STOCKPORT COUNTY V GRIMSBY TOWN

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DES HINKS CONTINUES THE STORY OF THE FA CUP RUN

ROUND 2 WAS A TALE OF TRAGEDY …AND …TRIUMPH

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The draw for Round 2 pitched County against Grimsby Town with the tie scheduled for Edgeley Park. Wigan had been beaten in Round 1 three weeks earlier, but the intervening period saw a real tragedy hit the club. John Nibloe, who had been on target against Wigan, was killed in a road traffic accident as he drove home to Sheffield after the game at Newport on 28th November. Des Hinks report below outlines the impact on the Club and fans , and how the emotion surrounding Nibloe’s death conveyed itself onto the terraces.

On the field there had been a draw against Crewe at EP had been followed by a loss at Somerton Park, Newport. County were still rock bottom of the whole league and were up against a Grimsby team riding high, in 2nd place, in Division 3. The outcome looked to be a foregone conclusion…

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Des Hinks takes up the story:

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Six days before their scheduled FA Cup second-round tie against Grimsby Town, the Stockport County family were stunned by the news that their star inside-forward, John Nibloe, had been tragically killed following a dreadful car accident driving to his home in Sheffield in the early hours of November 29, 1964, following County’s game at Newport.

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Paying tribute to the former Sheffield United, Stoke City and Doncaster Rovers player, County’ boss, Trevor Porteous, said:

“It is hard to find the words to explain the pain, the sorrow, the upset we all feel.

“In just over five months at the club John has proved himself a favourite. He did it on the field as one of our most consistent performers with an appetite for work and endeavour that you could not demand any more. He did it off the field with a freshness of personality and an infectious ever-grinning charm.

“His career of ups and downs had just started on an upwards swing after two seasons at Doncaster, hampered by National Service.”

A little over 24-hours before the Grimsby game, the whole Edgeley Park staff attended John’s funeral, where his teammates, Graham Beighton, Frank Beaumont, Ian Sandiford, Ken Mulhearn, John Collins and Peter Phoenix carried his coffin.

It was hardly surprising then that County were more than a little subdued when Grimsby Town, the Third Division pacesetters, arrived at Edgeley Park on a cold December afternoon.

Collections were made for the Nibloe fund, and a minute’s silence was held before the game.

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Weather conditions had left the match in some doubt and, when the game unfolded, it was clear County were up against a far superior Grimsby side.

Although still goalless, the Third Division leaders were in total control when fate played a hand. Five minutes into the second half a thick, swirling fog descended upon Edgeley Park, and soon after the game was abandoned.

Before the rearranged game, 48-hours later, Director, Vic Bernard, made a passionate plea to the players.

“John [Nibloe] was so excited about this game,” he said. “We’ve got to win it for John; it’s what he would have wanted.”

And play for John the County team certainly did, that cold Monday night!

In a super charged atmosphere the Hatters gave what one national newspaper reporter described as,

“One of the greatest displays of spirit and determination I have ever seen.”

Another reported,

“Grimsby were up against three enemies … a devastating wind, a team playing well above themselves, and an emotionally charged crowd that must have been worth an extra player.”

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The inimitable Tom Turton, reporting for the Stockport Advertiser, wrote.

“If the reward had been a home match with Manchester United or Everton in the next round, Stockport County could not have produced any greater effort than that which swept Grimsby Town back into the North Sea of FA Cup oblivion on Monday night.

“This was the blood and sweat after the TEARS. This was a triumph of teamwork. This was the night when eleven men in County colours gave a new significance to the term team spirit.”

For the record, the only goal of an unforgettable game came after 29 minutes when Frank Beaumont set up Derek Hodgkinson, who saw his shot on the turn take a deflection to beat Mariners’ ‘keeper, Charlie Wright.

Hodgkinson was wearing the Number 10 shirt worn by John Nibloe at Newport, just hours before his tragic death.

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Des Hinks