1974-75 match reports and photos (50 years ago today)

[Greenwich Blade]

We signed centre forward Chris Guthrie from Southend for £90K or £100K (Ken Furphy said £90K in his interview with Bladesrunners author Gary Armstrong but newspaper reports quoted £100) in the first week of May with Terry Nicholl going in the opposite direction. Southend wanted Steve Cammack too but the striker decided against the move.

I do remember hearing the news that we had signed Guthrie but for years I thought the transfer happened later than the first week of May. I hadnt heard of him but was positive that we have signed a big centre forward which would be ideal for Alan Woodward's crosses.

Years later, in his interview with Gary Armstrong, Ken Furphy said he wanted to sign Francis Lee from Derby County but the directors were against the idea because of Francis' age. He then wanted to sign Guthrie but valued him at £60K but Southend wanted £90K, he then said John Hassell, our chairman, thought we should pay Southend the fee they were asking for!

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What could possibly go wrong, eh? We all felt so optimistic.

Within a few weeks of the 1975-1976 season starting, my dad had given Guthrie the affectionate nickname of "Carthorse".

 

[Blade1959]

TC v West Ham and Stoke in March and April 1975
Alex Sabella at Preston in August 1978
Michael Tonge v Millwall in August 2002

Totally agree with the first 3, TC was unplayable in those 2 games, Sabella was very good at Leicester the previous midweek but went up a notch at Preston. Borbokis v Sunderland was probably the best debut performance I’ve seen. One more 10/10 I can remember was Eddie Colquhoun vs Arsenal in the league cup replay in 1971, he dominated the Arsenal forwards, won just about everything.

 

[Stoney Blade]

What could possibly go wrong, eh? We all felt so optimistic.

Within a few weeks of the 1975-1976 season starting, my dad had given Guthrie the affectionate nickname of "Carthorse".

Didn't Hassell also overule Furphy with a pre season tour that injured some of our players?

 

[Bell4]

What could possibly go wrong, eh? We all felt so optimistic.

Within a few weeks of the 1975-1976 season starting, my dad had given Guthrie the affectionate nickname of "Carthorse".

I first saw Guthrie in that pre season , probably in an Anglo Scottish cup game (have I just made that up ?) . Think we won 3-1 , I was sat in the BL upper tier and thought how powerful CG was and how he would help us to build on the previous season .

The sun was out - the new stand looked glorious, we had a new modern kit , a powerful CF - how could it not go well - oh my dear god

 

[Silent Blade]

I first saw Guthrie in that pre season , probably in an Anglo Scottish cup game (have I just made that up ?) . Think we won 3-1 , I was sat in the BL upper tier and thought how powerful CG was and how he would help us to build on the previous season .

The sun was out - the new stand looked glorious, we had a new modern kit , a powerful CF - how could it not go well - oh my dear god

Yes against Blackburn. I am not planning on creating the 1975-76 season thread but I will carry on posting summer 1975 reports in this thread but will stop after the opening league match against Derby.

 

[Eyeball]

Yes against Blackburn. I am not planning on creating the 1975-76 season thread but I will carry on posting summer 1975 reports in this thread but will stop after the opening league match against Derby.

Why not??
Educate the young uns and they’ll know what to expect

 

[ancientblade]

Yes against Blackburn. I am not planning on creating the 1975-76 season thread but I will carry on posting summer 1975 reports in this thread but will stop after the opening league match against Derby.

we had so much hope going in to that season a progressive team that only needed a couple of quality additions to turn us in to title challengers but the south stand put paid to that idea we bought cheap and within 6 years we were in division 4

 

[Bell4]

Yes against Blackburn. I am not planning on creating the 1975-76 season thread but I will carry on posting summer 1975 reports in this thread but will stop after the opening league match against Derby.

Pity

Rough with the smooth …

These posts are great and truly bring back some brilliant memories from a brilliant time .

Never forget the NOTW sports headline re our opening game c Derby (who were previous year’s champions)

Super Sheffield Turn On Style

Only home match I missed - after that

 

[ancientblade]

Pity

Rough with the smooth …

These posts are great and truly bring back some brilliant memories from a brilliant time .

Never forget the NOTW sports headline re our opening game c Derby (who were previous year’s champions)

Super Sheffield Turn On Style

Only home match I missed - after that

was a glorious august afternoon that opening game with derby so much hope which quickly turned in to so much gloom

 

[Bell4]

was a glorious august afternoon that opening game with derby so much hope which quickly turned in to so much gloom

Yup new stand in all its glory - new kit , playing great …..then

 

[Bell4]

Why not??
Educate the young uns and they’ll know what to expect

You mean the generation who can’t be bothered to go to Wembley ?