The City Ground

SEASON: 1949-50

Total Season: 85Prev Season: 1948-49
League Season: 48This Season: 2025-26
Next Season: 1950-51

DIVISION: English Third Division (South) (Tier 3)

MANAGER(s):: Billy Walker
FA Cup:: 2nd Round (Stockport County (H) 0-2)

Top Goalscorer:: Wally Ardron (25 goals)

Competitive Games:: 44
Competitive Goals:: 68
Goals per game:: 1.6
League Games:: 42
League Points:: 49 out of 84 (2 points per win)
Points Percentage:: 58.3%

Highest League Attendance:: 37,903 (Notts County)
Lowest League Attendance:: 5,906 (Port Vale)
Average League Attendance:: 22,147
Highest Cup Attendance:: 18,253 (Stockport County)
Lowest Cup Attendance:: 15,567 (Bristol City)

Champions:: Portsmouth
FA Cup:: Arsenal
Community Shield:: Portsmouth / Wolverhampton Wanderers

SEASON RECORDS

Most Goals scored: 5
5-0 (Sat Oct 08, 1949, Exeter City, Home, League Tier 3)
5-0 (Sat Jan 14, 1950, Swindon Town, Away, League Tier 3)

Biggest Winning Margin: 5
5-0 (Sat Oct 08, 1949, Exeter City, Home, League Tier 3)
5-0 (Sat Jan 14, 1950, Swindon Town, Away, League Tier 3)

Most Goals Conceded: 4
1-4 (Fri Apr 07, 1950, Newport County, Away, League Tier 3)

Biggest Losing Margin: 3
1-4 (Fri Apr 07, 1950, Newport County, Away, League Tier 3)

Clean Sheets:: 16
Yellow Cards:: 0
Red Cards:: 0
Own goals (for):: 0 (scored by opponents for us)
Own goals (against):: 0 (scored by us for opponents)
Penalties scored:: 3
Penalties conceded:: 3
Penalties missed:: 3
Penalties saved:: 1

TABLE

THIRD DIVISION SOUTH (Tier 3) - 1949-50

SEASON END TABLE								Home					Away								Results
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GA	Pts	Result	Home	Away
1	Notts County	42	25	8	9	95	50	17	3	1	60	12	8	5	8	35	38	1.900	58	Promoted as Champions	1-2	0-2
2	Northampton Town	42	20	11	11	72	50	12	6	3	43	21	8	5	8	29	29	1.440	51		0-1	0-0
3	Southend United	42	19	13	10	66	48	15	4	2	43	15	4	9	8	23	33	1.375	51		1-2	3-2
4	Nottingham Forest	42	20	9	13	67	39	13	0	8	37	15	7	9	5	30	24	1.718	49
5	Torquay United	42	19	10	13	66	63	13	6	2	40	23	6	4	11	26	40	1.048	48		1-2	0-2
6	Watford	42	16	13	13	45	35	10	6	5	26	13	6	7	8	19	22	1.286	45		0-1	0-1
7	Crystal Palace	42	15	14	13	55	54	12	5	4	35	21	3	9	9	20	33	1.019	44		2-0	1-1
8	Brighton and Hove Albion	42	16	12	14	57	69	9	8	4	32	24	7	4	10	25	45	.826	44		0-1	2-2
9	Bristol Rovers	42	19	5	18	51	51	12	5	4	34	18	7	0	14	17	33	1.000	43		2-0	3-0
10	Reading	42	17	8	17	70	64	15	2	4	48	21	2	6	13	22	43	1.094	42		1-2	1-1
11	Norwich City	42	16	10	16	65	63	11	5	5	44	21	5	5	11	21	42	1.032	42		0-1	1-1
12	Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic	42	16	10	16	57	56	11	6	4	38	19	5	4	12	19	37	1.018	42		3-0	2-1
13	Port Vale	42	15	11	16	47	42	12	6	3	33	13	3	5	13	14	29	1.119	41		2-0	1-1
14	Swindon Town	42	15	11	16	59	62	9	7	5	41	30	6	4	11	18	32	.952	41		2-1	5-0
15	Bristol City	42	15	10	17	60	61	12	4	5	38	19	3	6	12	22	42	.984	40		3-0	2-0
16	Exeter City	42	14	11	17	63	75	9	8	4	37	27	5	3	13	26	48	.840	39		5-0	0-0
17	Ipswich Town	42	12	11	19	57	86	9	6	6	36	36	3	5	13	21	50	.663	35		2-0	2-1
18	Leyton Orient	42	12	11	19	53	85	10	6	5	33	30	2	5	14	20	55	.624	35		2-1	1-1
19	Walsall	42	9	16	17	61	62	8	8	5	37	25	1	8	12	24	37	.984	34		1-0	3-1
20	Aldershot	42	13	8	21	48	60	10	5	6	30	16	3	3	15	18	44	.800	34		3-0	1-1
21	Newport County	42	13	8	21	67	98	11	5	5	50	34	2	3	16	17	64	.684	34	Re-elected	3-0	1-4
22	Millwall	42	14	4	24	55	63	11	1	9	39	29	3	3	15	16	34	.873	32	Re-elected	3-1	1-2

Points per win: 2

Click here for all tables for 1949-50

LEAGUE POSITIONS

GOALS
Goals scored, conceded and win and loss margins

Goal count:	1 goal	2 goals	3 goals	4 goals	5+ goals
Scored	14 times	10 times	8 times		2 times
Conceded	17 times	10 times		1 time
Won By	7 times	7 times	5 times		2 times
Lost By	10 times	3 times	1 time

LEAGUE POSITION ANALYSIS
Analysis of the league positions
This table shows:
(a) how many days we spent in each of the league positions
(b) how we did when we played teams in each of the league positions.

Position days			Record against teams in each position
Forest Pos	Num Days		Opp Pos	P	W	D	L	F	A	Points	Results (Green=win; Blue=draw; Red=loss)
				-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Not included: Week 1 game against Brighton and Hove Albion (2-2) as all teams were unplaced at the time

GAMES

Manager for all games: Billy Walker
League

Week	Date	Time	Opponent	H/A	Score	Att	Pos	Scorers	Status
1	Sat Aug 20, 1949	3:00 pm	Brighton and Hove Albion	A	2-2	21,625	10	Willard (10' OG), Ardron (25')
2	Wed Aug 24, 1949	7:45 pm	Bristol City	H	3-0	27,043	4	Kaile (27'), Ardron (62' pen), Fred Stone (85' OG)
3	Sat Aug 27, 1949	3:00 pm	Walsall	H	1-0	28,448	2	Kaile (68')
4	Tue Aug 30, 1949	7:45 pm	Bristol City	A	2-0	25,924	1	Ardron (48', 68')
5	Sat Sep 03, 1949	3:00 pm	Millwall	A	1-2	25,272	3	Leverton (38')
6	Thu Sep 08, 1949	7:45 pm	Northampton Town	A	0-0	19,228	3
7	Sat Sep 10, 1949	3:00 pm	Swindon Town	H	2-1	24,709	2	Ardron (75'), Ashman (78')
8	Wed Sep 14, 1949	7:45 pm	Northampton Town	H	0-1	23,395	5
9	Sat Sep 17, 1949	3:00 pm	Torquay United	A	0-2	10,603	9
10	Sat Sep 24, 1949	3:00 pm	Aldershot	H	3-0	19,819	6	Ardron (51', 79'), Ashman (78')
11	Sat Oct 01, 1949	3:00 pm	Ipswich Town	A	2-1	16,509	5	Ardron (47', 64' pen)
12	Sat Oct 08, 1949	3:00 pm	Exeter City	H	5-0	25,988	3	Kaile (11'), Ardron (12', 34'), Leverton (53', 82')
13	Sat Oct 15, 1949	3:00 pm	Leyton Orient	A	1-1	15,767	3	Anderson (2')
14	Sat Oct 22, 1949	3:00 pm	Reading	H	1-2	21,688	4	Ardron (67')
15	Sat Oct 29, 1949	3:00 pm	Watford	A	0-1	17,467	9
16	Sat Nov 05, 1949	3:00 pm	Crystal Palace	H	2-0	18,471	5	Love (20', 70')
17	Sat Nov 12, 1949	3:00 pm	Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic	A	2-1	18,452	3	Scott (50', 80')
18	Sat Nov 19, 1949	3:00 pm	Bristol Rovers	H	2-0	22,590	2	Capel (55', 79')
19	Sat Dec 03, 1949	3:00 pm	Notts County	H	1-2	37,903	3	Capel (86')
20	Sat Dec 17, 1949	3:00 pm	Brighton and Hove Albion	H	0-1	13,096	7
21	Sat Dec 24, 1949	3:00 pm	Walsall	A	3-1	10,910	6	Ardron (60', 75'), Johnson (67')
22	Mon Dec 26, 1949	7:45 pm	Norwich City	A	1-1	35,933	6	Ardron (73')
23	Tue Dec 27, 1949	7:45 pm	Norwich City	H	0-1	31,932	7
24	Sat Dec 31, 1949	3:00 pm	Millwall	H	3-1	20,633	6	Kaile (1'), Ardron (50', 51')
25	Sat Jan 14, 1950	3:00 pm	Swindon Town	A	5-0	15,604	5	Ardron (26', 85'), Johnson (31'), Love (36', 43')
26	Sat Jan 21, 1950	3:00 pm	Torquay United	H	1-2	24,698	5	Burkitt (54')
27	Sat Jan 28, 1950	3:00 pm	Southend United	A	3-2	9,652	4	Love (22', 85'), Gager (58' pen)
28	Sat Feb 04, 1950	3:00 pm	Aldershot	A	1-1	7,435	3	Capel (89')
29	Sat Feb 11, 1950	3:00 pm	Port Vale	A	1-1	18,218	3	Ardron (75')
30	Sat Feb 18, 1950	3:00 pm	Ipswich Town	H	2-0	23,622	3	Love (22'), Scott (89')
31	Sat Feb 25, 1950	3:00 pm	Exeter City	A	0-0	11,640	3
32	Sat Mar 04, 1950	3:00 pm	Leyton Orient	H	2-1	19,802	3	Kaile (11'), Ardron (50')
33	Sat Mar 11, 1950	3:00 pm	Reading	A	1-1	14,352	3	Capel (22')
34	Sat Mar 18, 1950	3:00 pm	Watford	H	0-1	17,368	3
35	Sat Mar 25, 1950	3:00 pm	Crystal Palace	A	1-1	17,480	3	Capel (64')
36	Sat Apr 01, 1950	3:00 pm	Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic	H	3-0	16,777	3	Capel (2', 15'), Love (29')	Safe
37	Fri Apr 07, 1950	7:45 pm	Newport County	A	1-4	13,337	3	Love (50')	Safe
38	Sat Apr 08, 1950	3:00 pm	Bristol Rovers	A	3-0	16,793	3	Love (5', 44'), Ardron (70')	Safe
39	Mon Apr 10, 1950	7:45 pm	Newport County	H	3-0	15,799	2	Ardron (20', 70'), Scott (35')	Safe
40	Sat Apr 15, 1950	3:00 pm	Southend United	H	1-2	25,416	4	Capel (63')	Safe
41	Sat Apr 22, 1950	3:00 pm	Notts County	A	0-2	46,000	5		Safe
42	Sat Apr 29, 1950	3:00 pm	Port Vale	H	2-0	5,906	3	Kaile (55'), Ardron (77')	Safe

FA Cup

Date	Time	Opponent	Round	Replay	H/A	Score	Att	Scorers
Sat Nov 26, 1949	3:00 pm	Bristol City	1		H	1-0	15,567	Kaile (48')
Sat Dec 10, 1949	3:00 pm	Stockport County	2		H	0-2	18,253

Friendly

Date	Time	Opponent	Country	H/A	Score	Att	Scorers
Tue Apr 25, 1950	3:00 pm	Tilbury	England	H	1-1	5,000	Ashman (63')
Sat May 13, 1950	3:00 pm	Gooi Hilversum	Netherlands	A	1-0	-	Ardron (?)
Thu May 18, 1950	3:00 pm	Sparta Rotterdam	Netherlands	A	1-0	-	Gager (? pen)
Sun May 21, 1950	3:00 pm	Gottingen 05	Germany	A	2-2	-	Love (?), Ardron (?)
Tue May 23, 1950	3:00 pm	Werder Bremen	Germany	A	1-5	12,000	Gager (? pen)
Thu May 25, 1950	3:00 pm	Osnabruck	Germany	A	2-2	-	Hutchinson (?), Love (?)
Sun May 28, 1950	3:00 pm	RC Malines	Belgium	A	0-6	-

Date	Game Type	Opponent	Round	H/A	Score	Att	Scorers	League Status
Manager: Billy Walker
Sat Aug 20, 1949	League Tier 3	Brighton and Hove Albion		A	2-2	21,625	Willard (10' OG), Ardron (25')
Wed Aug 24, 1949	League Tier 3	Bristol City		H	3-0	27,043	Kaile (27'), Ardron (62' pen), Fred Stone (85' OG)
Sat Aug 27, 1949	League Tier 3	Walsall		H	1-0	28,448	Kaile (68')
Tue Aug 30, 1949	League Tier 3	Bristol City		A	2-0	25,924	Ardron (48', 68')
Sat Sep 03, 1949	League Tier 3	Millwall		A	1-2	25,272	Leverton (38')
Thu Sep 08, 1949	League Tier 3	Northampton Town		A	0-0	19,228
Sat Sep 10, 1949	League Tier 3	Swindon Town		H	2-1	24,709	Ardron (75'), Ashman (78')
Wed Sep 14, 1949	League Tier 3	Northampton Town		H	0-1	23,395
Sat Sep 17, 1949	League Tier 3	Torquay United		A	0-2	10,603
Sat Sep 24, 1949	League Tier 3	Aldershot		H	3-0	19,819	Ardron (51', 79'), Ashman (78')
Sat Oct 01, 1949	League Tier 3	Ipswich Town		A	2-1	16,509	Ardron (47', 64' pen)
Sat Oct 08, 1949	League Tier 3	Exeter City		H	5-0	25,988	Kaile (11'), Ardron (12', 34'), Leverton (53', 82')
Sat Oct 15, 1949	League Tier 3	Leyton Orient		A	1-1	15,767	Anderson (2')
Sat Oct 22, 1949	League Tier 3	Reading		H	1-2	21,688	Ardron (67')
Sat Oct 29, 1949	League Tier 3	Watford		A	0-1	17,467
Sat Nov 05, 1949	League Tier 3	Crystal Palace		H	2-0	18,471	Love (20', 70')
Sat Nov 12, 1949	League Tier 3	Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic		A	2-1	18,452	Scott (50', 80')
Sat Nov 19, 1949	League Tier 3	Bristol Rovers		H	2-0	22,590	Capel (55', 79')
Sat Nov 26, 1949	FA Cup	Bristol City	1	H	1-0	15,567	Kaile (48')
Sat Dec 03, 1949	League Tier 3	Notts County		H	1-2	37,903	Capel (86')
Sat Dec 10, 1949	FA Cup	Stockport County	2	H	0-2	18,253
Sat Dec 17, 1949	League Tier 3	Brighton and Hove Albion		H	0-1	13,096
Sat Dec 24, 1949	League Tier 3	Walsall		A	3-1	10,910	Ardron (60', 75'), Johnson (67')
Mon Dec 26, 1949	League Tier 3	Norwich City		A	1-1	35,933	Ardron (73')
Tue Dec 27, 1949	League Tier 3	Norwich City		H	0-1	31,932
Sat Dec 31, 1949	League Tier 3	Millwall		H	3-1	20,633	Kaile (1'), Ardron (50', 51')
Sat Jan 14, 1950	League Tier 3	Swindon Town		A	5-0	15,604	Ardron (26', 85'), Johnson (31'), Love (36', 43')
Sat Jan 21, 1950	League Tier 3	Torquay United		H	1-2	24,698	Burkitt (54')
Sat Jan 28, 1950	League Tier 3	Southend United		A	3-2	9,652	Love (22', 85'), Gager (58' pen)
Sat Feb 04, 1950	League Tier 3	Aldershot		A	1-1	7,435	Capel (89')
Sat Feb 11, 1950	League Tier 3	Port Vale		A	1-1	18,218	Ardron (75')
Sat Feb 18, 1950	League Tier 3	Ipswich Town		H	2-0	23,622	Love (22'), Scott (89')
Sat Feb 25, 1950	League Tier 3	Exeter City		A	0-0	11,640
Sat Mar 04, 1950	League Tier 3	Leyton Orient		H	2-1	19,802	Kaile (11'), Ardron (50')
Sat Mar 11, 1950	League Tier 3	Reading		A	1-1	14,352	Capel (22')
Sat Mar 18, 1950	League Tier 3	Watford		H	0-1	17,368
Sat Mar 25, 1950	League Tier 3	Crystal Palace		A	1-1	17,480	Capel (64')
Sat Apr 01, 1950	League Tier 3	Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic		H	3-0	16,777	Capel (2', 15'), Love (29')	Safe
Fri Apr 07, 1950	League Tier 3	Newport County		A	1-4	13,337	Love (50')	Safe
Sat Apr 08, 1950	League Tier 3	Bristol Rovers		A	3-0	16,793	Love (5', 44'), Ardron (70')	Safe
Mon Apr 10, 1950	League Tier 3	Newport County		H	3-0	15,799	Ardron (20', 70'), Scott (35')	Safe
Sat Apr 15, 1950	League Tier 3	Southend United		H	1-2	25,416	Capel (63')	Safe
Sat Apr 22, 1950	League Tier 3	Notts County		A	0-2	46,000		Safe
Tue Apr 25, 1950	Friendly	Tilbury		H	1-1	5,000	Ashman (63')
Sat Apr 29, 1950	League Tier 3	Port Vale		H	2-0	5,906	Kaile (55'), Ardron (77')	Safe
Sat May 13, 1950	Friendly	Gooi Hilversum		A	1-0	-	Ardron (?)
Thu May 18, 1950	Friendly	Sparta Rotterdam		A	1-0	-	Gager (? pen)
Sun May 21, 1950	Friendly	Gottingen 05		A	2-2	-	Love (?), Ardron (?)
Tue May 23, 1950	Friendly	Werder Bremen		A	1-5	12,000	Gager (? pen)
Thu May 25, 1950	Friendly	Osnabruck		A	2-2	-	Hutchinson (?), Love (?)
Sun May 28, 1950	Friendly	RC Malines		A	0-6	-

	Possession %	On Target	Off Target	Corners	Fouls	Saves
Date	Opponent	Round	Replay	H/A	Score	Att	Us	Opp	Us	Opp	Us	Opp	Us	Opp	Us	Opp	Us	Opp
Sat Nov 26, 1949	Bristol City	1		H	1-0	15,567
Sat Dec 10, 1949	Stockport County	2		H	0-2	18,253

TRANSFERS
Transfers before, during and immediately after the season.

In (5) - £14,000				Out (10) - £0
Date	Player	Details	Fee	Date	Player	Details	Fee
	David Baker	Bought			Alan Ashman	Sold
	Edwin Lindley	Bought			David Baker	Sold
	Tommy Capel	Bought	£14,000		Edwin Lindley	Sold
Aug 20, 1949	Wally Ardron	Bought			Frank Knight	Sold
Oct 01, 1949	John Anderson	Bought			Gordon Kaile	Sold
					Ken Rawson	Sold
				Jan 01, 1950	Sid Ottewell	Sold
				Jan 06, 1950	Laurie Platts	Sold
				June 1950	Gordon Brown	Sold
				Jun 01, 1950	Johnny Linaker	Sold

SQUAD

*Age = Player age on August 1st					Season Record (Competitive Games only)
Pos	Num	Player	Country	Age*	P	W	D	L	Goals	Yellows	Reds	Went Off	Came On	Unused Sub	Notes
Goalkeepers
GK		Harry Walker	England	33	42	20	9	13
GK		Laurie Platts	England	27	2	1		1
Defenders
D		Bill Whare	England	24	23	9	6	8
D		David Baker	England	20	3	1	1	1
D		Geoff Thomas (1944-60)	England	23	21	12	3	6
D		Horace Gager	England	32	37	18	8	11	1
D		Jack Hutchinson	England	28	19	10	4	5
Midfielders
M		Bill Morley	England	24	16	7	4	5
M		Bob McCall	England	33	26	12	5	9
M		Edwin Lindley	England	18	1	1
M		Frank Knight	England	27	6	2	1	3
M		Jack Burkitt	England	23	32	16	6	10	1
M		John Anderson	England	27	34	16	7	11	1
M		Johnny Linaker	England	22	2	1	1
M		Ken Rawson	England	28	4	2		2
M		Wally Ardron	England	30	43	21	8	14	25
Forwards
F		Alan Ashman	England	21	10	5	1	4	2
F		Freddie Scott	England	32	43	20	9	14	4
F		Gordon Kaile	England	24	42	21	8	13	7
F		John Love	Scotland	25	39	17	8	14	11
F		Sid Ottewell	England	29	1			1
F		Tommy Capel	England	27	26	12	6	8	9
F		Tot Leverton	England	23	8	4	3	1	3
F		Tucker Johnson	England	27	4	3	1		2

GOALSCORERS

Number of different scorers: 13

Goals (Pens)	Player	Num Games
25	Wally Ardron	43
11	John Love	39
9	Tommy Capel	26
7	Gordon Kaile	42
4	Freddie Scott	43
3	Tot Leverton	8
2	Alan Ashman	10
2	Own Goals	44
2	Tucker Johnson	4
1	Horace Gager	37
1	Jack Burkitt	32
1	John Anderson	34

LEAGUE DOUBLES (FOR)
Home and away victories for the season

	Game 1			Game 2
Opponent	Date	H/A	Score	Date	H/A	Score
Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic	Sat Nov 12, 1949	Away	2-1	Sat Apr 01, 1950	Home	3-0
Bristol City	Wed Aug 24, 1949	Home	3-0	Tue Aug 30, 1949	Away	2-0
Bristol Rovers	Sat Nov 19, 1949	Home	2-0	Sat Apr 08, 1950	Away	3-0
Ipswich Town	Sat Oct 01, 1949	Away	2-1	Sat Feb 18, 1950	Home	2-0
Swindon Town	Sat Sep 10, 1949	Home	2-1	Sat Jan 14, 1950	Away	5-0
Walsall	Sat Aug 27, 1949	Home	1-0	Sat Dec 24, 1949	Away	3-1

LEAGUE DOUBLES (AGAINST)
Home and away losses for the season

	Game 1			Game 2
Opponent	Date	H/A	Score	Date	H/A	Score
Notts County	Sat Dec 03, 1949	Home	1-2	Sat Apr 22, 1950	Away	0-2
Torquay United	Sat Sep 17, 1949	Away	0-2	Sat Jan 21, 1950	Home	1-2
Watford	Sat Oct 29, 1949	Away	0-1	Sat Mar 18, 1950	Home	0-1