Wisbech Town's first-ever game

Wisbech Town played their first ever game on Saturday, September 4, 1920, and drew 1-1 at home against Yaxley Rovers in Division One of the Peterborough League.

Our report at the time read: “Large numbers of spectators visited the Park on Saturday, when the first match under the auspices of the newly-formed Town Football Club, took place.

“As could only be expected for the first turn-out, there was a good deal lacking on both sides in respect of the quality of the play, but on the whole, there was sufficient evidence to prove that the home team have the ability when plied in the right direction.

“Combination was the chief thing lacking. Several of the players were unselfish enough to pass pretty freely, but on the other hand, others were wanting in this respect.

“The game commenced with a decided rush for the visitors goal, and when this had been successfully parried, the visitors retaliated.

“After that the ball was continually nearer the Yaxley goal than the home team’s, and a good exhibition of saving was given by the Yaxley goalkeeper, who, time after time, frustrated some clever work.

“It was particularly noticeable that besides the number of shots that were saved, large numbers went wide of the mark, and if Wisbech would improve their shooting capabilities, the work of goalkeeping for the opposing teams would be considerably hardened.

“Close on half-time the referee called up one of the Yaxley men for a foul, and Cole was called upon to take the penalty kick. In doing so he made the slip of sending the ball practically straight for the goalkeeper, who accomplished an easy task.

“After that, the attacks by the visitors was more apparent, and were dangerously near scoring, several shots either hitting the cross-bar or skimming over it. Half-time saw the score at nil-all.

“Wisbech did most of the attacking in the early stages of the second half. Time after time they swept towards the visitors’ goal, with the onlookers expecting to see the ball in the net. But proximity to goal is not of much avail when bad shooting is in vogue.

“In several instances the fault lay not so much in judging of the distance as in lifting the ball too high.

“At length the ground resounded with a cry of ‘goal’, for after a smart bit of passing, Wright discovered the ball at his feet with only the goalkeeper to beat. Playing with it for a few seconds, he got into position, and sent a shot into the corner farthest from the goalkeeper, who was unable to save – thus the first goal of the Wisbech football season was scored.

“It was a terrific struggle during the last ten minutes of the match, for both teams were awakened to greater amount of energy than they had hitherto displayed.

“Yaxley had decidedly the best of the game after an attempt by Wisbech to score another goal (an attempt which failed by a few feet), and continually the home goalkeeper was called upon.

“Several shots went bounding towards the net, and when it is recalled what splendid shots the Yaxley men frequently made, there was no need to wonder at the short time in which it took them to equalise.

After a little more strenuous effort, the whistle blew for time, the score being one goal each.”

Wisbech: L. Booth, F. Cole, J. Harrison, S. Newsham, H. Hemy, W. Rudd, Gilbody, A. Barker, C. Wright, L. Yates, W. Moore.

Wisbech Town Reserves also played their first-ever match, losing an Isle League fixture away to March Town, 1-0.

Champions for the second time

Wisbech assured themselves of the Peterborough League Division One title for the second time on Saturday, April 28 with a 3-0 victory at Spalding United at the Black Swan ground.

A large number of supporters journeyed from Wisbech to see the tream win the championship on the last game of the season.

The Wisbech goals were all headers. After 25 minutes’ play, the visitors forced a corner on the right and Irving ‘Steamer’ Burgess placed the ball right in the goalmouth for Ted Cozens to head home.

On 59 minutes Wisbech forced a corner. Burgess, who took the flag-kick, again placed it well, and Cozens headed a brilliant goal.

Ten minutes later it was somewhat fitting that C ‘Bert’ Hart, the captain, should score his side’s last league goal of the season – again a header from a corner.