Question for the older brigade...

I'm assuming we got the same reaction when we sold:

Hirst
Agnew
McCarthy
Tiler
Taggart
Redfearn
Beresford
Robinson
Ward
Hignett

Is that right?

 

The sky was awash with carrier pigeons.

 

Not really. When we sold Hirst I cried for a week. I expect to get over this one in a couple of days.

 

This does not compare with my upset when we released Martin Bullock.

 

Had there been a BBS when we lost some of those players (Hirst especially) then I an confident the reaction would have been the same.

 

I know where you're coming from with this and obviously there was no internet back then so we don't have anything as a point of reference. The only transfer that I can remember people getting really upset about was John Beresford going to Newcastle for £300,000 (please correct me if I'm wrong) apparently to pay for some new floodlights. I remember going to the next home game and there was a significant number in the West Stand giving the then manager (Clarke or Machin - I don't recall) some grief after the final whistle.

 

I was but a nipper for some of those but here's my personal recollection (for what it's worth)...

McCarthy was just before my time and Hirst i must have been about 6
Agnew... much maligned by many for years and got grief for being too soft. Thought he was instrumental and had a blinding final season yet a lot of fans were incredulous anyone would shell out £3/4m
Tiler... we had a very good set of defensive options and thought £1.4m was good business
Taggart... gutted as he'd been here so long but deserved his move
Redfearn... gutted beyond gutted
Beresford... deserved his move but probably par fee at the time
Robinson... another boo boy but he worked hard to convert from winger to full back/wing back, disappointed at timing but got impression many didn't rate him and he wasn't considered a big loss
Ward... laughed all the way to the bank
Hignett... disappointed he left but couldnt blame him at all and thought we got good value for him for his advancing years

 

no its just you young uns that are over dramatic these days.

its part of supporting your club,your better players advancing.

instead of all moaning ,just be proud at what we have produced

 

We wouldn't know as social media as such was virtually unheard of. However, the biggest outcry of those was the fee for Hirst, Have you heard the term Allan 'David Hirst leaves over my dead body' Clark. Hirst said himself that the club had no option to accept the offer such was their financial state. Carl Tiler was probably our first million pound sale (1.4 ) That built the East stand so that we could start and conform with the findings of the Justice Taylor report. Anyway fans weren't happy no, but we accept we are a selling club. Incidentally, Man city received half of the Taggart transfer fee due a sell-on clause.

 

Main difference is we didn't sell them as soon as we could (except Hirsty perhaps).

 

looking at that list you missed off probably our best most talented right back

Nicky Eaden

 

I was thinking more 'sales' rather than letting contracts run out mate.

 

i was more gutted when we sold David Speedie,5000 quid now that was a joke

 

Went to Portsmouth for £400.000

 

Was gutted when Currie went to Forest

 

Thanks for correcting me - think I'll go and get checked for dementia

 

From the ones l can remember:

- When Beresford left there were protests, two bloke's invaded the pitch with a flag (bedsheet) saying "Keep the best, sell the rest" l remember that, they ran up to the directors box with it.

- Robinson, sold just before a night game, not many knew until they turned up for the game and saw he wasn't in the squad

Back then they were sold and the money was spent on summat as mentioned, Ward North Stand, Tiler East Stand, Beresford floodlight, Dave Regis corner flags. As well as us still having a competitive team in the league. In todays money we'd be able to sell Stones, build the West Stand and still not go down.

 

write it down on a bit of paper so that you'll know what you went for

 

The Carl Tiler transfer took most by surprise if I remember right. He wasn't held in the same esteem as Stones or Hirst and it was a very good deal.

Things have changed since then though, now it is every good player we have gets poached after a dozen good games and we have very few memories of them.

If we had a great side now like we had in 96-97 we would never get promoted, because it would have been ripped apart in January. That's if we were allowed to assemble it in the first place.

Managers are paid to ride these disappointments. We are expected to pay for the 'privilege'.

 

he he.