Sadly I have mixed memories from that game. My mum and dad didn't have much money so the weekend before, my dad asked me if I wanted to go to the Cardiff or the Watford game. I chose Watford...
When my dad got in from work the evening of the Cardiff game he asked me why I wasn't dressed for the game. We had nowt but he'd somehow scraped enough together so we could jump on the bus to the Lane and watch our heroes in a once in a lifetime night. I lost my dear old dad 5 years back and miss him every day, but remembering stuff like this keeps his memory very much alive to me.
Anyhow, without getting too morose, the mixed emotion kicked in because I really needed a crap before we set off but didn't want to make us late. Big mistake! My stomach started cramping just before kick off and every time the crowd swayed I thought I was about to mess myself. It was so tightly packed I didn't want to fight my way to the toilet but let's just say, I wish we'd won one nil instead of bagging five because every time we scored, rather than jump up and down I was bent double in agony, feeling like I'd been stabbed in the guts.
Luckily I made it home with no lasting damage, or soiled underwear thank goodness, and we got to the Watford game on the Saturday as well. Cleared my bowels before we left for the game, my dad let me run on the pitch at the end. Deep Joy!!!
Don't ever tell me it's an easy life being a Blade
I dont remember being aware that we won 3-0 that weekend but the only memory of that weekend was watching QPR v Boro on YTV on the Sunday at my Auntie Ellen and Uncle Dennis' house in Launce Road. That had stuck in my mind for years so a few years ago I tried to find out the date QPR played Boro that season, it was on 4th October and I looked into the useful website link shown below. It states that YTV showed ATV's match so probably they showed QPR v Boro as the 2nd or 3rd match (it was the main match on the Big Match that Sunday)
When I became a committed Blade in January 1970, the first football picture on my bedroom wall was the below photo, it helped me to learn our players' names and put faces to them. I was wondering who Mick Hill was until my dad explained to me that he had moved to Ipswich. I saw him score for Ipswich against Wendy on 31st January 1970.
Hilarious reaction from the Blackpool keeper to the late goal by Currie. No mention in the newspaper reports of him being booked. Wouldn’t get away with it nowadays!
Looking at that last newspaper report, were United interested in signing Pat Crerand at the time? It was only a year after he’d played at Wembley in the European Cup Final.
Looking at that last newspaper report, were United interested in signing Pat Crerand at the time? It was only a year after he’d played at Wembley in the European Cup Final.
Dont think it was more than a suggestion by the reporter. I didnt like him after what happened between him and me in John Street after our reserves home game against Man U in September 1970.
Dont think it was more than a suggestion by the reporter. I didnt like him after what happened between him and me in John Street after our reserves home game against Man U in September 1970.
In the papers it revealed that Alex Stepney, Paddy Crerand, Ian Ure and Nobby Stiles were dropped from the 1st team after Man U lost 4-0 at Ipswich in the previous week and they were to play in the reserves at Bramall Lane. My dad suggested that going to watch Blades v Man U reserves would be more interesting than going to Saltergate or S6 so I agreed to this. The match ended in a 0-0 draw (see line up below)
We sign John Flynn from Workington Town for a fee of £5,000.
Years later, at the 1971 promotion reunion in 2011, Ted Hemsley made the audience laugh by saying "We signed John Flynn from Workington Town for £5,000 but we thought it was too much !"
Mick Heaton is dropped from the team for the first time in the season. Midfielder Ted Hemsley plays in left back for the first time and regularly played in this position for the next 5/6 years!
The YTV cameras were unable to capture our first two goals because they had technical problems and when they started the filming, they were able to get Hodgy's penalty save. See the penalty save and our 3rd and 4th goals from 2 mins 46 seconds
For some reason I have a feeling I was at my paternal grandmother's in Stonelow Road, Dronfield that evening. Because of Bonfire night or maybe it was three days before?
Match of the Day highlights lasting over 35 minutes can be viewed in the below link starting from 4 minutes 15 seconds. We seemed to be the physical team targeting Rodney Marsh and sub Clive Clark (there seemed to be no love lost between Clark and Eddie Colquhoun who were teammates at WBA). QPR could have had a penalty early in the 2nd half after Badger tackled Marsh in the box, both got injured and needed treatment by the trainers but both shook hands after the trainers returned to their dugouts. Why was John Flynn's "goal" disallowed? Nice teamwork for our equaliser! Hodgy should have punched better just before Frank Clarke scored the winner. We had chances to get the 2nd equaliser. Right at the end TC giving the rods to QPR after winning his little battle against Marsh!
Blades 5 (Colquhoun 2, Reece, Powell pen, Currie) Aston Villa 0
Around this time, week by week, I slowly picked up the names of Football League clubs by looking at billboard posters advertising our next home games in front of the quarry face (Where the Woodside Retail Park, Chesterfield Road in Woodseats is now) also at BDTBL when I am in the car on the way from Dronfield to my maternal grandmothers at Hartley Brook Road. I do remember looking at the poster that our next opponents at BDTBL would be against Aston Villa and thinking it was a posh name for a football club. I wasnt at the match but my dad might have attended the match. Thanks to LS16Blade for the photos.
Blades 5 (Colquhoun 2, Reece, Powell pen, Currie) Aston Villa 0
Around this time, week by week, I slowly picked up the names of Football League clubs by looking at billboard posters advertising our next home games in front of the quarry face (Where the Woodside Retail Park, Chesterfield Road in Woodseats is now) also at BDTBL when I am in the car on the way from Dronfield to my maternal grandmothers at Hartley Brook Road. I do remember looking at the poster that our next opponents at BDTBL would be against Aston Villa and thinking it was a posh name for a football club. I wasnt at the match but my dad might have attended the match. Thanks to LS16Blade for the photos.
The game when Gary Sprake threw the ball into the net at Anfield was in December 1967. Love the way an annoyed Jack Charlton gave Sprake the dirty look
Gary Sprake's famous own goal in Liverpool v Leeds match
Out of the corner of his eye the Welshman caught sight of Ian Callaghan edging out towards Cooper and he thought better of the quick throw. Roger Hunt was still close by, but represented little danger. Sprake intended to clutch the ball to his chest and readjust his position before clearing more safely. Stanger: "When he carried on with his throw the ball, instead of leaving his gloved palm near the top of the arc, stayed there for one split second and, on being released, it sailed over his left shoulder into the net."
The game when Gary Sprake threw the ball into the net at Anfield was in December 1967. Love the way an annoyed Jack Charlton gave Sprake the dirty look
Gary Sprake's famous own goal in Liverpool v Leeds match
Out of the corner of his eye the Welshman caught sight of Ian Callaghan edging out towards Cooper and he thought better of the quick throw. Roger Hunt was still close by, but represented little danger. Sprake intended to clutch the ball to his chest and readjust his position before clearing more safely. Stanger: "When he carried on with his throw the ball, instead of leaving his gloved palm near the top of the arc, stayed there for one split second and, on being released, it sailed over his left shoulder into the net."
The game when Gary Sprake threw the ball into the net at Anfield was in December 1967. Love the way an annoyed Jack Charlton gave Sprake the dirty look
Gary Sprake's famous own goal in Liverpool v Leeds match
Out of the corner of his eye the Welshman caught sight of Ian Callaghan edging out towards Cooper and he thought better of the quick throw. Roger Hunt was still close by, but represented little danger. Sprake intended to clutch the ball to his chest and readjust his position before clearing more safely. Stanger: "When he carried on with his throw the ball, instead of leaving his gloved palm near the top of the arc, stayed there for one split second and, on being released, it sailed over his left shoulder into the net."
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