RELE-GATE: The 1970s ‘Too good to go down’ affair………. [email protected] January 17, 2022 Too Good to go Down? Wolves win the 1974 League Cup Final, but are relegated two years later……. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Norwich City, QPR, Southampton, Spurs, Sunderland, West Ham United, Wolves
‘SMILE AND GRIN AT THE CHANGE ALL AROUND’ – Twenty Great Games of 1971-72 [email protected] September 27, 2021 TWENTY GREAT GAMES of 1971-72: Newcastle concede goals to Radford & George – but lose at Hereford not Highbury. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Arsenal, Chelsea, Derby County, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs, Stoke City, West Ham United, Wolves
WHAT’S GOING ON – Twenty great games of 1970-71 [email protected] September 7, 2021 Taken lying down: Colchester United 3 Leeds United 2 – the biggest post-war FA Cup upset (so far) RANTS & REFLECTIONS Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, Leeds United, Liverpool FC, Manchester United, Spurs, West Ham United, Wolves
SEMI-FOUR – Mixed messages in 70s FA Cup semi-finals………. [email protected] May 13, 2021 At some point between January and April my Dad would describe a team as ‘playing badly enough to win the cup.’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Arsenal, Birmingham City, Chelsea, Leeds United, Manchester United, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers
SEVEN YEARS OF PLENTY – THE CHARITY SHIELD 1963-1970: [email protected] March 10, 2021 What’s mine is yours and yours is mine: Liverpool & West Ham share the 1964 Charity Shield….. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Chelsea, Everton, FA Charity Shield, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United
STATUETTES AND LIBERTIES – The Footballer of The Year (1960-69) [email protected] December 9, 2020 Two 1960s ‘Footballer of the Year’ winners (Bobby Moore -1964/Jack Charlton -1967) find something else to celebrate… RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bill Slater, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Collins, Bobby Moore, Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, George Best, Jack Charlton, Jimmy Adamson, Leeds United, Manchester City, Manchester United, Sir Stanley Matthews, Tony Book, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers
‘CUP GLORY’ – The FA Cup of 1971-72 (film review): [email protected] October 12, 2020 The 1972 Arsenal v Leeds FA Cup Final is described as ‘unrelenting’ – a euphemism for tasty fouls and ferocious tackling. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Alan Ball, Arsenal FC, Chelsea, George Best, Hereford United, Leeds United, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Richard Attenborough, Stoke City, West Ham United
GET IT ON – FA CUP FINALS 1970-76…………… [email protected] August 30, 2020 Sunderland 1973: Supporters at the ‘lucky’ end, team in stripes yet to lose a post-war FA Cup Final, 73 the reverse of 37……. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Arsenal FC, Chelsea, Fulham, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Peter Osgood, Southampton, Sunderland, Wembley Stadium, West Ham United
WEST ANIMATION – West Ham receive animation treatment in ‘EVERYBODY’S SECOND TEAM'(review) [email protected] May 4, 2020 ‘Everybody’s Second Team,’ is an agreeable film and deserves praise for being original not to say quirky.’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Alan Devonshire, Alvin Martin, David Cross, Phil Parkes, Ray Stewart, Stuart Pearson, West Ham United
With The Utmost Respect – MARTIN PETERS (1943-2019) [email protected] December 22, 2019 Present day purveyors of the midfield role maybe fitter and faster, but Martin Peters was sufficiently gifted to be eye-catching in any period of football. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, England, John Bond, Kenny Dalglish, Martin Peters, Norwich City, Ron Greenwood, Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Geoff Hurst, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United