Saturday 26 May 2012

Leeds Fans Vote For Wrong Game Of The 1970s!

I remember the 7-0 thumping of Southampton well. The poor Saints were chasing shadows all match and Leeds passed the ball around beautifully, and were wonderful in front of goal. It was a cracking performance but as a contest it was a non event. Game of the decade? No way. There was only one contender for that title, West Brom 2 Leeds 1.

The first goal was handed on a plate to the Baggies, with Jack, "Little Black Book" Charlton giving the ball away to Astle in the centre circle, and the bracelet fancier slipping a pass to Suggett who played in Tony Brown to do what he did best, sliding home a neat finish. For anybody too young to remember, Brown was the Kevin Phillips of his age - great goal scoring record (that was his twenty-seventh of the season!) but not good enough for England.

But what followed makes the game live in the memory for ever courtesy of Jasper Carrott lookalike referee Ray Tinker. First off, with Charlton blocked off in the box as he went for a cross, Tinker made the amazing decision to award an indirect free kick in the box for obstruction. Jones promptly slammed the ball into a wall no more than five yards away from the kick.

Next up came  three fantastic chances for West Brom to go two goals ahead. Suggett, clean through was defied by a superb save by Sprake, then the Welsh clown made a brilliant block with his feet from a Brown shot, and the Baggies goal machine promptly passed the ball to the grounded keeper from the follow up.

Keeping in mind the recent fuss over Barton, just take a look at the Bremner attempt to remove Lovett's head with a flailing elbow on Youtube. I flinched watching it after all these years! Barry Davies simply says, "Bremner responded very strongly" and the ginger tosser isn't even booked. Different era! Today, Bremner would be off and facing a charge of violent conduct without question, and a scrum of players would have joined a melee around the little Scottish shit. From the free kick, awarded to Leeds, they get the ball in the net, but the linesman's flag, with marvellous irony, rules out Jones's header from an Eddie Gray cross.

Alan Clarke then nearly scores with a deft back header saved by Worcestershire cricketer Jim Cumbes. Suggett scores, but the offside flag rules that one out too. Then comes THE moment, perhaps the most controversial incident in the history of English football, apart from Hurst's "goal" against West Germany. Brown wins the ball and bursts into the Leeds half but Suggett is clearly offside by about five yards. The linesman flags, but Brown doesn't play the pass so Tinker waves play on - but everybody has stood still expecting the offside award. Realising that the ball is still live, Brown runs on and, with Sprake advancing off his line, rolls the ball into the path of an offside Astle who puts the ball in the net. 2-0, and with Leeds' title slipping away from them, cue pandemonium. Fans - in suits and ties - invade the pitch and are rugby tackled by the police, Revie marches on to the field, Leeds players scrum around Tinker, the linesman has his say, and the goal is still awarded. A coin is then thrown at the linesman on the far side, very unfairly because he wasn't even involved in the decision, though he had ruled out Jones's effort earlier.

Clarke then scores "from an almost impossible angle" according to Barry Davies but West Brom hold out for a victory that robs Bastard United of the title.

Do watch the Youtube video and see how the game has changed - not least the moment when Merrick keeps the ball in touch and clatters into two fold up chairs on the touchline! Amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBhpJZJ8O6U&feature=related



19 comments:

Anonymous said...

You got that wrong - it was Brown who broke forward and passed to Astle. He had intercepted pass in WBA half. Suggett was on far side of pitch.
Cheers - Breedon Baggie

Hammersfan said...

Really? I'll have to check the Youtube video. Question is, was it offside even under the old rules given the pass wasn't played so he wasnt interfering with play?

Hammersfan said...

Spot on BB. Have corrected.

Anonymous said...

Bastard United eh? What a twat you are. Just go away.

FISH said...

"You're a Leeds fan, you're a Leeds fan, you're a Leeds fan in disguise, you're a Leeds fan in disguise!"

A third of your last 15 posts have all been about Leeds - glad we keep you so entertained!

And on the subject of most hated club in your Sheff Utd post - Sheff Utd? Are you sure? Dirty Leeds are still widely hated dispite our 8 year (and counting) absence from the top flight - "We're not famous anymore" We're quite happy to be disliked, so keep the posts coming.

Incidently, most of your West Ham posts aren't very long. Is there not much to say about the Premier League newbies?

And before anyone asks why am I on a West Ham blog as a Leeds fan, that would be because Hammersfan keeps writing about us, the blogs keep popping up on NewsNow feeds for Leeds.

There'll be more about the Mighty Whites on here than West Ham soon! May have to rename the site!

Hammersfan said...

2357, didn't you enjoy the trip down memory lane? Are you old enough to remember that great Leeds team?

I will keep the posts coming as I am following Leeds next season in the Championship. With Bates and Warnock at the same club it threatens to get interesting!!!!

Anonymous said...

This is ridiculous. I genuinely am a west ham fan and have followed and enjoyed your blog for the last 12 months. I've even agreed with a lot that you have said. However, I am starting to believe you are more interested in the number of hits your site is receiving than anything else. Hence your continued attacks on Leeds and your pathetic attempts to engage their considerable support.
If you continue this approach then I, like many whu fans, will no longer entertain you.
Please get a grip and remember your target audience.
COYI

gordy said...

Obviously you've realised that the only way you're going to get a decent number of hits is by creating Leeds related posts. A bit of a shame for you as it seems that either West Ham fans don't see you as worthy of their attention or there simply isn't enough interest in the Hammers. Anyway good luck next season I have a feeling that you'll need it :) MOT

Hammersfan said...

Gordy, why not try to answer the threads. I know it can be galling to read the truth but why hide from it. I will set out my predictions for you. Leeds will finish mid table next season. Warnock will not be your manager by the end of February.

Anonymous said...

Your obsession with Leeds is pretty embarassing to me, and I'm a West Ham fan. If I wanted to read a Leeds Blog then I'd find one written by a Leeds fan. But as a hammer, I don't give a shit about them.

Anonymous said...

You are a ridiculous man.

Anonymous said...

Hammersfan, be what you say you are...a hammers fan...stop boring us with crap like this. Its tedious as fuck, you hate leeds! Big deal, join the massive queue for us waiting to give a fuck pal. Good luck to west ham next season anyway! I mean that sincerely.

Hammersfan said...

Believe you me, 1308, true Hammers fans delight in Leeds' misfortunes! But thanks for your best wishes for next season. I'm just relieved we are in different divisions given we can never beat you!

Anonymous said...

west ham-just a poor mans palace

Anonymous said...

Yes i think its just an attempt to get lots of hits.....perhaps to dastabalize potential west ham targets at Leeds ?? Carry on TBH, the Leeds - Bates thing will errupt this summer, probably by August. The club may go down the pan as a result of boycotts but at least we will have got rid of Bates and can move forwards without that disgusting little leech holding us back

Anonymous said...

' true Hammers fans delight in Leeds' misfortunes!'. That might be the most pathetic thing I've heard. 14 London Clubs in the top 4 English divisions and you hate Leeds the most it seems. Get a grip.

Anonymous said...

You sad little cockney bastard get a life fucking sad act

Anonymous said...

Shut up mate you're boring.

Anonymous said...

Try and concentrate on you're own team and stop being jealous about our history...enjoy the prem for a season