20-07-2022, 08:41
20 July:
On this date in 2016, Town played Liverpool at the John McAlpharm Stadium for the Shankly Trophy. This was a pre season friendly, played in honour of Bill Shankly, who managed both teams with varying success. He won the league three times with Liverpool, as well as two FA Cups, the UEFA Cup, three Charity Shields and started off with the Second Division title.
That was just after he left us at the start of the 60s and by the time this game came up, the Reds were managed by Jürgen Klopp and we had his best buddy David Wagner.
Wagner had brought a load of German players in and Chris Löwe, Christopher Schindler, Elias Kachunga and Michael Hefele all played in this one. A record crowd for a Kirklees Stadium friendly match of 21,166 turned up to see it and it was Town who had the better opening with Kachunga and Rajiv van La Parra firing in shots that tested the keeper, Loris Karius.
But as usual, it was chances missed and the opposition took the lead. Sadio Mane had a goal disallowed for a foul on Joel Coleman, but then Mane and Roberto Firmino teamed up to set up new signing Marko Grujic, who beat Coleman at his near post.
Jack Payne and Joe Lolley again tested the keeper, but it was Liverpool with the next big chance when Coleman brought down Philippe Coutinho in the box. He got himself up, dusted himself down and took the spot kick himself. And Coleman saved it!
That was encouraging for Coleman, especially as Wagner had just brought in Danny Ward from Liverpool. Wagz played Luke Coddington in goal for the second half. He was the grandson of former Town skipper, John Coddington, but never managed a first team game again and was later loaned out to Wrexham.
Ex WBA star defender Jason Davidson also came on for the second half, as did Kyle Dempsey, who nearly equalised shortly after the restart. Klopp also made a boatload of changes and when Lucas got an injury, he put the reserve keeper, Shamal George up front. Takin' t' piss!
Phillip Billing went close with a shot, Dempsey had another short saved, but then the Premier League team got another penalty when 12 year old boy, Ben Woodman fell over in the playground. This was in added on time and Alberto Moreno beat Coddington from the spot.
Final score, two nil to the Pool, who lifted the Shankly Trophy. Klopp and his boys didn't seem right interested. We hung about for ages waiting for the presentation. They eventually persuaded Dejan Lovren to come out and receive it.
![[Image: FRtLLEZ.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/FRtLLEZ.jpg)
Two Town team mates of the 60s had birthdays on this date. Les Massie was born in Aberdeen in 1935 and Bob McNab was born in Huddersfield in 1943. Bob's 79 today. Les died in 2020, aged 85.
Les played ten years at Leeds Road and was the fourth Town player to score 100 goals for the club, after Billy Smith, George Brown and Jimmy Glazzard. He has since been overtaken by Andy Booth and hopefully Jordan Rhodes will this season.
He scored 108 in total and is also high up the appearance chart, in 12th spot with 363, one place above the aforementioned John Coddington. Les and John joined up again later in their careers, playing in the League of Ireland for Drogheda United.
Bob McNab was only a team mate of Les's for a couple of seasons. He was transferred into the big time in 1966 when Bertie Mee signed him for Arsenal, for whom he made around 300 appearances. He also won England caps, only four of them though.
He had nine years at Highbury, but the highlight of his career was when he appeared in an episode of On The Buses, as a character called Bob.
His daughter, Mercedes McNab took on the acting genes after him and was in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Bob though, won the First Division title with Arsenal in 70/71 and also won the FA Cup in the same season when they beat Liverpool at Wembley 2-1.
After a short spell at Wolves, he moved to America, where he still lives. He did have a short time back in England though, being part of the Portsmouth takeover by Milan Mandarić in the late 90s. Bob was caretaker manager before Tony Pulis came in.
He played 68 times for Town at left back, but never scored.
![[Image: 2n2LXL2.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/2n2LXL2.jpg)
On this date in 2016, Town played Liverpool at the John McAlpharm Stadium for the Shankly Trophy. This was a pre season friendly, played in honour of Bill Shankly, who managed both teams with varying success. He won the league three times with Liverpool, as well as two FA Cups, the UEFA Cup, three Charity Shields and started off with the Second Division title.
That was just after he left us at the start of the 60s and by the time this game came up, the Reds were managed by Jürgen Klopp and we had his best buddy David Wagner.
Wagner had brought a load of German players in and Chris Löwe, Christopher Schindler, Elias Kachunga and Michael Hefele all played in this one. A record crowd for a Kirklees Stadium friendly match of 21,166 turned up to see it and it was Town who had the better opening with Kachunga and Rajiv van La Parra firing in shots that tested the keeper, Loris Karius.
But as usual, it was chances missed and the opposition took the lead. Sadio Mane had a goal disallowed for a foul on Joel Coleman, but then Mane and Roberto Firmino teamed up to set up new signing Marko Grujic, who beat Coleman at his near post.
Jack Payne and Joe Lolley again tested the keeper, but it was Liverpool with the next big chance when Coleman brought down Philippe Coutinho in the box. He got himself up, dusted himself down and took the spot kick himself. And Coleman saved it!
That was encouraging for Coleman, especially as Wagner had just brought in Danny Ward from Liverpool. Wagz played Luke Coddington in goal for the second half. He was the grandson of former Town skipper, John Coddington, but never managed a first team game again and was later loaned out to Wrexham.
Ex WBA star defender Jason Davidson also came on for the second half, as did Kyle Dempsey, who nearly equalised shortly after the restart. Klopp also made a boatload of changes and when Lucas got an injury, he put the reserve keeper, Shamal George up front. Takin' t' piss!
Phillip Billing went close with a shot, Dempsey had another short saved, but then the Premier League team got another penalty when 12 year old boy, Ben Woodman fell over in the playground. This was in added on time and Alberto Moreno beat Coddington from the spot.
Final score, two nil to the Pool, who lifted the Shankly Trophy. Klopp and his boys didn't seem right interested. We hung about for ages waiting for the presentation. They eventually persuaded Dejan Lovren to come out and receive it.
Two Town team mates of the 60s had birthdays on this date. Les Massie was born in Aberdeen in 1935 and Bob McNab was born in Huddersfield in 1943. Bob's 79 today. Les died in 2020, aged 85.
Les played ten years at Leeds Road and was the fourth Town player to score 100 goals for the club, after Billy Smith, George Brown and Jimmy Glazzard. He has since been overtaken by Andy Booth and hopefully Jordan Rhodes will this season.
He scored 108 in total and is also high up the appearance chart, in 12th spot with 363, one place above the aforementioned John Coddington. Les and John joined up again later in their careers, playing in the League of Ireland for Drogheda United.
Bob McNab was only a team mate of Les's for a couple of seasons. He was transferred into the big time in 1966 when Bertie Mee signed him for Arsenal, for whom he made around 300 appearances. He also won England caps, only four of them though.
He had nine years at Highbury, but the highlight of his career was when he appeared in an episode of On The Buses, as a character called Bob.
His daughter, Mercedes McNab took on the acting genes after him and was in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Bob though, won the First Division title with Arsenal in 70/71 and also won the FA Cup in the same season when they beat Liverpool at Wembley 2-1.
After a short spell at Wolves, he moved to America, where he still lives. He did have a short time back in England though, being part of the Portsmouth takeover by Milan Mandarić in the late 90s. Bob was caretaker manager before Tony Pulis came in.
He played 68 times for Town at left back, but never scored.
![[Image: 2ZJuVRk.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/2ZJuVRk.gif)