Wolverhampton Wanderers
1953–54 season
ChairmanJimmy Baker
ManagerStan Cullis
First Division1st (1st title)
FA Cup3rd Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Dennis Wilshaw (25)
All: Dennis Wilshaw (26)
Highest home attendance56,590 (vs West Bromwich, 14 November 1953)
Lowest home attendance19,617 (vs Bolton Wanderers, 23 March 1954)
Average home league attendance36,340 (league only)

The 1953–54 season was the 55th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. They played in the First Division, then the highest level of English football.

The season was a major success as the team won the League championship for the first time in their history, pipping local rivals West Bromwich Albion. Winning the title was a breakthrough for the club after three times previously finishing runners-up.

Season review

After an opening day mauling away at Burnley, the team found its feet and enjoyed a run of five successive wins to reach second place. The table was led by their Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion. Both teams kept up a relentless pace before Christmas, with Wolves producing a run that brought 31 points out of a possible 36, including defeating West Brom 1–0. At the halfway mark only Burnley and newly promoted Huddersfield Town were managing to keep pace with the top two.

Defeat in their Christmas fixture against Aston Villa lost Wolves the top spot they had gained for the first time a week earlier. The start of 1954 brought an instant exit from the FA Cup at the hands of fellow Midlanders Birmingham City, but also saw them return to the top of the table. A run of three defeats in four though – including the end of their 11-game unbeaten away record (a club record) – allowed West Brom to regain top spot.

While March saw Wolves suffer further defeats, their main rival's form proved even worse. A second Black Country derby victory for Wolves against them in early April brought them level on points at the summit, second only on goal average with only five games remaining. Wolves then claimed top spot for the first time since early January the following week after thrashing Charlton 5–0.

The Easter period proved the pivotal twist in the title race. A 4–0 thumping of Huddersfield gave Wolves' goal average a further boost, while West Brom were held to a draw by Aston Villa. As was then traditional, the fixtures were reversed the following day, with decisive results. Although both title chasers lost, West Brom's 1–6 hammering at Villa Park left their goal average far short of Wolves' with just a single game to play.

Only a huge loss for Wolves coupled with a big win for Albion could alter the outcome of the championship on the final day. In the event, neither happened, Albion went down to defeat at Portsmouth, while Wolves' 2–0 victory over Tottenham confirmed their first ever league championship.

Results

Football League First Division

A total of 22 teams competed in the First Division in the 1953–54 season. Each team would play every other team twice, once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Two points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats.

19 August 1953 1 Burnley 4–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Burnley
18:30 BST Shannon 62', 86'
Holden 64'
Pilkington 70'		 Swinbourne 2' Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 32,822
Referee: A. Holland
22 August 1953 2 Manchester City 0–4 Wolverhampton Wanderers Manchester
15:00 BST Wilshaw 18'
Slater 36'
Swinbourne 56', 83'		 Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 22,729
Referee: A. Murdoch
26 August 1953 3 Sunderland 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sunderland
18:30 BST T. Wright 18'
Shackleton 26'
Ford 52'		 Hancocks 63' (pen.)
Wilshaw 81'		 Stadium: Roker Park
Attendance: 57,135
Referee: T. L. Wood
29 August 1953 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Cardiff City Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Wilshaw 34'
Mullen 38'
Hancocks 39' (pen.)		 Grant 13' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 33,221
Referee: W. H. Clapton
31 August 1953 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Sunderland Wolverhampton
18:15 BST Wilshaw 35'
Mullen 68'
Swinbourne 70'		 T. Wright 2' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 41,442
Referee: T. L. Wood
5 September 1953 6 Arsenal 2–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 BST Roper 25'
Holton 41'		 Broadbent 22'
Wilshaw 33'
Hancocks 88'		 Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 60,460
Referee: G. Gibson
7 September 1953 7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Liverpool Wolverhampton
18:00 BST Swinbourne 44'
Broadbent 88'		 Jackson 87' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 35,701
Referee: K. A. Collinge
12 September 1953 8 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–3 Portsmouth Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Wilshaw 2', 3', 37'
Swinbourne 86'		 Gordon 7', 48'
Harris 44'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 36,524
Referee: N. C. Taylor
16 September 1953 9 Liverpool 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Liverpool
17:45 BST Jones 69' Wilshaw 40' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 29,848
Referee: K. A. Collinge
19 September 1953 10 Blackpool 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Blackpool
15:00 BST Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 35,074
Referee: J. V. Sherlock
26 September 1953 11 Wolverhampton Wanderers 8–1 Chelsea Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Hancocks 3' (pen.), 31' (54)
Wilshaw 48'
Swinbourne 61', 79'
Broadbent 71'
Mullen 86'		 Bentley 76' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 36,134
Referee: J. H. Clough
3 October 1953 12 Sheffield United 3–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sheffield
15:00 BST Ringstead 19', 48'
Bottom 27'		 Hancocks 10'
Wilshaw 31'
Swinbourne 84'		 Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 35,961
Referee: F. S. Flander
10 October 1953 13 Newcastle United 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Newcastle
15:00 GMT Mulgrew 7' Smith 81'
Swinbourne 88'		 Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 39,913
Referee: F. Thurman
17 October 1953 14 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Manchester United Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Hancocks 16' (pen.)
Broadbent 43'
Swinbourne 72'		 Taylor 30' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 40,084
Referee: L. A. Brown
24 October 1953 15 Bolton Wanderers 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bolton
15:00 GMT Moir 44' Hancocks 26' Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 40,027
Referee: W. Ratcliffe
31 October 1953 16 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Preston North End Wolverhampton
14:45 GMT Wilshaw 55' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 34,211
Referee: A. W. Luty
7 November 1953 17 Middlesbrough 3–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Middlesbrough
14:30 GMT Fitzsimons 22'
McPherson 56'
Hartnett 73'		 Swinbourne 16'
Hancocks 43'
Wilshaw 86'		 Stadium: Ayresome Park
Attendance: 24,284
Referee: R. P. Hartley
14 November 1953 18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton
14:30 GMT Mullen 4' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 56,590
Referee: F. Cowen
21 November 1953 19 Charlton Athletic 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
14:15 GMT Broadbent 24'
Hancocks 54'		 Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 35,595
Referee: A. A. Howlett
28 November 1953 20 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 Sheffield Wednesday Wolverhampton
14:15 GMT Wilshaw 12'
Hancocks 40' (pen.)
Swinbourne 49', 80'		 Woodhead 6' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 35,154
Referee: J. H. Clough
5 December 1953 21 Tottenham Hotspur 2–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
14:15 GMT Bennett 26'
Duquemin 59'		 Wilshaw 53'
Broadbent 54'
Hancocks 78'		 Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 48,164
Referee: S. V. Davis
12 December 1953 22 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Burnley Wolverhampton
14:15 GMT Hancocks 84' Holden 32', 54' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 35,043
Referee: A. Holland
19 December 1953 23 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Manchester City Wolverhampton
14:15 GMT Hancocks 36' (pen.), 89'
Wilshaw 62'		 Davies 26' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,606
Referee: A. Murdoch
24 December 1953 24 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Aston Villa Wolverhampton
14:15 GMT Wilshaw 22' Dixon 55'
McParland 80'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 40,536
Referee: J. McCann
26 December 1953 25 Aston Villa 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham
14:15 GMT Thompson 28' Hancocks 31'
Wilshaw 88'		 Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 49,123
Referee: J. McCann
2 January 1954 26 Cardiff City 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Cardiff
14:30 GMT Nugent 59' Swinbourne 20'
Wilshaw 37'
Hancocks 82'		 Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 47,113
Referee: W. H. Clapton
16 January 1954 27 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–2 Arsenal Wolverhampton
14:45 GMT Logie 9'
Lishman 85'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 45,974
Referee: G. Gibson
23 January 1954 28 Portsmouth 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Portsmouth
14:45 GMT Dickinson 8'
Reid 63'		 Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 35,312
Referee: N. C. Taylor
6 February 1954 29 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 Blackpool Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Hancocks 17'
Swinbourne 54', 84', 85'		 Stephenson 69' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,795
Referee: J. V. Sherlock
13 February 1954 30 Chelsea 4–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 GMT Bentley 1', 69'
Parsons 9'
Stubbs 62'		 Swinbourne 19'
Wilshaw 64'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 60,289
Referee: J. H. Clough
20 February 1954 31 Wolverhampton Wanderers 6–1 Sheffield United Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Swinbourne 33', 44'
Hancocks 46', 66'
Broadbent 84'
Wilshaw 89'		 Cross 86' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,823
Referee: F. S. Fiander
27 February 1954 32 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–2 Newcastle United Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Broadbent 4'
Wilshaw 20'
Slater 86'		 Milburn 80'
Broadis 84'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 38,592
Referee: F. Thurman
6 March 1954 33 Manchester United 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Manchester
15:00 GMT Berry 84' Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 40,774
Referee: A. Brown
20 March 1954 34 Preston North End 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Preston
15:00 GMT Wilshaw 80' Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 28,857
Referee: A. W. Luty
24 March 1954 35 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Bolton Wanderers Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Broadbent 42' Lofthouse 10' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 19,617
Referee: W. Ratcliffe
27 March 1954 36 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–4 Middlesbrough Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Broadbent 73', 78' Watkin 3'
McPherson 12', 88'
Delapenha 34' (pen.)		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 29,145
Referee: R. P. Hartley
3 April 1954 37 West Bromwich Albion 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers West Bromwich
15:00 GMT Swinbourne 58' Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 59,669
Referee: F. Cowen
10 April 1954 38 Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 Charlton Athletic Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Hancocks 7', 70'
Wilshaw 12'
Mullen 53', 59'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 35,028
Referee: A. A. Howlett
17 April 1954 39 Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sheffield
15:00 BST Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 40,707
Referee: J. H. Clough
19 April 1954 40 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–0 Huddersfield Town Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Mullen 2'
Hancocks 34'
Broadbent 86'
Wilshaw 89'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 42,862
Referee: W. J. Gaiger
20 April 1954 41 Huddersfield Town 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Huddersfield
15:00 BST Glazzard 4'
McGarry 63'		 Wilshaw 43' Stadium: Leeds Road
Attendance: 35,814
Referee: W. J. Gaiger
24 April 1954 42 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Swinbourne 18', 68' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 44,055
Referee: S. V. Davis
Final table
Pos Club Pld W D L F A GA Pts
1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 25 7 10 96 56 1.714 57
2 West Bromwich Albion 42 22 9 11 86 63 1.365 53
3 Huddersfield Town 42 20 11 11 78 61 1.279 51
Results by round
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
ResultLWLWWWWWDDWDWWDWDWWWWLWLWWLLWLWWLWDLWWDWLW
Position151215954322333223222221211112222222222211111
Source:
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup

As a First Division team, Wolves entered the competition at the third round stage. The draw for this round was made on 14 December 1953.

Players

Pos. Nationality Player Football League FA Cup Total
1  England Nigel Sims 8 1 9 0
2  England Jack Short 26 1 27 0
3  England Roy Pritchard 27 1 28 0
4  England Bill Slater 39 1 40 2
5  England Bill Shorthouse 40 1 41 0
6  England Billy Wright (c) 39 1 40 0
7  England Johnny Hancocks 42 1 43 24
8  England Ronnie Stockin 6 0 6 0
9  England Roy Swinbourne 40 1 41 24
10  England Dennis Wilshaw 39 1 40 26
11  England Jimmy Mullen 38 1 39 7
12  England Peter Broadbent 36 1 37 12
13  England Bert Williams 34 0 34 0
14  England Len Gibbons 1 0 1 0
15  England Norman Deeley 6 0 6 0
16  England Ray Chatham 1 0 1 0
17  Scotland Bill Baxter 5 0 5 0
18  England Ron Flowers 15 0 15 0
19  England Les Smith 4 0 4 1
20  England Bill Gutteridge 2 0 2 0
21  South Africa Eddie Stuart 12 0 12 0
22  England Eddie Clamp 2 0 2 0

Top scorer

P. Nationality Player Position Football League FA Cup Total
1  England Dennis Wilshaw Forward 25 1 26
2  England Johnny Hancocks Forward 24 0 24
3  England Roy Swinbourne Forward 24 0 24
4  England Peter Broadbent Midfielder 12 0 12
5  England Jimmy Mullen Midfielder 7 0 7

Most appearances

P. Nationality Player Position Football League FA Cup Total
1  England Johnny Hancocks Forward 42 1 43
2  England Bill Shorthouse Defender 40 1 41
3  England Roy Swinbourne Forward 40 1 41
4  England Bill Slater Defender 39 1 40
5  England Dennis Wilshaw Forward 39 1 40

Transfers

In

Date Player From
November 1953Scotland Bill BaxterAston Villa

Out

Date Player To
January 1954England Ray ChathamNotts County
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