40 years ago on Sunday

[Silent Blade]

That top of the table clash at Old Trafford when George Best scored that goal to break our hearts in the 84th minute (Alan Gowling got their 2nd two minutes later heading in a cross from Brian Kidd)! I was at the game with my dad who had bought our tickets in advance. We got into the ground about a hour early (which was rare for us as my dad was regularly in the bookmakers until about 2.55pm!) 20,000 fans were locked out. The weather was hot and sunny (could be temp record for 2nd Oct?). How many of you were there or were locked out?

Was talking about that match to a Wendy fan at work today. he said he remembered listening to the commentary at home. He watched Wendy home games regularly at that time so I asked him why he wasnt at the Sty and who were Wendy playing that day. He couldnt remember who Wendy were playing so we looked up. They beat fulham 4-0 that day and the attendance was only 14,000. He still couldnt remember the 4-0 win so it looked like that many Wendy fans decided to stay at home to listen to the commentary of the match from Old Trafford or some even travelled to Manchester

 

[broomhillblade]

I was 40 years younger than I am now, and working in East Africa.

Happy days!

 

[kingston RAWW]

I started watching United during this season, though I wasn't at that game. I would have been 7. I am from one of those families that went to both United and Wendy, mainly because my dad was / is from Liverpool and many people from his era went to both Liverpool and Everton. We went to both teams.....until that fateful Boxing day. I haven't been to that place since. I hate them with a passion.
Having witnessed both teams then, I cannot now understand the 'Wendy is the bigger team' thing. Back then they were s**t with s**t crowds. United has always been the better team for me.

 

[Rustyblade]

I've often thought that our slide down the leagues began when that bloody goal went in.

 

[sitwell]

I was there ,my mum went shopping in Manchester and we went to Blackpool for a family weekend after. My abiding memory is Blades cycling to the match over the snake pass with scarves tied to the handle bars. Gowling was a good looking bloke wasn't he.

 

[Bert]

His Bertship was there.

Train into Manchester and then another train to Old Trafford. Got there about two o'clock only to be confronted by thousands of people trying to get in (No all ticket matches in those days), the United team coach had just arrived and the players were pushing through the crowds to get to the players entrance, Woodward was one of the men who were helping to carry the big kit basket.
The only way to get in was to push to the front of the queue so that's what the Bert crew did. The Scoreboard end of Old Trafford was being rebuilt so not many managed to get in at that end. Upwards of 10,000 Unitedites were locked out and most of them went back to the coaches to listen the commentary.

Bugger George Best, our boys were the top of the league that day.

Bert also went to Maine Road three or four weeks later when that cheating bastard Francis Lee was diving in the box.

 

[ghandi]

I was one of the many locked out that day and because we had gone on a coach had to wait until the game ended before we could go home. Consequently we spent the afternoon being chased all over the place by their fans which far outnumbered the locked out away fans

 

[Bert]

It was the last time we were top dogs in the land, sadly it won't ever happen again.

 

[beightonblade]

I wuz there ................. If Ted had played Best wudn't have scored ....mind yer if mi Granny had a c"*& ......

 

[stannyblade]

I wasnt born. Although a month later and I would have been

 

[geekblade]

Before my time but I believe my Dad was there for that match. He still maintains to this day that George Best was the greatest footballer he's ever seen. I can think of worse sides to lose to

 

[anglian blade]

I wuz there ................. If Ted had played Best wudn't have scored ....mind yer if mi Granny had a c"*& ......

My memory might have gone but I thought Ted Hemsley had gone off injured which is why Gil Reece was in the left back position

We got to the ground at 5 minutes to 1 and they shut the gates just after we got through

 

[Eckingtonian]

I was also there.Went on one three coaches from our village.Some got in others didnt.Spent the entire match being lifted up to see the game.

 

[LA Blade]

Wow, wasn't there, but remember the day well - I was in Rivelin w'it a girlfriend that day.

 

[Paulus]

My big brother had just started at Birmingham University and I got dragged down to Birmingham to see him, I spent the afternoon sitting in my dad's car in a car park in Selly Oak listening to the commentary on Radio 2. My brother ended up working at Selly Oak hospital for a while and fate would have it that I was there again seeing him on Boxing day 1979..... You might be relieved to know that I have no plans to go anywhere near the damn place this season.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I was at the Lane that day watching the reserves play. There was a commentary on the match live on the radio and all the crowd were listening in and no-one was paying attention to the delights of the central league. The commentator was describing a situation with us in possession when his voice got increasingly hysterical, culminating in the scoring of the goal which we all cheered - only for us to realise that it was Best who had scored and not one of our side.

The defeat seemed to knock a bit of stuffing out of us, as I think we went on to lose the next 3 matches, but we really were a fantastic team that season.

 

[bricktop]

40 years ago, so that was when the rot first set in!

 

[Gibbo89]

Yeah Ted Hemsley was originally marking Best and up to being injured and having to go off had him in his pocket. Gil Reece had to drop back and take over. Had he still been on "the goal" would never have happened. Ted would have forced Best out wide and left him with a cross at worst, which Colquhoun would have soaked up easily.

Was a scary day all told. The crush in the queue to get in was the worst i've ever felt. Thought my ribs were gonna break before I eventually got through the turnstile. Then when I did get in groups of Manure fans were marauding round trying to find Blades to beat up.

 

[beightonblade]

My memory might have gone but I thought Ted Hemsley had gone off injured which is why Gil Reece was in the left back position

We got to the ground at 5 minutes to 1 and they shut the gates just after we got through

Thats what i ment but a few drinks does funny things to yer ..........................

 

[cahill]

I was there. I would have been 17. Strangely enough can't remember any of the problems that you lot mention. I must have been in the ground early doors. I didn't realise Best's goal was as late as the 84th minute. I recall we lost the next home match 2-3 to Stoke and went on a bit of a losing streak. That season and the promotion season have to my best memories as a Blade, nothing has come close since. If I'd had a crystal ball I would have savoured that time all the more but we were a regular top flight club at the time and it didn't seem exceptional. I joined the RAF the following month and now I'm fast approaching my 60th year, strewth. WOOOOSH that was your life mate. Scary

 

[grafikhaus]

Note the title of this vid....

[video=youtube;a6s8QRzXnjA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6s8QRzXnjA[/video]

It was a good goal, no more. Definitely not worthy of the endless repeats since.

Bastard.

 

[Bert]

40 years ago, so that was when the rot first set in!

Bert has pinpointed the day the rot set in, it was in fact the day that seven foot tall Lurch left the club shop.

It has been downhill ever since.

 

[djbaldken]

My god was it really 40 years ago!!!!!

Did nt realise it happened on my 20th birthday.

Yup Im 60 tomorrow!!!

Where have all the years gone????????

The steady slide down the leagues from that moment on. That match against Walsall and Don Givens is indeliblly printed on my mind. The unforgetable day at Darlington! Climbing into the directors box at the end and Porterfield attempting to talk to our fans and givin up because of the noise. Listening to the commentary of the Hull Burnley match in my room at Huddersfield uni and breaking the ceiling tiles as I lept up off my bed at the final whistle as we went up from the then third in 84 . Seeing the emergence of Deane and Agana in the Bassett years.That day at Liecester. I did nt go but listened on the radio. That day at Chelsea. Again I did nt go but listened on the radio. At 4 30 we were still in the prem. At 4 50 due to some incredible results (corruption ......surely not) we were down What times we had under Dave Bassett though. I Loved them. Followed by Howard Kendall. Thought we played some great football there for a short time. It was well worth the entrance fee then just to watch Gorden Cowans. The infamous day Fijortoft and Deane both went on the same day. The arrival of Warnock. Love him or hate him we had some memorable times. Who can ever forget the Battle of Bramall lane? The staggering loss being three nil down at half time at Cardiff. Then our great season in the prem. I still remember saying at the time that that diving b@stard Gerrard would cost us dear at the end of the season. But the twists and turns of that season specially with the Tevez affair (whatever happened to him?) and THAT oh so crutial last match with Wigan which surprise surprise we bottle it as usual.
So much more , too much more to go into here.
And here we are where we are now.

There it is. My life as a Blade in one short paragraph. And you know what?????.............................I would nt change a minute.

Ill be there this aft. In the finest stadium in the world

God bless you all. Thanks for some great memories.

UP THE BLADES. NOW AND ALWAYS

 

[bladesfan]

I was there too outside pity the pubs were not open all day remember their goal I was stuck in the middle of a load of MU fans as they started to go wild maybe someone had a radio.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I wasn't allowed to go. I was about 7 and despite protests was told that Old Trafford might 'kick-off' with so many blades reportedly attending, so I was deemed too young.

At such a tender age I had no idea that this was the pinnacle, league position wise, of my Bladedom!

 

[travellingblade]

I was there with my future wife (now happily married 39 years) and my future father-in-law (sadly no longer with us), who claimed to support the Reds, but it was his first and only visit to Old Trafford, and he only watched them live against the Blades, but he watched us many more times. Typical Reds supporter.

 

[Silent Blade]

I was one of the many locked out that day and because we had gone on a coach had to wait until the game ended before we could go home. Consequently we spent the afternoon being chased all over the place by their fans which far outnumbered the locked out away fans

There didnt seem to be many fans behind the goal cheering George Best's goal. I think the majority of Blades fans got in the crowd early and that many Man U fans who intended to pay at the gate near kick off time were locked out

 

[FlyingFjortoft]

It was the last time we were top dogs in the land, sadly it won't ever happen again.

We were top of the league for 24 minutes while we were beating Liverpool in the Premiership...

 

[JJ Sefton]

I was 40 years younger than I am now, and working in East Africa.

Happy days!

I was still living in New York as Russell Nash and awaiting The Quickening.

 

[Willie Carlin]

Yes I was there. Red hot day! We stood on the terrace facing the sun. Nearly 60,000 packed in ground like sardines. Have to say it was a good goal by a very good player.