In relation to rock music there is a sense all roads out of the 1960s eventually lead to 1975, a year in which many who had chronicled the changing times reached a point where they needed to take stock.
This need to be reflective was induced by divorce (Paul Simon, Bob Dylan), the hippy counter-culture as a failed ideal (Neil Young) – or in the case of Pete Townshend rock as a vehicle for expressing rebellion, his misgivings at being a thirty-year old rock star aired on the strangely compelling ‘The Who By Numbers‘.
If, as often occurs in posts of such nature on this blog-site, an analogy is to be drawn with English football of the time, then here too old certainties are disappearing – the middle of the decade marking a point where regular trophy winners of the early 1970s are becoming accustomed to seeing the mantlepiece empty.
As the 1975-76 season came into view, league or cup successes enjoyed by Arsenal, Manchester City, Everton and Spurs were fading further from view and despite Manchester United being back at the top table after a 12 month second division sojourn, there was now a seven-year itch for them to scratch due to not claiming a major prize since the European Cup triumph of 1968 – the indignity of reduced circumstances now descending on Stamford Bridge, where turn of the 70s sophisticates Chelsea were facing up to life in Division Two.
In spite of reaching the European Cup Final a few months earlier, some were also sensing a setting of the sun, at least for the time being, on glory times at Elland Road. Leeds United were starting to resemble the aging gunslingers in the classic Sam Peckinpah western ‘The Wild Bunch‘ – the passage of time impacting on a long-established reputation in being able to shoot their way out of any situation.
The departure of figurehead Don Revie to manage England the summer before had then been exacerbated by the calamitous six week reign of Brian Clough. His successor Jimmy Armfield, the third Leeds manager of 1974, had done an admirable job in calming the waters while at the same time negotiating the European Cup route right through to the final.
But he more than most knew a changing of the guard was necessary in order for Leeds to reestablish themselves as legitimate long-term contenders – Revie ironically, facing a similar challenge with the national team.
What of those however, for whom the times they were engaging. In holding their nerve to win a second league championship in four seasons, Derby County lasted a course where the rest of the field fell or refused fences at vital times, the lowest title-winning points tally for twenty years somewhat indicative of managerial changes and diminishing returns elsewhere.
By virtue of winning the FA Cup West Ham, like Stoke City, Wolves and most notably Sunderland had assembled a one-off 70s trophy winning team (although in fairness to John Lyall’s side they could not have gone any closer to a European Cup Winners Cup triumph in 1975-76) and with Aston Villa winning an all-second division League Cup Final against Norwich City – both of whom were promoted with Manchester United – the roster of clubs with trophies to defend going into the new season made for curious reading.
All of which might suggest the domestic game was in a state of flux, the counter-argument being unexpected competition winners added variety to proceedings, the game as a whole done no harm by honours being shared around.
Therefore, the big question ahead of 1975-76 was whether renovation work at a number of the stately domains of English football had been done to the extent of yielding a trophy – or if the aristos would continue to be usurped by Johnny (Lyall’s) come-latelies. Given where the home front silverware was destined, the answer, in keeping with these strange mid-decade days for top flight football in England, would be yes – and no.
As for the England team, now at virtually a midway point between failing to qualify for the 1974 World Cup and hell bent intentions of going to the 1978 tournament in Argentina, manager Revie had enjoyed a fruitful induction year – but the autumn of 1975 brought darkening skies of a literal and metaphorical form, two bad results and hopes of England appearing at the 1976 European Championships suddenly vanished.
It was unexpected and hard to understand – much like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody‘ by Queen, the Christmas number one of 1975. Reaching the top of the charts smack bang in the middle of the 1975-76 season, had the first 12 months with Revie in charge of England been the real life – or just fantasy?
TWENTY GREAT GAMES – of 1975-76:
QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2 LIVERPOOL 0 – (15/8/1975): Thirteen months after the concept of ‘total football’ had almost taken Holland to the summit of world football, this opening day W12 encounter showed that even without the participation of England, one shrewd English football brain had been watching developments at ‘West Germany ’74’ with interest.
Former Chelsea boss Dave Sexton, now ensconced at Loftus Road, had begun to broker a variation on the Dutch theme, his Shepherd’s Bush version amounting to the most progressive play seen in England so far during the decade.
That a team with the organisational renown of Liverpool could be exposed in such a way was testament Sexton and a responsive group of players were on to something – the seven pass ball-on-the-floor move that created the opening goal for Rangers and England skipper Gerry Francis a wonder of the age.
It set the tone for a wonderful campaign down in the shadow of the White City (also winning ‘Goal of the Season‘), although QPR, like Holland before them, would win plaudits but not the main prize.
CHELSEA 2 CRYSTAL PALACE 3 – FA Cup fifth round (14/2/1976): It says something for the strength of English football in the mid-70s that two sides from outside the top flight could produce the excitement contained in this round five FA Cup meeting.
In response to being relegated the previous season, Chelsea addressed life in Division Two by integrating a number of talented youngsters into the team, two of whom, 19 year-old skipper Ray Wilkins and fellow teenager Steve Wicks, levelled things at 2-2 after the third division visitors established a 2-0 half-time lead.
Managed by flamboyant coaching doyen Malcolm Allison, Palace played in an enterprising manner that caught the eye on occasions such as this, but was perhaps too expansive for the hurly-burly of Division Three. In Peter Taylor they had an extremely gifted performer, the winger providing for Nick Chatterton when he opened the scoring and then on target himself before Chelsea roused themselves into action.
With things in the balance at 2-2 Taylor settled the outcome with a sweetly struck free-kick – rave notices from this display leading to an end of season international call-up when he became the first third division for 15 years to win a full England cap.
BOLTON WANDERERS 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 – FA Cup fifth round (14/2/1976): As gripping as the Chelsea v Crystal Palace clash was, this being the 1970s rousing cup-ties often seemed ten-a-penny – that sparkling Stamford Bridge affair arguably not even the best played on St. Valentines Day 1976, which also included a Burnden Park blockbuster when second division Bolton shared six goals with top flight visitors Newcastle.
Ahead through a fifth minute Sam Allardyce header, who years down the line would manager both clubs, the hosts were rocked as half-time approached by a brace from Malcolm McDonald, who in the time it took to say ‘Supermac‘ underlined his reputation as the most complete centre-forward around – the first had hallmarks of Jimmy Greaves with its audacity, the second a right-foot rocket shot reminiscent of Bobby Charlton in his prime.
Magnificent going forward but muddled in defence, Newcastle gift Gary Jones a leveller and despite regaining the lead through Alan Gowling, Bolton are happy to accept another present when centre-back Paul Jones rises unmarked to head home a second equaliser – although in truth neither side deserved to lose such an absorbing contest.
DERBY COUNTY 4 REAL MADRID 1 – European Cup second round first-leg (27/10/1975): Emerging as winners of a convoluted title race that saw leaders come and go, 1974-75 League Champions Derby duly advanced into the European Cup – a first round disposal of Slovan Bratislava earning them a crack at Real Madrid, still one of the competition big-fish despite not wearing the crown since 1966.
The Baseball Ground had witnessed some rousing nights in recent times, but even during the momentous Brian Clough/Peter Taylor reign there had not been anything quite at this level – the 1975 Dave Mackay model striking like white lightning in a breathtaking first half.
At a compact, claustrophobic venue where not a single shout from the crowd went to waste, clad in unfamiliar blue the Spanish champions, whose number includes West German 1974 World Cup winners Gunter Netzer and Paul Brietner, are subjected to a torrid opening half hour – by which time the match, although not ultimately the tie, is lost.
Derby are set on their way when ex-Arsenal ’71 ‘double’ winner Charlie George scores with a delightful first time effort, Madrid goalkeeper Miquel Angel then revealed to be a bag of nerves when a David Nish shot goes straight through him as the lead is doubled. The visitors still manage to look impressive when on the offensive, skipper Pirri reducing the arrears following an incisive move, but in the next breath again they crack under pressure, George scoring from the penalty spot after Francis Lee has been fouled.
After the break Pirri has a goal chalked off due to a contentious offside flag, their frustration with the officials increasing further when Derby are awarded a second penalty, George once again doing the necessary in completing his hat-trick. In the long run, however, a three goal cushion was still not enough for The Rams to progress – a fortnight down the road they would be blitzed in the Bernabau where semi-final bound Madrid would score the decisive goal of a 5-1 win in extra-time.
DERBY COUNTY 3 LEEDS UNITED 2 – (1/11/1975): Three days after their remarkable victory over Real Madrid, the beaten European Cup Finalists of six months before rolled into Derby – and in the year of ‘The Thrilla in Manila‘ thus ensued the ‘Baseball Free-For-All.’
Having a tetchy rivalry dating back to the days when rival managers Clough and Revie viewed each other with mutual antipathy, the chiefs may have moved on but there remained no shortage of indians, an hours’ worth of antagonism also producing some thrilling football – during which George and Archie Gemmill had twice put the home ahead, Leeds responding on each occasion through Trevor Cherry and Duncan Mackenzie.
In terms of landing the first blow with regard to what subsequently occurred, Francis Lee later claimed Norman Hunter cuffed him off the ball which in turn led to the punches he threw at the Leeds defender. After both had been sent off, the fisticuffs resumed as the former England team-mates made their way from the pitch – and while such behavior is not to be condoned, the incident for a generation of football watchers became a reference point in relation to how players once settled their differences, this 70s set-to a far cry from present day Premiership petulance.
The upshot of it all was Lee receiving a four match ban from The FA who decided that for Hunter the sending off amounted to sufficient punishment – although the ultimate up-shot was the fierce late drive from Roger Davies that won the match for Derby.
NORWICH CITY 3 QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2 – (17/4/1976): It may sound overstatement to claim the outcome of an Easter Saturday fixture in the east of England changed the face of European club football for the foreseeable future, but hear me out all the same.
On a run where they had won eleven and drawn one of their last twelve matches, top of the table QPR arrived at Carrow Road to face a Norwich City giving a good account of themselves on returning to Division One, although it was not the toughest task the aspiring champions might have faced in their final away game of the season.
Maximum points here followed by victories in their last two matches – each at Loftus Road – would see the title go to W12, theirs a pro-European approach where outstanding talents such as Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis and winger Dave Thomas were woven into a fabric of cohesive team play.
Had they prevailed in East Anglia and then won both remaining games (a safe assumption as they went through the season unbeaten at home), QPR would have been crowned champions, with the Shepherd’s Bush buccaneers thus representing England in the 1976-77 European Cup – giving that competition a whole different complexion in the years ahead.
But the reality was they conceded goals to Division One top scorer Ted MacDougall, together with Peter Morris and Phil Boyer (certain West London enclaves adamant to this day Boyer was yards offside when he headed Norwich into a 3-1 lead) and despite responding through Thomas and then an own goal, Rangers had one of those afternoons where events just kept conspiring against them.
Given the style in which they played few (beyond the red half of Merseyside that is) would have begrudged Dave Sexton and his men their crowning glory, this costly defeat having ramifications way beyond Loftus Road – stretching as far perhaps as Rome, Hamburg, Celtic and maybe even the East Midlands where a couple of smart operators named Clough and Taylor were now plying their trade………….
WOLVES 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 – FA Cup sixth round replay (9/3/1976): After they won Division Two in dynamic fashion, few believed manager Tommy Docherty would send out his charges to play in the same cavalier manner on their return to the top flight – yet week after week they displayed an attacking intent that guaranteed entertainment.
With great faith placed in young wingers Steve Coppell and Gordon Hill (both of whom were signed from third division clubs), United adopted a near 4-2-4 formation that while occasionally leaving them exposed in midfield stretched the opposition to breaking point. By the spring of 1976 such adventurousness saw them well-placed among the title chasers, but their peak performance arrived this night at Molineux in a match David Lacey of The Guardian described as ‘the best cup-tie I’ve seen for ten years.‘
After heroics from goalkeeper Phil Parkes and the finishing prowess of John Richards had earned Wolves a draw at Old Trafford four days earlier, the home side took immediate command of the replay, Richards and strike partner Steve Kindon each on target by the 20th minute.
But with the visitors roared on by at least half of the near 50,000 gate there was never a sense the match was over – at least not until Sammy McIlroy completed a stirring United comeback, this after goals from Stuart Pearson and Brian Greenhoff had brought the scores level.
In the end they fell off the pace in the race to be league champions with their FA Cup run coming to an unexpected end. Yet for those not alive to see the ‘Busby Babes‘ or too young to fully appreciate the ‘Holy Trinity‘ of Best, Law and Charlton, this era was true introduction to the ‘Manchester United way‘ of attacking ambition and inventive way wing-play – fundamentals that currently appear to be missing.
MANCHESTER CITY 2 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 – Football League Cup Final (28/2/1976): Bringing together the beaten finalists of the League and FA Cup Finals of 1974, both went to Wembley desperate for some overdue silverware – City without a trophy since a League and European Cup Winners Cup double in 1970, Newcastle now into a seventh lean year following their European Fairs Cup triumph of 1968.
What ensued was an unusually open game for a major final, the Maine Road side making their overall player-for-player supremacy count – although it would require a moment of acrobatic, individual brilliance to secure victory.
Ahead in the 11th minute when dashing winger Peter Barnes scored at close range, City waste a number of good opportunities to press home their early dominance. Parity is restored ten minutes before the break when Alan Gowling steers home a Malcolm Macdonald cross – the talismatic Newcastle centre-forward, from the highlights at least, doing plenty to dispel the myth he was always a flop on such occasions, ‘Supermac‘ not only creating a goal, but prominent in every Magpies’ attack.
Ultimately it would be a player of black and white persuasion who settled the outcome, the irony being it was Geordie-born, boyhood Newcastle supporter Dennis Tueart who ensured victory belonged to the north west rather than north east – his spectacular overhead kick shortly after half-time both a defining domestic cup final moment of the decade and magnificent winning goal.
LIVERPOOL 5 STOKE CITY 3 – (17/4/1976): Visiting Anfield through the 1970s often resembles a game of high stakes pontoon – yet no matter if the opposition stick or twist the house always seems to win.
Take this visit of Stoke as 1975-76 draws to a close. The Potters are a useful side boasting England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, a combative defence and bags of attacking threat who decide to fight fire with fire – a strategy that brings dividend in a smartly-struck opener from Terry Conroy. Second in the table Liverpool level through a Phil Neal penalty and thanks to Welsh international striker John Toshack are ahead at the break.
Continuing to commit men forward Stoke are exposed when Ray Kennedy fires home a third, but before anyone can utter ‘game over‘ Ian Moores reduces the deficit, more Stoke than Liverpool players in shot when he nets beneath The Kop.
With the next goal amounting to full recovery or resistance broken chances occur at both ends, the game effectively decided when Emlyn Hughes drives down field to exchange passes with Kevin Keegan before shooting low past Shilton – Liverpool completing the job with a strike from David Fairclough that adds to his growing reputation as a ‘supersub.’
Yet even then there is one final play from the visitors, centre-back Alan Bloor rifling home their third with virtually the last kick – but as news reaches Anfield that QPR have lost at Norwich there is strong sense the title race has just taken a significant turn.
WEST HAM UNITED 3 EINTRACT FRANKFURT 1 – European Cup Winners Cup semi-final second-leg (14/4/76): Even by its own boisterous standards this was an extraordinary night down at the Boleyn – those crammed into the ground never likely to forget what they saw as inspired attacking play from the home side enabled them to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in winning through to the final.
Despite an array of near misses half-time arrived with the Hammers still trailing. It was no surprise when they finally broke through early in the second half as West Ham had pressed from the off and neither a shock it should be the outstanding Trevor Brooking who came up with goods – few, however, would have legislated, not least the West German opposition, for the England international scoring with a superbly placed header of which Bob Latchford or Malcolm McDonald would have been proud.
With their lead surviving an almighty six yard box scramble in a quagmire goalmouth, West Ham move purposely downfield to where the ball arrives at the feet of striker Keith Robson – who on regaining composure after losing his initial momentum lashes home gloriously from twenty yards.
Brooking then caps a superlative display with a wonderful individual goal to provide breathing space and although a late strike from Klaus Beverungen makes for a jittery last five minutes, West Ham are roared raucously to the final whistle and their second Cup Winners Cup Final.
WEST HAM UNITED 2 ANDERLECHT 4 – European Cup Winners Cup Final (5/5/76): For West Ham the symmetry could hardly have been more perfect. FA Cup winners in 1964 followed by Cup Winners Cup glory the following year, The Hammers backing up their FA Cup success of 1975 by advancing once more to the last hurdle in Europe.
When Pat Holland put them ahead against Belgian side Anderlecht in Brussels the portents for repeated history looked good. Trouble was so did their opponents, the superbly gifted Rob Resenbrink (one of a four strong contingent of Dutch internationals in the Anderlecht line-up), levelling after an uncharacteristic error from Frank Lampard.
In a fast open match befitting two attack-minded teams the play keeps to a high standard of enterprise, Anderlecht going ahead three minutes after the interval when Francois Van der Elst (who five years later would move to Upton Park), shows notable composure to score, West Ham responding with a spell of pressure that yields an equaliser when Robson finds the net with a deft glancing header.
The turning point and most contentious moment of the match happens in the 73rd minute when Holland is adjudged to have fouled Rensenbrink in the box (the incident far less clear-cut than a Leeds penalty shout in the European Cup Final 12 months before), the Dutchman converting the ensuing penalty to put Anderlecht back in front.
To their credit West Ham dig deep in their efforts to reply, but there is little they can do when the Belgian side sweep down the pitch, Van der Elst evoking memories of George Best when he swerves past a couple of defenders to side-foot home in clinching victory.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 WOLVES 1 – FA Cup sixth round (6/3/76): While not suggesting Steve Coppell and Gordon Hill are at the same level of folklore as ‘The Wembley Wizards‘ (namechecked by Rod Stewart last year in his song ‘Touchline‘), the Scottish forward-line who destroyed England in 1928 were also known as ‘the wee blue devils‘. But by 1976 Manchester United, in Coppell and Hill, had a couple of diminutive red devils operating on each flank, their directness creating uncomfortable afternoons for most top flight full-backs – United having already completed a league double over the visitors when the sides met for a sold-out FA Cup quarter-final clash.
Through the early seasons of the decade Phil Parkes was firmly established as Wolves’ first choice goalkeeper, his undoubted competence (a penalty save in each leg of the 1972 UEFA Cup semi-finals), was sometimes offset by costly mistakes (errors in each leg of the final when Wolves went down 3-2 on aggregate to Spurs), to the extent he was now vying with Gary Pierce for selection – Pierce performing heroically in the 1974 League Cup Final win over Manchester City.
It is therefore hard to argue against these 90 action-packed Old Trafford minutes, (interesting to note commentator Gerald Sinstadt referring to only 30 additional seconds being added, this in the days before ‘Fergie time‘ in regard to United being held at home in a big cup-tie), being the finest hour and a half in the 14-year Wolves career of West Bromwich-born Parkes, who produces a near faultless display in keeping the home side at bay.
Out wide Hill and Coppell create all sorts of danger, but not only does Parkes save well from Gerry Daly (twice) and Lou McCari, his handling throughout a match of one-way traffic proportion is of the highest order.
When John Richards puts Wolves ahead on the hour with a typically instinctive finish, it looked like it might just be their day, particularly with Parkes in such sparkling form (my dad bless him, whispered something to that effect into my ear while we sat undetected in the main stand).
Having yet to concede on their run to the sixth round Wolves were finally breached when Daly levelled, although his shot needed a deflection to elude Parkes, who saved his best until last, making a brilliant reflex stop from Macari as United just failed to convert their 18th corner into a winner – one final instance of excellent goalkeeping paving the way for what proved a monumental replay.
SCOTLAND 2 ENGLAND 1 – (14/5/76): If down the years Wembley had become a disaster zone for Scotland goalkeepers – Fred Martin (1955), Frank Haffey (1961), Stewart Kennedy (1975) – then for the latest staging of the oldest international fixture, Hampden Park became a house of horror for England custodian Ray Clemence.
The embodiment of consistent excellence for club and country, the Liverpool man, like many top ‘keepers of the day went about his business in a calm, technically proficient way – so how he came to let a close range effort from future Anfield team-mate Kenny Dalglish go through his legs is no less mystifying now than it was at the time.
That 48th minute goal from Celtic star Dalglish decided the contest, but in fairness Scotland were good value for their victory even accounting for the bizarre nature of the winning goal.
Although England had taken an eleventh minute lead, centre-back Roy McFarland popping up on the left-wing from where he centred for Mick Channon to score, the opening quarter hour was the best spell mustered by the visitors and on Don Masson levelling eight minutes later, Scotland always look the more accomplished side – Clemence saving his team from a heavier defeat both before and after his early second half aberration.
For much of the game England look a distinctly out of sorts bunch, the spectre of failing to qualify for the 1976 European Championships earlier in the season hanging over them as the Don Revie era continued to unravel.
WOLVES 5 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 – (10/4/76): Your genial host here at SAMTIMONIOUS.com hereby declares an interest. Having been at this fixture he duly concedes this is more a case of terrific last twenty minutes than great game. With the end of the season in sight, Wolves are still in grave danger of being relegated while the visitors, having suffered a League Cup Final defeat and FA Cup quarter-final exit in the past five weeks, have a world-weary look about them, the first half producing little of note.
That all changes when John Richards cleverly clips the ball over Newcastle ‘keeper Mick Mahoney from the edge of the box a minute into the second half, a much improved encounter in the balance until Kenny Hibbitt (72) and Richards (74) put Wolves on course for victory – the outcome settled beyond all doubt when Willie Carr sweeps home a fourth.
There are still ten minutes left when Richards completes his second hat-trick in six weeks and with their second five goal haul of the season it is hard to fathom not just Wolves being so low in the table but how going down even remains a threat.
Yet in the space of the next seven days they would lose by the odd goal in three at Highbury where Arsenal are having their worst season in a generation and then succumb at mid-table Coventry in a must-win game – a defeat that turned the possibility of relegation into a probability.
LIVERPOOL 3 IPSWICH TOWN 3 – (10/1/76): On their previous couple of visits to Liverpool for Ipswich it had been more a case of ground-down rather than ground-hog day. Adhering themselves to Anfield by playing in a positive manner, they had conceded four and then five – scoring twice themselves on each occasion – to make their excursions to these parts an afternoon not to be missed.
Indeed, when a 13th minute long-range Kevin Keegan free-kick is fumbled into the net by Ipswich ‘keeper Paul Cooper, among Bobby Robson’s men there must have been the feeling of ‘here we go again.’ But never shy in going forward they level with a Trevor Whymark header, although even the normally refined Robson would have been apoplectic at a defence that allowed Keegan to nod home unmarked from six yards.
In the second half Ipswich continue to show willing in chasing the game and draw level when Eric Gates keeps his cool in shooting low past Ray Clemence. With both sides prominent among the title-chasers opportunities go begging at each end before Jimmy Case strikes for the home side with 12 minutes left – yet even then Ipswich find it within themselves to again reply.
When a Mick Mills free-kick creates un-Liverpool like confusion between Hughes, Smith, Neal and co, Whymark is there to secure a deserved point and with it redemption of sorts for the previous two trips.
NEWCASTLE UNITED 4 DERBY COUNTY 3 – (7/2/76): With cockles on Tyneside suitably warm by virtue of Newcastle winning through to the League Cup Final in recent weeks, they were positively aglow on the strength of this humdinger, the story, from a black and white perspective, having an exciting start, confused middle and happy ending.
Ahead at half-time after the reigning league champions had made a collective hash of Tommy Craig’s floated free-kick, Newcastle hit their second half stride when midfielder Geoff Nulty puts them further ahead on the hour. Steve Powell reduces the arrears but when Craig slams home a penalty it seems unlikely there will be any let-up in the prevailing mood of Geordie joy.
Still harboring hopes of retaining the title and with the likes of Bruce Rioch, Francis Lee and Charlie George providing attacking intent Derby refuse to be counted out. George is on hand to score when the Newcastle rearguard seem to have Wembley rather than the here and now on their minds, Rioch the next to benefit from a lack of communication in the home defence when he grabs an equaliser.
But this being St. James’ Park circa 1971-76 the last act is all too familiar. Depending on your viewpoint the centre delivered by Craig is either a) meat and drink to an experienced back four or b) crying out to be headed in.
Needless to say the thumping header from Malcolm Macdonald would have raised the roof at the Leazes End had it not already been removed.
MANCHESTER UNITED 0 SOUTHAMPTON 1 – FA Cup Final (1/5/1976): At the end of a season when they had been purveyors of high quality attacking play, it was somehow fitting Manchester United should reach the FA Cup Final – Wembley the perfect setting for the fast, expansive game that had won them many admirers and now, in all probability, would win them the FA Cup.
All that stood between United and their first major prize of a turbulent decade at Old Trafford was second division Southampton, who while containing a handful of campaigners who knew their way around the Twin Towers (Mick Channon, Peter Osgood, Jim McCailiog and skipper Peter Rodrigues), were unlikely to withstand the first spell of concerted pressure let alone prevail over 90 minutes.
In which case the opening half hour was entirely predictable, shots and crossed rain down on the Saints goal that survives through dogged defending and an element of good fortune.
As the match unfolds there remains a sense that one United goal will open the floodgates, but in time the truly dangerous attacks are reduced to a trickle. Even so it still comes as surprise when Southampton break the deadlock, McCailiog lobbing a delightful pass into the path of Bobby Stokes who beats Alex Stepney with a low drive – the United goalkeeper spending much of his afternoon as a virtual spectator.
In the remaining seven minutes United continue to probe for openings although by now Southampton can not only see them coming, but have sight of their first major honour – and with no aerial threat to combat Saints move through the closing stages without undue alarm.
For the second time in three seasons a Division Two side had managed an against-all-odds FA Cup triumph Southampton, like Sunderland in 1973, never mentioned when possible cup winners were discussed at the turn of the year – the unfancied winner of the FA Cup another cup final day tradition that would be dispensed with down the years.
LIVERPOOL 3 CLUB BRUGGE 2 – UEFA Cup Final first-leg (28/4/76): ‘It’s just not Liverpool’s night‘ declares commentator Gerald Sinstadt when substitute Jimmy Case misses a good opportunity early in the second half of a match the home side are already trailing 2-0.
Behind to early goals from Raoul Lambert and Julien Cools, chances of the UEFA Cup heading to Anfield for the second time in four seasons seem to be fast receding – but after what then ensues, even the most cynically-minded might concede something remarkable was always possible with Liverpool attacking The Kop.
The ever-dangerous Ray Kennedy smashes home an unstoppable shot to reduce the deficit and before the Belgians can regroup Case has made amends by scoring at close range. If two goals in three minutes have sent noise levels soaring, they go off the scale when Steve Heighway is tripped in the box, Kevin Keegan safely dispatching a nailed-on penalty to complete the fightback.
In the second-leg two weeks later Keegan would level late on, a 1-1 draw securing the trophy and a league title/UEFA Cup ‘double’ – Liverpool thus repeating their honours haul of 1972-73.
ASTON VILLA 2 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 – (27/9/75): The first ‘second-city‘ top flight derby for ten years, at first glance not much appears to have changed since 1964-65; no roof or seats on the Witton End, age-old acrimony intact, not an inch of space on packed terraces.
There is not much room either on the soft underfoot playing surface (the pitch in places looks torn to bits with the season barely a month old), but Trevor Francis manages to find a yard in a packed penalty area to give Blues the lead.
In Division One since 1972, Birmingham have held local superiority for a few seasons, yet Villa’s renaissance since lowly Division Three days earlier in the decade has been surefooted and now harnessed to clear-sighted ambition – new signing, young Scottish striker Andy Gray, watching events from the bench.
There are still a few early 70s Villa stalwarts in the line-up (Charlie Aitken, John Robson), another of whom Ian ‘Chico’ Hamilton fires the home side level six minutes after the restart. The aforementioned Robson is recipient of a an old-fashioned local derby lunge from Kenny Burns and although Blues clear the subsequent free-kick, Burns and Birmingham do not escape him being dispossessed by Holte End hero Brian Little shortly afterward who calmly slots home the winner.
ARSENAL 6 WEST HAM UNITED 1 – 20/3/76): As a ten year journey, happenings at Highbury appeared to have gone full circle. From floundering in the mid-60s, Arsenal had the Fairs Cup/’Double’ delights of the early-70s to celebrate only to reach 1976 once more in a state of inertia – the campaign to date more damp squib than canon blast.
Not that Arsenal were short of good players, George Armstrong, Alan Ball, John Radford, Brian Kidd and Pat Rice were all still applying themselves well and with the prodigiously gifted Liam Brady continuing his emergence the team appear to lack direction rather than drive.
It did not, however, stop them driving huge holes through the West Ham defence in this curiously one-sided London derby, The Hammers looking every inch the ‘Southern-softies‘ they were sometimes perceived as – and this on heading a few stops up the Northern Line rather than going to the far north.
With a dramatic post-Christmas drop-off in their league form, West Ham now have focus purely for their ongoing Cup Winners Cup run – minds certainly elsewhere when Ball puts Arsenal ahead. They respond with a Billy Jennings header but Ball (penalty), Armstrong and then Kidd turn things into a rout before half-time.
After the break Kidd converts a lovely Armstrong cross and then an exquisite through-pass from Ball in completing his hat-trick, but any thoughts this crushing victory was the start of a spring revival vanish amongst an abysmal end to the season – one win in the last seven games and 18th placed finish prompting the resignation of ‘double’ winning manager Bertie Mee.
WOLVES 1 LIVERPOOL 3 – (4/5/76): And so the domestic season of 1975-76 all boiled down to this – a Molineux night of maths, mayhem and fine margins.
Postponed from the final Saturday of the season due to Liverpool striker John Toshack being on international duty with Wales and put back beyond the following weekend to avoid clashing with the FA Cup Final, Liverpool and legions of their followers arrived knowing victory would ensure the league title, two points hoisting them above leaders QPR who finished their fixtures nine days earlier.
The plot was further thickened by third-bottom Wolves needing to win in order to have any hope of avoiding relegation, although their fate could be sealed by Birmingham, one place above them, who only needed to avoid defeat at Sheffield United to be safe, that Bramhall Lane encounter taking place at the same time.
If the most unlikely outcome was QPR taking the title and Wolves beating the drop, then at half-time the stars were aligned to create this improbability, Wolves ahead through a Steve Kindon goal while Blues trailed to the Blades. Down the years it has been suggested when word reached the Wolves players during the second half that on hearing Birmingham had levelled the stuffing was knocked out of them – in truth what happened, certainly from my cramped vantage point in the bottom corner of the North Bank, is that for the last half an hour Wolves were pretty much stuffed anyway.
Unrelenting Liverpool attacks finally yielded goals in the last quarter hour for Kevin Keegan, Toshack and Ray Kennedy, each one accompanied by a celebratory pitch invasion from the red and white hordes – Wolves in no way giving up, just beaten by a side simply too good for them.
Thus for the second time in four seasons the destination of the league championship was decided at Molineux. But in defeating Leeds in May 1972 to deny them the title (the league and cup double in actual fact), Wolves were unable to assist QPR in the way they had Derby back then. Wolves in fact could not even help themselves, Birmingham celebrating survival by going on to beat Sheffield United as Liverpool popped the champagne corks in celebration of their first trophy with Bob Paisley at the helm.
For those with little but the cold light of day to contemplate, it was second place for QPR and the second division for Wolves.
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NEIL SAMBROOK is the author of ‘MONTY’S DOUBLE‘ – an acclaimed thriller now available in paperback and as an Amazon Kindle book.
