1923–24 Nelson F.C. season

The 1923–24 season was the 43rd season in the history of Nelson F.C. and their third as a professional club in the Football League. The team competed in the Second Division of the Football League for the first time, having won promotion as champions of the Third Division North in the previous campaign. Nelson struggled against more established opponents in the higher league, and were relegated at the end of the season, finishing second-bottom of the division just a point behind Fulham, who avoided relegation. Despite achieving a 1–0 victory away against Manchester United, Nelson suffered several heavy defeats during the campaign, including a 0–6 loss to Derby County, and at one point went six matches without scoring a goal. Nelson ended the season on 33 points, with a record of 10 wins, 13 draws and 19 defeats in 42 matches.

Nelson F.C.
1923–24 season
ManagerDavid Wilson
Football League Second Division21st (relegated)
FA CupFifth Qualifying Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Joe Eddleston (14)
All: Joe Eddleston (14)
Highest home attendance12,000 (vs Clapton Orient, 25 August 1923)
Lowest home attendance4,000 (vs Wigan Borough, 5 December 1923)

Nelson entered the FA Cup in the Fifth Qualifying Round, and were knocked out in a replay at that stage by Wigan Borough, having drawn the original tie. A total of 30 players were used by Nelson throughout their 44 first-team matches. The majority of the championship-winning team remained with Nelson. New signings included defender Jack Newnes, who went on to become a Wales international, Billy Caulfield and Eddie Cameron. With 14 goals in 42 appearances, Joe Eddleston was the team's top goalscorer for the third season in succession, and also played the highest number of matches of all the first-team squad. The highest attendance of the season at the club's Seedhill stadium was 12,000 on two occasions, the first of these the opening day game against Clapton Orient on 26 August 1923. The lowest attendance in the league was 7,000 for three different matches, while the FA Cup replay against Wigan Borough attracted a crowd of only 4,000 spectators.

Background

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In the 1922–23 season, Nelson had been crowned champions of the Football League Third Division North after winning 24 of their 38 league fixtures.[1] In May 1923, the club embarked on a pre-season tour of Spain. Six matches were played during the trip, two each against Real Madrid, Racing de Santander and Real Oviedo. On 15 May 1923, Nelson achieved a 4–2 victory against Real Madrid at the Campo de Ciudad Lineal,[2][3] two of the goals coming from Dick Crawshaw, who had been signed towards the end of the previous campaign.[4] In doing so, Nelson became the first English club to defeat Real Madrid at their home ground.[5]

Football League Second Division

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Match results

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Key
Results
Date Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
25 August 1923 Clapton Orient (H) 1–1 McCulloch 12,000
27 August 1923 Stockport County (A) 0–1 11,000
1 September 1923 Clapton Orient (A) 1–5 Eddleston 20,000
3 September 1923 Stockport County (H) 1–1 Wolstenholme 10,000
8 September 1923 Hull City (A) 1–2 Eddleston 9,000
11 September 1923 Southampton (H) 0–0 12,000
15 September 1923 Hull City (H) 1–1 Eddleston 11,000
22 September 1923 Stoke (A) 0–4 14,000
29 September 1923 Stoke (H) 2–0 Newnes, Eddleston 10,000
6 October 1923 Crystal Palace (A) 1–1 Roseboom 10,000
13 October 1923 Crystal Palace (H) 4–2 Crawshaw (3), Hoad 10,000
20 October 1923 Sheffield Wednesday (H) 1–1 Crawshaw
27 October 1923 Sheffield Wednesday (A) 0–5 10,000
3 November 1923 Coventry City (H) 3–0 Caulfield (2), Eddleston 6,000
10 November 1923 Coventry City (A) 0–4 12,000
17 November 1923 Bristol City (A) 0–1 8,000
24 November 1923 Bristol City (H) 2–1 Eddleston (2) 8,000
8 December 1923 Southampton (A) 0–3 11,000
15 December 1923 Fulham (A) 0–0 13,000
22 December 1923 Fulham (H) 1–1 Braidwood 6,000
25 December 1923 Derby County (H) 2–1 Newnes, Hoad 10,000
26 December 1923 Derby County (A) 0–6 16,000
29 December 1923 Blackpool (A) 1–1 Eddleston 15,000
5 January 1924 Blackpool (H) 2–3 Caulfield, Wolstenholme 10,000
19 January 1924 Oldham Athletic (H) 2–1 Newnes, Eddleston 9,000
26 January 1924 Oldham Athletic (A) 0–1 12,000
2 February 1924 South Shields (H) 0–2 7,000
9 February 1924 South Shields (A) 0–3 8,000
16 February 1924 Bury (H) 0–5 8,500
23 February 1924 Bury (A) 0–2 8,000
1 March 1924 Manchester United (H) 0–2 7,000
8 March 1924 Manchester United (A) 1–0 Crawshaw 18,000
15 March 1924 Barnsley (A) 0–0 8,000
22 March 1924 Barnsley (H) 4–3 Caulfield (2), Eddleston, Hoad 7,000
29 March 1924 Bradford City (A) 2–0 Cameron, Eddleston 10,000
5 April 1924 Bradford City (H) 1–1 Cameron 8,000
12 April 1924 Port Vale (H) 1–3 Cameron 7,000
19 April 1924 Port Vale (A) 0–0 8,000
21 April 1924 Leicester City (H) 1–1 Eddleston 10,000
22 April 1924 Leicester City (A) 1–3 McCulloch 14,000
26 April 1924 Leeds United (A) 0–1 20,000
3 May 1924 Leeds United (H) 3–1 Eddleston (2), Chadwick 10,000

Final league position

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
18 Bradford City 42 11 15 16 35 48 0.729 37
19 Coventry City 42 11 13 18 52 68 0.765 35
20 Fulham 42 10 14 18 45 56 0.804 34
21 Nelson 42 10 13 19 40 74 0.541 33 Relegated
22 Bristol City 42 7 15 20 32 65 0.492 29
Source: [citation needed]

FA Cup

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Match results
Round Date Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
Q5 1 December 1923 Wigan Borough (A) 1–1 Ward (o.g.) 12,650
Q5r 5 December 1923 Wigan Borough (H) 0–1 4,000

Appearances and goals

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Key to positions
Statistics
Nat. Position Player Third Division North FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
  GK Harry Abbott 34 0 2 0 36 0
  GK Joseph Birds 4 0 0 0 4 0
  OF John Black 6 0 0 0 6 0
  DF Ernie Braidwood 31 1 2 0 33 1
  DF Jimmy Broadhead 21 0 0 0 21 0
  OF Eddie Cameron 8 3 0 0 8 3
  IF Billy Caulfield 18 5 0 0 18 5
  IF Edgar Chadwick 3 1 0 0 3 1
  DF Leigh Collins 13 0 2 0 15 0
  IF Dick Crawshaw 19 5 2 0 21 5
  CF Joe Eddleston 40 14 2 0 42 14
  OF Ernest Gillibrand 2 0 0 0 2 0
  IF Harry Higginbotham 4 0 0 0 4 0
  OF Sid Hoad 26 3 2 0 28 3
  OF Duggie Humphrey 8 0 0 0 8 0
  OF Bob Hutchinson 22 0 2 0 24 0
  CF Sam Kennedy 6 0 0 0 6 0
  FB William Lammus 8 0 0 0 8 0
  FB Bob Lilley 5 0 0 0 5 0
  FB Tom Lilley 14 0 0 0 14 0
  IF Mike McCulloch 21 2 0 0 21 2
  DF Jack Newnes 37 3 2 0 39 3
  GK Harry Nutter 2 0 0 0 2 0
  FB Clement Rigg 37 0 2 0 39 0
  IF Teddy Roseboom 12 1 0 0 12 1
  FB John Steel 1 0 0 0 1 0
  GK Jim Thomson 2 0 0 0 2 0
  IF Ted Ward 2 0 0 0 2 0
  DF David Wilson 31 0 2 0 33 0
  IF Arthur Wolstenholme 25 2 0 0 25 2

See also

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References

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General
  • Dykes, Garth (2009). Nelson FC in the Football League. Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-905891-29-0.
  • Robinson, Michael, ed. (2006). Football League Tables 1888–2006. Soccer Books. ISBN 978-1-86223-143-6.
Specific
  1. ^ Robinson, p. 17
  2. ^ Torre, Raúl (3 January 2008). "International Friendlies of Real Madrid CF 1902–1939". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  3. ^ Dykes, p. 6
  4. ^ Dykes, p. 30
  5. ^ Wallace, Sam (22 February 2006). "Real Madrid 0 Arsenal 1: Henry dazzles Real's galacticos". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2010.