1960/1-goals galore, at both ends

The summer of 1960 brought another crop of new signings but these proved to be one of the most undistinguished intakes on record. Rooke’s leading recruit was Leslie Stubbs, a very experienced inside-forward who had started and ended his Football League career with his home-town club, Southend, but had won a First Division championship medal with Chelsea in 1955; he was soon made captain, marking the end of Bob Craig’s long tenure of the job, but was unable on his own to spark his nondescript colleagues into anything inspired. Peter Smith, a wing-half from Gillingham, did his best and John Mills, a tall centre-half from Rhyl, finally ousted Craig after five seasons when the faithful servant’s pace and fitness began to dwindle. Joe Short, a tiny winger from St Neots via Lincoln, was always popular on the terraces but too lightweight to get far against the giant backs of the period. Of the players who made their debuts in the opening match, a 3-4 home defeat by a much quicker Romford side (despite a Hukin hat-trick), one, Terry Bolton from Manchester United, never appeared again and another, Carlo Nastri (Crystal Palace) only did so twice. Brian Whitby (from Luton) proved a more reliable right-winger although he too lacked a strong physique.