Really enjoying watching these 1970s reruns. Today featured QPR V Sunderland and Rangers had a heck of a side then. Frank McLintock and David Webb at the back, John Hollins midfield, Stanley Bowles up front etc etc. All of this only means anything to those old enough to remember but it’s great watching them. Fascinating seeing how the grounds have changed as well. Really glad I’ve found this series and they’re all set to record.
Did you notice a young Paul Futcher playing for Luton? Last game I think on this episode.. His long ball set up a goal. Also great to see Dave Thomas bombing down the wing for QPR. He'd do well in the modern game
Not seen past the QPR game yet so I’ll watch out for Futch tomorrow. Dave Thomas looked brilliant - proper Hammill-esque. Socks round his ankles as well
Think that team nearly won the league, pipped at the post by liverpool i think, they had gerry francis as well top player
When did linesman stop going 10 yards in from the corner flag at corners, I can't remember them doing it
And when did they, and the referee stop kicking the ball to players when it goes dead and it's near them. These days they treat the ball like a loaded weapon and daren't touch it, even with their feet. Where's the harm in stopping it running 20 yards past them down the touchline? It would stop some of the timewasting if they did the obvious thing, wouldn't it?
I watched yesterday's programme. The main game was a Second Division match between Chelsea and Wolves from December 1976, which ended in a 3-3 draw on a particularly dreadful pitch. In the Wolverhampton Wanderers' line up was Gary Pierce (who signed for us three years later), local lads Steve Daley & Alan Sunderland and a certain Martin Patching, who is the Father of Cauley Woodrow.
It was noticeable in yesterday's offerings how poor the Fulham Golden Boys looked. They got hammered at home to Notts County and Bobby Moore made two bad errors which led to two County goals. George Best and Rodney Marsh looked fairly lost to be honest, their talents clearly on the wane. Manager Bobby Campbell afterwards said he still had faith in them all but it was clear that the initial honeymoon period for these three and Fulham was at an end. It's great to see former stars of the game still plying their trade at a lower level, but a bit sad as well. Talent like theirs would have earned them millions in the modern game but in those pre-Sky days it was a much poorer place to be. Best had made and squandered a fortune through his various business outlets so it's hard to feel sorry for him, but it was still a shame. I saw him turn out for Bournemouth in a pre-season friendly (or maybe a County Cup match) at non-league Salisbury when I lived down there in the late 1970s and he was a shambling mess of a footballer, very close to the end of everything.
I asked the question because in these games the officials always kick the ball back or put a foot on it when necessary.
Just tuned in this evening... Billy Bonds certainly got a raw deal on the penalty in the London derby with Spurs. But what struck me was that in the other games how much Jimmy Neighbour resembled Bobby Ball, and Barry Siddall was Basil Fawlty's big brother
