1959/60 Series - Part 12

Monday 5th October 1959, Burnley played their second friendly in 6 days,sandwiched either side of the first division encounter at White Hart Lane against league division 1 leaders Tottenham Hotspur,  this time it was at Home Park Plymouth in a benefit game for Neil Dougall, son of Burnley's very own Billy Dougall. Billy was signed by Burnley from Falkirk in 1926, he played 60 times for us in the league scoring just 1 goal and played 3 times in the FA Cup, he played for 3 seasons and in 1929 he was appointed onto the coaching staff, he held that position for the next 29 years when in 1958 he was made manager, but due to ill health he had to relinquish that post but carried on as physio until 1965 when he retired from the game completely.

The following piece was vey kindly written for us by a long time supporter and valued member of the Plymouth staff, Mr Mike Curno, I would on your behalf like to say a big thank you for Mike's input into this weeks review.

Neil, actually, his name was Cornelius Dougall, born in Falkirk, 7th  Nov  1921, he still lives in Plymouth, he was with Burnley Juniors in March 1940 (wartime) but made no appearances, was in the RAF and was selected for the Air Force Wartime eleven, and played alongside Stan Matthews and Stan Mortenson, he also played for a Scotland international wartime side, and guested for Oldham, Watford, Walsall and Coventry then he went to Birmingham City and made 93 appearances and scored 15 goals, he was an inside forward for them that was October 1945 to March 1949, he was chosen to play for a Scottish side against England in a victory international, then he played in a full international to win his only cap, he went on to play for Plymouth in May 1949 for £13,000, a big fee in those days, he played right half, he made 274 appearances for Argyle and scored 26 goals.

His father William played for Falkirk, Bury, Burnley and the Scottish league, his uncle James played for Preston, Carlisle, Halifax and Scotland, he also played inside right, outside right, left back, left half, centre half, and probably all the other outfield positions. He acquired his FA coaching qualification and was player coach to Plymouth reserves in 1959. When Jack Rowley finished as manager for Plymouth, Neil became first team manager, then he ran a fitness club in Plymouth and retired in 1986. Unfortunately, Neil's wife Monica died earlier this year and Neil himself is suffering from the terrible Alzeimer's disease.

The following are two of the actual reports from the Western Evening Herald, and I would once again like to say a big thank you to Joan Bennett from the Library of The Evening Herald who kindly took the time to delve into the archives and also went to the trouble of sending copies of the match reports.

The response by both the Club and The Evening Herald to my request for information on this game was magnificent and is to be applauded, it just goes to show that some clubs will acknowledge supporters of football and not just their own.

From The Western Evening Herald Monday 5th October 1959

Dougall Is Out

Neil Dougall will not play in his benefit game against first division Burnley at Home Park tonight (kick off 7-30pm). Said Mr Rowley: I had a word with Neil today and he doesn't really feel up to it. Roger Smith aged 18 plays in goal because Mr Rowley wants to give the youngster some first team experience. Reg Wyatt is unfit so Gordon Fincham takes over at centre half.

Burnley who are travelling to and from the game by air make two changes from the side who drew 1-1 at Tottenham on Saturday. They have won seven of their eleven matches and are only a point behind Tottenham, the first division leaders.

Bob Seith comes in at right half, Brian Pilkington switches from outside left to outside right and Gordon Harris takes the left wing position.

Teams:

Argyle: Smith, Stacey, Bellett, Johnny Williams, Fincham, John Williams, Anderson, Carter, Wright, Waldock, Govan.
Burnley: Blacklaw, Angus, Elder, Seith, Cummings, Miller, Pilkington, White, Pointer, Robson, Harris.

Match report from The Western Evening Herald 6th October 1959

With A Ray Pointer Argyle would be laughing.

Burnley star hit 3 goals at Home Park

Fast moving precision soccer from so cool Burnley earned applause from Argyle's sporting fans in Neil Dougall's benefit match at Home Park last night. It was football, football all the way from polished Burnley, who mastered Plymouth crisply and convincingly to win 6-1.
A near 13,000 crowd paying tribute to Dougall's years of service with Plymouth, saw never say die Plymouth keep pegging away gamely but Burnley were so fast and so full of ideas.

They earned their bonus the easy way. Give Argyle a centre forward like dashing Ray Pointer and they would be laughing. He has unlimited ability and power.

Plymouth never showed the same skill and threat that the glittering Pointer was able to inspire in Burnley's brisk attack. Oh! for a Pointer in our forward line, Argyle must have sighed. Moving like lightening he scored three goals.

Human Dynamo

Argyle's colourful new inside forward, Ronnie Waldock played well. He was here, there and everywhere and never stopped chasing. Here was a human dynamo on the football field, Waldock is fitting in well at Home Park, he was Plymouth's man of the match.

Argyle fielded 18 year old Roger Smith in goal and he showed a lot of promise. He will not meet much better oposition than Burnley.

Verdict: Plymouth, who never let up, were outskilled by a splendid Burnley side.

Billy White, Gordon Harris and Ray Pointer made it 3-0 for Burnley at half time. Just afterwards Brian Pilkington added a fourth. Argyle brightened up and it was left to Alex Govan to get their solitary goal. Peter Anderson whipped over a perfect cross which the impressive Govan headed in beautifully. Pointer collected a fifth for Burnley and scored again right on time.

Official attendance was 12,996.
 
Next up in the 1959/60 series, it's back to the league and the home game against Blackpool Saturday 10th October 1959