While making no claim whatsoever to being a mathematician, when it comes to writing my often-lengthy missives on football from yesteryear, there is clear evidence of your genial host here at SAMTIMONIOUS.com looking for numerical symmetry or least coincidences when picking up his pen.
It may also be a consequence of too much time spent listening to ‘concept’ albums (a trend in rock music coinciding with the time span covered by this article), the means of wrapping chapters from the history of the game in a conceptual bow always being sought – joy unconfined when a twist of football fate brings the notion of a circle being completed.
This preamble may not appear in any way connected to the matter in hand, namely the Charity Shield matches played between 1963 and 1970, yet there is method in this meandering.
As chance would have it Everton won the first and then the last seven years later, but even aside from that irony it is period worthy of appreciation.
Indeed, if there was a golden era for the Charity Shield this was surely it, eight fixtures between the league champions and FA Cup holders to herald the start of a new season, at a time when the domestic game hit unprecedented post-war heights.
One is a fixture where the collection of trophies on display is never likely to be repeated – another often cited as the best game played between two English club sides in the entire decade.
Established in its beginning of the season, league title v FA Cup winners’ format since the 1930s, the Charity Shield had produced some memorable encounters down the years, most notably a 1954 derby draw when Wolves and West Brom shared eight goals. But with the early 60s comes a significant upward shift in status and sensation – before a sudden, nigh-on inexplicable fall from grace as the 70s unfolded.
With hindsight it seems appropriate this halcyon period should begin on Merseyside, The Beatles releasing ‘She Loves You‘, the biggest-selling single of the 60s, in the same week the Charity Shield really began to twist and shout.
Between 1963 and 1970 the fixture was contested by clubs from the football hierarchy, those who for the most part contained players with clearly defined high-profile status – footballers whose league and FA Cup exploits (in some cases both) ensured Charity Shield involvement, eight of whom were, or destined to become, World Cup winners.
SAMTIMONIOUS.com offers these observations on seven years of plenty for the Charity Shield.
August 17 1963 – EVERTON 4 MANCHESTER UNITED 0: Called the Charity Shield due to the FA donating a portion of the gate receipts to worthy causes, this was a bumper day for everyone – except the 11 in red who, according to one report, were ‘cruelly exposed‘ by the ‘rampant‘ league champions.
The biggest crowd (54,844) yet recorded for the fixture saw goals from Jimmy Gabriel, Dennis Stevens, Roy Vernon (penalty) and Derek Temple ease Everton to victory over a visiting team unchanged from their FA Cup Final victory over Leicester City eleven weeks before.
15 August 1964 – LIVERPOOL 2 WEST HAM UNITED 2: Aside from some enthralling football, (‘the crowd showed their appreciation of both teams‘), the match is notable for some curious asides. At a time before substitutes were allowed in league football, they were permitted in this particular fixture and in taking the field to replace the injured Alf Arrowsmith, Phil Chisnall became the first sub in Liverpool history. (The unused West Ham substitute was a twenty-year-old named Martin Peters).
As for the match both sides had their fingers burned so to speak – Gordon Wallace and Roger Byrne each gave champions Liverpool the lead, only for Johnny Byrne and then Geoff Hurst to level, West Ham equalising late on to ensure the trophy was shared. (Bobby Moore called correctly in a coin toss for Upton Park to house it for the first six months).
14 August 1965 – MANCHESTER UNITED 2 LIVERPOOL 2: 12 months on and another drawn contest for Bill Shankly and his men – only on this occasion it was they who levelled late, skipper Ron Yeats heading home four minutes from time.
Before then teenage wonder George Best – his ‘Beatle’ haircut noted in two match reports – by now part of the hallowed Law-Best-Charlton cabal who had carried United to the league title – had put Matt Busby’s side ahead, his goal cancelled out by a Willie Stevenson effort. David Herd looked to have won it for the home side, only for Yeats to earn the FA Cup holders their share of the spoils.
13 August 1966 – EVERTON 0 LIVERPOOL 1: In a break with recent tradition, the 1966 fixture was hosted by the FA Cup winners – a Merseyside Charity Shield derby in the offing since Everton overturned a 2-0 deficit against Sheffield Wednesday to lift the trophy, Liverpool having already been crowned league champions.
(The reason for the switch is unclear, the latter-day presumption being Goodison had a bigger capacity – emphasised by the eye-popping attendance figure of 63,329).
Two weeks on from Wembley glory, prior to kick-off Roger Hunt and Ray Wilson took a Goodison lap of honour with the World Cup, followed by Ron Yeats and Brian Labone who did likewise with the league title and FA Cup. Completing the array of silverware on display was the Rugby League Challenge Cup (won recently by nearby St Helens) and with The Beatles ‘Yellow Submarine‘ at number one, Merseyside was at the top of every perceivable peak.
As for the match (World Cup connotations continued by referee Jack Taylor who would go on to referee the 1974 final) Hunt scored his customary goal to give Liverpool victory. Within 48 hours Everton manager Harry Catterick reacted to the defeat by breaking the British record transfer fee in paying Blackpool £110,000 for World Cup winner Alan Ball – a sublime talent who would have a significant impact on derby games to come.
12 August 1967 – MANCHESTER UNITED 3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3: Reverting back to the home of the League Champions, the perennial question from the 1967 fixture is ‘does it warrant its vaunted reputation?’ Based on the highlights and with Best, Law, Charlton, Crerand and Stiles on one side, Jennings, Mackay, Gilzean and Greaves on the other, the long held ‘game of the decade‘ status looks well-founded.
If two long-range rocket shots from Charlton were not enough on an afternoon of extraordinary football, then how about Pat Jennings scoring with a lengthy clearance that zipped off a damp Old Trafford surface (even in August), to end in the back of the net after deceiving Alex Stepney – who given the time of year, looks down the field at his opposite number with the disenchantment of a fast bowler who has just been bowled a bouncer by another.
While not at the level of ‘people are on the pitch‘ renown, in describing the Charlton thunderbolt (ending a United move of incredible fluidity) that levels things at 2-2, commentator Kenneth Wolsteholme comes up with the equally effusive:
‘That was a goal good enough to win the league, the cup, Charity Shield, the World Cup and Grand National.’
August 3 1968 – MANCHESTER CITY 6 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1: If the TV cameras had captured eventual champions Manchester City the previous winter being accomplished in thrashing Spurs at a snow bound Maine Road, this demolition of the FA Cup winners showed how expansive they could be with the sun on their backs.
The third goal, scored by Francis Lee, was the result of the most imaginative free-kick routine yet seen on an English ground, Lee later completing the rout in scoring the sixth – combining with usual cohorts, Young, Bell and Summerbee, in giving the West Brom defence a torrid afternoon.
August 2 1969 – LEEDS UNITED 2 MANCHESTER CITY 1: Their place in the fixture secured by winning the FA Cup, City had surrendered the title to the hosts, who gave a debut to British record signing Allan Clarke – a striker of remarkable predatory instincts for whom they had recently paid Leicester City £165,000.
In the event he failed to score, but second half goals from Eddie Gray and Jack Charlton saw the home side (Bell replying for City in injury time) to victory. With sights set on retaining the championship and winning the FA and European Cup, for this abrasive often brilliant team it was one down three to go – but in a fixture-laden climax to the campaign, Leeds fell short on each front, leaving this August triumph in front of their own supporters mere footnote in a story of thwarted ambitions.
August 8 1970 – CHELSEA 1 EVERTON 2: In a repeat of 1966, the FA Cup holders hosted the league champions and although Everton once again featured in this change to the norm, four years later they were to prevail – winning by the odd goal in three on a grey afternoon in SW6.
Nothing monochrome about the football, however, the most sparkling passage of play resulting in Everton taking a 38th minute lead, Alan Ball to the fore prior to Alan Whittle scoring with a fine shot.
Boasting four members of the England World Cup squad who had not long returned from Mexico (Ball, Brian Labone, Tommy Wright and Keith Newton), Everton scored again through Howard Kendall, but had to withstand a late onslaught from the Kings Road cavaliers. Chelsea reduced the arrears with an Ian Hutchinson header (that to commentator Wolstenhome evoked memories of Tommy Lawton) but were unable to secure a six month share of the trophy.
If judged a fine way to start the Charity Shield ball rolling for the new decade, that notion was dispelled twelve months later when 1971 double winners Arsenal declined the opportunity to take part due to preexisting pre-season arrangements – the FA, somewhat bizarrely, inviting second division champions Leicester City and FA Cup runners-up Liverpool to contest the fixture.
The following year Derby County (champions) and Leeds United (cup winners) also decided it was not for them (fourth in division one Manchester City and third division champions Aston Villa completing the formalities) and by 1973 one wonders how many ‘thanks, but no thanks‘ replies landed at Lancaster Gate before second division champions Burnley and Shield holders Manchester City committed to playing.
Not for the last time had the Football Association allowed one of its own competitions to become devalued, but in a rare moment of compunction decided on making it mandatory for the league champions and FA Cup winners to contest the Charity Shield and henceforth the match would be played at Wembley – changes coming into force for start of the 1974-75 season.
When August 1974 rolled around Leeds United (league champions) and Liverpool (FA Cup winners) prepared to face each other against a backdrop of sub-plots creating unprecedented interest in the fixture; Brian Clough taking charge of Leeds for the first time on replacing bitter adversary Don Revie, who had left Elland Road to manage England, Bill Shankly leading out Liverpool one last time after his recent resignation, Bob Paisley now formally in charge at Anfield.
All this intrigue and the two best teams in the country facing each other beneath the Twin Towers.
What could possibly go wrong………………….
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NEIL SAMBROOK is the author of ‘MONTY’S DOUBLE‘ – an acclaimed thriller now available in paperback and an Amazon Kindle book.
