4 - 3 - 2 .... can we do it again?

All About Walsall
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The possibility of promotion out of this basement League has, I guess, been far from our minds in recent years - it has sometimes been nearer the truth to gauge the prospects of relegation, which after all has been the fate of many “established” clubs - Notts County, Luton Town, Doncaster Rovers, Stockport County, Wrexham etc. etc.

Those of us long in the tooth (or indeed long in the denture) will remember the halcyon days of Bill Moore’s management in the late 1950’s. When the 4th division was created in 1958 we had finished the season in a respectable 6th place, only the top 4 being promoted. The following season, however, saw us as Champions - there were only 2 points for a win back then, but if you re-calculate using the current 3 points we would have ended up with 93 points, some 7 points clear of the runners-up (Notts County). It’s interesting to note that Crystal Palace finished 8th that season, and Peterborough Utd were elected to the League for the first time, taking **Gateshead’**s place.

So, having been Champions of the 4th division (League 2), we found ourselves in the 3rd division (League 1) the next season. We had some team in those days because we breezed straight through that division, finishing as runners-up to Bury and being promoted to the 2nd division (The Championship). Our points equivalent that year was 90, and the season was remarkable in another way - we went the whole season undefeated at home in the League … Played 23, Won 19, Drew 4, Lost 0 … Goals scored 62, conceded 20. Of course, being Walsall, that wasn’t good enough and we had to smudge our copybook by losing at home in the F. A. Cup (0-1) to non-league Yeovil Town, but we won’t dwell on that.

So, what did it take to get those promotions, on a simple “Points per game” formula?

Champions of division 4 … Played 46, Points 93, therefore 2.02 points per game
Runners-up in division 3 …Played 46, Points 90, therefore 1.95 points per game

This season so far … Played 22, Points 49, therefore 2.227 points per game

I’m beginning to believe…

UTS

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I would love it if today’s team could manage to do what these guys did; will take something special to emulate them though:

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Great post, I enjoyed reading that.

Since we have been back in this horrible division, 80 points would have been enough to get 3rd place and promotion (not counting the cancelled covid season)

82 points just to be certain would be around 1.78 points per game.

That leaves us 39 points to get from 26 games, 1.5 points per game. That’s how close we are to doing it.

Exciting times.

Hopefully, I have got all of that right, or I am going to look a right berk (not for the first time)

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Agree great post brings back lovely memories remember also that Yeovil game.proper giant killing for them .

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Is your dad on that clip PP?

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Yes he is WalDon. It’s the only footage that I’ve found of him during his playing days.

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Tell me is that you dad Trevor Foster in the still as the goalkeeper throws the ball out .l ask because when I saw that post he was the first player I though I recognised was Trevor .then I saw someone ask if your dad was in the clip so researched you post and found he was you dad .i remember him quite vividly tall gangly good looking dark headed lad probably saw most of his games for Walsall skill full lad remember his injuries and Walsall trying to beef him up .i started watching Walsall as a 10 year old 58/59 golden years .you must be very proud of your dad to have been part of that side .i love in that clip and Bill Moore’s attire he always dressed very dapper in a nice suit .i remember vividly when he came back to Walsall 5 years later in his second spell he seemed to be wearing the same suits from before and most of his trousers looked to short and were flying at half mast .:joy::joy:great manager one of Walsall’s finest in my opinion

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I remember Trevor Foster well. He was a few years ahead of me at Joseph Leckie School. . I didn’t realise he had a relative on here. He was a skilful player and always gave his best. Lovely bit of film there.

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Yes, Cowshed, he’s the fella centre of the pic with the dark shirt.
Incredibly proud that he fulfilled every lads dream of playing for the club that he supported. That he managed to be at WFC during 2 promotions is even more special.
I know that Bill Moore tried to bulk dad up by putting him on a steak and Guinness diet. Didn’t work though :confused:
Glad you remember him.

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Well i dont know about winning the league again, but im confident this is a nailed on top 3 side.

Dont break me withered old heart again Walsall.

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I’m really glad there’s some footage of him out there. TV cameras rarely visited WFC in those days.

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This team has a real grit and determination about it that’s been missing in recent seasons.
Really hope that we go up this season.
UTS.

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I love their attitude, even if we concede straight back at it. No heads down, no arguing.

Ive said it before but it appears we finally have a set of players who actually want to win for themselves and for us and not pick up their pay regardless. 6 points top at christmas, whats all that about :grinning:

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Yes, big egos seem to be absent. All pulling in the same direction and the squad seems very tightly-knit.
All credit to Sadler for this.

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Ar, winning helps but i think its an under rated part of Sadlers work.

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I think it also helps we’ve broken the cycle of having to rebuild the entire squad from scratch at the start of the season because we’ve given Sadler some time to build something.

Looking at the matchday squad from Boxing Day last year, 12 of the 18 are still here. That’s got to help with squad unity.

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Draper did well with a worse team and an awful version of Matt

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Sorry PP, only just picked up this reply. How is your dad? Not seen him at a game for a few seasons.

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He’s still going strong, thanks. Doesn’t get to many games these days, especially when it’s cold. Hoping to make it to the Bescot when the weather’s a bit warmer.

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Please give him our best wishes, he should remember me (Don) and my wife Glyn from our time at T.I. Tubes on the old Aldridge Airport.

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