1970-71 (55 years ago today) match reports and photos

[Silent Blade]

Blades 2 (Colquhoun, Dearden) Bolton 2 (Hulme, Phillips)

I remember the ref being Roy Capey who had hit the sports headline a month earlier for allowing a goal that wasnt to stand in the Chelsea v Ipswich game (see video below)



The ref's decisions that evening at Bramall Lane brought frustrations to the players and the crowd too. I remember Woody about to take a throw in, the ref blew his whistle and indicated that it was a throw in for the visitors, Woody's response was to throw the ball down in frustration and he got a talking to. The reaction by the fans in the BLUT showed a lot of anger when Addison got booked for dissent (I think) later in the game.

The only goal I remember was Bolton's 2nd equaliser and Len Badger falling on his knees putting both his hands on his face in horror as his backpass from his head went short for Hodgy and Phillips took advantage to score. It was a big disappointment that we had dropped a home point to a poor side.











From the programme

 

[Silent Blade]

24/10/2025

Hull City 1 (Wagstaff) Blades 1 (Currie)

My dad and I travelled to the match on the Football Special train from the Midland station, not sure if it took us to Hull train station or to Boothferry Park Halt station but I remember getting a bus to the ground and a middle aged Hull fan was telling me that Ken Wagstaff was going to score and that we would lose 2-0. In the last 55 years when I think of Hull City, I picture Wagstaff's cherub face and receiving handshake congratulations from his team mates after scoring a goal. He scored over 300 career goals in 16 years playing for only Mansfield and Hull City and could easily have played in the top division. He always scored goals in a smooth and calm way.

There was only one change in our line up. Mick Heaton came in for Ted Hemsley who was probably injured. I read that Heaton was a good amateur gymnast and I remember noticing his sort of robotic dance style when he is in control of the ball and then goes into a swivel before releasing the ball.

I was sat in the stand opposite where both goals were scored. Early in the game, Wagstaff broke through our defence, Hodgy came out of the goal but was fooled by Wagstaff's feint and dived to the ground, Wagstaff found space between Hodgy and the near post before coolly rolling the ball into the net, many Hull fans in front of me stood up to celebrate early blocking my view of the ball entering the net. In the 2nd half we equalised with a mishit shot by Currie (see from 2 mins 42 secs from below video) after Hull half cleared a long throw by Salmons (not sure what a cheeky Hull fan was trying to do behind him before the throw in). The Hull defence stood still watching the ball travel slowly through them. A dropped point didnt change positions in the 2nd division table for both Hull (1st) and Blades (4th)


During half time the scoreboard at the ground revealed that, bottom of the 1st division. Blackpool were leading 3-0 against FA Cup holders Chelsea. On the way back home in the train I saw in a Saturday evening paper that Chelsea had won 4-3!
















From the Green Un middle pages that evening