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Post by outspaced on May 13, 2023 8:43:38 GMT
The great escape as we beat Wolves 4-0 to stay up. Paul Maguire with all four and a less than committed Alan Dodd in the Wolves defence!
Going into the match we were 20th with relegated Notts County and Wolves below us (they would both be relegated again 12 months later)
Ipswich 41 50
Sunderland 41 49
West Brom 41 48
Birmingham 41 47
Coventry 41 47
Stoke 41 47
Notts Co 41 41
Wolves 41 29
We simply had to win and rely on one other team slipping up because of our goal difference. Incredibly, only Birmingham did fail to win and went down, although it turned out that we would have scraped it as our thumping victory got our goal diff below Coventry's.
So joyous scenes at the end as we looked doomed at Christmas and i think we were around 10 points from safety and in terrible form. Then we signed Huddy again and off we went.
The great escape was complete and thanks to that we could look forward to 84-85............
Interesting that there were 9 Midlands clubs in the top flight that season with Forest, Villa and Leicester and the other 6 occupying the bottom 6!
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Post by lordb on May 13, 2023 8:57:25 GMT
The great escape as we beat Wolves 4-0 to stay up. Paul Maguire with all four and a less than committed Alan Dodd in the Wolves defence! Going into the match we were 20th with relegated Notts County and Wolves below us (they would both be relegated again 12 months later) Ipswich 41 50 Sunderland 41 49 West Brom 41 48 Birmingham 41 47 Coventry 41 47 Stoke 41 47 Notts Co 41 41 Wolves 41 29 We simply had to win and rely on one other team slipping up because of our goal difference. Incredibly, only Birmingham did fail to win and went down, although it turned out that we would have scraped it as our thumping victory got our goal diff below Coventry's. So joyous scenes at the end as we looked doomed at Christmas and i think we were around 10 points from safety and in terrible form. Then we signed Huddy again and off we went. The great escape was complete and thanks to that we could look forward to 84-85............ Interesting that there were 9 Midlands clubs in the top flight that season with Forest, Villa and Leicester and the other 6 occupying the bottom 6! It was Clive 'The Book' Thomas last ever match as ref One of the penalties Dodd looked at Thomas before dangling a leg swear Thomas winked at Dodd as he pointed to the spot The other memory was the ages and ages after the match before we had Birmingham Score confirmed Stoke of course released Maguire on a free |
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Post by march4 on May 13, 2023 9:04:08 GMT
The great escape as we beat Wolves 4-0 to stay up. Paul Maguire with all four and a less than committed Alan Dodd in the Wolves defence! Going into the match we were 20th with relegated Notts County and Wolves below us (they would both be relegated again 12 months later) Ipswich 41 50 Sunderland 41 49 West Brom 41 48 Birmingham 41 47 Coventry 41 47 Stoke 41 47 Notts Co 41 41 Wolves 41 29 We simply had to win and rely on one other team slipping up because of our goal difference. Incredibly, only Birmingham did fail to win and went down, although it turned out that we would have scraped it as our thumping victory got our goal diff below Coventry's. So joyous scenes at the end as we looked doomed at Christmas and i think we were around 10 points from safety and in terrible form. Then we signed Huddy again and off we went. The great escape was complete and thanks to that we could look forward to 84-85............ Interesting that there were 9 Midlands clubs in the top flight that season with Forest, Villa and Leicester and the other 6 occupying the bottom 6! Great memories of a wonderful day of football. |
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Post by JoeinOz on May 13, 2023 9:10:34 GMT
If we'd gone down that day would our immediate history of been better?
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Post by outspaced on May 13, 2023 9:16:00 GMT
If we'd gone down that day would our immediate history of been better? Thought that myself Joe. We would have had a different manager as Mick Mills had a year left at Southampton. Maybe we would have gone straight through with Notts and Wolves? |
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Post by march4 on May 13, 2023 9:30:10 GMT
If we'd gone down that day would our immediate history of been better? It’s a good question Joe. We’d have still been skint the next season and didn’t Huddy get pneumonia and Chamberlain did his hamstring? |
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Post by JoeinOz on May 13, 2023 9:30:50 GMT
If we'd gone down that day would our immediate history of been better? Thought that myself Joe. We would have had a different manager as Mick Mills had a year left at Southampton. Maybe we would have gone straight through with Notts and Wolves? Yes we might. But we actually had some talented young uns. If they were spared the trauma of 84/85 perhaps they'd had have thrived. |
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Post by Scouse on May 13, 2023 11:01:20 GMT
Some horrendously low attendances home and away that year ( not only us ) .. impacted by FV , worse was to follow in 84/5
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Post by JoeinOz on May 13, 2023 11:04:47 GMT
Some horrendously low attendances home and away that year ( not only us ) .. impacted by FV , worse was to follow in 84/5 Football was bleak. But society in general was bleak. |
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Post by Scouse on May 13, 2023 11:38:48 GMT
Some horrendously low attendances home and away that year ( not only us ) .. impacted by FV , worse was to follow in 84/5 Football was bleak. But society in general was bleak. Indeed , this is what former PM ( Lord ) Harold Wilson wrote to the Lords For nearly 40 years, give or take one or two boundary changes, I represented the same Merseyside constituency.( sic Huyton ) In that constituency in 1981 only 10 per cent. of school-leavers secured a job holding out any hope of continuing employment; in 1982 only 8 per cent. were so fortunate; and last year, 1983, the figure was again 10 per cent. Of course, that experience is not confined to Merseyside. It is mirrored in the realities of unemployment in other parts of England, Bleak times indeed |
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Post by JoeinOz on May 13, 2023 12:34:51 GMT
Football was bleak. But society in general was bleak. Indeed , this is what former PM ( Lord ) Harold Wilson wrote to the Lords For nearly 40 years, give or take one or two boundary changes, I represented the same Merseyside constituency.( sic Huyton ) In that constituency in 1981 only 10 per cent. of school-leavers secured a job holding out any hope of continuing employment; in 1982 only 8 per cent. were so fortunate; and last year, 1983, the figure was again 10 per cent. Of course, that experience is not confined to Merseyside. It is mirrored in the realities of unemployment in other parts of England, Bleak times indeed One word for 1984 is Orgreave. An entire decade summed up in one day |
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Post by lordb on May 13, 2023 12:55:24 GMT
Football was bleak. But society in general was bleak. Indeed , this is what former PM ( Lord ) Harold Wilson wrote to the Lords For nearly 40 years, give or take one or two boundary changes, I represented the same Merseyside constituency.( sic Huyton ) In that constituency in 1981 only 10 per cent. of school-leavers secured a job holding out any hope of continuing employment; in 1982 only 8 per cent. were so fortunate; and last year, 1983, the figure was again 10 per cent. Of course, that experience is not confined to Merseyside. It is mirrored in the realities of unemployment in other parts of England, Bleak times indeed I always find it bizarre when you see dramas set in the 80's or nostalgia programmes and they full of colour grey was the dominant colour which matched the national mood |
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Post by silsdenstokie on May 13, 2023 13:33:34 GMT
Remember listening to it on the radio and Cov coming from behind to lead. All of a sudden a Brum goal woukd have put us in trouble. As mentioned the goal swing woukd have saved us anyway
Little did we know what was to follow ☹️
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Post by mickstupp on May 13, 2023 13:50:11 GMT
Thought that myself Joe. We would have had a different manager as Mick Mills had a year left at Southampton. Maybe we would have gone straight through with Notts and Wolves? Yes we might. But we actually had some talented young uns. If they were spared the trauma of 84/85 perhaps they'd had have thrived. Not sure the young uns were that good, in fact I think one of the main reasons we declined so rapidly was that our youth players in that period were no where near as good as the ones we had before. Crooks, Chapman, Adrian Heath, and Bracewell were replaced by the likes of Hemming, Phil Heath, Parkin, Saunders and Maskery. They were lower league quality players in truth. |
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Post by lordb on May 13, 2023 13:56:37 GMT
Yes we might. But we actually had some talented young uns. If they were spared the trauma of 84/85 perhaps they'd had have thrived. Not sure the young uns were that good, in fact I think one of the main reasons we declined so rapidly was that our youth players in that period were no where near as good as the ones we had before. Crooks, Chapman, Heath, and Bracewell were replaced by the likes of Hemming, Heath, Saunders and Maskery. They were lower league quality players in truth. Maskery was good, injury did for him |
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Post by hamsta2 on May 13, 2023 13:56:41 GMT
I was there - pretty sure Alan Clarke was watching from the old visitors box and left at half time. It was papering over the cracks though - as was evidenced by the next season.
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Post by AlliG on May 13, 2023 14:02:30 GMT
I was there - pretty sure Alan Clarke was watching from the old visitors box and left at half time. It was papering over the cracks though - as was evidenced by the next season. Clarke was there for Smithy's last game when we beat West Brom 3-0. He left when he realised that we were going to win and Leeds were doomed to relegation. |
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Post by mickstupp on May 13, 2023 14:07:05 GMT
Not sure the young uns were that good, in fact I think one of the main reasons we declined so rapidly was that our youth players in that period were no where near as good as the ones we had before. Crooks, Chapman, Heath, and Bracewell were replaced by the likes of Hemming, Heath, Saunders and Maskery. They were lower league quality players in truth. Maskery was good, injury did for him He was OK, not as good as Bracewell. And that’s my point, the youngsters just weren’t the same quality as the ones before and when you’ve got no money to buy players in that becomes a real problem. |
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Post by JoeinOz on May 13, 2023 14:45:33 GMT
Indeed , this is what former PM ( Lord ) Harold Wilson wrote to the Lords For nearly 40 years, give or take one or two boundary changes, I represented the same Merseyside constituency.( sic Huyton ) In that constituency in 1981 only 10 per cent. of school-leavers secured a job holding out any hope of continuing employment; in 1982 only 8 per cent. were so fortunate; and last year, 1983, the figure was again 10 per cent. Of course, that experience is not confined to Merseyside. It is mirrored in the realities of unemployment in other parts of England, Bleak times indeed I always find it bizarre when you see dramas set in the 80's or nostalgia programmes and they full of colour grey was the dominant colour which matched the national mood It was dull and overcast for a decade. If the sun had come out she'd have privatised it |
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Post by hamsta2 on May 13, 2023 14:49:27 GMT
I was there - pretty sure Alan Clarke was watching from the old visitors box and left at half time. It was papering over the cracks though - as was evidenced by the next season. Clarke was there for Smithy's last game when we beat West Brom 3-0. He left when he realised that we were going to win and Leeds were doomed to relegation. Thank you - the years have clouded my brain!! Wish I could forget other stuff instead. Eg - the Ball years. |
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Post by silsdenstokie on May 13, 2023 15:06:55 GMT
Yes we might. But we actually had some talented young uns. If they were spared the trauma of 84/85 perhaps they'd had have thrived. Not sure the young uns were that good, in fact I think one of the main reasons we declined so rapidly was that our youth players in that period were no where near as good as the ones we had before. Crooks, Chapman, Heath, and Bracewell were replaced by the likes of Hemming, Heath, Saunders and Maskery. They were lower league quality players in truth. Id say they were all reasonable at championship level. Bouldy obviously went on to great things, Adams and Shaw looked to have great potential, Adams had a good career at Oldham, while Shawry never quite fulfilled his early promise. The rest seemed to go through hot and cold stages, Saunders being the most obvious Certainly not top tier level (like the earlier ones you mention) but all did a good job for us, at some stage, in the 2nd tier |
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Post by anchorman on May 13, 2023 18:10:30 GMT
Indeed , this is what former PM ( Lord ) Harold Wilson wrote to the Lords For nearly 40 years, give or take one or two boundary changes, I represented the same Merseyside constituency.( sic Huyton ) In that constituency in 1981 only 10 per cent. of school-leavers secured a job holding out any hope of continuing employment; in 1982 only 8 per cent. were so fortunate; and last year, 1983, the figure was again 10 per cent. Of course, that experience is not confined to Merseyside. It is mirrored in the realities of unemployment in other parts of England, Bleak times indeed One word for 1984 is Orgreave. An entire decade summed up in one day Summed up perfectly in one word. I had the enormous privilege to meet David Conn Guardian journalist. Lives locally to me and dedicated most of his career to Orgreave & Hillsborough, standing up for the miners who were viciously attacked that day by a militant army of ‘police’ and the victims of Hillsborough who for decades were treated appallingly….That was the 80’s under a fascist Thatcher government. |
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Post by outspaced on May 13, 2023 18:24:14 GMT
One word for 1984 is Orgreave. An entire decade summed up in one day Summed up perfectly in one word. I had the enormous privilege to meet David Conn Guardian journalist. Lives locally to me and dedicated most of his career to Orgreave & Hillsborough, standing up for the miners who were viciously attacked that day by a militant army of ‘police’ and the victims of Hillsborough who for decades were treated appallingly….That was the 80’s under a fascist Thatcher government. There's a great documentary on YT somewhere about Orgreave. At the time inciting a riot could mean a life sentence in prison! All charges against every single miner arrested that day were thrown out in court. Michael Mansfield was the defending lawyer. Good section interviewing him. |
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Post by lordb on May 13, 2023 18:34:03 GMT
Maskery was good, injury did for him He was OK, not as good as Bracewell. And that’s my point, the youngsters just weren’t the same quality as the ones before and when you’ve got no money to buy players in that becomes a real problem. That's true I just thought Maskery could have had a top flight career whilst the other youngsters, Parkin, Hemming, Callaghan, Heath, Saunders and Shaw not The one who did, Neil Adams, wasn't that heralded at Stoke |
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Post by benjaminbiscuit on May 13, 2023 18:36:55 GMT
Lively as it's ever been in thr boothen paddock that day remarkable viewing from the middle of the boothen end
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Post by andystokey on May 13, 2023 18:41:20 GMT
Not sure the young uns were that good, in fact I think one of the main reasons we declined so rapidly was that our youth players in that period were no where near as good as the ones we had before. Crooks, Chapman, Heath, and Bracewell were replaced by the likes of Hemming, Heath, Saunders and Maskery. They were lower league quality players in truth. Id say they were all reasonable at championship level. Bouldy obviously went on to great things, Adams and Shaw looked to have great potential, Adams had a good career at Oldham, while Shawry never quite fulfilled his early promise. The rest seemed to go through hot and cold stages, Saunders being the most obvious Certainly not top tier level (like the earlier ones you mention) but all did a good job for us, at some stage, in the 2nd tier Adams got a 1st Div title medal with Everton. |
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Post by mickstupp on May 13, 2023 18:47:32 GMT
He was OK, not as good as Bracewell. And that’s my point, the youngsters just weren’t the same quality as the ones before and when you’ve got no money to buy players in that becomes a real problem. That's true I just thought Maskery could have had a top flight career whilst the other youngsters, Parkin, Hemming, Callaghan, Heath, Saunders and Shaw not The one who did, Neil Adams, wasn't that heralded at Stoke I totally forgot about Neil Adams |
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Post by silsdenstokie on May 13, 2023 18:49:06 GMT
Id say they were all reasonable at championship level. Bouldy obviously went on to great things, Adams and Shaw looked to have great potential, Adams had a good career at Oldham, while Shawry never quite fulfilled his early promise. The rest seemed to go through hot and cold stages, Saunders being the most obvious Certainly not top tier level (like the earlier ones you mention) but all did a good job for us, at some stage, in the 2nd tier Adams got a 1st Div title medal with Everton. He did yes, but he didnt play many games for them. Think he played less in 3 years there than he did in his 85/86 season with us. Always hoped hed come back to Stoke as always impressed at Oldham. Think we were heavily linked with him at one point but he ended up going to Norwich instead |
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Post by J-Roar on May 13, 2023 18:56:27 GMT
Maskery was good, injury did for him He was OK, not as good as Bracewell. And that’s my point, the youngsters just weren’t the same quality as the ones before and when you’ve got no money to buy players in that becomes a real problem. He looked great in the games before he broke his leg. |
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Post by andystokey on May 13, 2023 19:04:35 GMT
Adams got a 1st Div title medal with Everton. He did yes, but he didnt play many games for them. Think he played less in 3 years there than he did in his 85/86 season with us. Always hoped hed come back to Stoke as always impressed at Oldham. Think we were heavily linked with him at one point but he ended up going to Norwich instead Yeah he got injured at Everton and they shipped him out. He played PL football though, he played in the League Cup final and got Oldham into the Premier league. His fee was £250k which was good money then. Played about 80 PL games with Oldham and Norwich and he eventually replaced Hughton as Norwich manager. He's still there I think. So a pretty good career I'd say for a kid from Stoke. |
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