Denaby Utd – Denaby 3, Kiveton Park 3 – Fans on The Pitch: Threats to Officials

January 1966

South Yorkshire Times, January 8 , 1966

Anger on Sidelines At Tickhill Square
in Denaby-Kiveton Match

Denaby United 3, Kiveton Park 3

With angry crowd scenes, spectators “invading” the pitch, and threats to the referee and the linesmen, Denaby United’s three all draw with Kiveton at Tickhill square on Saturday began to look more like a South American “Derby” than a Yorkshire league game.

To be truthful, few spectators were involved in the heated disputes over Denaby second and third goals; yet things began to look ugly at one stage, especially when one visiting supporter began pushing a linesmen about.

Leading 1-0 at half-time a tenth-minute goal by Mike Smith, who heralded his return to the senior side with a fine, hard-working display at inside right, Denaby lost their grip of the game early in the second half.

Kiveton had taken 2-1 lead through Jones, in the 50th minute, and Meechan, with a perfectly placed 30 yard shot 10 minutes later, when the trouble flared.

Set Alight

Caunt’s 65th minute equaliser from a Jolly pass started it all, but tempers really rose as Shephard calmly walked the ball round Metcalfe to give Denaby the lead again. He may or may not have been offside – referee Mr D. J. Cowling, of Leeds, did not think so, but apparently the Kiveton supporters did, and were prepared to jeopardise the club’s good name to dispute the decision.

In the final analysis the Kiveton players, who stood around waiting for Shepard to be blown offside, have only themselves to blame.

Not surprisingly there were grunts of satisfaction as Meechan, an inside right that the home side could not tie down, levelled matters 15 minutes from time. Like Kiveton’s first goal, their third was inspired by outside left Oates.

This was hardly a game either side will choose to remember as a “football feast.” Yet despite the anger displayed on the sidelines, there were few blatant infringements in the field.

Team: Collingwood 7; Whant 7, Winfield 7; Banks 7, Hornett7, Shephard 7; Jolley 7 , Smith7, Caunt 8, State 7, Toyne 7