1958–59 Middlesbrough F.C. season

Middlesbrough

1958–59 season
Chairman	Eric Thomas
Manager	Bob Dennison
Stadium	Ayresome Park
Division Two	13th
FA Cup	3rd round
Top goalscorer	League: Brian Clough (43) All: Clough (43)
Home colours Away colours

The 1958–59 season was Middlesbrough's 76th year in existence and 5th consecutive season in the Division Two. Also the club competed in the FA Cup.

Summary

In his fifth season as manager Bob Dennison took off Boro to the 13th place a massive twenty points below promotion to Division One. Forward Brian Clough scored 43 goals being Division Two topscorer with another brilliant partnership among Alan Peacock. [1] After the departure of Jamaican Lindy Delapenha during summer, the offensive line was hit with several injuries such as Mc Lean and Fitzsimons, forcing Dennison and the staff coach to line up Scottish Forward Willie Fernie[2] who delivered a decent performance after arriving from the Scot squad playing the 1958 FIFA World Cup. [3] In spite of a premier class offensive line, Boro again collapsed due to a weak defensive line despite the arrival of Ray Yeoman[4] and future starter Left-back Defender Mick McNeil[5] allowing a lot of goals against both Goalkeepers Taylor and Million. [6] Also, the squad reached the FA Cup third round being eliminated by Birmingham City.[7]

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ENG Peter Taylor — GK  ENG Esmond Million — DF  WAL Bill Harris — DF  ENG Ray Bilcliff — DF  ENG Brian Phillips — DF  ENG Derek Stonehouse — DF  SCO Ray Yeoman — DF  ENG Dicky Robinson — DF  ENG Ray Barnard — DF  ENG Mick McNeil — DF  ENG Brian Jordan — DF  ENG Joe Birbeck — MF  ENG Ernie Walley

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ENG Billy Day — MF  ENG Ronnie Dicks — MF  ENG Carl Taylor — MF  SCO Billy Wilkinson — FW  ENG Ron Burbeck — FW  ENG Eddie Holliday — FW  SCO Willie Fernie — FW  ENG Derek McLean — FW  ENG Brian Clough (c) — FW  ENG Alan Peacock — FW  ENG Alan Rodgerson — FW  IRL Arthur Fitzsimons — FW  ENG Joe Scott — FW  ENG George Crook

Transfers

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
DF	Ray Yeoman	Northampton Town
MF	Ernie Walley	Tottenham Hotspur
DF	Mick McNeil	Youth team
DF	Brian Jordan	Rotherham United
MF	Billy Wilkinson
FW	Willie Fernie	Celtic
FW	Alan Rodgerson
FW	George Crook

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
MF	Lindy Delapenha	Mansfield Town
MF	Arthur Fitzsimons	Lincoln City

Results

Second Division

Main article: 1958–59 Football League

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
11	Swansea Town	42	16	9	17	79	81	0.975	41
12	Brighton & Hove Albion	42	15	11	16	74	90	0.822	41
13	Middlesbrough	42	15	10	17	87	71	1.225	40
14	Huddersfield Town	42	16	8	18	62	55	1.127	40
15	Sunderland	42	16	8	18	64	75	0.853	40

Source: ^[citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Ground	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	H	A
Result	W	W	L	D	W	W	L	L	L	D	L	D	D	L	L	W	L	W	L	L	L	W	W	L	W	D	L	D	D	W	L	W	L	W	D	L	W	W	W	D	D	L
Position	1	1	4	5	4	3	4	4	7	9	11	10	9	15	17	13	16	13	15	16	18	17	13	15	12	14	15	16	16	15	16	14	16	13	14	15	15	13	10	11	12	13

Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesbrough/tab/matches/season/1959/
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss;   = Champions, Promoted to 1959-60 Division One;   = Promoted to 1959–60 Division One;   = Relegated to 1959–60 Division Three

Matches

• .- Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesbrough/tab/matches/season/1959/

Matches

Middlesbrough v Brighton & Hove Albion

23 August 1958 1	Middlesbrough	9–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Middlesbrough
	Harris 5' (pen.), 26' (pen.) Clough 15', 41', 50', 60', 82' Peacock 18', 73'	1		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 32,367 Referee: K Dagnall

Sheffield United v Middlesbrough

25 August 1958 2	Sheffield United	0–1	Middlesbrough	Sheffield
		1	57' Clough	Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 25,666

Grimsby Town v Middlesbrough

30 August 1958 3	Grimsby Town	3–2	Middlesbrough	Cleethorpes
	Mick Cullen 35', 40' Ron Rafferty 88'	4	25' Clough 36' Billy Day	Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 21,327 Referee: M McCoy

Middlesbrough v Sheffield United

3 September 1958 4	Middlesbrough	0–0	Sheffield United	Middlesbrough
		5		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 42,866

Middlesbrough v Liverpool

6 September 1958 5	Middlesbrough	2–1	Liverpool	Middlesbrough
	Clough 35', 57'	4	34' Jimmy Harrower	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 34,714 Referee: L Howarth

Rotherham United v Middlesbrough

11 September 1958 6	Rotherham United	1–4	Middlesbrough	Rotherham
	Barry Webster 5'	3	25', 61' Alan Rodgerson 75', 89' Clough	Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 12,089

Stoke City v Middlesbrough

13 September 1958 7	Stoke City	3–1	Middlesbrough	Stoke-on-Trent
	Harry Oscroft 20' Johnny King 23' Don Ratcliffe 89'	4	9' Clough	Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 24,866 Referee: F Collinge

Middlesbrough v Rotherham United

17 September 1958 8	Middlesbrough	1–2	Rotherham United	Middlesbrough
	Clough 55'	4	10' (pen.) Albert Broadbent 30' Ken Twidle	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 34,231

Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough

20 September 1958 9	Charlton Athletic	1–0	Middlesbrough	Charlton (Southeast London)
	Buck Ryan 69'	7		Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 19,407 Referee: BM Griffiths

Middlesbrough v Bristol City

27 September 1958 10	Middlesbrough	0–0	Bristol City	Middlesbrough
		9		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 29,498 Referee: R Ryalls

Cardiff City v Middlesbrough

4 October 1958 12	Cardiff City	3–2	Middlesbrough	Cardiff
	Brian Jenkins 35' Ron Hewitt 55' Brian Walsh 56'	11	71' Peacock 81' Brian Phillips	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 20,560 Referee: KA Collinge

Middlesbrough v Sunderland

11 October 1958 12	Middlesbrough	0–0	Sunderland	Middlesbrough
		10		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 37,223 Referee: LN Peake

Lincoln City v Middlesbrough

18 October 1958 13	Lincoln City	1–1	Middlesbrough	Lincoln
	Ron Harbertson 54'	9	16' Peacock	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 10,803 Referee: J Powell

Middlesbrough v Fulham

25 October 1958 14	Middlesbrough	2–3	Fulham	Middlesbrough
	Clough 44', 60'	15	9', 11', 34' Graham Leggat	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 31,973 Referee: F Cowen

Swansea Town v Middlesbrough

1 November 1958 15	Swansea Town	5–2	Middlesbrough	Swansea
	Herbie Williams 4' Norman Lawson 36' Mel Charles 55', 79', 84'	17	12' Alan Peacock 89' Eddie Holliday	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 15,741 Referee: NC Taylor

Middlesbrough v Scunthorpe United

8 November 1958 16	Middlesbrough	6–1	Scunthorpe United	Middlesbrough
	Alan Peacock 1', 13', 21' Clough 40', 62', 88'	13	16' Peter Neale	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 23,020

Leyton Orient v Middlesbrough

15 November 1958 17	Leyton Orient	5–2	Middlesbrough	Leyton (East London)
	Len Julians 42', 74', 84' Phil White 77' Mark Lazarus 89'	16	10', 80' Peacock	Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 10,234 Referee: K Dagnall

Middlesbrough v Derby County

22 November 1958 18	Middlesbrough	5–0	Derby County	Middlesbrough
	Eddie Holliday 19' Bill Harris 24' Peacock 52' Joe Scott 69' Glyn Davies 76' (o.g.)	13		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 16,773

Bristol Rovers v Middlesbrough

29 November 1958 19	Bristol Rovers	3–1	Middlesbrough	Bristol
	Peter Hooper 53' Geoff Bradford 67', 89'	15	10' Clough	Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 15,767 Referee: KG Aston

Middlesbrough v Ipswich Town

6 December 1958 20	Middlesbrough	2–3	Ipswich Town	Middlesbrough
	Clough 2' Ron Burbeck 17'	16	7', 63' Ray Crawford 42' Peter Berry	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 25,946 Referee: LJ Tirebuck

Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough

13 December 1958 21	Sheffield Wednesday	2–0	Middlesbrough	Sheffield
	Ray Bilcliff 27' (o.g.) Norman Curtis 52' (pen.)	18		Stadium: Hillsborough Referee: J Mitchell attendance=25,127

Brighton & Hove Albion v Middlesbrough

20 December 1958 22	Brighton & Hove Albion	4–6	Middlesbrough	Brighton
	John Shepherd 67', 70' Freddie Jones 81' Dave Sexton 85'	17	20', 36' Alan Peacock 53', 55', 65' Clough 75' (o.g.) Jack Bertolini	Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 21,063 Referee: AE Moore

Middlesbrough v Barnsley

26 December 1958 23	Middlesbrough	3–1	Barnsley	Middlesbrough
	Clough 30', 55' Peacock 75'	13	1' Arthur Kaye	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 31,720

Barnsley v Middlesbrough

27 December 1958 24	Barnsley	1–0	Middlesbrough	Barnsley
	Lol Chappell 58'	15		Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 14,917

Middlesbrough v Huddersfield Town

1 January 1959 25	Middlesbrough	3–1	Huddersfield Town	Middlesbrough
	Clough 36', 52' Willie Fernie 41'	12	1' Stan Howard	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 28,154

Middlesbrough v Stoke City

31 January 1959 26	Middlesbrough	0–0	Stoke City	Middlesbrough
		14		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 19,077 Referee: AW Luty

Middlesbrough v Charlton Athletic

7 February 1959 27	Middlesbrough	1–3	Charlton Athletic	Middlesbrough
	Peacock 27'	15	60' Sam Lawrie Johnny Summers 63', 82'	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 16,210 Referee: JS McLoughlin

Bristol City v Middlesbrough

14 February 1959 28	Bristol City	2–2	Middlesbrough	Bristol
	John Atyeo 37' Bobby Etheridge 79'	16	49' (pen.) Bill Harris 73' Clough	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 18,336 Referee: ER Hill

Middlesbrough v Cardiff City

21 February 1959 29	Middlesbrough	1–1	Cardiff City	Middlesbrough
	Peacock 32'	16	35' Brian Walsh	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 12,986 Referee: H Webb

Scunthorpe United v Middlesbrough

28 February 1959 30	Scunthorpe United	0–3	Middlesbrough	Scunthorpe
		15	10', 53', 64' Clough	Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 11,171 Referee: RM Jordan

Middlesbrough v Lincoln City

7 March 1959 31	Middlesbrough	1–2	Lincoln City	Middlesbrough
	Peacock 50'	16	20' Brian Wright 67' John McClelland	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 14,396 Referee: TH Cooper

Middlesbrough v Grimsby Town

11 March 1959 32	Middlesbrough	1–0	Grimsby Town	Middlesbrough
	Clough 4'	14		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 12,019 Referee: E Crawford

Fulham v Middlesbrough

14 March 1959 33	Fulham	3–2	Middlesbrough	Fulham (West London)
	Graham Leggat 35' Johnny Haynes 72' Tony Barton 74'	16	46' Clough 54' Bill Harris	Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 26,800 Referee: AW Sparling

Middlesbrough v Swansea Town

21 March 1959 34	Middlesbrough	6–2	Swansea Town	Middlesbrough
	Clough 5', 32', 42', 52' Fernie 77' Bill Harris 83' (pen.)	13	20' Mel Charles 65' Reg Davies	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 15,272

Sunderland v Middlesbrough

28 March 1959 35	Sunderland	0–0	Middlesbrough	Sunderland
		14		Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 45,954 Referee: KA Collinge

Huddersfield Town v Middlesbrough

30 March 1959 36	Huddersfield Town	5–1	Middlesbrough	Huddersfield
	Stan Howard Gordon Low Les Massie Willie Sinclair Kevin McHale	15	62' Clough	Stadium: Leeds Road Attendance: 14,671 Referee: ER Hill

Middlesbrough v Leyton Orient

4 April 1959 37	Middlesbrough	4–2	Leyton Orient	Middlesbrough
	Peacock 9', 66' Bill Harris 19' Clough 68'	15	72' (pen.) George Wright 88' Joe Elwood	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 20,683 Referee: LJ Hamer

Liverpool v Middlesbrough

8 April 1959 38	Liverpool	1–2	Middlesbrough	Liverpool
	79' Jimmy Melia	13	Eddie Holliday 53' Clough 65'	Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 36,288 Referee: JW Topliss

Derby County v Middlesbrough

11 April 1959 39	Derby County	0–3	Middlesbrough	Derby
		10	22', 46' Clough 42' Ron Burbeck	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 19,911 Referee: D Martin

Middlesbrough v Bristol Rovers

18 April 1959 40	Middlesbrough	2–2	Bristol Rovers	Middlesbrough
	Ronnie Burbeck 38' Clough 65'	11	34' Dai Ward 50' (o.g.) Derek Stonehouse	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,451 Referee: G McCabe

Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday

22 April 1959 41	Middlesbrough	2–2	Sheffield Wednesday	Middlesbrough
	Alan Rodgerson 13' Eddie Holliday 68'	12	32' John Fantham 65' Roy Shiner	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 25,822 Referee: L Howarth

Ipswich Town v Middlesbrough

25 April 1959 42	Ipswich Town	2–1	Middlesbrough	Ipswich
	Ted Phillips 73', 80' (pen.)	13	6' Ron Burbeck	Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 11,927 Referee: W.O.RAF Baxter

FA Cup

Main article: 1958-59 FA Cup

Middlesbrough v Birmingham City

24 January 1959 3	Middlesbrough	0–1	Birmingham City	Middlesbrough
			19' (o.g.) Bill Harris	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 36,587 Referee: LJ Hamer

Statistics

Squad statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Football League Division Two		FA Cup		Other
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Peter Taylor	30	0	30	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Ray Bilcliff	22	0	21	0	1	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Brian Phillips	38	1	37	1	1	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Derek Stonehouse	40	0	39	0	1	0	0	0
	MF	WAL	Bill Harris	37	7	36	7	1	0	0	0
	MF	SCO	Ray Yeoman	23	0	22	0	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Ron Burbeck	27	4	26	4	1	0	0	0
	FW	SCO	Willie Fernie	24	2	23	2	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Brian Clough	43	43	42	43	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Alan Peacock	35	19	34	19	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Eddie Holliday	29	4	29	4	0	0	0	0
	GK	ENG	Esmond Million	13	0	12	0	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Billy Day	15	1	14	1	1	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Dicky Robinson	14	0	14	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Alan Rodgerson	11	3	11	3	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Derek McLean	11	0	11	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Ray Barnard	11	0	11	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	IRL	Arthur Fitzsimons	10	0	10	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Ronnie Dicks	8	0	8	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Ernie Walley	8	0	8	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Mick McNeil	7	0	7	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Carl Taylor	6	0	6	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Brian Jordan	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Joe Scott	4	1	4	1	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Joe Birbeck	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	George Crook	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	SCO	Billy Wilkinson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

• Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesborugh/tab/matches/season/1959/

References

1. Warren, Dan (14 July 2006). "The worst scandal of them all". BBC Sport.
2. Willie Fernie: Footballer whose beguiling skills earned him the sobriquet 'Scotland's Stanley Matthews', The Independent, 16 July 2011
3. "Ronald Burbeck: International stats". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
4. "Darlington ace Yeoman dies". 17 March 2004.
5. England statistics for Mick McNeil at englandstats.com
6. Stewart, Rob (27 March 2009). "Brian Clough: a man not afraid to make enemies". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
7. BBC Four – Timeshift, Series 7, A Game of Two Eras: 1957 v 2007