1945/46 REVIEW
Ilkeston Town played their first ever match, in the Notts & Derbys Senior League, just 32 days after their formation. For the first couple of months they struggled against their opponents who for the most part had greater experience and tactical acumen. Defensive mistakes also proved costly.

That is not to say that Ilkeston’s largely home grown team lacked any ability. Frank Hembury, the centre-forward, had a keen football brain and was able to bring other forwards into play as well as scoring plenty of goals. Bernard Wagstaffe at outside-left was able to cross accurately and was able to shoot powerfully and accurately. Len Gaynor was a promising inside-left who would one day play League football for Hull City. Norman Daykin was an effective right-back and Reg Leake was a wing-half who loved to get forward to support the attack.

As often is the case it took a severe setback to change their fortunes. A 10-1 thrashing at Holbrook Miners Welfare, the team destined to be champions, led to changes. Meakin, who became captain, did sterling work at centre-half. Frank Henshaw was a delightful left-half who could pass accurately and support both attack and defence. Jackie Brough and Jeff Weston were dashing wingers who could cross accurately and score goals (the latter replaced Wagstaffe who moved into the centre-forward position with some success). Finally, Ron Moore proved to be a reliable left-back.

Results improved and the team climbed to just below midtable. A subsidiary League Cup competition was introduced in January at the season’s end. All ten clubs competed and would play each other once, the venue being determined by the final league placing of each team. The top eight teams at the end of the League Cup competition would qualify for the quarter-final stage. With most of Ilkeston’s games staged away from home they made no impact and lost every game; meaningless matches against three of the teams were therefore not even played.

The season ended on a high note in the Derbyshire Senior Cup. Town produced a stunning 5-0 win against the Holbrook team who had scored 20 goals against them in three earlier meetings. Gresley were defeated 3-0 in the semi-final and they took a very strong Buxton side to extra-time in the final before losing 3-1.

1946/47 REVIEW
Ilkeston Town built upon the steady progress of the previous year and enjoyed a better season. They won their first trophy, the Derbyshire Divisional Cup, by beating Derby Corinthians 3-0 in the final at Heanor and reached the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup for the second year running. More importantly there was significant progress in the Notts & Derbys Senior League. After a disappointing opening day home defeat they hit a purple patch during the autumn and hit the top of the table in late November by beating the powerful Brush Sports team. This was played in front of a 3000 Manor Ground crowd, the largest attendance for a league game that Town had played in front of so far.

Town could not sustain that run of form but were still able to finish a highly creditable third behind Brush Sports and Nottingham Forest "A". Brush Sports and Forest finished level on points but although the Loughborough team had a better goal average this did not count in the rules of the competition and a play-off was used to determine the champions. Forest won.

Several of Town’s players from the previous season made significant contributions although new additions were made to the team. Eric Walker, the ever present goalkeeper, had some superb games. Ken Rigley was an ever present at centre-half. Frank Henshaw, another ever present, continued to play well at left-half. Jackie Brough and Jeff Weston continued to provide many chances with telling crosses from the wings. Ralph Tunstall proved to be adaptable, beginning the season at right-half, but ending it at inside-left and he too was an ever present. Lloyd, a capable defender, began the season at right-back but switched to left-back towards the end to accommodate new signing Syd Burrows who went on to make nearly 200 appearances for the club. Frank Hembury was switched to inside-right where his intelligent play was best suited to the Town attack. But the biggest success was probably centre-forward Horace Chaplin who scored 55 goals and played in all 29 games, scoring six in matches against Swanwick Old Boys (13-0) in the Derbyshire Divisional Cup and Codnor Miners Welfare (14-2), the biggest two victories in Ilkeston’s history. His strong upper body allowed him to force his way through defences and he frequently finished with power and accuracy.

The season, however, will probably be best remembered for the unusually harsh winter that caused fixture chaos throughout the land. The Notts & Derbys Senior League was no exception and several fixtures were never fulfilled. The League Cup competition, with its league format, eventually had to be scrapped with all results declared null and void (except in some cases where the games counted towards the final league table where it was appropriate). A straight knockout competition was introduced in its place and Town reached the semi-final before suffering their heaviest defeat of the season, 8-2 at Brush Sports. This game also doubled up as a league match.

1947/48 REVIEW
Ilkeston enjoyed their best season so far and made significant strides despite a disastrous opening day defeat. They, along with 7 other Notts & Derbys Senior League sides, entered the newly formed Central Alliance and finished in second place. Nottingham Forest "A" were the champions and completed the double over Ilkeston but if Town had won just one of those games the title would have gone to the Manor Ground instead.

Ilkeston still had hopes of catching Forest until they were beaten at Brush Sports in the penultimate game of the season. The reason for Town’s success was primarily down to the forwards and the team averaged a remarkable 4 goals per game in league matches, a strike rate that was considerably better than any other side in the Central Alliance.

Good results were not just limited to the league, however. Although Ilkeston failed to reach either of the county cup finals and suffered an early exit in the League Cup, they could take great pride from an excellent FA Cup run. This was Town’s first season in the world’s oldest competition but they didn’t take long to get recognised by the non-League fraternity as a side to be reckoned with. They beat two teams from the more powerful Midland League - Ransome & Marles and Boston United, the latter in front of a 7200 gate on the Manor Ground - to progress to the third qualifying round. Away to Grantham, another Midland League team, Ilkeston supporters made up a third of the 6200 gate but on this occasion Town were unable to repeat their heroics and fell to their record defeat. Despite the 11-1 result Ilkeston put on a decent show and Grantham were at their very best.

Several new players caught the eye, not least the vastly experienced former Derby County inside-forward Peter Ramage. Sadly he became ill and was hospitalised later in the season but Town were fortunate enough to have another experienced player, Gibson McNaughton - formerly with Nottingham Forest - who took over the stricken captain’s role admirably. Ramage, along with Frank Hembury, had orchestrated the attack with clever thoughtful play and sweeping passes that the wingers Jackie Brough and newcomer Arthur Grant thrived upon. Both wingers had pace, could cross with accuracy and scored their share of goals. Like the previous season the bulk of the goals was falling to centre-forward Horace Chaplin but when he was surprisingly dropped in the early winter - a decision which angered him and led to his departure - new signing Alwyn Booth proved to be a more than adequate replacement. Not as reliant on raw power as his predecessor Booth made intelligent runs and had greater positional awareness as well as being an excellent header of the ball. He went on to become one of Town’s all-time greats.

New capture Dick Hogg had a good season in goal and Syd Burrows’ robust style at right-back combined with Albert Ball’s contrasting calm approach on the other flank formed a consistent barrier to visiting forwards. If Town had any weakness it was probably in the half-back line although individually Frank Henshaw, Doug Venables, Cyril Fisher and Doug Gregory were decent enough. It was probably Ilkeston’s attacking style, that encouraged forward runs, that led to them sometimes being out of position thus leaving the team vulnerable to counter attacks. But, overall, it was Town’s focus on attacking play that brought them so much reward.

1948/49 REVIEW
Under most circumstances a final position of third place would be considered as a reasonable achievement but given how close Town were to winning the Central Alliance a year earlier this season was tinged with disappointment. Inconsistent home form was partly to blame. However, the team did suffer some bad luck with a succession of injuries to key players.

Ironically, given the success story of 1947/48, the areas where the team lacked consistency the most were in the forward line. Right winger Jackie Brough left the club and he was not adequately replaced all season with the exception of the talented Billy Savage but he was soon called up to the Army. On the opposite side Arthur Grant was not as potent as in the past and it was not until late in the season that Fred Martin, who later played League football with Accrington Stanley, gave Town a greater threat down the left. Peter Ramage was also finding time and his stomach illness from the previous season catching up with him and he only played a few games at the start of the season. Alwyn Booth took over his role effectively and played with great intelligence but this left Town with a void in the centre forward position. Several players were tried, including Horace Chaplin who returned to the club but he soon suffered from a knee injury and never played for Town again. Another player, Frank Bell, was tried but after scoring five goals in only his second game he failed to solve the problem. Eventually McLochlan was signed towards the end of the season and he showed signs that he could make the difference. Apart from Booth the other inside forward, Gibson McNaughton, was the only success story with his probing intelligent use of the ball.

The goalkeeping department was also an issue following the departure of Dick Hogg. Three ‘keepers were tried before Town settled upon Ben Hall. Syd Burrows and Albert Ball deservedly remained as first choice full backs as did Cyril Fisher at centre half until he suffered a head injury. His replacement, Fred Johnson who had also been tried at centre forward, immediately won approval with some fine displays before a leg injury curtailed his season. The two main wing halves, Jack Stacey and Frank Ellmer, proved to be highly capable although they both lacked the attacking qualities of predecessors Frank Henshaw and Doug Venables.

Town reached the semi-finals of the Derbyshire Divisional Cup and the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup. The latter ended in a draw but the replay was held over until the start of the following season.

Despite the overall lack of consistency and the misfortune that hit the club there were still some fine performances during the season that gave plenty of hope for the future.

1949/50 REVIEW
The season was an extremely frustrating one for the club. They were never in contention for the title - or runners up spot for that matter - and although they finished seventh this was below expectations. The season began well when they won the replayed Derbyshire Senior Cup Final held over from the previous season but early cup exits from the cup competitions throughout the season added to the disappointment.

Town appointed Gibson McNaughton as manager in December, the first time that anyone from outside the committee had been in charge, but there was no noticeable improvement on the pitch. He left the club at the end of the season, a decision made partly because he had not been a success as a manager but also because his playing days were about to end.

The centre forward position was again a problem and the role was not adequately filled all season with the possible exception of four goal debutant Cliff Sinclair who arrived towards the end. This was a shame because numerous opportunities were created by two key forwards. Alwyn Booth, who finished as top scorer, continued with his intelligent, thoughtful play that had impressed so much since his arrival. The other key man was outside right Ken Ledger who arrived before the start of the season. He had a full bag of tricks, a terrific turn of speed and crossed a ball with pace and accuracy as well as showing a willingness to shoot with power. He went on to become one of the finest wingers in the club’s history and made well over 300 appearances and scored over a century of goals.

However, it was not just in the attack where Town struggled. They also conceded goals at an alarming rate and this was partly due to injuries suffered by Fred Johnson and Frank Ellmer. Ron Webb, the former Crystal Palace wing half, used his experience well but too few of the others who played in the half back line were up to the necessary standard.

Syd Burrows and Albert Ball were again the mainstays at full back although the former seemed to struggle greatly when faced by pace. One new signing who could justifiably claim to have had a decent season was goalkeeper Dick Pickering, a good shot stopper, who arrived in the autumn when Ben Hall suffered from loss of form and confidence. Pickering had a remarkable time when facing penalties; he saved four out of five.