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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2017 23:55:17 GMT
Paul Richardson, another one of those players who fans either liked or didn't (good job this message board wasn't going back then, Richardson and Irvine would have been ripped to pieces)!!! I liked Richardson though, his set play delivery was ace!!! I've had this unfortunate habit over the years of really liking players who were unpopular with the masses. Never understood how people could turn against Irvine, Maguire, or Randall. Hell, I even thought Lightbulb was a bit unfairly treated!
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Post by terrorofturfmoor on Jul 24, 2017 0:01:43 GMT
Paul Richardson, another one of those players who fans either liked or didn't (good job this message board wasn't going back then, Richardson and Irvine would have been ripped to pieces)!!! I liked Richardson though, his set play delivery was ace!!! I've had this unfortunate habit over the years of really liking players who were unpopular with the masses. Never understood how people could turn against Irvine, Maguire, or Randall. Hell, I even thought Lightbulb was a bit unfairly treated! I remember the shit Irvine got, but don't really recall Randall's abuse??? I could never understand the shit Chapman got either when he was our top scorer???
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Post by JoeinOz on Jul 24, 2017 6:08:54 GMT
Durban is drastically underrated. Not least because getting back to the top flight wasn't such a big deal because it's where we felt we belonged. Our relegation was more of a shock than our return. No we wouldn't have collapsed as stupidly because Durban was pragmatic and wouldn't have fallen for the notion of the pomo To be fair, only an absolute imbecile could have thought that by-passing a midfield with Chambo, Mcillroy, Thomas and Bracewell would be a good idea. That midfield was as good as any in the country. What kind of moron could possibly think that twatting the ball over them would be a good tactic to use? Still makes my blood boil that such a good team was ruined by such cretinous tactics. The kind of moron taken in by the teachings of Howard Wilkinson.
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Post by stokienorthants on Jul 24, 2017 9:01:40 GMT
I loved Randall. Thought he was a real class act. Couldn't believe it when he signed for us as he'd become something of a star name at Bristol. Every so often, MotD would show a third division game, and Bristol Rovers seemed to get more than their fair share of showings, and Randall always seemed to score. But it never really happened for him at Stoke, other than that glorious promotion season goal against West Ham - that's a memory that's as clear to me now as anything that happened last season. Sadly, he became a bit of a victim of the boo-boys, and it was no big surprise when he left. Have to agree, after he signed he stayed at the house of parents of a girl I knew in the Westlands. As he didn't know anyone me and a few mates took him for a few drinks in Candles Wine Bar (now Blakey's). Was a nice lad and showed us a cheque for £700 from Shoot! Magazine for a telephone interview. Somehow I can't see it happening today!
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Post by PB1863 on Jul 24, 2017 9:12:25 GMT
That's the game, brilliant!!! 👍 Great memories. I did love those simple days where it was more of a level playing field.
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Post by terrorofturfmoor on Jul 24, 2017 9:31:41 GMT
That's the game, brilliant!!! 👍 Great memories. I did love those simple days where it was more of a level playing field. Spot on....days when Liverpool were the team to beat, everyone else were beatable....and Liverpool were only that good because of the signings they made through proper scouting, and not because of the zillions they were prepared to throw around at players from all over the globe......good days, sadly gone for good!!! 😕
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 11:29:07 GMT
I've had this unfortunate habit over the years of really liking players who were unpopular with the masses. Never understood how people could turn against Irvine, Maguire, or Randall. Hell, I even thought Lightbulb was a bit unfairly treated! I remember the shit Irvine got, but don't really recall Randall's abuse??? It wasn't full on abuse like Chapman and Ian Moores got, but there were dark mutterings towards the end of his time at Stoke whenever he mis-hit a shot or failed to control a ball. He looked like he'd lost all his confidence and Durban didn't seem to have much faith in him. I think some supporters were just a bit naffed off that he'd not replicated his Rovers form.
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Post by nottinghamstokie on Jul 24, 2017 12:15:30 GMT
I remember the shit Irvine got, but don't really recall Randall's abuse??? It wasn't full on abuse like Chapman and Ian Moores got, but there were dark mutterings towards the end of his time at Stoke whenever he mis-hit a shot or failed to control a ball. He looked like he'd lost all his confidence and Durban didn't seem to have much faith in him. I think some supporters were just a bit naffed off that he'd not replicated his Rovers form. My strong memory of him was that, quite simply, he just wasn't a "top division player". He was very quick, and Bristol Rovers permanently lumped it over the top, he ran onto the ball and away from the back line and scored loads. That still worked initially at Stoke in that we played him in - but on the ground - and he could capitalise. Come promotion, and he was immediately up against quicker, stronger, more aware defenders and he was nullified. I recall he also didn't like being tackled. He went back to Rovers and scored well, and then onto Yeovil and scored loads, which proves the point, IMHO. I think Durban realised he had a speed merchant and not a lot more Irvine, to me, was a 70s Whelan, got shit because he slowed it down continually, before then frequently playing killer balls through, which was not always appreciated. Because he was unhurried he looked sluggish and that got him abuse Chapman I never got at all, got a lot of vital goals but never won over the Boothen But that 1978 game against the Hammers was a classic, one of the best afternoons I've ever had watching Stoke
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Post by JoeinOz on Jul 24, 2017 12:26:32 GMT
It wasn't full on abuse like Chapman and Ian Moores got, but there were dark mutterings towards the end of his time at Stoke whenever he mis-hit a shot or failed to control a ball. He looked like he'd lost all his confidence and Durban didn't seem to have much faith in him. I think some supporters were just a bit naffed off that he'd not replicated his Rovers form. My strong memory of him was that, quite simply, he just wasn't a "top division player". He was very quick, and Bristol Rovers permanently lumped it over the top, he ran onto the ball and away from the back line and scored loads. That still worked initially at Stoke in that we played him in - but on the ground - and he could capitalise. Come promotion, and he was immediately up against quicker, stronger, more aware defenders and he was nullified. I recall he also didn't like being tackled. He went back to Rovers and scored well, and then onto Yeovil and scored loads, which proves the point, IMHO. I think Durban realised he had a speed merchant and not a lot more Irvine, to me, was a 70s Whelan, got shit because he slowed it down continually, before then frequently playing killer balls through, which was not always appreciated. Because he was unhurried he looked sluggish and that got him abuse Chapman I never got at all, got a lot of vital goals but never won over the Boothen But that 1978 game against the Hammers was a classic, one of the best afternoons I've ever had watching Stoke The classic v West Ham was 1979.
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Post by terrorofturfmoor on Jul 24, 2017 12:42:19 GMT
I remember the shit Irvine got, but don't really recall Randall's abuse??? It wasn't full on abuse like Chapman and Ian Moores got, but there were dark mutterings towards the end of his time at Stoke whenever he mis-hit a shot or failed to control a ball. He looked like he'd lost all his confidence and Durban didn't seem to have much faith in him. I think some supporters were just a bit naffed off that he'd not replicated his Rovers form. Gotcha!!! 👍 I was only a young whipper snapper back then, and everyone was a hero!!! I used to sit in the seats above the Boothen Stand with me dad, and we'd wait around the food course waiting for the players walk through from the gym, there I would be, jaw dropped and all starry eyed!!! 😲
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 12:55:25 GMT
Great memories there lads, thanks.
I've just read this thread and it's taken me back to those days and I can remember all those games that you've mentioned. Some great games, and some not so great, but great memories nevertheless.
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Post by reddipotter on Jul 24, 2017 13:02:56 GMT
Durban brought organisation to a club in chaos. Lost to tennis, unfortunately.
When I hear Blythe Spartans mentioned in the early rounds of the FA Cup, it still takes me back to leaving the ground shell shocked, unable to believe what I had just watched.
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Post by pottersrule on Jul 24, 2017 13:19:32 GMT
The game at Mansfield was bloody awful. The highlight that day was the grass catching fire on the embankment in the ground. Was that the game when the Stoke fans charged across the pitch, but by the time they got to their stand, they had all run off? That happened twice I think. Elvis had died a few days before. It was total chaos,there were a lot more bodies in the Stoke end than had gone through the turnstiles for sure.
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Post by The Stubborn Optimist on Jul 24, 2017 14:13:18 GMT
There were some class players on the pitch that day, Kendall, Doyle, Dodd, Smith, Crooks, Brooking, Billy Bonds, Alan Devonshire, Phil Parkes. Alan Curbishley is the West Ham player that gets booked.
Doyle and Kendall were top drawer, unfortunately we only enjoyed seeing them for a couple of seasons, we used to refer to Kendall as Howard Ten Eyes, he could see a pass like few other players I've ever seen, absolute class.
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Post by nottinghamstokie on Jul 24, 2017 14:13:22 GMT
My strong memory of him was that, quite simply, he just wasn't a "top division player". He was very quick, and Bristol Rovers permanently lumped it over the top, he ran onto the ball and away from the back line and scored loads. That still worked initially at Stoke in that we played him in - but on the ground - and he could capitalise. Come promotion, and he was immediately up against quicker, stronger, more aware defenders and he was nullified. I recall he also didn't like being tackled. He went back to Rovers and scored well, and then onto Yeovil and scored loads, which proves the point, IMHO. I think Durban realised he had a speed merchant and not a lot more Irvine, to me, was a 70s Whelan, got shit because he slowed it down continually, before then frequently playing killer balls through, which was not always appreciated. Because he was unhurried he looked sluggish and that got him abuse Chapman I never got at all, got a lot of vital goals but never won over the Boothen But that 1978 game against the Hammers was a classic, one of the best afternoons I've ever had watching Stoke The classic v West Ham was 1979. Sorry, of course it was, thanks Joe. I was in "1978 season" mode when typing :-)
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lwspj
Academy Starlet
Posts: 104
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Post by lwspj on Jul 24, 2017 14:27:20 GMT
I stand to be corrected, but I am one of the small number of Stoke fans (judging by the support on the terraces) who saw what I believe were the only two appearances by Des Backos. They were consecutive away defeats at Cardiff and Southampton.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 14:47:35 GMT
Was that the game when the Stoke fans charged across the pitch, but by the time they got to their stand, they had all run off? That happened twice I think. Elvis had died a few days before. It was total chaos,there were a lot more bodies in the Stoke end than had gone through the turnstiles for sure. I remember it quite well now. Smithy came out to try and calm the fans down - which just made things worse. The Stoke fans actually broke a large gate/door down (whilst police watched), to get out of the ground.
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Post by pottersrule on Jul 24, 2017 15:03:16 GMT
It was total chaos,there were a lot more bodies in the Stoke end than had gone through the turnstiles for sure. I remember it quite well now. Smithy came out to try and calm the fans down - which just made things worse. The Stoke fans actually broke a large gate/door down (whilst police watched), to get out of the ground. You have got a better memory than me mate,I don't remember any of that.
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Post by Dutchpeter on Jul 24, 2017 21:13:56 GMT
It was total chaos,there were a lot more bodies in the Stoke end than had gone through the turnstiles for sure. I remember it quite well now. Smithy came out to try and calm the fans down - which just made things worse. The Stoke fans actually broke a large gate/door down (whilst police watched), to get out of the ground. An old work colleague said the Mansfield violence was the worst trouble he'd ever seen at a game involving Stoke. Still well remembered there apparently. I also heard a story of a guy in the Kings Arms in Meir, casually drinking beer with his handcuffs still on, after that game.
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Post by Northy on Jul 24, 2017 21:28:34 GMT
was this the season of the abandoned FA cup match v Oldham when we were 2 up at ht, then lost the rearranged game 1-0 ?
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Post by Dutchpeter on Jul 24, 2017 21:36:52 GMT
was this the season of the abandoned FA cup match v Oldham when we were 2 up at ht, then lost the rearranged game 1-0 ? That was 78-79 Northy.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 21:40:30 GMT
was this the season of the abandoned FA cup match v Oldham when we were 2 up at ht, then lost the rearranged game 1-0 ? Original game was on 6th Jan 1979. The replay was played on a bog of a waterlogged pitch which was far worse to play on than the match that was abandoned.
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Post by johnnypotter on Jul 24, 2017 21:43:56 GMT
That Mansfield game was the one that my mate and me started going to all the away games as well as the home games. As with an earlier post, I also usually liked the players others hated. Sammy Irvine and Paul Randall were great in my eyes. Alan Durban was just what we needed at the time, a bright young manager who knew how to get the best out of the players at his disposal. I remember a newspaper the day after Mansfield saying [Bad day for Stoke City, the players let down the club on the pitch, the fans did likewise on the terraces and on the pitch]. Alan Durban used to be livid with our hooligan followers and they gave him lots of opportunities over his few years in charge.
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Jul 24, 2017 22:21:14 GMT
I wonder what the conversion rate for the near post corner kick routine was? Feels like I saw it a million times. I think it was this match I nearly got my head kicked in up Stoke station!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 22:38:11 GMT
I wonder what the conversion rate for the near post corner kick routine was? Feels like I saw it a million times. I think it was this match I nearly got my head kicked in up Stoke station! Think the corner routine started when Maguire arrived in 1980, though as I'm hurtling towards my mid-50s, some seasons are starting to merge together rather messily. Wasn't it Maguire to Berry (or Bould) with Big Bren finishing it off? Arsenal nicked the routine off us rather effectively when they stole Bould off us I seem to remember. Or maybe they didn't. Whisky is also now starting to play its part in proceedings.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 22:47:11 GMT
I remember it quite well now. Smithy came out to try and calm the fans down - which just made things worse. The Stoke fans actually broke a large gate/door down (whilst police watched), to get out of the ground. An old work colleague said the Mansfield violence was the worst trouble he'd ever seen at a game involving Stoke. Still well remembered there apparently. I also heard a story of a guy in the Kings Arms in Meir, casually drinking beer with his handcuffs still on, after that game. The police violence towards the fans was pretty sickening. I actually saw two coppers get hold of one of the Stoke fans, one on each arm. They then pushed his head down and ran him into a wall head first. I don't recall actual violence from our fans, more hi jinx sort of stuff. The Stokies invaded the pitch at least twice and charged towards their end, and as I have said, that stand was empty by the time they got there. It was comical to watch the Mansfield fans very slowly filling up their stand. Their attitude seemed to be "Have they gone now?". Our group of four (two men and two women) called it a day with about 30 minutes to go. We couldn't actually see the pitch as the police had formed a line across the stand. That's when we realised that we were locked in. A few hundred fans just busted down the gate, and as I said a copper on a horse just watched - I think he agreed with our actions. It was no place for women and children that was for sure. Lads on their own could climb onto the toilet roof and jump down the other side. It was funny at the time, and still is, but there was a Chief Inspector on the pitch amongst the coppers with a "swagger stick" - he wacked my Missus across the arse with it! That was when Smithy came out to do a bit of "crowd control". That wasn't one of Smithy's best decisions, the crowd went wild! I think he ended up n the shoulders of a few fans. I think that match at Brum was the worst that I have ever seen. Having abandoned the match they just ley everyone out at the same time - fucking mayhem. I was trying to look after my son who would have been about 11 years old. That one was quite frightening. There was one at Stockport that got a bit "Hairy" after the match. Some "fans" from Bolton and Moss Side had turned up to dish out a bit of mayhem.
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Post by JoeinOz on Jul 25, 2017 12:15:27 GMT
I wonder what the conversion rate for the near post corner kick routine was? Feels like I saw it a million times. I think it was this match I nearly got my head kicked in up Stoke station! Think the corner routine started when Maguire arrived in 1980, though as I'm hurtling towards my mid-50s, some seasons are starting to merge together rather messily. Wasn't it Maguire to Berry (or Bould) with Big Bren finishing it off? Arsenal nicked the routine off us rather effectively when they stole Bould off us I seem to remember. Or maybe they didn't. Whisky is also now starting to play its part in proceedings. There had been a few front post corners but it really took off in 82/83. Maguire to Big Bren. John Motson said Maguire takes a better corner than Eder! Used to go watch training and before the season watched them practising it. Loads of the emphasis was on the movement as the ball was struck. You have to attack spaces at an angle.
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Post by PB1863 on Jul 25, 2017 12:33:43 GMT
was this the season of the abandoned FA cup match v Oldham when we were 2 up at ht, then lost the rearranged game 1-0 ? Original game was on 6th Jan 1979. The replay was played on a bog of a waterlogged pitch which was far worse to play on than the match that was abandoned. Went to both. Sammy Irvine scored the two before it was called off.
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Post by Caerwrangonpotter on Jul 25, 2017 13:06:33 GMT
was this the season of the abandoned FA cup match v Oldham when we were 2 up at ht, then lost the rearranged game 1-0 ? Year later,my first game...absolute freezing Alan Durban on The Big Match wasn't happy! I blame Newbon 😂
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Post by Davef on Jul 25, 2017 14:44:06 GMT
This is just about the only game on YouTube from the 77/78 season (apart from the Blyth Spartans goals). Looks like the tape had a few fingerprints on it. It's not pretty viewing either. The game took place early in the season when things were pretty dire.
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