I found the attached article on Ebay last week and had to have it.

I'd never seen the incident before where our then third-choice keeper, Welshman John Smout, was battered by Cardiff players including George Johnston and (not mentioned in the article) John Toshack and was carted off to hospital at half time - never to appear for Palace again.

This game was on 4th Dec 1965, it was drawn 0-0 and I think it was the versatile Brian Whitehouse who played the second half in goal.

Smout later played 75 games for Exeter City so at least had something to look back on after his initial nightmare.

Was anybody reading this at that game?

Attachment: John Smout at Cardiff.jpg (425.05Kb)

Zaha, Williams, Murray, Ambrose, Scannell.

A 5-man forward line who scored 3 goals in 10 minutes on 27th September 2011 at .......................

I was at that game. I think Smout got a punctured lung from the incident

I seem to remember that picture appearing in Charles Buchan's Football Monthly magazine. I remember the incident very well.

Looks like John Sewell with his back to the camera no.2 and Alan Stephenson looking over the shoulder of the other Palace player - not sure who he is though. Anyone any idea? I still have the programme for the game but locating that will be a last resort.

Edited by Pete53 (23 Jul 2014 10.37pm)

Ah, Jack Bannister, I recognise him now.

Yes, I seem to recall Smout going down a couple of times before his departure from the game.

Only December and alraedy the pitch is a bog, but, nothing unusual in those days. By April the only grass left was on the wings.

The best answer I can come up with is Jack Bannister, but maybe someone else can confirm or deny.

"Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."
Mark Twain.