Bobby Charlton's last home league match

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?




Silent Blade said:
Just watched "Bobby Charlton at 80" and it showed a clipping of just before the kick off of his last home league match for Manchester United on Easter Monday 1973. It was against the Blades. We won 2-1 (Dearden and Eddy scored) and I was there!View attachment 31905
Click to expand...

I was there too. After the shenanigans of the previous season when about 20,000 were locked out for this fixture, we thought better get there early this time, what with it being Charlton's last game and all. So we got to the turnstile at about 1:00 and there was no-one there. Shit, we thought, everyone must have piled in already. So we paid and walked up to the terraces and we were the only fuckers in the ground. Felt like a proper twat. Still, about 60k turned up if I remember and we won (nothing particularly unusual about that in them days, we beat anyone on our day).
 
I was 14 and at a boring do in Doncaster with my parents , managed to find a telly away from the adults and couldn't believe our rare victory at Old Trafford received such national media attention (then I realised why).
It was especially sweet after THAT George Best goal knocked the stuffing out if us in late 1971.
Half a lifetime later and I was living in Cheshire.
Stopped at Wilmslow petrol station in about 1987. In pulls Sir Robert, then director at Man Utd.
They had footballs for sale in those large wire baskets.
Quick as a flash , I grabbed one and tossed it over to him at headable height.
"Head that !" I shouted.
And he did , then laughed all over his face "You see , I CAN head the ball !"
What a gentleman ! What a player.

(Younger readers may not recall that Sir Bobby had a reputation for being a poor header who avoided hearing at all costs)
 
boo radley said:
Bobby Charlton has always been my number one footballing hero. He was the first player I wanted to be.
Click to expand...
Me too, and I never made it beyond being a rubbish goalkeeper. One of my proudest possessions was a photo which I sent to Old Trafford, and which he returned signed. I did send a stamped addressed envelope, as footballers were not so well paid in the late 50s. The 1971 defeat at ManU was a big blow (we were locked out, and got into the ground just in time for the Best goal), and the 1973 win did little to make up for it - I always want Utd to win, but seeing Bobby Charlton lose his last home game also left a feeling of sadness. I expect he's over it now, though. If we'd won in 1971, who knows where that might have led?
 
I count myself as lucky to have seen the great man "live" at bdtbl" a few times but the most memorable was when supporters from both teams used to share the terraces. In those days it was a pleasure to share good humoured banter, especially when they became regular visitors and football fans just with different allegiances

Our United were winning and we were "ribbing" a Man U fan about how our team which were assembled for not , much more than tuppence were better than their team of stars, especially with Bobby Charlton on the left wing being "in the pocket" of Cecil Coldwell who was virtually unknown outside the Sheffield boundaries. The lovely gentleman from Manchester took it all in, puffing gently on his pipe with a good humoured smile.

The second half was a different matter altogether. Mat Busby tinkered with his formation and Man U finished the game, winning with an inspiring Bobby Carlton-super class performance. Our football friend didn't go overboard gloating, just smiled saying that was why Man U were happy to pay for quality players when they could play as well as they did. We were delighted to see our friend again much later in FA cup final crowd on TV.

Such friendships became a casualty of soccer violence & subsequet segregation
 
Hodgyman said:
I count myself as lucky to have seen the great man "live" at bdtbl" a few times but the most memorable was when supporters from both teams used to share the terraces. In those days it was a pleasure to share good humoured banter, especially when they became regular visitors and football fans just with different allegiances

Our United were winning and we were "ribbing" a Man U fan about how our team which were assembled for not , much more than tuppence were better than their team of stars, especially with Bobby Charlton on the left wing being "in the pocket" of Cecil Coldwell who was virtually unknown outside the Sheffield boundaries. The lovely gentleman from Manchester took it all in, puffing gently on his pipe with a good humoured smile.

The second half was a different matter altogether. Mat Busby tinkered with his formation and Man U finished the game, winning with an inspiring Bobby Carlton-super class performance. Our football friend didn't go overboard gloating, just smiled saying that was why Man U were happy to pay for quality players when they could play as well as they did. We were delighted to see our friend again much later in FA cup final crowd on TV.

Such friendships became a casualty of soccer violence & subsequet segregation
Click to expand...
Football is better now in so many ways in comparison with the 'good old days'. But I do feel sorry for the younger fans, who do not know what it is like to be able to share the terraces with opposition fans. It was central to the experience of watching football.
 
HodgysBrokenThumb said:
Me too, and I never made it beyond being a rubbish goalkeeper. One of my proudest possessions was a photo which I sent to Old Trafford, and which he returned signed. I did send a stamped addressed envelope, as footballers were not so well paid in the late 50s. The 1971 defeat at ManU was a big blow (we were locked out, and got into the ground just in time for the Best goal), and the 1973 win did little to make up for it - I always want Utd to win, but seeing Bobby Charlton lose his last home game also left a feeling of sadness. I expect he's over it now, though. If we'd won in 1971, who knows where that might have led?
Click to expand...

Hodgyman said:
I count myself as lucky to have seen the great man "live" at bdtbl" a few times but the most memorable was when supporters from both teams used to share the terraces. In those days it was a pleasure to share good humoured banter, especially when they became regular visitors and football fans just with different allegiances

Our United were winning and we were "ribbing" a Man U fan about how our team which were assembled for not , much more than tuppence were better than their team of stars, especially with Bobby Charlton on the left wing being "in the pocket" of Cecil Coldwell who was virtually unknown outside the Sheffield boundaries. The lovely gentleman from Manchester took it all in, puffing gently on his pipe with a good humoured smile.

The second half was a different matter altogether. Mat Busby tinkered with his formation and Man U finished the game, winning with an inspiring Bobby Carlton-super class performance. Our football friend didn't go overboard gloating, just smiled saying that was why Man U were happy to pay for quality players when they could play as well as they did. We were delighted to see our friend again much later in FA cup final crowd on TV.

Such friendships became a casualty of soccer violence & subsequet segregation
Click to expand...

Noting your respective aliases, were you aware that Hodgy saved a Bobby Charlton penalty at Old Trafford in April 1963?
 
Silent Blade said:
Just watched "Bobby Charlton at 80" and it showed a clipping of just before the kick off of his last home league match for Manchester United on Easter Monday 1973. It was against the Blades. We won 2-1 (Dearden and Eddy scored) and I was there!View attachment 31905
Click to expand...

I too was there. I was high up behind the goal that United attacked in the second half. Two memories of the match. Steve Faulkner playing for Eddie Colquhoun and making a bad mistake for their goal. Secondly Keith Eddy's second half masterclass in midfield. Was Charlton substituted towards the end of the match?

It didn't make up for the 2-0 defeat the year before, but at least I can say I've seen United win at Old Trafford.
 
snootyfenooty said:
I was there too. After the shenanigans of the previous season when about 20,000 were locked out for this fixture, we thought better get there early this time, what with it being Charlton's last game and all. So we got to the turnstile at about 1:00 and there was no-one there. Shit, we thought, everyone must have piled in already. So we paid and walked up to the terraces and we were the only fuckers in the ground. Felt like a proper twat. Still, about 60k turned up if I remember and we won (nothing particularly unusual about that in them days, we beat anyone on our day).
Click to expand...

Me too. Me and a mate interrupted a golfing holiday and drove about 100 miles to be there.

Wasn't that the match where Steve Faulkner was playing centre half and having a nightmare, so Len Badger took over the position, of his own accord, and played a blinder ?

I may be confusing this with another match at Old Trafford but I definitely remember seeing that happen there.

I'm sure someone out there will be able to clear this up.
 



I was there as well and remember that they scored after about 5 minutes and the ground was rocking. I thought that we were about to get a right tonking and then Keith Eddy popped up with his winner !
Loved Bobby Charlton but loved us more so happy at the win
 
Knackered Blade said:
I too was there. I was high up behind the goal that United attacked in the second half. Two memories of the match. Steve Faulkner playing for Eddie Colquhoun and making a bad mistake for their goal. Secondly Keith Eddy's second half masterclass in midfield. Was Charlton substituted towards the end of the match?

It didn't make up for the 2-0 defeat the year before, but at least I can say I've seen United win at Old Trafford.
Click to expand...
Yes, Brian Kidd scored after pouncing on Faulkner's weak back pass. Dont think Charlton was substituted? I was behind the goal that Blades attacked in the 1st half
http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/match_data/match_sql.php?my_match_date=1973-04-23
 
Isaw Joeshaw said:
Me too. Me and a mate interrupted a golfing holiday and drove about 100 miles to be there.

Wasn't that the match where Steve Faulkner was playing centre half and having a nightmare, so Len Badger took over the position, of his own accord, and played a blinder ?

I may be confusing this with another match at Old Trafford but I definitely remember seeing that happen there.

I'm sure someone out there will be able to clear this up.
Click to expand...

That was the trouble in those days, United hadn't quite grasped the idea of a squad and stuck to the old method of having a 1st XI and a reserve XI. So if someone was injured we had replacements of the calibre of Faulkner, Goulding and Staniforth to step forward and they were, well, fucking crap. When we were at full strength we were a match for anyone. One or two injuries in key positions and we tended to know what to expect for that game.
 
mr.s.jpg
 
snootyfenooty said:
That was the trouble in those days, United hadn't quite grasped the idea of a squad and stuck to the old method of having a 1st XI and a reserve XI. So if someone was injured we had replacements of the calibre of Faulkner, Goulding and Staniforth to step forward and they were, well, fucking crap. When we were at full strength we were a match for anyone. One or two injuries in key positions and we tended to know what to expect for that game.
Click to expand...

That's a great point Snooty.

On the Freeman thread coolhandluke makes a point that at present we have players capable of filling all positions and have not been like that for decades.

To be honest I cannot think of a time where we had such strength in depth as we do today. Certainly not in the 1970's when arguably we had the most talented first XI.
 
I too was there that day (April 23rd, 1973) Fuck me, it's getting like the Sex Pistols at the Mucky Duck! I was sat in the north (Now Sir Alex Ferguson ) stand where it curved round to the yet-to-be-built Warwick Road end. The crowd was an (at the time) massive 55,035* and Wendy were at home to Carlisle in the third tier that day. 0-0. Crowd around 8k. Masseeve! According to this, Tommy Docherty was Man. U's manager at the time. Bobby C. still had one more League game to come - away at Chelsea on 28th April. Before the game the BBC cameras for Match of the Day captured the Chelsea chairman handing Charlton a commemorative cigarette case (!). The Chelsea match ended in a 1-0 defeat. His final goal came a month earlier, on 31 March, in a 2-0 win at Southampton, also in the First Division.

Around 1992 or 3, I was doing an exhibition (street furniture, as you ask) at Old Trafford in the Stretford End. During a lull in proceedings, I blagged a trip into one of the exec. boxes. The vertiginous North Stand was being constructed and it towered over the other three sides. I asked a MUFC flunky if the plan was to raise the other three sides to the same level. He looked at me 'gone 'art' and said 'Don't be daft. That would make it around 75 thou capacity!'
 
snootyfenooty said:
That was the trouble in those days, United hadn't quite grasped the idea of a squad and stuck to the old method of having a 1st XI and a reserve XI. So if someone was injured we had replacements of the calibre of Faulkner, Goulding and Staniforth to step forward and they were, well, fucking crap. When we were at full strength we were a match for anyone. One or two injuries in key positions and we tended to know what to expect for that game.
Click to expand...
Exactly right. That feeling of dread came over us if a regular, especially defender, was injured. Strangely enough there didn`t seem to be as many injuries in those days. Was it because we grew up walking/biking everywhere and only the posh had cars, I wonder.
 
Sharrow Snuff Mill said:
Strangely enough there didn`t seem to be as many injuries in those days. Was it because we grew up walking/biking everywhere and only the posh had cars, I wonder.
Click to expand...

I think it was mental toughness as well. People are as soft as shit these days. I can't imagine someone playing on for 20 mins with a broken leg like Hockey did (not that I'm suggesting it was a good idea!). I think you can add money to the list of arguments, they probably think fuck it now rather than go that extra step to try and prove themselves.
 
snootyfenooty said:
I think it was mental toughness as well. People are as soft as shit these days. I can't imagine someone playing on for 20 mins with a broken leg like Hockey did (not that I'm suggesting it was a good idea!). I think you can add money to the list of arguments, they probably think fuck it now rather than go that extra step to try and prove themselves.
Click to expand...
It's also because these days they're finely tuned athletes playing very high intensity and at pace whereas in the 70s they were mainly fat pissheads who just ran around a bit.
 
I met Bobby Charlton back in 1976, when I lived in Kenya. He was out in Africa on some kind of sponsored coaching tour.
The sports editor of one of the local papers asked me to try and get a photo of Bobby holding a football made by a local manufacturer - an unashamed bit of 'product placement'.
I half expected him to tell me to bugger off, but he couldn't have been nicer and happily agreed. I wish I had kept that photo but it disappeared somewhere. It was long before selfies became the norm.
 
So was I Silent. They had just built the new stand opposite the Stratford end. When we scored the second some of their fans off the Stratford end came around threatening us United fans.
 



Silent Blade said:
Noting your respective aliases, were you aware that Hodgy saved a Bobby Charlton penalty at Old Trafford in April 1963?
Click to expand...

I was aware of most things that related to him, with him being my hero, a local lad and my goalkeeping coach when I was a teenager. Also enough of a fan to own 4 copies of his biography. They were birthday presents from my family who couldn't help but know of my respect for the great man and another a signed version from the book launch
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Freddie
Those 1954-55 Blades lost the first four League home games
Replies
10
Views
560
ZLB
ZLB
Silent Blade
For the last few hours I thought it was Brooks who had scored!
Replies
26
Views
2K
finlaytheblade
F
1973Blade
Scoring three away from home
Replies
8
Views
1K
Edgar Allan Poo
Edgar Allan Poo
R
'Memries' Consecutive goalless draws
Replies
12
Views
1K
finlaytheblade
F
GaybladeS13
My Sky box hates me!
Replies
5
Views
844
Varkanoid
Varkanoid

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

Back
Top Bottom