Last time Luton Town and Barnsley as I can recall, were 1st and 2nd was in1967-68, and both finished up being promoted from division 4. Let's hope history repeats itself.
I remember it well. Crewe finished third and Hartlepool completed the promotion quartet, managed for the first time by Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. Great season
When Barnsley played luton at home that season, I think it was an evening match and there were over 20,000 there. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Barnsley sometimes play on Friday night in those days and kick off at 3.15 on Saturdays and come out to brass band music ? "I can't remember what the title of the music was.
I remember kicking off at 3.15 pm on Saturdays, and was told that was because pubs didn't close until 3.00 pm! I can't remember the brass band music, but I'm sure there are others on the BBS who will know.
I was always told it was to give the miners coming off day shift time to clean up and get to the match. Probably some truth in both explanations!
I was always lead to believe it was because of the miners shift times. But I'm only a mid forties whipper snapper
Interestingly the year we finished 2nd to Luton we went unbeaten at home all season with a Home record of W 17 D 6 L 0 and (if I remember correctly) Goals For of 43 Against 14. If we could repeat that this season we'd be in with a strong chance of automatic - we've already won as many away games this season as we did all 1967/68 (our away record was W 7 D 7 L 9 that year). I don't remember the Luton home game being a night match but I recall Bruce Rioch scoring a belter from about 25-30 yards into the Ponty End in a 2-2 draw; I think we lost the away game at Luton 2-0, so we've already done better than that this season. I seem to recall beating Brian Clough's Hartlepools 4-0 at Oakwell (or maybe I'm thinking of Crewe, as I recall we drew 2-2 with one and beat the other 4-0 at Oakwell for the other promoted teams). Funny how I can remember this very clearly but can't remember where I put my specs half the time !
Not just the music but the brass band marching end to end. Ought to give this a whirl one match for owd times sake and get on to press showing we do things a bit different, call it nostalgia day and then we can leet up some Woodbines and run on pitch and put a balloon or rossette ont centre spot before kick off.
Did that last to the 80's? I am sure a band or an army, or some people marched over from where the corner stand now is. It was my first match, and it was a few years before I came back.
Thanks for the confirmation. I thought it was Hartlepools we beat 4-0. That means we must have drawn 2-2 with both Luton and Crewe, I think. I recall you put me straight when I was getting confused about the Scunthorpe FA cup game in the 60s and who scored both goals at the Old Show Ground (my first away game), so thanks for those too ! It looks like we don't live very far from each other as your location is Harrogate and I now live in Wetherby. I think you've posted about going to watch the Yellow-and-Blacks. I went to three of their matches towards the end of last season when they won promotion via the play-offs. It's very easy for me as the No 7 bus stops right outside the ground (as you probably know). Haven't been this season because their home games always seem to coincide with The Reds'. Thoroughly enjoyed watching them last season (think they scored over 100 goals in the league). Managed to catch them against Hartlepools on BT Sport recently, a well deserved 3-1 win. Off to Gillingham on Saturday via the club coaches (too mean to pay 2x£5 for Dartford crossings plus petrol on my own if I drive !). Planning to leave Wetherby c.7:45 a.m. to allow for any traffic issues before coach leaves Oakwell at 9:15 a.m. Goodness knows what time I'll get home in the evening ! If, as we all hope, this season ends with The Reds returning to the Championship, maybe we could meet up in Harrogate for a pint to celebrate.......
Genuine question.... was Hartlepool ever named 'Hartlepools'? My grandad used to call it the same and I've only ever heard it referenced as such by fans from the older age bracket.
Genuinely don't know and wasn't even conscious of having used the term "Hartlepools" - but then again I am an old codger so maybe that explains it ! I think maybe when the football results used to be read out on Grandstand on Saturday evening at 5 o'clock they used the "Hartlepools" but really don't have any other explanation...........