Victory over Bedworth

A personal welcome to Rochdale fans today. (Programme notes for FA Trophy game).  On 11 January 1947 Charlton Athletic played Rochdale at The Valley in the FA Cup (winning 3-1).  I still have a copy of the programme.  My father went to the game and then walked up to the hospital in nearby Greenwich where I was born at 7.30 pm.  In those days, of course, fathers were allowed nowhere near the birth and had to wait in a smoke filled room with other expectant dads.  Better, then, to enjoy the relatively fresh air at the football.

At the beginning of December 1975 ’Leamington shook off the disappointment of their FA Cup defeat by Stafford Rangers to score a hard earned Southern League win at Bedworth.   Adrian Stewart clinched the points that kept them among the promotion contenders with a goal two minutes before half time.  

Stewart struck after Bedworth had neutralised a 21^st minute goal by Gerry Kavanagh.  But AP were forced to weather heavy pressure before becoming the first side to win at Bedworth in the league this season.  In defeat, Bedworth complained bitterly that AP were given a goal start by Kavanagh’s penalty.   It was awarded for hands against back four defender Ray Phelps.   But Phelps protested afterwards, “It was never a penalty.  I brought the ball under control with my body.” 

The incident happened a yard within the penalty area, and with no AP player within yards.  But, at that stage, AP had mustered six goal attempts to Bedworth’s one and Kavanagh stepped up to give them a deserved lead from the spot kick,   AP’s lead was short lived as Bedworth equalised after 27 minutes through ex-AP player Tom Sweenie.   Minutes later, only a fine save from Davis denied a further Bedworth goal.  Davis flung his body at a point blank shot from left winger Les Sanders.

Then in the 43^rd minute Stewart stepped into secure AP’s winner. Full back Dennis Taylor made it.  He broke down the right and crossed to the far post where Stewart came rushing in to shoot into the net.  Bedworth lost centre half Clive Lyons early in the second half but AP were content to sit back. 

Alan Jones and Roger Brown were commanding figures at the back, and Davis was called on to save only twice despite the pressure.  And his most anxious moments came in the last minute when he was forced to save at the feet of striker Mark Neale, his team mate in Coventry Sunday Football with Arley Rectory.

Jack Charlton had some rather harsh and patronising things to say about Rochdale in his newspaper column, although there was a more than a kernel of truth what he had to say.  For example, he pointed out that the arrival of the motorways had put the big, glamorous Manchester clubs within easy reach of fans in Rochdale.   

He also noted that north Lancashire was a depressed area.  The cotton industry had dwindled, so there wasn’t a lot of money to spare.  He argued, ‘Progress in soccer today needs money and that comes mainly from crowds, and crowds don’t go to the little clubs for a variety of reasons.    They haven’t a prayer, really, the brave little Rochdales of this world.  Whatever way they turn they run smack into a brick wall: they are the victims of change, trends, modernisation, big business, broadening horizons.’   Rochdale have had their ups and downs, but they are fighting for promotion back to the EFL.