billc
Youth Player
Posts: 490
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Post by billc on Nov 5, 2015 17:56:03 GMT
Stoke City 3 Leeds United 2 February 23rd 1974
I used to think that Leeds United were like the Wehrmacht organised, regimented and especially ruthless when crushing opposition. I saw them on “Match of the Day “demolish Southampton once in the early 70s, the score may have been 7-0. Anyway, it was the first time I had heard the taunting cry of “Olay” as they strung a long passing move toying with a very hapless Southampton defence. And like the “Wehrmacht” as the campaign progressed they ultimately came unstuck in mud and snow.
It was a bleak and uncertain time with the Tories having lost the General Election and a minority Labour administration led by Harold Wilson was in power. A few months earlier President Nixon in a alcoholic fog had bought the US forces up to a very high state of preparedness at the time of the Yom Kippur War it turned out the real intention was to deflect criticism during a crucial period of the Watergate hearings. A major thermo nuclear exchange might have adversely effected the 1973-4 season.
If Leeds had beaten Stoke on 23rd February 1974 then they would have beaten Burnley’s 53 year record on the longest unbeaten run and under the gaze of England Manager Alf Ramsay they attacked from the start.
Farmer in the Stoke goal came out quickly to thwart Jordan following a long ball from Cherry. Stoke c came back and a neat inside pass from Hurst to Robertson ultimately broke down. The England World Cup scorer blasted over from a Robertson cross.
The Leeds midfield of Bremner, Giles and Paul Madeley were asserting their authority and the inevitable happened
Leeds took the lead when Bremner was brought down by Smith. Stoke were slow in organising the wall which allowed the Scot to curl the ball over the wall into the net. Stoke protested but it was a trick that Bremner had carried out before and they should have been wise to the move.
Two minutes later and the League leaders were two up when Clarke scored when put through by Jordan.
Jordan did get the ball into the net, but was ruled off side and things began to go Stoke’s way after the influential Giles went off injured and was replaced by Cooper.
On 27 minutes Stoke pulled one back when Pejic beat Harvey from 30 yards and then they were level 4 minutes later when Hudson , who was brilliant that afternoon, scored a cross from Robertson was flicked on by Ritchie and Hudson was well placed to place a shot past Harvey.
The atmosphere was toxic in the ground and this point and from my vantage point in the Stoke End and to the right of the goal I could see fighting break out between a group of Stoke fans and a Leeds supporter.
Hudson was in his pomp spraying the ball around and was involved in a move that nearly led to a goal but Harvey was alive to a cross that he took off Ritchie’s head.
On 68 minutes Stoke got the winner when a cross again from Robertson was moved on by Hurst for Smith to power a header past the Leeds keeper.
Leeds began to lose shape and discipline and both Clarke and Cooper were booked for dissent.
The headline in the Sentinel said Just Fantastic- indeed it was
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2015 18:03:27 GMT
It was a famous result, but almost as noteworthy was the reaction of the Leeds players at the final whistle. Very few of them shook hands with the Stoke players, reinforcing the view that they were a talented but unsporting bunch of twats.
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Nov 5, 2015 18:20:31 GMT
The winner!
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Post by werrington on Nov 5, 2015 18:23:29 GMT
My first ever game
Sat on the wall at the front of the Butler St stand up by the Stoke End
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Post by ST1 Stokie on Nov 5, 2015 18:31:59 GMT
Was there one of the best matches I've seen and when Smithy scored with the diving header the scenes were unbelievable. ...stopping Leeds unbeaten run was magic
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Post by towraytek on Nov 5, 2015 18:50:15 GMT
Am I right in stating that the Alan Clarke who played for Leeds in 1974 was the same Alan Clarke, who, as a youngster, played for Walsall when they knocked us out of the cup in early 1966? In fact, it might have been Clarke that was at the receiving end of the kick from Stoke keeper Bobby Irvine, who was sent off for the offence.
Purely from memory so happy to be corrected.
Ek
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Post by Davef on Nov 5, 2015 19:22:13 GMT
That 7-0 Leeds win against Southampton was on the same day we won the League Cup.
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Post by passtheoatcakes on Nov 5, 2015 19:30:05 GMT
Stood with my mate behind a rail half way up and in the middle of the Boothen End (not old enough to risk the back of the Boothen!).
Brilliant game and a privilege to watch Hudson and co in full flight. Happy Days!!
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Post by tcdobinghoff on Nov 5, 2015 19:57:06 GMT
I was there but my memory of Billy Bremners free kick was that he simply put the ball down and side-footed it into the goal not lifted it over the wall. Stoke's defence just wasn't ready.
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Post by thepirehillpoet on Nov 5, 2015 20:04:27 GMT
Can still remember going daft when Smithy flew. Apparently it went off big style in the tunnel with Jimmy Robertson taking on all comers.
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Post by kevkj on Nov 5, 2015 20:18:46 GMT
My abiding memory was my dad always told me he was a Leeds fan, when that third went in for us i turned from my seat on the paddock wall to see him jumping with complete glee.The little liar.
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Post by johnmarshcardschool on Nov 5, 2015 20:28:47 GMT
That was my first time on the Boothen End, (not my first match though). Stood near the back, too short to see most of the game and had a brilliant time.
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Post by maine on Nov 5, 2015 21:11:49 GMT
TOWRAYTEK. Quite right. Clarke was a Walsall lad. Actually my uncle was Headmaster of the school he attended.
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Post by withnall on Nov 5, 2015 21:30:48 GMT
Was this the match when the Leeds players stood in the centre circle waving at the crowd before kick off - and was it the first that they wore those bastard tassles on their socks?
Bastards.
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Post by stokefc on Nov 5, 2015 21:56:24 GMT
I was there but my memory of Billy Bremners free kick was that he simply put the ball down and side-footed it into the goal not lifted it over the wall. Stoke's defence just wasn't ready. I remember Gordon Strachan doing similar mid 80s but curling it into the top corner while we were organising our wall,dont think the ref blew his whistle but still gave the goal..clever cunt
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Post by JoeinOz on Nov 5, 2015 22:06:11 GMT
Was this the match when the Leeds players stood in the centre circle waving at the crowd before kick off - and was it the first that they wore those bastard tassles on their socks? Bastards. There was a few little things they did that were uniquely Leeds. Walking out to the centre circle to salute the crowd being one of them. This was to distinguish them from other teams and to increase their sense of identity as 'being Leeds'. Most significant was at the end of the warm up when Revie used to walk out to his players to get their trackie tops and take them in. It was all part of Revie looking after his boys and the way they were a close knit family. Also you can't argue with it because they their father figure Revie was very successful.
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Post by raythesailor on Nov 5, 2015 22:11:47 GMT
TOWRAYTEK. Quite right. Clarke was a Walsall lad. Actually my uncle was Headmaster of the school he attended. Totally correct. If I remember was he not a very tall gangly guy? But very useful. Those were the days when British/English players learnt their trade and came up through the leauges, unhindered by foreign imports. England had a good team then as well. Any connection ?
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Post by withnall on Nov 5, 2015 22:14:47 GMT
Father figure - Bastards.
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Post by lawrieleslie on Nov 5, 2015 22:25:59 GMT
Am I right in stating that the Alan Clarke who played for Leeds in 1974 was the same Alan Clarke, who, as a youngster, played for Walsall when they knocked us out of the cup in early 1966? In fact, it might have been Clarke that was at the receiving end of the kick from Stoke keeper Bobby Irvine, who was sent off for the offence. Purely from memory so happy to be corrected. Ek Yes it was Alan Clarke. I was at the game but don't recall Irvine being sent off although he did concede a penalty. We lost 2-0 and Irvine was never given the keepers jersey by Waddo again. Seem to recall their other goal actually wasn't a gal at all because the ball went through a hole in the side netting but the ref would hear nothing of Stokes protests. Might be wrong.
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Post by JoeinOz on Nov 6, 2015 2:03:49 GMT
Father figure - Bastards. He was though. The players idolised him. And he made up a strong family feeling at the club. That family feeling was the base of all they achieved. Ferguson did something similar at the shit
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Post by norman conquest on Nov 6, 2015 8:02:12 GMT
I was there on the Boothen, back middle with my back against a barrier, we all went mental when the third goal went in, i was 14 and had thumbed a lift from sunny Leek along with what seemed hundreds of other kids with a scarf tied to your wrist, 60p to get in which to a teenager who smoked and liked the odd bottle of real ipa on a sat night at the one pub* we could get served was a kings ransom.
As always it went off with the Leeds fans with fights breaking out in different parts.
Great opening post
*offy
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Post by roostershair on Nov 6, 2015 9:32:32 GMT
I remember Huddy actually sitting on the ball and beckoning Bremner to try to take it off him. God, what a pleasure to see him in the red and white!!!
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Post by nottinghamstokie on Nov 6, 2015 11:51:57 GMT
TOWRAYTEK. Quite right. Clarke was a Walsall lad. Actually my uncle was Headmaster of the school he attended. Totally correct. If I remember was he not a very tall gangly guy? But very useful. Those were the days when British/English players learnt their trade and came up through the leauges, unhindered by foreign imports. England had a good team then as well. Any connection ? Well, he was bang on 6 feet, so I wouldn't say "very" tall, but he was certainly gangly. He's from Willenhall, isn't that more Wolverhampton than Walsall ? He did start out playing at Walsall though, then Fulham then Leicester and finally the big break at Leeds. I remember when he took over as Leeds manager, to be the great saviour (which he wasn't) the official match balls used at the time were white with some red panels. For his first game in charge, at home, he got the groundstaff to put white paint over the red panels, so that it was a "Leeds" ball. Don't think his psychology was quite on a par with Revie's.
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bandit
Academy Starlet
Posts: 221
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Post by bandit on Nov 6, 2015 12:14:29 GMT
Am I right in stating that the Alan Clarke who played for Leeds in 1974 was the same Alan Clarke, who, as a youngster, played for Walsall when they knocked us out of the cup in early 1966? In fact, it might have been Clarke that was at the receiving end of the kick from Stoke keeper Bobby Irvine, who was sent off for the offence. Purely from memory so happy to be corrected. Ek
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bandit
Academy Starlet
Posts: 221
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Post by bandit on Nov 6, 2015 12:18:39 GMT
Frank,Allan,Wayne and Derek Clarke all league players born in Willenhall.
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Post by donaldingleton on Nov 6, 2015 15:16:44 GMT
Ah yes, I remember it well!
The previous Saturday was my wedding day, to a Leeds girl, and I persuaded her to come to the game with me and my mates (not that she was best pleased coming back early from honeymoon!)
She couldn't understand what all the fuss was about the result, and suffice to say, she has not been to a match since!!
And yes, we are still married!!!
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Post by sharonbeech21 on Nov 6, 2015 16:03:00 GMT
This is my all time favourite game. Alan Hudson was absolutely awesome that day. As i remember leeds were on an unbeaten run. We soon put an end to that. What a day and what a team. Fantastic day. Great memories
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Post by JoeinOz on Nov 6, 2015 23:10:43 GMT
Of all the games before I started going this is the one I most wish I could have been at. Even more than the League Cup Final.
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Post by trebor63 on Nov 6, 2015 23:14:39 GMT
That game remains one of my most memorable ever games. Loved every second and remember parts of it vividly
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Post by muglump on Nov 6, 2015 23:32:24 GMT
I was there - on that day the whole country was red and white that's how much everyone hated leeds
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