Post by dave2 on Aug 5, 2008 7:56:51 GMT
I picked up this article about Len Phillips who used to play for Poole Town also mentioned is Wilf Mannion who also played for Poole Town. Those were the days!!
Len Phillips - outstanding inside-forward
LEN Phillips was possibly the most gifted inside-forward ever to play for Pompey. Spotted playing locally for the Royal Marines, he became a key figure in the squad that manager Jack Tinn assembled to be a championship-winning side two seasons running.
Phillips was a ball-playing schemer who possessed terrific control and was capable of destroying a defence with a single pass. He formed a terrific goalscoring partnership with winger Peter Harris and was rated among the best inside-forwards in the country.
But because of Wilf Mannion, Len Shackleton and Eddie Baily, Pompey's superb technician was only called on three occasions to play for England. Born in Shoreditch in the heart of London's East End, Phillips excited large Fratton crowds who craved creative build-ups. In the 1948-49 season, every time Len scored, Pompey won. But then Pompey only lost nine games all season!
The occasionally rebellious Londoner had a tremendous football brain and, as well as leading Pompey's match-winning attack, Len scored his fair share of goals too, finishing second-leading scorer with 11 and 13 in 1950-51 and 1951-52 respectively. Unfortunately, while training with the England team, he suffered a knee injury which ended his international career prematurely.
But after Jimmy Scoular's departure to Newcastle, Phillip's creative genius slotted into midfield where he could keep possession until a chance opened up for Harris to run on to and score. Harris thrived on the precision service he received from Len - one of the reasons why Pompey were such a force in the early 50s. After tearing a muscle ligament in an FA Cup tie against Grimsby in January 1956, Len left league football and played for Poole Town, Chelmsford and Bath City. After scouting for Leeds United, he saw out his working career as a lathe operator at De Havilland's in Portsmouth.
Len Phillips - outstanding inside-forward
LEN Phillips was possibly the most gifted inside-forward ever to play for Pompey. Spotted playing locally for the Royal Marines, he became a key figure in the squad that manager Jack Tinn assembled to be a championship-winning side two seasons running.
Phillips was a ball-playing schemer who possessed terrific control and was capable of destroying a defence with a single pass. He formed a terrific goalscoring partnership with winger Peter Harris and was rated among the best inside-forwards in the country.
But because of Wilf Mannion, Len Shackleton and Eddie Baily, Pompey's superb technician was only called on three occasions to play for England. Born in Shoreditch in the heart of London's East End, Phillips excited large Fratton crowds who craved creative build-ups. In the 1948-49 season, every time Len scored, Pompey won. But then Pompey only lost nine games all season!
The occasionally rebellious Londoner had a tremendous football brain and, as well as leading Pompey's match-winning attack, Len scored his fair share of goals too, finishing second-leading scorer with 11 and 13 in 1950-51 and 1951-52 respectively. Unfortunately, while training with the England team, he suffered a knee injury which ended his international career prematurely.
But after Jimmy Scoular's departure to Newcastle, Phillip's creative genius slotted into midfield where he could keep possession until a chance opened up for Harris to run on to and score. Harris thrived on the precision service he received from Len - one of the reasons why Pompey were such a force in the early 50s. After tearing a muscle ligament in an FA Cup tie against Grimsby in January 1956, Len left league football and played for Poole Town, Chelmsford and Bath City. After scouting for Leeds United, he saw out his working career as a lathe operator at De Havilland's in Portsmouth.