1955–56 Middlesbrough F.C. season

Middlesbrough
1955–56 season
Chairman	Eric Thomas
Manager	Bob Dennison
Stadium	Ayresome Park
Division Two	14th
FA Cup	Fourth Round
Top goalscorer	League: ; Lindy Delapenha (14); All: ; Delapenha (21)
Home colours	Away colours

The 1955–56 season was Middlesbrough's 73rd year in existence and 2nd consecutive season in the Division Two. Also the club competed in the FA Cup.

Summary

In his second season as manager Bob Dennison ^[1] avoided the relegation and reached the FA Cup 4th round. The season is best remembered by the debuts of Forwards Brian Clough^[2] and Alan Peacock^[3] after a good performance over the reserves. Meanwhile, veteran Jamaican Striker Lindy Delapenha^[4] repeated as top club scorer with 18 goals.

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	ITA	Rolando Ugolini
—	GK	ENG	Peter Taylor
—	DF	ENG	Derek Stonehouse
—	DF	ENG	Ray Barnard
—	DF	ENG	Dicky Robinson
—	DF	ENG	Ray Bilcliff
—	DF	ENG	Brian Phillips
—	DF	ENG	Bobby Corbett
—	MF	ENG	Ronnie Dicks
—	MF	WAL	Bill Harris
—	MF	ENG	Bert Mitchell
—	MF	SCO	Sam Lawrie


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	ENG	Joe Birbeck
—	MF	ENG	Frank Mulholland
—	MF	ENG	Peter Stephenson
—	FW	ENG	Billy Day
—	FW	ENG	Joe Scott
—	FW	ENG	Charlie Wayman
—	FW	ENG	Brian Clough
—	FW	ENG	Alan Peacock
—	FW	ENG	Derek McLean
—	FW	ENG	Ken McPherson
—	FW	ENG	Doug Cooper
—	FW	IRL	Arthur Fitzsimons
—	FW	JAM	Lindy Delapenha

Results

Second Division

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
12	Port Vale	42	16	13	13	60	58	1.034	45
13	Stoke City	42	20	4	18	71	62	1.145	44
14	Middlesbrough	42	16	8	18	76	78	0.974	40
15	Bury	42	16	8	18	86	90	0.956	40
16	West Ham United	42	14	11	17	74	69	1.072	39

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Ground	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A
Result	W	L	L	W	D	D	D	D	L	W	W	L	D	W	L	W	L	W	L	L	W	W	L	L	D	L	W	L	W	W	L	W	D	D	L	L	L	L	W	W	L	W
Position	1	9	15	9	11	13	13	14	15	15	14	15	15	12	13	12	13	13	16	17	16	14	15	17	15	16	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	15	15	15	16	17	16	15	16	14

Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesbrough/tab/matches/season/1956/
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; = Champions, Promoted to 1956-57 Division One; = Promoted to 1956–57 Division One; = Relegated to 1956–57 Division Three

Matches

.- Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesbrough/tab/matches/season/1956/

20 August 1955 1	Middlesbrough	3–0	Notts County	Middlesbrough
	Fitzsimons 33', 58' Delapenha 38'	1		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 20,291 Referee: RP Hartley

25 August 1955 2	Swansea Town	2–1	Middlesbrough	Swansea
	Jones 77' (pen.) Medwin 84'	9	20' Wayman	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 21,351 Referee: W Hickson

27 August 1955 3	Leeds United	2–0	Middlesbrough	Leeds
	Nightingale 18' Brook 69'	15		Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 22,535 Referee: PF Power

31 August 1955 4	Middlesbrough	4–1	Swansea Town	Middlesbrough
	Fitzsimons 30', 78' McPherson 68', 82'	9	88' Ivor J Allchurch	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 22,417 Referee: W Hickson

3 September 1955 5	Middlesbrough	1–1	Fulham	Middlesbrough
	Delapenha 62' (pen.)	11	66' Mitten	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 26,275 Referee: JH Clough

10 September 1955 6	Bury	1–1	Middlesbrough	Bury
	Robinson 64'	13	81' McPherson	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 12,278 Referee: ES Oxley

17 September 1955 7	Middlesbrough	1–1	Barnsley F.C.	Middlesbrough
	Fitzsimons 83'	13	56' Bobby Brown	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 24,960 Referee: JS Swain
Note: Brian Clough`s League debut, after scoring 15 goals in 9 reserve games.

24 September 1955 8	Liverpool	1–1	Middlesbrough	Liverpool
	Liddell 2'	14	44' Scott	Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 35,213 Referee: L Richardson

1 October 1955 9	Bristol City	2–0	Middlesbrough	Bristol
	Atyeo 1' Rodgers 60'	15		Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 28,788 Referee: KA Collinge

8 October 1955 10	Middlesbrough	4–3	Leicester City	Middlesbrough
	Clough 39' Fitzsimons 41' Delapenha 44' (pen.) Harris 76'	15	5' Rowley 21', 77' Gardiner	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 20,642 Referee: F Collinge

15 October 1955 11	Lincoln City	1–2	Middlesbrough	Lincoln
	Troops 55'	14	40' Delapenha 75' Clough	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 12,532 Referee: H Webb

22 October 1955 12	Middlesbrough	1–3	Stoke City	Middlesbrough
	Delapenha 48'	15	51' King 81', 88' Oscroft	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 22,394 Referee: WJ Gaiger

29 October 1955 13	Hull City	2–2	Middlesbrough	Kingston-upon-Hull
	Atkinson 13' Davidson 40'	15	24'Fitzsimons 80' Day	Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 14,013 Referee: T Seymour

5 November 1955 16	Middlesbrough	3–2	Nottingham Forest	Middlesbrough
	Wayman 35' Lawrie 79' McPherson 87'	12	50' Imlach 70' Barrett	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,573 Referee: JS Swain

12 November 1955 17	Sheffield Wednesday	3–1	Middlesbrough	Sheffield
	Shiner 14' Wilkinson 20' Gibson 37'	13	60' Fitzsimons	Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 24,030 Referee: FH Gerrard

19 November 1955 18	Middlesbrough	4–1	Doncaster Rovers	Middlesbrough
	Wayman 7' Fitzsimons 19', 73' Scott 69'	12	10' Mooney	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 15,360 Referee: L Howarth

26 November 1955 19	Bristol Rovers	7–2	Middlesbrough	Bristol
	Bradford 13', 64' Ward 15', 18' Hooper 67', 77' Petherbridge 82'	13	40' Wayman 80' Delapenha	Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 23,716 Referee: JS McLoughlin
Note: Forward Alan Peacock debut on Division Two.

3 December 1955 20	Middlesbrough	1–0	Blackburn Rovers	Middlesbrough
	Delapenha 76' (pen.)	13		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 16,827 Referee: G McCabe

10 December 1955 21	Plymouth Argyle	4–0	Middlesbrough	Plymouth
	Wetton 11' Davis 51' Robinson 73' (o.g.) Arthur Stenner 76'	16		Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 12,651 Referee: A Bond

17 December 1955 22	Notts County	5–0	Middlesbrough	Nottingham
	Roby 10', 14' Jimmy Jackson 75' Bobby Crookes 85' Taylor 86'	17		Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 9,693 Referee: RP Hartley

24 December 1955 23	Middlesbrough	5–3	Leeds United	Middlesbrough
	Wayman 6', 44' Delapenha 7', 78' Joe Scott 85'	16	38' Hutchinson 41' John Charles 52' Peter Vickers	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 19,416 Referee: PF Power

26 December 1955 24	Middlesbrough	2–0	West Ham United	Middlesbrough
	Mitchell 56' Wayman 88'	14		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 22,001 Referee: TL Wood

27 December 1955 25	West Ham Utd	1–0	Middlesbrough	Upton Park
	Bilcliff 27' (o.g.)	15		Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 21,522

31 December 1955 26	Fulham	4–1	Middlesbrough	Fulham
	Jimmy Hill 2' Trevor 'Tosh' Chamberlain 24' Bobby Robson 53', 86'	17	58' Wayman	Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 18,470 Referee: JH Clough

2 January 1956 27	Middlesbrough	1–1	Port Vale	Middlesbrough
	Fitzsimons 9'	15	72' Mullard	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 21,664

14 January 1956 28	Middlesbrough	1–3	Bury	Middlesbrough
	Wayman 26'	16	36' Kelly 49' Pearson 72' Don May	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 8,657 Referee: ES Oxley

21 January 1956 29	Barnsley	0–4	Middlesbrough	Barnsley
		14	Betts 19' (o.g) Wayman 78', 85', 86'	Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 15,934 Referee: JS Swain

4 February 1956 30	Middlesbrough	1–2	Liverpool	Middlesbrough
	Delapenha 6'	14	67' Evans 83' Liddell	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 12,171 Referee: L Richardson

11 February 1956 31	Middlesbrough	2–1	Bristol City	Middlesbrough
	Delapenha 6' Clough 71'	14	22' Atyeo	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 15,412 Referee: KA Collinge

3 March 1956 32	Stoke City	2–5	Middlesbrough	Stoke-on-Trent
	Bowyer 28' Oscroft 89'	14	29' Fitzsimons 44', 52' Joe Scott 65' Billy Day 73' Delapenha	Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 20,135 Referee: WJ Gaiger

10 March 1956 33	Middlesbrough	1–2	Plymouth Argyle	Middlesbrough
	Delapenha 30' (pen.)	14	20' (pen.) Malcolm Davies 82' Langman	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,278 Referee: A Bond

17 March 1956 34	Nottingham Forest	2–4	Middlesbrough	Nottingham
	Peter Small 49' Lishman 60'	14	26' Billy Day 41' Peacock 79' (o.g), 81' McKinlay	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 22,918 Referee: JS Swain

24 March 1956 35	Middlesbrough	2–2	Sheffield Wednesday	Middlesbrough
	Joe Scott 12', 52'	14	27'Shiner 48' Quixall	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 19,026 Referee: FH Gerrard

31 March 1956 36	Leicester City	1–1	Middlesbrough	Leicester
	Willie Gardiner 78'	15	35' Fitzsimons	Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 28,450 Referee: F Collinge

2 April 1956 37	Middlesbrough	0–1	Rotherham United	Middlesbrough
		15	88' Peter Johnson	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 20,803 Referee: H Haworth

3 April 1956 38	Rotherham United	2–1	Middlesbrough	Rotherham
	Ian Wilson 19', 44' (pen.)	15	6' Billy Day	Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 13,032 Referee: L Howarth

7 April 1956 39	Middlesbrough	0–1	Bristol Rovers	Middlesbrough
		16	Ward	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 12,536 Referee: JS McLoughlin

14 April 1956 40	Blackburn Rovers	2–1	Middlesbrough	Blackburn
	Williamson 24' Langton 36' (pen.)	17	85' Billy Day	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 21,070 Referee: G McCabe

18 April 1956 41	Middlesbrough	4–2	Lincoln City	Middlesbrough
	McLean 5' Wayman 41' Delapenha 52', 66'	16	22' Northcott 83' Neal	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 8,298 Referee: H Webb

21 April 1956 42	Middlesbrough	5–1	Hull City	Middlesbrough
	Fitzsimons 30' Delapenha 31', 54' (pen.) Wayman 58' Billy Day 84'	15	36' Fraser	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 11,190 Referee: T Seymour

28 April 1956 43	Port Vale	3–2	Middlesbrough	Burslem
	Done 11', 70' Baily 88'	16	34' Wayman 85' McLean	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,781 Referee: RP Hartley

3 May 1956 44	Doncaster Rovers	0–1	Middlesbrough	Doncaster
		14	41' Lawrie	Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 5,670

FA Cup

Third Round

7 January 1956	Bradford Park Avenue	0–4	Middlesbrough	Bradford
			29', 82' Joe Scott 33' Lindy Delapenha 67' Charlie Wayman	Stadium: Park Avenue Attendance: 18,524 Referee: J Kelly

Fourth Round

28 January 1956	Tottenham Hotspur	3–1	Midlesbrough	Tottenham
	Maurice Norman 30' George Robb 60' Dave Dunmore 87'		16' Joe Scott	Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 41,895 Referee: H Haworth

Statistics

Squad statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Football League Division Two		FA Cup		Other
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ITA	Rolando Ugolini	38	0	36	0	2	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Derek Stonehouse	31	0	30	0	1	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Ray Barnard	23	0	23	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Dicky Robinson	31	0	29	0	2	0	0	0
	MF	WAL	Bill Harris	44	1	42	1	2	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Ronnie Dicks	39	0	37	0	2	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Billy Day	25	6	25	6	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Joe Scott	38	10	36	7	2	3	0	0
	FW	ENG	Charlie Wayman	25	16	23	15	2	1	0	0
	FW	IRL	Arthur Fitzsimons	42	14	40	14	2	0	0	0
	FW	JAM	Lindy Delapenha	37	18	35	17	2	1	0	0
	GK	ENG	Peter Taylor	6	0	6	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Bert Mitchell	21	1	19	1	2	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Ray Bilcliff	21	0	19	0	2	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Brian Phillips	12	0	12	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Bobby Corbett	13	0	12	0	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Brian Clough	9	3	9	3	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Alan Peacock	6	2	6	2	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Derek McLean	6	2	6	2	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Ken McPherson	5	4	5	4	0	0	0	0
	MF	SCO	Sam Lawrie	5	2	5	2	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Joe Birbeck	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Frank Mulholland	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Doug Cooper	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Peter Stephenson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesborugh/tab/matches/season/1956/

References

^ "Bob Dennison (July 1954 to January 1963)". Middlesbrough F.C. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
^ "Stars pay tribute to Clough". BBC News. 21 September 2004. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
^ Lindsey Young (25 August 2021). "Messages of support come flooding in for Boro legend Alan Peacock following dementia diagnosis". gazettelive.co.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
^ "Lindy Delapenha passes at age 89". radiojamaicanewsonline.com. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2023.

[1] "Bob Dennison (July 1954 to January 1963)". Middlesbrough F.C. Retrieved 25 September 2018.

[2] "Stars pay tribute to Clough". BBC News. 21 September 2004. Retrieved 11 July 2009.

[3] Lindsey Young (25 August 2021). "Messages of support come flooding in for Boro legend Alan Peacock following dementia diagnosis". gazettelive.co.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2023.

[4] "Lindy Delapenha passes at age 89". radiojamaicanewsonline.com. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2023.

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Middlesbrough F.C. seasons
1880–81 1881–82 1882–83 1883–84 1884–85 1885–86 1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889–90
1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26