Portsmouth v Wolves, 25th February 1967

Extended highlights from a Second Division match between Portsmouth and Wolves at Fratton Park on 25th February 1967.
Wolves, managed by Ronnie Allen, were among the leading clubs chasing promotion throughout much of the 1966-67 season and ultimately achieved their aim by finishing in second position behind Coventry City. However, Wolves could have secured the title that season, but a crucial defeat at Coventry on 29th April and, in particular, a heavy final day defeat at Crystal Palace proved ultimately decisive.
The success of Wolves that season was largely due to their goal scoring potency; with 88 goals scored that season Wolves were the leading scorers in the Second Division for the second season in succession. Ernie Hunt, who was the leading scorer for Wolves with 20 league goals, was ably assisted by Terry Wharton and Hugh McIlmoyle with 13 league goals apiece. Wharton was a very effective right-winger for Wolves, offering balance to the always impressive Dave Wagstaffe on the opposing flank.
Wolves, with goalkeeper Phil Parkes making just his second appearance of what ultimately proved to be a lengthy career at Molineux, benefitted greatly through the inspirational captaincy of Mike Bailey in midfield and the brilliance of the mercurial and enigmatic Peter Knowles. In addition to his celebrated skills, the often-fiery temperament of Knowles was also displayed at Portsmouth with the celebratory kicking the ball out of Fratton Park following his equalising goal (32:55) - an act for which, it is reputed, he was billed £7 10s by Portsmouth for the cost of a replacement!
After winning the Third Division in 1961-62, Portsmouth had maintained their position in the Second Division under manager George Smith. Against Wolves, Smith included in his team the likes of Ray Hiron - the 11 league goals he scored that season were part of an impressive 119 in total for Pompey - former England international Ray Pointer, transferred to Fratton Park from Coventry City and playing just his third match for Portsmouth against Wolves, goalkeeper John Milkins, who appeared in a total of 389 matches in well-over a decade of service for Portsmouth and the two-goal scorer against Wolves Cliff Portwood who, although an accomplished goal scoring footballer during his career, subsequently achieved more success as a singer in Australia and the United States.
Originally broadcast by BBC Match of the Day (Portsmouth's first-ever appearance) with commentary provided by Kenneth Wolstenholme.
Approximate time of goals on KZbin footage:
04:48 Portsmouth 1 Wolves 0 (Cliff Portwood)
10:35 Portsmouth 2 Wolves 0 (Cliff Portwood)
28:24 Portsmouth 2 Wolves 1 (Mike Bailey)
32:55 Portsmouth 2 Wolves 2 (Peter Knowles)
35:16 Portsmouth 2 Wolves 3 (Ernie Hunt)

[@bigby1976]

Great to see. Earliest footage I've ever seen from Fratton park.

[@williamthompson2941]

i was there in the Fratton End. The highlights dont reflect what happened that day. Pompey didnt just run rings around wolves, they pulverized them. I was peeved when I saw the highlights the first time as it did not reflect the balance of the game at all.

[@TheJMascis666]

william thompson I've often found that on many an occasion the highlights do not even closely resemble the match I was at.

[@williamthompson2941]

Yes, this is not an isolated case. What peeved me when i sae it was that they could not use the 'best bits' to excuse it.

[@1061andy]

wolves got promoted from second div to first div that season....hopefully the same again this year. have been to Fratton twice, great old traditional ground.

[@TheJMascis666]

There was a full top flight fixture list on this day so it is commendable that the BBC showed a second tier game.

[@dermotosullivan3065]

Great to see extended highlights from a club match this old.

[@grahamfletcher3321]

No rolling around by cheats. Football was the game of the working class then.

[@derby1884]

Terrific match, end-to-end, none of this possession-based stuff we see nowadays. Watch closely at the end - the young lad picks up the match ball and heads in the opposite direction to all his mates! Nice souvenir for him.

[@fratton]

RIP Cliff Portwood and Harry Harris in the Portsmouth side that day. Some great memories for me here. Thanks

[@andymcinnes6365]

Great to watch really brings back great memories and nice to see my favourite player of those days Harry Harris!

[@davidwills8996]

Need a Harry and cliff now. And Norman Piper.

[@CoalMiningTown]

Did Bobby Kellard play for Palace as well ?

[@jamiealandoylestown498]

yes 46 times

[@malcolmclarke3033]

Great footage.

[@jcoker423]

That was the year that Cov and Wolves were promoted when Wolves were beaten 3-1 in front of a record 51,455 Highfield Road crowd to clinch the Division 2 championship

[@parrothface100]

Nice to see Wolves in the Fratton and on the pitch

[@richardfurness7556]

Typical Pompey. Run rings round the opposition for three-quarters of the match, then throw it away.

[@miahiron3542]

ray iron is my great uncle (grandads brother)

[@miahiron3542]

+mia hiron ray hiron**

[@Ferrari312pb]

Early on Bobby Kellard did a Van Persie... .

[@p1nm0re]

More accurate to say Van Persie did a Bobby Kellard ....

[@TheJMascis666]

The winning goal would never be given nowadays.

[@TheJMascis666]

@leslie graham Ok Leslie, if you say so :)

[@benbuckley2540]

Times have changed rules have changed the fan's year's back had it best look at the groud packed ground !