terraces and within the playing staff apparently, that felt he had been similarly unfortunate to make way and give up his spot as centre forward to the Welshman in the first place. Nevertheless, he would always do a job when brought back into the starting XI and would often carry out some of the supporting work for the man that had usurped him, and whose scoring record was admittedly proving very hard to argue with.
That said, Ford's contribution alone wasn't guaranteed to secure the points this time. Pompey had to commit more men forward as they sought an equaliser, and once Aitken and Arthur Wright had helped see the Lads through a spell of pressure the former set away another counterattack in the 71st minute; it was to be a blistering move that involved Davis, and was rounded off in true style by Shackleton, who lobbed Butler from 30 yards.
Now two goals to the good, there might have been the temptation for Sunderland to shut up shop completely, but they instead opted to push harder, the thinking no doubt being that attack was the best form of defence in this instance. Butler had to come to Portsmouth's rescue twice in the closing minutes, yet they had still been soundly beaten come full time as the Lads once again showed that they could be more than a match for the top teams. They were still only 15th though, with the inability to hit those levels consistently enough always being an issue.
Regularly on target from then on, Ford ended the campaign with 22 goals: a remarkable total given the sluggish start. Shackleton clocked up the same amount as well as they finished as joint top scorers for the Lads, but it was sometimes posed that more would have been achieved as a unit had they not been trying to outdo each other, and instead of going for glory from certain angles, strived to put their strengths to collective use and build a rapport.
They were without doubt huge talents, and Shack in particular is still seen now as a club legend, his wizardry and charisma setting him up to be an enduring favourite, but that niggling doubt will persist maybe forever – a point off the title in the season before Ford arrived, and FA Cup semi-finalists and title challengers again in the one that followed his departure, could things have ended differently for Sunderland had their star turns hit it off?
Saturday 26th January 1952
Football League Division One
Portsmouth 0
Sunderland 2 (Ford 44', Shackleton 70')
Sunderland: Mapson; Stelling, Hudgell; Aitken, Hall, Wright; Bingham, Davis, Ford, Shackleton, Watson.
Fratton Park, attendance 33,613
