Torquay United 1 Birmingham City 7 - 7th January 1956

[portugull]

This morning an acquaintance of mine showed me a copy of the Birmingham Evening Dispatch dated May 5th 1956, Cup Final Day.

He knew I was a big TUFC fan and the paper was a souvenir edition to celebrate Birmingham City winning the 1956 FA Cup Final.

On page 2 was the headline `It all started at Torquay` when City beat United 7-1 in a third round tie.

There is a picture of an absolutely packed pop side and in the foreground Ronnie Shaw who some of the old timers will remember well is challenging the City keeper Gil Merrick who was a very famous keeper in his day.

It is not often you get to read a football newspaper that is 63 years old and it was quite fascinating. A great picture of Gordon Astell who many will remember as he went on to play for United with distinction.

Was anybody at this match? I know it was a long time ago but I am feeling in a nostalgic mood!

[wivelgull]

A bit before my time, I'm afraid (first TUFC match 19 April 1963).

[Plainmoor78]

I imagine the paper was to celebrate Birmingham City actually getting to the final. 1956 was the Bert Trautmann final, when Man City's German goalie played with a broken neck. Man City won the game 3-1. In fact Birmingham City have never won the FA Cup.

[portugull]

Plainmoor78 you are spot on.
My mistake.
The Souvenir Edition was printed before the match itself. It was only the second Cup Final I ever watched because in those days the Cup Final was a very big event not like today.
Bert Trautmann was very famous not least because in WW2 he was a German Paratrooper.

[Sesimbra]

Portugull I was at that match. Cannot remember too much about it as we were being thrashed. Remember little Ronnie Shaw of course with Sammy Collins, Don Mills and Dennis Lewis whom I presume were in the line-up. I was in the old cow shed. Happy memories.

[portugull]

Sesimbra I guessed someone would remember this match.
Dennis Lewis No.4 Ronnie Shaw No 7 Sammy Collins No 8 and Don Mills No 10.
I saw them play many times in my youth and in those days like you I always stood in the Cow Shed behind the goal with my football playing mates.
Happy days.

[tomogull]

Sesimbra I guessed someone would remember this match.
Dennis Lewis No.4 Ronnie Shaw No 7 Sammy Collins No 8 and Don Mills No 10.
I saw them play many times in my youth and in those days like you I always stood in the Cow Shed behind the goal with my football playing mates. Happy days.

I wuz there too, Portugal. I think I was at the Babbacombe end (no crowd segregation then). Birmingham were a top side back then so it was a 'plum' draw. Like Sesimbra, I don't remember much about the match (feck - these days I have trouble remembering what happened last week). But I do remember our goal. Dear ol' Ronnie Shaw crossed from the right wing and the cross deceived the great Gil Merrick who 'saved' it under the bar, but the linesman deemed it had crossed the line. Probably VAR would have shown it hadn't, but it was a consolation goal which gave us something to cheer about.

[portugull]

Thanks for your post tomogull.
Although this was 1956 I do have somewhere a Herald Express photo of United in 1957/58 season when we had one of our best ever teams.
I must try and find the photo in my loft!