Yes, he usually did with #4 on his back. When I first went to the Vetch Harry Griffiths was the #8 but he eventually ended up at left back. Charlo was an attacking half back who was really effective when he played further forward and often played at inside right, which was my preferred line up.
Yes, he played most of his games in the halfback line, centre half mostly but I remember him saying his preferred position was right half. I think his progression to centre forward was when Mel Nurse became a recognisable centre half.
Can't be 100% certain on this Ivor, but around that era I'm pretty sure we were capable of fielding a full International side, we (Wales) were in some International tournament and Jonny King, Bryn Jones, (Cliffs brother) and Dai Thomas full back got capped for that game. I remember at the time there was a lot of talk of us a Second Division side being able to field 11 Internationals.As a follow up, for me our best attacking line up in the old WM formation was:
7 Len Allchurch
8 Mel Charles
9 Terry Medwin
10 Ivor Allchurch
11 Cliffy Jones
All those players appeared for us in the old Second Division (now Championship) and every one of them was transferred to a top First Division club of the time although Len's transfer club, Sheffield United, was not at the level of the others. The mind boggles at what their transfer value would be in today's inflated climate.
Seems to me we have come almost full circle. We are now a club in the Championship (= old Division 2) and we have a team full of internationals. 60 years on and we're capable of playing very attractive football but still not getting the results we need. Falling short of paper potential.
As Yankee said,its still a system that's closely played to today.
And you'd often get the team's short skinny player having to play in a position where the shirt was sized for XXL. A lot of material to get tucked into your shorts and it could get tough being blown around on a windy day. Or vice versa .... Mel Charles could have to squeeze into Harry Griffiths #8..... Whoever played in a particular position would wear the appropriate number for his position. Oh happy times. There was no confusion in those days!!
Yes, Jimmy Hill caused all the confusion from then on.For the benefit of younger readers, the traditional line up back in the day was as follows:
GK: 1
RB: 2
LB: 3
RH: 4 (right half)
CH: 5
LH: 6 (left half)
RW: 7
IR: 8
CF:9
IL: 10
OL: 11
SUB: 12
Obviously the centre half would line up between the full backs and the half backs would be defensive or attacking depending on the style of play but were usually tough tackling, physical players to gain possession and link up with the two inside forwards who were creators/strikers. When subs (only one allowed at first) were introduced they always wore #12 and there were no squad numbers. Whoever played in a particular position would wear the appropriate number for his position. Oh happy times. There was no confusion in those days!!
Aye.
Do you remember Wyndham Marks at Ponty? He was 6ft 2" and built like a brick outhouse. There were times his shirt only reached as far as his navel - must have been wearing all of 5ft 5" Herbie's shirt!
Probably still a lot in him as a final 20/30 min impact player, I think Spurs benefited from his time with them. in what we're paying out in wages in recent signings maybe we missed the boat there.
I'd take him back in an instant. If we offload Ayew, we could afford the big guy. On the subject of old boys ... Vorm is still without a club.
Not bad as it turns out. He came on and earned them 3 points with the winner on 90+6 minutes.
Okay, one goal doesn't prove much at this stage of the season but WE were interested in him and I liked the look of him as I said on another thread. Let's hope we don't regret missing out here.