billc
Youth Player
Posts: 490
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Post by billc on Jan 21, 2016 18:45:06 GMT
Stoke City v Manchester United April 14th 1973
The spotlight was on Bobby Charlton on April 14th 1973 making his 600th appearance for Manchester United. Before the game he was presented with a plaque from Jimmy Greenhoff and the crowd applauded the long time servant for United. It was the only act of magnanimity demonstrated by Stoke fans to United that day.
While it Charlton’s 600th appearance it was the first appearance for Trevor Anderson a Frank O’Farrell buy from an Irish club. O’Farrell handpicked by Matt Busby before his retirement had been sacked the year before in an episode which bore an uncanny resemblance to David Moyes succeeding Ferguson 40 years later.
On the subject of Irishmen a more gifted player than Anderson was famously missing from the United line up. George Best had gone AWOL frustrated by the clubs decline. Tommy Docherty had suspended and transfer listed Best who would return to the club later in April.
It was probably at this time that the anecdote concerning Best and Miss Great Britain was born which runs, a waiter with champagne surveying the chamber of debauch on which Best had deposited his winnings from the Casino on the bed posed the question “ Where did it all go wrong George?”
Of the game the newspaper reported that he was convinced that the United team that Stoke faced was the worst since the war lacking creativity, creaking in mid field, lacking an attacking edge and with a brutal defence- essentially a team of kickers with Big Jim Holton at the heart of it.
United had come to the Victoria Ground for a draw, a boring draw as well in front of seasons biggest gate of 38,000.
Before the game the United supporters were shepherded around the ground by the Police past a baying Boothen End.
Stoke opened confidently and early on had a penalty appeal turned down when Hurst was bundled to the ground by Macari. Eastham was the sharpest player on the pitch producing passes that dissected a crude Manchester United defence.
Against the run of play United took the lead when a Macari shot was deflected off Bloor and past Farmer. All the excitement was telescoped into the last 25 minutes. Greenhoff got the equaliser swooping on Stepney error when he pushed out a Pejic shot into the path of the Stoke striker on 75 minutes and seven minutes later, in the moment of the game, a delightful through ball from Eastham split the United defence for Ritchie to strike home.
The game ended controversially when Paul Fletcher equalised for United at the death although Farmer claimed that the ball was handled by the Manchester player.
Rioting broke out after the match with running battles along Lonsdale Street and the town centre involving supporters from both clubs and mounted police. 40 shops and offices had windows smashed. A number of police officers were hurt by thrown bottles and stones and a police van was damaged. Two cars were over turned in Corporation Street and after the game a train was damaged at Congleton.
36 fans were arrested, 27 of them from Stoke and one United fan received hospital treatment after being thrown through a window in the town centre.
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Post by stokiejoe on Jan 21, 2016 20:52:33 GMT
Remember walking back to Fenton via the waste ground (now A500) half bricks flying everywhere.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 2:06:23 GMT
9th December 1972 We won 2-0 at Old Trafford Mike Pejic and John Ritchie scored for us. I can still remember the Stretford end singing "Gordon Banks' only got one eye yo ho" (makes the he wanks with a limp seem a bit tame). Lot's of fighting afterwards walking down by the cricket ground. There was a lot of police but they could not control it until the horses were brought in. We went by train, for a young man it was a great day out. May come as a surprise to some, but at that time you could pay on the gate home or away. Memory may be playing tricks but I think it was 70 pence. Two weeks later Utd sacked their manager Frank O Farrell
I suspect there was still some left overs when they came to the Victoria ground. I remember it been very lively afterwards.
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Post by lawrieleslie on Jan 22, 2016 7:29:22 GMT
Last game of the season 73-74 was bad for violence from their fans. Flares on the terraces in the Stoke End. We won 1-0 Although Man Utd had already been relegated week before by the famous back heel Denis Law goal vs Man City. Remember me and a mate being chased by a group of them and hiding in Stoke Church Yard. Lots of damage in Stoke and on their trains back to Manchester.
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Post by Northy on Jan 22, 2016 8:53:13 GMT
I spent a very exciting hour in the hotel room watching some of these clips on RRPNG4 youtube site last night. Can't access porn with the work laptop  so the next bes thing is Stoke  |
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Post by rawli on Jan 22, 2016 8:58:39 GMT
9th December 1972 We won 2-0 at Old Trafford Mike Pejic and John Ritchie scored for us. I can still remember the Stretford end singing "Gordon Banks' only got one eye yo ho" (makes the he wanks with a limp seem a bit tame). Lot's of fighting afterwards walking down by the cricket ground. There was a lot of police but they could not control it until the horses were brought in. We went by train, for a young man it was a great day out. May come as a surprise to some, but at that time you could pay on the gate home or away. Memory may be playing tricks but I think it was 70 pence. Two weeks later Utd sacked their manager Frank O Farrell I suspect there was still some left overs when they came to the Victoria ground. I remember it been very lively afterwards. Wanking with a limp is a tricky one. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 9:02:50 GMT
9th December 1972 We won 2-0 at Old Trafford Mike Pejic and John Ritchie scored for us. I can still remember the Stretford end singing "Gordon Banks' only got one eye yo ho" (makes the he wanks with a limp seem a bit tame). Lot's of fighting afterwards walking down by the cricket ground. There was a lot of police but they could not control it until the horses were brought in. We went by train, for a young man it was a great day out. May come as a surprise to some, but at that time you could pay on the gate home or away. Memory may be playing tricks but I think it was 70 pence. Two weeks later Utd sacked their manager Frank O Farrell I suspect there was still some left overs when they came to the Victoria ground. I remember it been very lively afterwards. Wanking with a limp is a tricky one. Aaron Ramsey seems to manage ok. |
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Post by Titan Uranus on Jan 22, 2016 13:13:59 GMT
Last game of the season 73-74 was bad for violence from their fans. Flares on the terraces in the Stoke End. We won 1-0 Although Man Utd had already been relegated week before by the famous back heel Denis Law goal vs Man City. Remember me and a mate being chased by a group of them and hiding in Stoke Church Yard. Lots of damage in Stoke and on their trains back to Manchester. The Man Poo fans were right in the middle of the Stoke End terrace. No segregation...no police cordon. Seems unbelievable now doesn't it. The barstewards set fire to their flags and then wafted them all over the adjacent Stoke supporters...my uncle, dad and me included. One bloke's cap caught fire.  Them were the days. |
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so the next bes thing is Stoke 
