Part 24 - The Fifth of Eighteen

[TLW]

THE FIFTH OF EIGHTEEN (1946/47)

Written by Steve Horton

Season - 1946/47 Opposition - Wolves Scorers - Jack Balmer, Albert Stubbins Result - 1-2 Venue - Molineux

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a nailbiting winner takes all battle at Molineux, Liverpool won 2-1 to go top of the league in our final game. However we had an agonising fortnight's wait to find out if we would be crowned league champions.

Going into the game Wolves needed just a point to take the title. But they wilted in searing 90 degree heat and goals from Jack Balmer and Albert Stubbins put us 2-0 up at half time. After the break Jimmy Dunn got one back for the home side but we held on for a famous victory, made all the more remarkable as key players Billy Liddell, Bob Paisley and Phil Taylor were all missing.

The win meant we leapfrogged Wolves at the top of the table but despite the league championship trophy being in the ground we couldn't be presented with it. A severe winter had meant there was a huge fixture backlog and Stoke could overhaul us if they won their last game, which was scheduled for 14th June.

On that day we met Everton in the Liverpool Senior Cup Final at Anfield and 40,000 turned out to see us stroll to a 2-1 victory. But the real final was taking place elsewhere and when it was announced that Stoke had lost 2-1 to Sheffield United the crowd invaded the pitch to salute the first Post-War champions.


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