1971-72 (55 years ago today) match reports and photos

[Silent Blade]

My dad decided to buy us season tickets for the first time. My seat was A85 in the BLUT. I was wondering if we would be good enough to compete in the first division but my dad was confident that we would finish in the top half.

Our skipper welcomes our new signing (our only signing between January 1971 and Summer 1972)

 

[DifferentClass]

My dad decided to buy us season tickets for the first time. My seat was A85 in the BLUT. I was wondering if we would be good enough to compete in the first division but my dad was confident that we would finish in the top half.

Our skipper welcomes our new signing (our only signing between January 1971 and Summer 1972)
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Could you imagine if we signed nobody for that long these days?

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

Some side that. Great players and some future Great managers

 

[I should coco]

Could you imagine THE MELTDOWN ON HERE, if we signed nobody for that long these days?

I've amended that for you.

 

[ancientblade]

My dad decided to buy us season tickets for the first time. My seat was A85 in the BLUT. I was wondering if we would be good enough to compete in the first division but my dad was confident that we would finish in the top half.

Our skipper welcomes our new signing (our only signing between January 1971 and Summer 1972)
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can still remember the 3 - 1 opening day win against southampton what a day that was

 

[Maurice Maurice]

can still remember the 3 - 1 opening day win against southampton what a day that was

Massive thunderstorm at the end wasn't there?

 

[Silent Blade]

Massive thunderstorm at the end wasn't there?

Yes

 

[ancientblade]

Massive thunderstorm at the end wasn't there?

yes if i remember correctly what a time to be a blade watching that team under john harris 424 playing fast attacking exciting football still the best team ive ever seen in over 65 years watching the blades

 

[Bell4]

can still remember the 3 - 1 opening day win against southampton what a day that was

Yup

What a time to be a Blade - wow

Exciting - start of the best time of my life

 

[Pintor75]

Still the best time to have been a blade imo, non of today's team would get in that side

 

[Bell4]

Still the best time to have been a blade imo, non of today's team would get in that side

And perhaps the reserves

 

[Silent Blade]

 

[Silent Blade]

I remember in the next day or two being in dad's car on the way to Sheffield, my dad spotted Nip Hague (a well known Dronfield Blade at the time) outside the Greyhound pub so he stopped the car to have a quick chat with him through the wound down car window. Nip told my dad that he had heard we beat Chesterfield 5-1 in the "behind closed doors" friendly match and that Gil Reece hit a hat trick.

 

[Silent Blade]

 

[Silent Blade]

31/7/1971. The squad arrive in Holland for a 3 match tour in Holland and Belgium. NAC Breda on 1st August, KV Malinois (now KV Mechelen) on the 4th and FC Twente Enschede on the 6th. Mick Speight is added to the squad, it looks like we had only one keeper in the squad! Not sure why Frank Barlow, Colin Addison and David Ford (all three played a part in the tour) are not in the below photo. It looks like the photo was taken from the coach entrance at John Street before departure.

 

[ancientblade]

what a team that was best ive ever seen in the red and white stripes

 

[Silent Blade]

1/8/1971

Pre season tour match

NAC Breda 0 Blades 1 (Schrijvers og)

 

[Silent Blade]

 

[ancientblade]

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the 2 in our 424 system

 

[Silent Blade]

the 2 in our 424 system

Debateable if the formation was 424. I thought it was more like 433?

 

[ancientblade]

Debateable if the formation was 424. I thought it was more like 433?

wasnt it woody and salmons on the wings and dearden and reece up front silent ?

 

[Silent Blade]

wasnt it woody and salmons on the wings and dearden and reece up front silent ?

Salmons played on the wing in his first few seasons but played deeper from during the 1971-72 season until his move to Stoke? The below is what I wrote 6 years ago.

Post in thread '50 years ago today'

Oct 17, 2020

Did Scullion play left wing or up front? That team was slightly before my time but have it in my head they played a 4-4-? but could never work out the role of Salmons and Scullion (and Reece before him) ... was Salmons on the left of midfield with Scullion/Reece in a bit of a free role up front?

More like the below.

Salmons played more deep than Scullion did but Salmons often used his pace and skill attacking the left wing. Scullion often roamed around between the midfield and attack looking for the ball, then trying to dribble past players and shooting (his shooting efforts...

• Silent Blade

• 

 

[ancientblade]

Salmons played on the wing in his first few seasons but played deeper from during the 1971-72 season until his move to Stoke? The below is what I wrote 6 years ago.

Post in thread '50 years ago today'

Oct 17, 2020

Did Scullion play left wing or up front? That team was slightly before my time but have it in my head they played a 4-4-? but could never work out the role of Salmons and Scullion (and Reece before him) ... was Salmons on the left of midfield with Scullion/Reece in a bit of a free role up front?

More like the below.

Salmons played more deep than Scullion did but Salmons often used his pace and skill attacking the left wing. Scullion often roamed around between the midfield and attack looking for the ball, then trying to dribble past players and shooting (his shooting efforts...

• Silent Blade

• 

yes your right silent salmons did play deeper than woody probably more like 442 really woody often came deeper as well that trio of len tc and woody down the right was as good a combination as there was in division 1 in that era great team playing fast exciting football

 

[Silent Blade]

yes your right silent salmons did play deeper than woody probably more like 442 really woody often came deeper as well that trio of len tc and woody down the right was as good a combination as there was in division 1 in that era great team playing fast exciting football

On the right we see the Badger TC and Woody triangle creating a lot of chances but difficult to work out the triangle on the left. Hemsley was right footed and played in left back position. Some said Reece was a left winger (right footed too) but I dont think he played as wide as Woody did, Scullion played like an inverted winger (he was right footed too). Salmons seemed to play deep and when he has the chance to use his pace to overlap on the left wing. TC often linked with players on either wing but it seemed he trusted Woody the most to give the ball to.

 

[ancientblade]

salmons would probably be seen as a lwb in this day and age gil reece was a left winger when he joined us but john harris converted him to a striker and a great header of a ball as well for his size

 

[Silent Blade]

4/8/1971

Tour match

KV Mechelen (Belgium) 2 (Van Damme, Flynn og) Blades 1 (Dearden)

Was he the last player to play against us wearing glasses?

 

[DifferentClass]

4/8/1971

Tour match

KV Mechelen (Belgium) 2 (Van Damme, Flynn og) Blades 1 (Dearden)

Was he the last player to play against us wearing glasses?

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Did Davids ever play against us?

 

[Silent Blade]

Did Davids ever play against us?

No.

There were a few other players who also wore glasses when playing.

Joop Van Daele of Feyenoord who scored the winning goal against Estudiantes in the 1970 Intercontinental Cup. During the goal celebrations his glasses were ripped off by the Argentinians and allegedly smashed to pieces on the pitch

 

[DifferentClass]

No.

There were a few other players who also wore glasses when playing.

Joop Van Daele of Feyenoord who scored the winning goal against Estudiantes in the 1970 Intercontinental Cup. During the goal celebrations his glasses were ripped off by the Argentinians and allegedly smashed to pieces on the pitch

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Gis us speccy four eyes some hope!

 

[Back post bob]

For me Tony Currie long ball from deep to the wing was perfect into the path of Woody or Salmons while running at pace.
Unlike modern wingers who usually have to stop and go back two yards