Huddersfield Town's Collins brings shades of king Harold?

Jan 31 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Shades of king Harold?

It was from one of Finney’s through balls that Hassall surged forward to shoot England ahead, and although Scotland fought back to take a 3-1 lead, it was England who ended the game piling forward in search of an equaliser after Finney had reduced the arrears.

Even the unpredictable selectors agreed Hassall had played well and said he would retain his place for the next three games.

They were against Argentina (beaten 2-1 at Wembley), Portugal (defeated 5-2 at Goodison, with Hassall scoring) and France (a 2-2 draw at Highbury) and in the first two of them, Hassall was partnered by his Town teammate Metcalfe, pictured left.

In January 1952, with Town struggling against relegation from the top flight, Hassall was transferred to Bolton for a reported £30,000 fee. At Burnden Park, Hassall had England international Bobby Langton, very similar in style to Metcalfe, on his left and the potent goalscorer Nat Lofthouse inside him.

But the trio couldn’t help Wanderers, having led 3-1, avoid a 4-3 defeat by a Blackpool side inspired by hat-trick hero Mortensen and Matthews in one of the most famous FA Cup finals of them all in 1953.

Six months after the final, Hassall was recalled to the England side and scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland at Goodison.

Once more his career looked to be taking off, but injury made one final cruel intervention, with Hassall, having scored 34 times in 102 games for Bolton, suffering a knee injury which forced him to retire aged just 26 in 1955.

He went on to have a long and distinguished coaching career, leading the Malaysian national side and England youth teams as well as being a resident coach at Lilleshall. He also lectured in physical education and was part of the panel which produced the official report on the 1966 World Cup tournament which was held in England.