'Memries' Did anyone here watch United in the 1965-1966 season?

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Me anorl. But for the life of me I can't remember my first league game. I certainly remember the West Ham game and have programmes for just about all the home matches that season. But I started with County Cup and reserve games in 1964 as an 8 yr old before progressing to the first team matches. Pipe smoke, night matches, big crowd, chanting: hooked.
 

I had a very weird 'uncle' (they were always 'uncles' in those days :eek:) who had a chippie off Middlewood Road and supported the pigs. He could get seats in the 'new' cantilever North Stand and took me to a few games. In the derby game, as the teams came out, a massive roar went up in the middle of this stand as they saw the Blades coming down the tunnel opposite (teams came out separately then, and none of this namby-pamby hand-shaking bollocks before the game). The 'East Bank' (kop) was an impressive sight - totally packed, no roof and a primitive (but better than anything we had) 'electronic score board' at the back - paid for, like everything else at Hillsborough, by the awarding of the 1966 WC to Hillsborough. The pigs chairman - Eric Taylor - had the ear of Sir Stanley Rous of FIFA so Hillsborough was picked, as it would have been if England had been awarded the 2018 WC. No corruption back then or now. No siree, Bob.

I digress. The massed fans equally split the kop with only a nominal 'no mans land' of a sunken gangway between them. At the end of the game as the fans made their way towards the back and out of the ground, I saw a gang of Blades fans hoist one of their mates up. They were all wearing bush jackets (from Wakefield's Army Stores) and this lad was wearing an equally de rigeur white plastic hard hat, which he took off and used it to smash as many bulbs in the scoreboard as he could reach.

Same season, I went to pigs v Leeds and that kop saw the finest mass brawl I've ever seen. It seemed as if everybody on the kop was scrapping. Think Blazing Saddles! Happy days, even if everything was in black and white!
Dem were't days mate! ;)

The other thing I remember from that game at the Sty is at the end, my feet didn't touch the ground all the way out until we got out into the road and I was just hanging on to my Dad for dear life in fear of been swept away and it was pretty much the same crush when I watched the derby on their Kop in the 2 or 3 years after. Terrible place to get out of back then.
 
I remember the hard hats. They were white miners hats which we probably got from the army stores. It was around that time that hooliganism appeared, so they were handy if bricks and bottles were lobbed. Also walking sticks were quite numerous.
Me and my mate made a banner with washing/clothes props and a blanket. We took it to Fulham away I think. Also remember being on the Kop against Liverpool, was really funny listening to scousers, and there was no segregation. You always wanted to be behind the oppositions goal. I reckon our ground was great, cos you could walk all the way around past the cricket pavilion, and swap ends at half time. Great memories.
 
I remember the hard hats. They were white miners hats which we probably got from the army stores. It was around that time that hooliganism appeared, so they were handy if bricks and bottles were lobbed. Also walking sticks were quite numerous.
Me and my mate made a banner with washing/clothes props and a blanket. We took it to Fulham away I think. Also remember being on the Kop against Liverpool, was really funny listening to scousers, and there was no segregation. You always wanted to be behind the oppositions goal. I reckon our ground was great, cos you could walk all the way around past the cricket pavilion, and swap ends at half time. Great memories.

Yup, banners made from bed sheets and nailed to lengths of 4 bi 2. For younger fans of a tender disposition, avert your eyes now... but an 'addition' to these lumps of timber were nails and razor blades.
 
I seem to remember a cry of you dirty sod Hartle.
No doubt Silent Blade will tell me which game this was, the score and attendance. :)
My brain had an off day yesterday ,
The cry was actually 'You greedy sod Hartle. '
The winger had every opportunity to pass/cross but chose instead to try beat his man again.
I am too embarrassed to say I was related to the angry person who shouted that out. :)
 
Yup, banners made from bed sheets and nailed to lengths of 4 bi 2. For younger fans of a tender disposition, avert your eyes now... but an 'addition' to these lumps of timber were nails and razor blades.

Because of health and safety* today's "hoolies" are reduced to throwing beer milk and mustard and threatening kids on minimum wage with plenty of mates to back them up while I'm sure they are actually desperate to get out there and fight like minded people armed to the teeth.



* That or cowardice, I can never remember which it is.
 
Didnt realise Pace had a testimonial? In September 1964 he had a stomach problem and was out of football for a few months (Birchenall took his place) but when he got better he was sold to Notts County
A real brain dead day, yesterday. DOH.
I was actually thinking of Joe Shaw's testimonial. Was that against an all star X1? The Date? Was the score 5-4 and did they let Joe score?

Oh for a better hard drive for a brain.
Great memories even if a bit cloudy these days.
 
There were some truly great blades that season. Some have never been bettered since in my opinion.
Alan Hodgkinson -the best of the best
Joe Shaw - the best sweeper (before sweepers were recognised as such.
Graham Shaw - magnificent England International left back
Mick Jones -the best all round centre forward
Len Badger -sensational right back in both defence and attack
 
A real brain dead day, yesterday. DOH.
I was actually thinking of Joe Shaw's testimonial. Was that against an all star X1? The Date? Was the score 5-4 and did they let Joe score?

Oh for a better hard drive for a brain.
Great memories even if a bit cloudy these days.
Will look up when I get home
 
Thanks for that chaps.

So, follow up question, who you each pick as player of the season?

Easy really as MIck Jones was the outstanding player of the side although he an Sherman worked really well together. Think Woody was in the side then and again was terrific in making goals for Jones. We had a really good footballing side and as usual we sold our 2 best assets a couple of years later in Jones and Birchenall and went down . Remember the song we sang after Jones sale - to the tune of the excert to a teenage opera -
"Michael Jones, Michael Jones, is it true what Dick Wragg says you wont come back, oh no oh no " I was heartbroken listening to that afterwards !!
Not much changed at the Lane eh ?
 
It was 6-5 in the Joe Shaw testimonial but I couldn't tell you if United were the winners or the All-Stars XI.

I don't know if Joe Shaw scored but Jimmy Hagan did, direct from a free kick, to the huge delight of the 29000 crowd, past Ron Springett.
 
I had a very weird 'uncle' (they were always 'uncles' in those days :eek:) who had a chippie off Middlewood Road and supported the pigs. He could get seats in the 'new' cantilever North Stand and took me to a few games. In the derby game, as the teams came out, a massive roar went up in the middle of this stand as they saw the Blades coming down the tunnel opposite (teams came out separately then, and none of this namby-pamby hand-shaking bollocks before the game). The 'East Bank' (kop) was an impressive sight - totally packed, no roof and a primitive (but better than anything we had) 'electronic score board' at the back - paid for, like everything else at Hillsborough, by the awarding of the 1966 WC to Hillsborough. The pigs chairman - Eric Taylor - had the ear of Sir Stanley Rous of FIFA so Hillsborough was picked, as it would have been if England had been awarded the 2018 WC. No corruption back then or now. No siree, Bob.

I digress. The massed fans equally split the kop with only a nominal 'no mans land' of a sunken gangway between them. At the end of the game as the fans made their way towards the back and out of the ground, I saw a gang of Blades fans hoist one of their mates up. They were all wearing bush jackets (from Wakefield's Army Stores) and this lad was wearing an equally de rigeur white plastic hard hat, which he took off and used it to smash as many bulbs in the scoreboard as he could reach.

Same season, I went to pigs v Leeds and that kop saw the finest mass brawl I've ever seen. It seemed as if everybody on the kop was scrapping. Think Blazing Saddles! Happy days, even if everything was in black and white!

It was amazing in them days when fans were able to go on each others Kop and many a battle ensued .
These days they call it hooliganism but at the time it was a matter of pride in your club that no one was allowed to "take the kop" and we tried to take other clubs kop/home end. Most teams failed to take ours of course but remember Man Utd through sheer numbers would have the advantage, Leeds fans made good attempts because they got in early as did the pigs
Battles raged all through the match in an attempt to gain control but it always seemed normal to me and quite exciting albeit I managed to avoid the real fighting and a lot of it was posturing for position until coppers came in between - Oh happy days !!
 
Yup, banners made from bed sheets and nailed to lengths of 4 bi 2. For younger fans of a tender disposition, avert your eyes now... but an 'addition' to these lumps of timber were nails and razor blades.
Yes bunch of softies nowadays compared to the real hard nuts of that era !
 
It was amazing in them days when fans were able to go on each others Kop and many a battle ensued .
These days they call it hooliganism but at the time it was a matter of pride in your club that no one was allowed to "take the kop" and we tried to take other clubs kop/home end. Most teams failed to take ours of course but remember Man Utd through sheer numbers would have the advantage, Leeds fans made good attempts because they got in early as did the pigs
Battles raged all through the match in an attempt to gain control but it always seemed normal to me and quite exciting albeit I managed to avoid the real fighting and a lot of it was posturing for position until coppers came in between - Oh happy days !!

Many is the time I used to get home, bruised and bloodied from games - particularly away. One time, my dad tried to lecture me about the error of my ways and I told him that young English males have always needed to 'let off steam'. Look at mods, rockers, Teddie boys, skinheads, punks etc.
He replied "Well we didn't." until I pointed that they had World War 2...:D

It's a serious point. different strokes etc. This morning I was watching Steven Sackur on 'Hard Talk' where he grilling Putin's mouthpiece re. Syria. Sackur pointed out that, under the Geneva Convention it is forbidden to bomb civilians. Now I know (or think) that the GC didn't apply in those days, but I thought 'Hamburg?', 'Cologne?' etc.
 
I was 15 years old and went home and away most games,there was a group of us.I used to get free rail travel as my Dad used to work on the railways and my mates used to go by SUT coach and we would meet up at the ground.It is interesting reading some of the stories,one i do remember was the Fulham cup game away,there was no segregation,i got hit on the head with a bottle and was taken by St.Johns into the cottage in the corner of the ground and had stitches put in the cut and back to watch the game.I'm sure it ended 1-1 and we won the replay.We drew Chelsea away in the next round and i painted a safety helmet red & white,ended up with my picture taken at the train station it was on the front page of the star with a story about me being hit on the head at Fulham,my only claim to fame !!!
 

I was 15 years old and went home and away most games,there was a group of us.I used to get free rail travel as my Dad used to work on the railways and my mates used to go by SUT coach and we would meet up at the ground.It is interesting reading some of the stories,one i do remember was the Fulham cup game away,there was no segregation,i got hit on the head with a bottle and was taken by St.Johns into the cottage in the corner of the ground and had stitches put in the cut and back to watch the game.I'm sure it ended 1-1 and we won the replay.We drew Chelsea away in the next round and i painted a safety helmet red & white,ended up with my picture taken at the train station it was on the front page of the star with a story about me being hit on the head at Fulham,my only claim to fame !!!

Wasn't that the 1966-1967 season?
 
I was 15 years old and went home and away most games,there was a group of us.I used to get free rail travel as my Dad used to work on the railways and my mates used to go by SUT coach and we would meet up at the ground.It is interesting reading some of the stories,one i do remember was the Fulham cup game away,there was no segregation,i got hit on the head with a bottle and was taken by St.Johns into the cottage in the corner of the ground and had stitches put in the cut and back to watch the game.I'm sure it ended 1-1 and we won the replay.We drew Chelsea away in the next round and i painted a safety helmet red & white,ended up with my picture taken at the train station it was on the front page of the star with a story about me being hit on the head at Fulham,my only claim to fame !!!
Wasn't that the 1966-1967 season?
Yes,just checked,it was 66-67 season the bang on the head must have done more damage than i realised .
 
There were some truly great blades that season. Some have never been bettered since in my opinion.
Alan Hodgkinson -the best of the best
Joe Shaw - the best sweeper (before sweepers were recognised as such.
Graham Shaw - magnificent England International left back
Mick Jones -the best all round centre forward
Len Badger -sensational right back in both defence and attack

And the best chants spawned around that time.

Aye Aye Aye Aye
Hodgy is better than Yashin*
Mick Jones is better than Eusebio
and wednesday are in for a thrashing.


*Younger blades can You tube the legendary Russian goalie Lev Yashin
( Hodgy and Yashin both played at the time when keepers had no physical protection whatsoever. Forwards regularly barged both the keeper and the ball into the net, kicked them even if they had the ball,

To the tune of Yankee Doodle
Badger comes from Attercliffe
Doo- dah Doo dah
Badger comes from Attercliffe
Doo- dah Doo Day
On the booze all day
On the wife all night
Badger comes from Attercliffe
Doo- dah Doo Day
 
And the best chants spawned around that time.

Aye Aye Aye Aye
Hodgy is better than Yashin*
Mick Jones is better than Eusebio
and wednesday are in for a thrashing.


*Younger blades can You tube the legendary Russian goalie Lev Yashin
( Hodgy and Yashin both played at the time when keepers had no physical protection whatsoever. Forwards regularly barged both the keeper and the ball into the net, kicked them even if they had the ball,

To the tune of Yankee Doodle
Badger comes from Attercliffe
Doo- dah Doo dah
Badger comes from Attercliffe
Doo- dah Doo Day
On the booze all day
On the wife all night
Badger comes from Attercliffe
Doo- dah Doo Day


Don't remember the Badger one but way back we used to sing to that tune:

Who's that copper with the helmet on, Dixon, Dixon,
Who's that copper with the helmet on, Dixon of Dock Green,
On the beat all day, on the wife all night,
Who's that copper with the helmet on, Dixon of Dock Green.

So naive and innocent. Then there was the Woody one to Ginganggullygullywasha ( girl guide song I think!):

Alan, Alan Woodward,
Alan Woodward on the wing,
Repeat.

So innocent.
 
Mick Jones was class. The greatest centre forward I ever saw in a blades' shirt. Like Grey, I was sick to the stomach when he was sold for a paltry £100k to Leeds. Remember we threw pennies at the board as they came into the directors' box the game after he was sold. Peter Howard, our greatest Star correspondent, wrote in that newspaper how shortsighted Jones' sale was. Remember the kop singing, to the tune of Grocer Jack, "Michael Jones, Michael Jones, is it true what Harris said, you won't come back, oh no oh oh ...". Very affective ...

They sold Jones Sept. 67 (£100k and Birch Nov. 67 (£100k) and brought in Tony Currie in Fed 1968,(£26,500). I can remember thinking back later that we could have had a forward line of Geoff Salmons, Birch, Jones, Currie and Woodward and it would have cost the club all of £26,500...

Good old Dick Wragg,
I used to call him by his first name DICK...
 
A song of the time always guaranteed to start a fight and get a few arrested was the old Harry Roberts is our friend,is our friend ditti.
 
And the best chants spawned around that time.

Aye Aye Aye Aye
Hodgy is better than Yashin*
Mick Jones is better than Eusebio
and wednesday are in for a thrashing.


*Younger blades can You tube the legendary Russian goalie Lev Yashin
( Hodgy and Yashin both played at the time when keepers had no physical protection whatsoever. Forwards regularly barged both the keeper and the ball into the net, kicked them even if they had the ball,

To the tune of Yankee Doodle
Badger comes from Attercliffe
Doo- dah Doo dah
Badger comes from Attercliffe
Doo- dah Doo Day
On the booze all day
On the wife all night
Badger comes from Attercliffe
Doo- dah Doo Day

Think you've got your Yankee Doodles mixed up with your Campdown races there...
 
A real brain dead day, yesterday. DOH.
I was actually thinking of Joe Shaw's testimonial. Was that against an all star X1? The Date? Was the score 5-4 and did they let Joe score?

Oh for a better hard drive for a brain.
Great memories even if a bit cloudy these days.

It was 6-5 in the Joe Shaw testimonial but I couldn't tell you if United were the winners or the All-Stars XI.

I don't know if Joe Shaw scored but Jimmy Hagan did, direct from a free kick, to the huge delight of the 29000 crowd, past Ron Springett.

Lost 6-5. Scorers were Jones, Hagan, Matthewson, Woodward and Birchenall
 
I was 15 years old and went home and away most games,there was a group of us.I used to get free rail travel as my Dad used to work on the railways and my mates used to go by SUT coach and we would meet up at the ground.It is interesting reading some of the stories,one i do remember was the Fulham cup game away,there was no segregation,i got hit on the head with a bottle and was taken by St.Johns into the cottage in the corner of the ground and had stitches put in the cut and back to watch the game.I'm sure it ended 1-1 and we won the replay.We drew Chelsea away in the next round and i painted a safety helmet red & white,ended up with my picture taken at the train station it was on the front page of the star with a story about me being hit on the head at Fulham,my only claim to fame !!!

Yes,just checked,it was 66-67 season the bang on the head must have done more damage than i realised .

 
Fulham vBlades footage.

Wow, never seen this before,(We didn't have BBC 2 at the time I guess,) it sure brought back memories.
A few random observations;
No action replays,
How close the photographers were to the pitch,
The appearance together of Mick Jones and Alan Clarke, soon to become a great partnership unfortunately.
The chat between Clarke and Len Badger after Clarke's goal (were they mates from the Under 23s?)
The recently departed Reg Matthewson.
Willie Smith!!! Presumably AlanBirchenall was injured!
Bill Punton having an awful game, I remember him for one thing only, but it was a good thing.
Johnny Haynes and George Cohen in the Fulham line up.
The state of the pitch and the willingness of the ref to let play flow.
 

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