Hillsborough staged a truly historic night exactly 66 years ago today – Wednesday 9 March 1955.
Just over two years after Sheffield legend Derek Dooley’s soaring career was tragically cut short at Deepdale, a fund was set up in the ex-striker’s name.
The rallying of supporters reached a climax as Hillsborough was the obvious venue to host Dooley’s benefit match as an all-ticket crowd of 55,000 packed into S6.
Adding to the uniqueness of the occasion – it was also the first time Wednesday used the new floodlighting system. A game under the S6 lights for the first ever time!
The game was a ‘who’s who’ of 1950s football as a Sheffield XI faced an International XI.
The teams were as follows;
Wednesday: Burgin (SUFC), Martin, G. Shaw (SUFC), Jack Shaw, McEvoy, Joe Shaw (SUFC), Finney, Quixall, Cross (SUFC), Sewell, Marriott
International XI: Kelsey (Arsenal), Foulkes (Man Utd), Byrne (SUFC), Farrell (Everton), Charles (Leeds), Forbes (Arsenal), Matthews (Blackpool), Quigley (Blackburn), Lawton (Arsenal), Hagan (SUFC), Edlington (Everton)
The International XI coasted to a 5-1 victory; goals from Jimmy Hagan 2, Don McEvoy (og), Lawton and Quigley sealed a dazzling win!
On target for Wednesday was Jackie Sewell.
A total of £15,000 was raised for the late great Dooley, as the evening gave supporters the opportunity to celebrate the man himself, who gave everything for the Steel City.