Match 36: Much of the town stopped as Nelson prepared to to take on Wrexham in a potentially historic match at Seedhill.
The magnificent results gained by the Blues during April meant that they came into this midweek match against the side from North Wales knowing a victory would seal them the Third Division North title with two games to spare.To capture the spirit and nostalgia of the occasion, the articles below are those of the Nelson football reporter at the time and as printed in the Nelson Leader on Friday 27th April 1923:
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Unparalled scenes were witnessed on the Nelson ground on Tuesday evening, when Nelson played their return game with Wrexham. If Nelson won, their position as champions was assured, and consequently the match excited the greatest interest.
The setting could not have been more fitting. The night was perfect, and one of the largest crowds of the season assembled. A great number went straight from the mill to the field without tea, motor charabancs conveying parties from the out of way places of the town.
One or two mills stopped a little earlier so that the workpeople could get down in time, and when the teams turned out - preceded by a jazz band - the scene was a most animated one.
The grandstand was packed, and in the crowd one could see standing one or two ex-mayors from Burnley, and legislators and managers from other clubs. Tom Maley, of Bradford, was amongst the company, and he had a double interest, for Bradford had just an outside chance if Nelson failed.
One or two of the Bradford players were also present, to say nothing of Tom Boyle and other Burnley players. Blue and white rosettes were freely worn by the Nelson supporters, and the whole scene lent itself to an historic occasion.
Nelson were still without Wilson and Steele, and there was a fear that the excitement of the game might have it's effect on the play of the Nelsonians. The crows apparently suffered more from nerves than the players, for the latter immediately got into their stride, and began to exert pressure on the visitors goal.
The ball was lively and passes sometimes went astray, but McCulloch soon came into prominence by the dexterity with which he got the ball under control and fed Wolstenholme. His pass to Hoad was too strong, and the ball went out of play, but the outside right missed a chance of centering immediately afterwards.
Rigg made a characteristically cool clearance when the visitors right wing got away, and Hutchinson centred for Eddleston to test Godding with a capital shot which he cleared well. Crawshaw raced away once to drive the ball right across goal and just outside the post, Godding being helpless.
After 11 minutes Nelson scored a fine goal. Hutchinson got possession of the ball from a goal kick, and, outpacing Regan and Holmes, he centered beautifully for Crawshaw to drive home a low shot.
There was no mistaking the superiority of the Nelson side at this stage, for it was only on rare occasions that Wrexham got away, Black once conceding a corner which was easily cleared. Godding, at the other end, was constantly in action, saving cleverly a header from Crawshaw, whilst he made a brilliant clearance from Eddleston. The Nelson centre forward ran away from all opposition, but when he was in the penalty area Godding ran out, covered Eddleston's view, and held a terrific shot from a few yards range.
A second time Eddleston was racing through, but this time he was fouled just outside the penalty area, but Holmes got his foot to Braidwood's shot and cleared.
Crawshaw made another great effort to score, but his shot rolled right across the face of goal and out at the post. Jones was the best forward on the visitors side, and once clever work by him almost caused the downfall of the home goal, Birds catching his centre and clearing.
Rigg was vociferously applauded for the way in which he tricked Burton and Cotton. A corner for Wrexham in the last minute of the first half was easily cleared.
Nelson again took command of the game in the second half, Godding fisting away from Hoad in the first few minutes, while Wolstenholme had hard luck with a great shot which laid Holmes out.
Eddleston shot yards wide when splendidly placed in the penalty area, and Crawshaw was twice dispossessed as he attempted to break through. McCulloch twice sent in long dropping shots which Godding safely caught, and try as they would Nelson could not break down a very fine defence.
On the other hand, the visitors forwards were well held on the whole, but once Rigg sent the crowd into great enthusiasm by a magnificent clearance.
Fears of a breakaway and an equaliser were silenced at the end of 21 minutes play, for Eddleston took advantage of a clever pass from Crawshaw to score a second goal. Hats and caps were thrown into the air, and a scene of great enthusiasm followed.
With the game well in hand, Nelson proceeded to play skilful football, and Wolstenholme had decidedly hard lines once when he lifted the ball over Godding's head as he advanced, but it went a yard or so outside the post. Nelson won by 2 goals to nil.
REMARKABLE ENTHUSIASM. TRIUMPHAL STREET PROCESSION.
Immediately the game was over, the crowd surged across the field, and it was with difficulty the Nelson players were able to reach the shelter of the pavilion. They were not allowed to remain there long, for in response to calls of the crowd, the players had to come on to the balcony and submit to the applause of the thousands who were assembled.
It was a wonderful spectacle and one which will not readily be forgotten by those privileged to see it. Short speeches were made by Mr. W. Hartley (Chairman of the Directors), Dave Wilson, who had a particularly cordial reception, Mr. J. Wooliscroft, and 'Mick' McCulloch. It was impossible to catch all that was said, but so long as the players were on view that was the only thing that mattered.
Mr. W. Hartley expressed his admiration for the team, which had reached the ambition they set out for. It had been a trying time for the directors, and they could now feel happy. It was now up to the public of Nelson to support them. He appealed to the gentlemen in the town to come forward with their aid and give them financial support. It was needed so that they could thoroughly equip their ground and make it suitable for holding large crowds.
Dave Wilson said he was the happiest man in Nelson that night. Nelson had made history and reached its ambition. He was proud of the achievement, because he could say with some pride that he had taken part in it. There were not a better set of fellows in the whole country than the Nelson players, both on and off the field.
Referring to next season, Mr. Wilson said that enthusiasm ran high that night. He hoped it would be maintained throughout next season. By the opening of the new campaign he hoped the new stand would be ready. They wanted many willing workers, and he trusted that everybody who loved football in the town would help them on. If the public would only support them and provide the funds, he could assure them that they would find that their efforts would be rewarded by a good team, worthy of their place in the new company.
Subsequently the players were given an enthusiastic triumphal procession throughout the town, the streets being crowded with spectators. Two of the old veterans, Mr. J. Snowden and Mr. J. Hopkinson ("Boxer"), were given prominent places in the procession, and both looked supremely happy at the consummation of the season's work.
| Match 36 summary: Tuesday 24th April 1923 | |||
| Nelson | (1) 2 | Wrexham | (0) 0 |
| Crawshaw, Eddleston | |||
| Nelson: Joseph BIRDS, John BLACK, Clement RIGG, Mike MCCULLOCH, Ernie BRAIDWOOD, Jimmy BROADHEAD, Sid HOAD, Arthur WOLSTENHOLME, Joe EDDLESTON, Dick CRAWSHAW, Bob HUTCHINSON | |||
| Wrexham: G.A. Godding, G.W. Holmes, J.N. Edwards, E.G.P. Regan, G. Savage, T.J. Mathias, M. Burton, W.C. Cotton, W.K. Jackson, J.R. Jones, A. Sheldon Attendance: 12,000 | |||
