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About LinkBacksBrilliant read, yet again WT!
Brilliant read, yet again WT!
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You ever thought about writing a book?
Great read as usual my friend.
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great read - thanks for your brilliant work
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Firstly, thank you everybody for your kind words. Secondly, I would like to say 'Thank You' to Manchester City for placing a wreath at Munich, me and many other true reds fully appreciate this, because at the time of the tragedy it was a City in grief not just United although we bore the brunt of most of it, maybe gone but never forgotten.
I slept well the night of the Chelsea drubbing, and yes i did give dad a hug, but alas the feelings weren't to last too long... It was derby week and dad being the pratt he was was rabbitting on all week about what his City side were going to do to us, Numpty. Little did he think! We played City on New Years Eve, if they beat us, i'll wait till he's drunk then spit in his beer!
Anyway the week seemed to take for ever and a day, i used to hang around outside the shops waiting for the late editions just to see if we had any injuries and what chance the team would be Saturday. City had a few good players (not great....just good) Cliff Sear, Barlow, Cheetham, Hannah, Wagstaffe... who'd come through City ranks but was better remembered for his days at Wolves... some Goalkeeper by the name of Trautmann... he wasn't bad lol. These names were tripping off dad's tongue, he actually thought they were a threat. Trouble was I was starting to get worried... only a little... but.. ah sod it we'd batter 'em. I countered saying Dawson was too good, Charlton you couldn't hold a candle too him, 'Pancho' Pearson would torment you summat awful, Stiles and Setters would chew them up and 'spit' em out, the 'Golden boy' Quixall would have a field day... Trautmann ha.... We had Greggy... in fact no contest! But derbies being derbies anything could happen... and it did!
Derby day had arrived and i was up washed and dressed earlier than Christmas morning, sat there trying to eat a jam butty was an impossibility. It just stuck, mind you it was like a doorstop... Didn't have sliced bread, you cut your own and mam was always heavy handed, each piece must have been an inch thick with a good dollop of jam on it! Off to unc's and i could see he was nervous, his hands were shaking Grandad said it was through drink, but we knew different (I thought I did... lol).
Time we got to Warwick road my throat was dry and my goosebumps were in there usual position (everywhere). Scatterings of blue and white were on Warwick road and banter was being hurled from one set of fans to the other and retorts thrown back. The atmosphere was building, there was nothing like a derby to get the old juices running, in the ground for about 2 o'clock and the wait was murder, I kept looking at my watch time and time again, it just never seemed to get closer to kick off (seriously must get a minute hand for this watch !.......lol) United came out for the warm up and the crowd erupted, then the tannoy burst into life giving out the sides. It was a bitterly cold day yet i was sweating as though I was in sauna. Sir Matt had named the same side that had destroyed Chelsea five days ago. We would murder them wouldn't we unc..? Unc gave a wry smile and a little wink (thank god i can spell...). City were warming up at the Scoreboard end as was the custom. Was it me or did they look confident... imagination running riot again... i hope! The teams then trooped off and prepared for the game, last minute words from Sir Matt and we were ready. Then out came United from the tunnel (where the dug out is now) and veered left towards the Stretford end to a mighty roar. City followed a few seconds later (teams came out one at a time then, not together like nowadays. Personally I liked the old way) and the City fans at the scoreboard end clapped and roared them on. The atmosphere was electric, over 61,000 mainly stood and swaying made for a brilliant atmosphere.
The game got under way and City belied there league position (they were then about fifth from the bottom, we were climbing and about ninth from bottom... lol). Hearts were in mouths as City set siege to the United goal, the United defence held firm with Cantwell marshalling them and Setters immense. As the half wore on United started to gain the ascendancy and it was during this spell that Dawson climbed all over the City centre half and nodded United in front. He'd have been booked nowadays, but that was football then. Not to be outdone City came back at United but again the defence gave Greggy good cover with one swift movement Quixall picked out Charlton who was soon into his stride and with an inch (never could get into metric lol) perfect cross found Dawson who with ease slotted it into the back of the net. The crowd went hysterical, Quixall and 'Pancho' came more into the match as the game wore on and it wasn't long before Charlton got on the scoresheet with a trade mark shot followed by Dawson getting another for his hat-trick. City managed to pull one back but even then didn't have the last word as Charlton crowned off a great display from both him and United. 5-1! Bet dad won't want to hug me now, then again i wouldn't be spitting in his beer tonight, would I..?
Coming out of the ground passing the scoreboard end you could see the look of disbelief on the City fans faces, head shaking and looking up to the sky or down at there shoes anywhere but into the faces of United fans who had beaming smiles, and the 'i told you so' look.
In six hours or so we would celebrating another year coming in, if the last few weeks were anything to go by (five wins and a draw) I was really looking forward to it and not only that we had a little thing called The 'F.A. Cup' third round next Saturday, Middlesborough at home... THIS COULD BE OUR YEAR.....
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Hi WT, a great read again - I don't want to bore you or others with my statements, I simply enjoy every piece from you. A few days ago "se7en" suggested you should think about writing a book and I agree to this. Would be a bestseller within all our supporters and not only those old ones who likes the story from the past, like me....lol. Please keep on writing - I look forward already to the next derby day later this month. Thanks, WT
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Well here it was the F.A.Cup week-end, something about the cup in those days that used to send tingles down your spine and a great excitement as you donned your bob hat and scarf. It was like Christmas morning every time. Today was going to be Middlesborough at home, and the way the reds had been playing lately it was going to be a no brainer, we'd brush them aside like swatting flies... wouldn't we?
As I said the excitement was there from the first eyelid opening, the thoughts of Wembley way was going through my tiny brain as in my minds eye i was watching Cantwell walk up to the royal box and lift the trophy aloft to the cheers of thousands of United fans (it was me really..mam brought me down to earth by asking what I was doing stood on a chair with my hands in the air. We can dream can't we!). Anyway after telling her i was trying to reach a spiders web (first thing that came too mind) this was going to be our year, I could feel it in my water. What team would Sir Matt turn out? We'd kept the same side now for four games and they had looked like a side that could go places, hopefully Wembley.
It was bitterly cold so mam being mam went through the old routine, 'have you got your vest on'...... 'put your jumper on'....... 'don't forget your coat'..... 'will you be warm enough ?'...... Honestly if i'd put everything on that she said i'd never have been able to put my hands down by my sides, my fingers would have froze, i'd never have got my hands in my pockets.. (I left looking like Michelin man....). At grans I managed to shed a few clothes and off we went.....
Looking back the cup had always had that bit of mystery and every fan thought that this was going to be their year. Cup shocks came aplenty as big sides went to little grounds with pitches that nowadays a farmer would plant spuds in! Where snow was piled up on the side of the pitch that high that if you stood at the front close to the pitch you had to keep jumping up to see the game. One thing about this time of year the terraces weren't always swept so you could have a good snowball fight with opposing fans.... Memories...
As we walked down Warwick road you could see the excitement on the faces of the 'boro fans, hoping for a cup shock (as if...) with an air of casualness (and bloody big goosebumps, sweaty palms... It couldn't be the gloves, i'd left them at grans...lol). We skated down to the ground (literally) mounds of snow was piled up against the sides . Once inside the ground it was time for keeping warm (until all the fans were in then human heat did that). Bovril was first, then a hot pie... then the team news. Yes, we'd named the same side again... The cup was to be ours! Warm up was quick (not surprised it was freezing...). The 'United calypso' started up and out came United... I Loved Cup Matches!!
The match itself wasn't spectacular, but United being United made hard work of it and even though we ran out 3-0 winners we looked as though we were saving something for the visit of the mighty Spurs next week. Dawson had bagged another couple and surprise, surprise Cantwell got in on the act with the other. Boro had played well enough but lacked punch up front and in the end class told. Spurs would be another matter, this would tell how far we'd come in the last month or so... The league leaders were coming to O.T.
We learnt that we had Sheff Wed in the next round of the cup away in three weeks time, so our next three games would be ones to saviour. Spurs at home (top of the league) Leicester away (4th in the league) and Sheff Wed away in the cup (2nd in the league). Games were coming thick and fast and harder.
On the journey home we planned our strategy. If we could hold Spurs till half-time and nullify their attack blah blah blah two points... When we beat Leicester with our cut and thrust football... blah blah another two points.... Go to Wednesday and get a draw, bring 'em back to our place and see 'em off. Next round of the cup, Wembley getting closer... My God! They don't write stories like that any more.....the wanderings of a young man's brain... BUT YOU NEVER KNOW IT COULD HAPPEN.... (more chance than landing on the moon...lol)
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brilliant WT ....
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Saturday morning came and as i looked out my window i felt gloom! Icicles were hanging from the roof gutters and the snow had not relented all week. I knew as I huddled round the radio what the outcome would be... The football programme was hit hard; frozen pitches, snow and yes United's was one of them. The only crumb of comfort was the snow was stopping and United had re-arranged for Monday night. Fingers crossed....
It was Monday night and the great Spurs side of the sixties were coming to town. I loved (and still do ) the United v Spurs matches, it's always an open game of football, end to end, no quarter asked and no quarter given.
Bill Nicholson had built a great Spurs side, built on the same philosophy Sir Matt had used when building the 'Babes' side. Football was to be the winner, football played with excitement and a good team built around a strong spine. Wingers either side of a big strapping centre forward, two inside forwards who could create but weren't averse to a bit of graft, a footballing ball winner with a centre half who stood tall and strong but who could also play the ball on the deck, two full backs who were fast could tackle (and boy could you in those days) and wouldn't flap, who'd look up and find their man, but if need be would put the ball and man in row z if required. A captain that everyone looked up to who could cajole and inspire in times of need and last but not least a keeper who was big and daft but someone you could trust. keepers regularly came out to the penalty spot to catch (yes, catch... after all you don't see cricketers trying to palm or punch every ball) a ball. Many a time Greggy left players strewn on the ground in those situations.
So with trepidation and a fervour to match cup tie games I was ready. Tonight would be our big test, beat Spurs or get a point it would show we were heading on the right track, although I still felt we still had work to do on the team, but I was feeling a little more confident lately. Arriving at Warwick road it was as though everybody was in the same frame of mind as players names slipped of the tongue and appreciation was being given to our opponents. The likes of Blanchflower the Spurs captain, Bobby Smith the Spurs goal machine the wingers Jones and Dyson, Henry and Maurice Norman (I still shudder now about 'Mo', he was a tough tackling man mountain who would launch you further than Jonny Wilkinson could launch a rugby ball if need be, but he was a good player in his own right.) Defenders of the highest quality and then there was Dave Mackay... a midfield player. They certainly threw the mould away after D.M , he was barrel chested, had an eye for an opening and god help you if you kicked him (he wouldn't feel it, but you would when he dished out retribution). Those were just a few we were talking about, but we were on a roll and I was quietly confident that we had then men to match them (fingers crossed, lucky rabbits foot, didn't walk under any ladders etc etc). As was always i'd stand at the crossroads and wait for a couple of buses to stop just to see if any of my heroes got off. Those days were getting further and further away and the rubber ball had long since gone from the pocket. We used to carry one in the pocket and when some of the 'babes' got off their buses and walked down Warwick road we used to get the ball throw it to them and let one kick it back. We'd then pick the ball up put it back in pocket and it was never kicked again... our trophies.
In the ground the excitement was building and as the United team was announced over the speaker nods of approval went round the ground. This would be the sixth game on the trot we had kept the same side... Then the Spurs side was read aloud, and again it was met by nods and looks that said it all....we would have to be on top form!
The United team led by Cantwell came out first the roar was one to behold as every last red shouted. The atmosphere was one to behold - Monday night, bitterly cold over 65,000 in the ground, cigarette smoke curling up under the corrugated roofing and then releasing itself into the night air where the floodlights made it look like proper clouds. There is something magical about night games in winter; really dark nights, crisp night air. Bliss... Spurs were afforded a great ovation as they came out and onto the pitch. Let battle commence!
The match started off slightly cagey for the first 4 or 5 minutes then the muscles were flexed. Bill Foulkes put Bobby Smith in pocket from the word go (and also nearly in the stands once or twice...) with both defences playing well it was an intriguing game then Pearson And Quixall raided down the right wing swapping passes which resulted in Pearson putting a ball across for of all people 'Nobby' Stiles who had come from nowhere to shoot beating Brown the Spurs keeper to put United 1 up. The crowd went mad!! 15 mins into the game and we were leading, but as Spurs hadn't gone through the season yet without scoring in every match we knew we had to be wary. Not much longer into the game when disaster struck Spurs were putting the pressure on and it was during one o these spells that Gregg got injured. He came down awkwardly in a collision with Bobby Smith and from then on was struggling. The United defence marshalled by Foulksey gave him protection but just before half time Smith put the ball in the net, only for the ref to disallow it and at that point Gregg went down and was unable to carry on in goal and Dawson had to take over in goal...
The second half started much like the first, but with Dawson playing in goal and Greggy playing as centre forward... Could we hold on..? Only time would tell.
United's defence was masterful and they managed to nullify the Spurs attack, but as the game wore on Spurs were getting more into the game and Dawson's goal was coming under more threat it was during this period that 'Nobby' picked up the ball and with the help of 'Pancho' and Quixall they worked the ball up field for Quixall to put one of his telling balls into the box for of all people Gregg who back-heeled the ball into the path of Pearson who had run round to an inside position and slot it past the despairing dive of Brown!! We were two up with 15 minutes remaining, but Spurs due to a brilliant display from United's defence and Stiles covering every move and every blade of grass ran out of ideas and United triumphed 2-0.... The roof was nearly lifted off the stands as 65,000 fans cheered and saluted their heroes at the final whistle! We had beaten a great side and also made it their first blank scoring game of the season....
It was a game to behold and it got thoughts of Championships and next season running through the mind. It was one of the best journeys home as I played every minute and every kick through my head... Leicester next week away. Greggy would be out, but we had Dawson lol, but most of all we had belief and momentum..... COME ON YOU REDS!!!
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Can i just take a moment to answer questions from people who read my last rendition in my diaries who thought it was getting a bit repetitious, just recently i have received a lot of questions from people on 'Twitter' , Who must have been on this site and read my meanderings , if SEA would permit i will answer a few questions now .
a) I don't mind criticism and i don't mind being put right
b)No i do not get paid for my writing and nor should i , it was done to a)help people to know what supporting United was like in the past and b) hopefully giving people an insight into our history
c)yes i DID (but not for the last 25 years) buy programmes which i gave (even the Arsenal game before Munich and the Sheffield Wed game after Munich with the blank pages for the team (which i did in my scrawl))away in 1976 for a friend whose son needed treatment and we raised in those days £1,125
d)You can tell off the way i write i'm no pro........(writing wise)
e)Maybe your dad did see the game different than me.....how many games have you seen the same as others......but if you say your dad is early late forties....enough said.
f)To the four people who said they can do better.......please be my guest , you can take over from now if you wish....i did not go to the Leicester game after drubbing Spurs in 1961 , so if you wish to put your take on that game feel free....i'm sure SEA wont mind as long as the column keeps going . I will give it a week before i put on the cup games (Sheff Wed) and my recollection of what the papers said of the Leicester game.....just to see if you can make it more interesting (but you have got to join SEA that way....which i welcome...the more the merrier).
g)Yes G.Best would have loved the freedom of less contact nowadays , but not all players can play in different decades.......Rooney would never have lasted......Ronaldo would have taken up another sport (we're talking the late fifties) and no a lot of the 'Babes' would be able to play now , and yes i think the big man 'Dunc' would have adapted.
h) A great question was 'Why was Duncan Edwards my favourite player, it's hard to explain to the younger generation (sorry not being a boring old fart.....and answer to another question , i have worn a flat cap and no i don't wear one now....though i should ....Rooney had more hair than me before the op ....not mine Rooney's...lol) but Dunc was the all round good at everything player that comes round once in a lifetime , he had ball control , he had heading ability of a centre half he had respect of the older generation , he could change a game not just by a pass or a goal or a defensive tackle.....he could do it by being there....people rant and rave about Keane and his leadership qualitys (which we miss today....not his football....no disrespect) but Dunc had all that in abundance and was only young , he was revered around the world for his skills and leadership in a United and England shirt and was still only a young man ! He had opposition always on there toes ....yes he did have off games (when he was only good...)......but i cannot think of anyone in the last 25 years who would get close.....(HE WAS THAT GOOD) i maybe slighyly biased , but i love football of today , it's faster more (?) skillfull, the grounds are better. the stadiums are better , the beers still shit! and the pies never get better.....and no Bovril or Wagon wheels.....but back to 'Dunc' he was a god in anybodys lifetime.....
I have tried to answer the most sensible questions and hope my answers satisfy you.To those who have enjoyed my writings ...i thank you
To those who haven't and can do better.......to me you've got till next Friday to do better till i put my next issue on.(which by the way is ready....regards W.T)
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Hi WT, I hope you continue your writing and I'm looking forward to read your stories - I like your contributions very much.
Got home from a devastating Sunday at OT, well "come rain, come shine" - but I never expected that I would witness this defeat to City. To lose a game is one thing / to lose it like yesterday is something new for me in my personal United history. The club means much to me; I followed the relegation in the 70s, and all those years we couldn't win the league. It was a real shock for me to see the game yesterday at OT - and I was not alone. On the train back to Oxford Road I met supporters, older than me, who were shocked as well and no one could believe what we've seen. To lose a football game is not the end of the world and I hope there will be a come back reaction in the next games.
Just a curiosity WT, during the 70's and 80's when United weren't near as successful as the past two decades, would it be fair to say United were still the biggest team in England in terms of support, publicity etc. ?
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I would personally say so....because we had won the European cup we were a scalp worth having , wherever we went there was a story to it , whenever a player stepped out of line it was news.......anything United did was reported and scrutinised....support wise we filled stadiums wherever we went...we like we do today sold papers....and we were supporters wise notorious , fights followed at every ground we went too.....yes we were big news on every angle !
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F.A.Cup 4th round we'd been drawn at Sheff Wed and as usual I had the cup flutters, i was a bag of nerves. I was still seeing me go up those Wembley steps and lifting that trophy over my head, as i did every year, but surely this was our year!
We would have to be on top of our game to win today as Sheff Wed were there at the top, fighting a brilliant Spurs side or the title, not only that they were coming off a demolition result. They had gone to Fulham the week before and won 6-1 after being a goal behind, on the other hand we had knocked Spurs off their perch two weeks ago and then suffered an almighty hammering at Leicester losing 6-0. We had an eighteen year old keeper (Briggs) in due to Greggy's injury against Spurs and nerves had got the better of him (I'm not blaming him for all the goals, but he could have done better with four of them).
Anyway I was ready and round at Uncle's doing the countdown to the time for boarding the coach, check list done, scarf, bob hat, sherbet dips... Bloody hell my Ticket (it was a 58,000 sell out), I went through pocket after pocket, but still nowhere to be found. Panic was setting in, it was minutes to go before boarding the coach at the top of our street, 'come on youngster' shouted Unc... Tears were starting to well up in my eyes as Unc appeared round the door, 'what's up with you...' with a blubbering 'been thru my pants and coat pockets.... can't find my ticket..' Unc started laughing..... 'you daft bugger, I haven't given it you yet....' Then i remembered, he'd only shown me the ticket and kept it with him, so I didn't lose it! Relief flooded through me and with a 'well what you waiting for' we set off. It was bloody bitter as we waited for the coach and at last it came round the corner the corner. Smidge had saved our seats, mind you it was hard to get to because of all the beer crates we had to climb over to get to them! The ritual was like all other games, the popping of caps coming of bottles and froth sprayed all over the place and as usual half hour into the journey and we were parked up and everyone behind bushes relieving themselves, to the jeers of other coaches who passed us by, who five minutes later were doing the same and it was our turn to jeer! Coming over the tops into Sheffield was like going into another world (Yorkshire is isn't it), smoke billowed out from the foundries and mixing with the freezing atmosphere made Sheffield virtually impossible to see, 'The Steel town of Britain' nay possibly 'The World' was arrived at. Big hardy men pants held up by big leather belts with shirts rolled up 't thelbow' and short sleeve leather jerkins , making there way to the game straight from work in the smelting mills, furnaces and rolling mills.
This was Cup day and fever was gripping everybody. United still had that mystic aura about them that through tragedy everyone still wanted them to rise from the ashes and do well (change from nowadays.....) and Sheffield were second in the league and trying to peg back Spurs. This had the makings of a great cup tie. Smidge the great pub sniffer had found a small pub down a back street so the lads piled in, Unc had bought me chips wrapped in newspaper (do they taste better out of newspaper..? you bet!) and I decided to stand outside eating these and taking in the sites... The smell of fresh baked pies wafted across from various locations, fresh bread from little bakeries dotted here and there and also the smell from the local brewery mixed with the sickly smell of the steel mill smoke (smells I miss today, as it's taken over by awful smell of burger wagons with there over inflated prices and there sawdust tasting burgers, well they have most probably been on the floor a few times before we get 'em...). The lads managed to get themselves out of the pub and off we went on the short walk to the ground. Banter was being thrown to and fro and as most games in them days it was taken in good humour, not by me i may say, as every time I was asked 'what d they think score'll be then', 2-1 was my reply. I would then get a big steel-mans hand rubbing the top of my head (thinking about it that's most probably the reason i'm bald! Yorkshire B*st*rds!) with tha's in fer shock then young 'un. In the ground and waiting for team news and Sir Matt had stood by young Briggs in goal. Sir Matt always had faith in youth and Briggsy had come through the ranks. He was 18 with potential, but lacked experience and was raw. A slight groan went up with the news, but we had to have faith....
The teams started to come out, Sheffield in there familiar blue and white stripes led out by Peter Swan (who later was to be banned from football along with 'Bronco' Layne and Tony Kay for match fixing. They bet on Sheff Wed to lose a game at Ipswich in 1962 and they did 2-0. Kay and Layne received prison sentences of four months and were also banned from football.) followed by Kay, Springett (England keeper ), Johnny Fantham, Alan Finney and the little wizard Keith Ellis, Layne and the rest (who escape my memory, sorry). United resplendent in there red shirts were led out by Cantwell, the match kicked off at a furious pace with Sheffield pressing us back in our own half for long spells, but the defence, as they had done against Spurs when Dawson had to go in goal were at the top of their game and protected Briggsy well. Slowly United started to get a foothold in the game and Swan was at his best against Dawson, who gave as good as he got (it was like two express trains running into each other). Charlton started to spray balls around and Pearson and Viollet were finding more room to ply there trade. The half time whistle came with Sheff Wed having had slightly the better of the first half. Expectations were running high as the second half commenced and I felt it was a game there to be won, but as always the rug was pulled from under my feet as Wednesday went in front. United again were on the back foot, 'play up reds' and shouts of 'come on United' rang around from our supporters. Very much like the first half we had a spell on top and it was during this time that our equaliser came from the unlikely source of Cantwell. Yes, we were level! Come on you Reds!! Visions of lifting the cup again flashed through my mind... In the dying moments United broke away and Charlton was bearing down on goal and with a 'Roy of the Rovers' shot the ball flew to the top corner. I watched it in slow motion, we were on our way.... then from nowhere came big Ron Springetts hand and somehow turned the ball round the corner of the upright.... How could he do this to me..?! The resultant corner came to nothing and the game duly ended 1-1.
On reflection it was a good result especially to get the on our own 'midden', although last time at our place they got a creditable 0-0. Next Wednesday in front of 65,000 baying United fans, I for one couldn't wait... My day didn't end there as we had the small matter of finding the coach and the journey home... Which started with a quick stop at the off-licence to stock up on more beer and no doubt a few unscheduled stops on the way.... Me, I fell asleep only to be woken up five minutes from home by a Smiling Smidge... What's that i'm feeling as I looked down at my pants the horror hit me... I had wet myself. Embarrassment flooded through and as I looked up everybody was looking and tutting again. Tears weld up in my eyes at the realisation and my head sank into the seat in front... laughter sounded out all around me non louder than Smidge. I just wanted the earth to swallow me up... then Unc put his arm around me 'Don't worry it was Smidge, he poured some beer on your pants... your face... lol. One day I would get even with Smidge, but not until after we stuffed Sheffield on Wednesday.... WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP!!!
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Feb 1st F.A.Cup replay against Sheff Wed , What a long day as i sat in school being told off on numerous occasions as i gawped out of the window planning the downfall of Sheffield taking not one blind bit of interest in lessons , preferring instead to make several team selections ahead of our replay , the only maths i wanted to do was count our goals as i had them going in right left and centre , the only Geography as to know which way we were kicking , To make history of Sheff Wednesday and to religiously bow down to Sir Matt....
The day seemed to take forever in that cold classroom as the wind whistled through the cracks in the windows , watching the finger on the clock slowly get to home-time and the match . At last the bell went and i was off ! slipping and sliding on the ice slides...the game had been called on as United had filled the pitch with straw.....Home at last , bob hat and scarf , coat , money....a full 10/- (50p).....quick jam butty and off round to unc's....Smidge was already round there (he only came round early cos gran fed him.....) unc arrived and had a quick bite and we talked about the team as he washed ( in the kitchen , where the hot water was on the Range cooker in a massive kettle......it was the warmest room in the house so that's where everybody congregated ) talk got round to the goalkeeper and would Greggy be fit (unfortunately no...)Gaskell was still injured.....Pinner still hadn't made his debut....so that left us with young Briggs , who on his debut against Leicester had shipped 6 and had a bit of a shaky game at Sheffield .....but if the defence played as well as against Spurs and Sheffield we would be O.K.....(fingers crossed)....
Everybody was eventually ready and off we set....quick pint at the local (still hid behind in a corner as unc managed to give me a drink of bitter ( mam would have killed him if she knew..) and then on the train ,,,next stop...Warwick road....and the jitters had started , it got even worse when we got off the train and saw how many people were there...it was chocca , getting through the masses was a struggle , the queues for the Scoreboard end was on the bridge....we forced through to the Stretford end and it was no better.....as we queued and the turnstiles came into view , worry was etched on my face.....would we get in in time for kick-off , as we got near the turnstile a roar went up.....'Don't worry....it's warm up time' said unc.....we squeezed in the turnstile and ran like hell up the steps into a wall of people , we managed( with great difficulty ) to get to our usual spot just as United came out , and a roar went up that greeted the 'Red Devils' one that sent tingles down the spine and expectation in our hearts.....looking across at the Scoreboard end where the Wednesday fans were and watching them rise as Wednesday come out (they must have been bloody freezing...there was no roof...it was all open and a bitter wind was blowing across the pitch ) all the straw was surrounding the ground and then a shrill whistle went up as both captains met in the middle.....the toss was duly done and the teams lined up for kick off.....as the whistle went for the start of the game the roar from both sets of fans was deafening...WE WERE OFF !!
We started like an house on fire and it wasn't long before the first goal was scored.....sadly to Sheff Wed 0-1.....from then on it was all Wednesday , with a little (sorry...a lot ) of help of young Briggs who had a nightmare ...Ellis made it 2-0....Fantham 3-0.....luckily half time came....we would re-group and come out fighting.....'wouldn't we unc '....no reply...the second half started and a ray of hope was sent our way as Dawson pulled one back.....but it was a false dawn as Sheff Wed went on the rampage Ellis ended up with an hat-trick , Fantham scored another ( Pearson got one for the Reds but it was too little too late ) Sheffield ran out 7-2 winners....Briggs had had a mare.....but you could only feel sorry for him as the defence had more holes in it that night than a colander . It was with heavy heart that i left that ground that night , no i would not be at Wembley again that season , I would not be seeing myself walking up those steps to lift the cup , i would be coming back Saturday for the game against Aston Villa but.......it was getting close to that date again and as it got closer the heart got heavier and the memories flooded back ........this year would be different......as i was to find out after the Villa game...............
Another fine read WT, never realised we got a tonking like that from Sheff Wed at home.The keeper Briggs reminds me of the Paddy Roche days !
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Brilliant as ever WT, wasn't logged in for some time - hope you are well, talk to you before Christmas.
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Well after the bombshell that Unc had dropped on me and the nightmare of paying my respects on Feb 6th (which i put on this page but it seems to have mysteriously disappeared...and i don't keep copies of my writings...oh well) it was time to get back too business. As you know United were going through an indifferent period, playing well one week awful the next, but at this moment in time we needed a boost,we'd been dumped out of the cup, the league game prior had been beaten 6-0 by Leicester not too mention last week's bore draw with the Villa, so being the eternal optimist this week we would play and beat the mighty Wolves on there own midden.
Saturday started like all match days, excitement, hope and the 'we're going to murder 'em today' all the usual match day euphoria, and especially for away games. So there I was going through my check list: bob hat 'check', scarf 'check', ticket... Where the bloody hell's my ticket? (I do this every time, even now. My excuse now though it's an age thing!) I looked all over and found it tucked in my bob hat, which by now was on my head (i started going senile early...lol). Sherbet dip..'check' (only thing was i'd eaten the liquorice stick from it and the sherbet had emptied out of the tube and into my coat pocket... fluff and sherbet it is then!). All I've got to do now is wait for it to come light and be off round to Unc's. Time eventually came round to go, so it was a Tarra to mam and a run round to unc's. As is the norm, was he ready? Was he hell! He wasn't even up, so upstairs I ran and burst open the bedroom door 'What the bloody hell' shouted unc... 'you know, Saturday Wolves away... and your still in bed !' He went ballistic; we weren't going 'til 10.30 and it was only 8.15. I ran out and shut the door just as a big work boot hit it!
Sat there at the table waiting for 10.30 is the longest wait ever. Unc came down and give me the look, and at 10 Smidge arrived and off we went. Quickly on to the coach, back seat (where all the beer was stored... not daft eh) and we were off. We were only ten minutes into the journey and already you couldn't see the driver for fag smoke and by then most were on there second bottle of brown ale! I knew by then this was going to be a journey of frequent stops as one after another wanted too relieve themselves (the first stop was so soon they could have used there own bloody toilet...) Anyway we were on the road and coming close to the land of the weird speakers... (to this day I still like listening to Brummies, they even make me sound like a 'toff'. Sorry no offence). Then the coach stopped outside a pub... Fatal... everybody poured out and straight in... Time started to pass, with cries of 'bags of time' as beer after beer flowed down the throats it was getting a bit worrying.... Then with a 'right lads ' we were off... It was an awesome sight as we turned into Molineux and goose bumps and shivers intermingled... Wolves were still in the title race, some six points behind Spurs and playing some good football (as most teams did under Stan Cullis) they had some good strikers in Farmer and Murray but on a whole goals came from all positions, we would have to be at our best today, but maybe we could put in another performance as against Spurs and if so anything could happen......
Stood in the queue waiting to get in the ground the tension was mounting. Wolves had won nine of their last eleven games and scored eighteen in their last five. Our problem, who starts in goal?! In the ground and the teams were read out and a sigh of relief went up from the United faithful when Pinner's name was read out (sorry Briggs, but you'd had a few mares...). United's side looked fairly well balanced with Brennan and Cantwell as full-backs, Foulkes, Setters and Nicholson with a five up front of Quixall, Stiles, Pearson, Dawson and Charlton.
The game was soon underway and like all games with Wolves it was end to end and tackles flying in from all angles (it would have ended up a five a side game nowadays) as the likes of Cantwell, 'Nobby' Stiles, Setters and Foulkes made their presence felt! United were looking comfortable and it wasn't long for the first chance, which fell to Pearson who clipped the upright with a dipping volley. Wolves then started to get into their stride and put the United goal under pressure for a long spell their fans sensed that a goal was near and the noise started to crank up... only to be hushed when Charlton picked the ball up and as only he could glided past two defenders to hit a left foot shot that was destined for the top corner... until the keeper from somewhere got the merest of touches and steered it onto the post. From the ball coming out Wolves broke and Murray with the deftest of headers turned a ball goal bound; Pinner somehow got a fingertip to it and turned it round the post! From the resulting corner disaster struck as a scramble in the goalmouth resulted in Flowers scoring for Wolves.... Try as we might we couldn't force an equaliser before half-time and went in 1-0 down. The second half started much as the first with tackles galore flying in and some good football played by both sides... United seemed to be edging it and it was during this spell that we equalised Nicholson rounding of move that involved Charlton, Quixall and Dawson with a shot curled into the bottom corner giving their keeper no chance. We were now on the up and you could sense a second goal coming and did it! A ball came over from the right wing and and was headed out only to be belted right back for it to deflect off all people into the net but Shay Brennan 2-1.... but sadly it was in his own net! Wolves were back in front... After that Wolves took control and try as hard as they could United couldn't penetrate the Wolves defence and we ran out 2-1 losers. Just before turning to go up the terraces i glanced across at the 'North Bank' (Wolves's fans end) and it looked massive, steep (in years to come United fans would battle for supremacy in there) and very impressive.
The journey home was a long one of 'if only...', 'why didn't he....' but on reflection we had been beaten by a well drilled side who played good football. We finally arrived home after countless stops, it was now five games without a win and really the season was over for us we had fourteen games to play with some big games in that, Bolton next week at home... I was starting my own league table from next week, sod the last twenty eight games.... 'WE'RE GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE!!' well mine anyway!!!!
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Fantastic read fella. Good half time reading. I can see you've been a fan for ssometime, who are your top three favourite United players of all time?
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Thank you for your comments, much appreciated. As for your question, it's so so hard... Well the third one is....without doubt the greatest United player I have been priviliged to see was the one and only Duncan Edwards. Secondly without any doubt was George Best and after a great deal of thought....Roger Byrne. In all honesty I think it's an unfair question, just because football changes every so many years and good and great footballers come along for that generation some could not play in the next generation and certainly none of the present team would have been able to play in the fifties, nor would they have been good enough to have got in the 'Babes' side. Personally I think it would be fairer to name the best players from each decade.....and believe me that wouldn't be easy either... Go on now you can shoot me down and name names i possibly couldn't disagree with...lol
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Who are your top three players from each decade?
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Hi WT, good article as ever - hope you're well; send ya a few tweets, you might have witnessed, I love the video "The Formation Of The Holy Trinity 1964" - thats great stuff
On This Day: Best, Charlton, and Law's first game together - next Sat. I'm off for a week skiing in our beautiful country, all the very best - take care
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In the fifties i would go 1)Duncan Edwards 2)Roger Byrne 3)Tommy Taylor
In the sixties 1)George Best 2)Bobby Charlton 3)=Denis law and Paddy Crerand
then i'll have to have a good think for the rest.....
Enjoyable read my friend,hope your ok? its been a while.
Taken my son to the liverpool game on the 11th. We got our tickets this morning we were allocated east stand tier 2 row 21. Are the seats any good? As it's my sons first time going and want him to have a memorible day any advice would be great thanks.
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