By the end of the 1950s, most (though not all) Football League clubs had installed floodlights (Southampton, in 1950, being the first) but it had taken until 1956 for the FA to agree to clubs using them to play competitive matches. Up until then, it had been exclusively used for friendly fixtures. There were various reasons put forward as to why it was not a good idea, ranging from cost of installation, players being ‘blinded’ by the lights when the ball was in the air and even the intrusive nature of floodlighting on surrounding residential housing. However, the entry of English clubs into the newly-conceived European Cup and the necessity to play these ties in midweek during winter months led to the FA and, in turn, the League relaxing restrictions. The first Football League game under lights was in February 1956 at Fratton Park when Portsmouth hosted Newcastle, the visitors winning 2-0.

It was Football League secretary Alan Hardaker who took Stanley Rous’s notion of “a consolation for clubs who had already been knocked out of the FA Cup” and proposed to develop the idea, selling it to clubs as both an additional revenue stream and, as games would be midweek, a further opportunity to utilise their floodlight systems. As season 1959/60 drew to a close, it was announced the Football League Cup would commence in September of 1960. Scepticism towards the idea of another competition came mainly from the bigger clubs who feared fixture congestion. Clubs were expected to but not forced to enter and, ultimately, five clubs chose to defer. Those holding out were Arsenal, Tottenham, West Brom, Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday. Indeed, by 1964 the number of hold-outs had increased to ten and it wasn’t until season 1969/70 that a full quota of clubs participated, Manchester United being the sole non-participant in 1968/69.

Back to 1960, then, and when the draw was made Derby were handed a tricky tie on October 11^th at Third Division Watford who had just been promoted from the Fourth Division and included, in their team, that division’s top scorer – Cliff Holton – who had netted 42 times in the 46 games (and owned a local business if the programme advert is correct).

Derby had started off the season well, with three wins in the first four games but were now on a run of 8 games without a win that had seen them slip to 17^th in the table. Watford lay third in the Third Division table and, though unbeaten at home, had just suffered a 6-1 hammering at Southend.

For the match, Watford issued their standard 16 page programme printed on tan rather than white paper. It’s a reasonable read with the usual standard features but probably slightly over-priced costing 6d (double the 3d charged by Derby).

No mention is made of this being a new competition, but this was the case in virtually all the programmes I’ve seen for the League Cup this season. Indeed, the fixtures are not even listed in the Derby programme. Perhaps it was still seen as a novelty which may or may not continue?

As for the match itself and it was Watford who took the lead via debutant John Fairbrother before Ian Buxton equalised for Derby. Two minutes later, Ian Buxton gave the Rams the lead but the inevitable Cliff Holton goal sent the sides in level at the interval.

 

The second half, however, was all Derby. Andy Porter’s own goal was followed by strikes from Barry Hutchinson and Dave Cargill to give Derby a 5-2 win in front of a crowd of 10,936 which was only slightly down on the Hornets’ average league gate.

Derby would go on to beat Barnsley 3-0 at the Baseball Ground in the next round before a 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Norwich in the third round. Aston Villa were the eventual Cup winners beating Rotherham 3-2 on aggregate though perhaps fixture congestion was an issue – both legs of the Final had to be played at the start of the following season!

Watford: Linton; Bell, Lawson, Catleugh, McNiece, Porter, Denning, Gregory, Fairbrother, Holton, Heard

Derby: Adlington; Barrowcliffe, Conwell, Parry, Young, Upton, Swallow, Hall, Buxton, Hutchinson, Cargill.