ossie ardiles - white, blue and white, and the centenary fa cup final, plus england v west germany, 1972

I've been watching the documentary on Osvaldo (Ossie) Ardiles today - 'White, Blue and White' by ESPN, and rather enjoyable it was as well, especially when they had the (unexpected to me) crash in the Falklands.
However......
As l'm a sad pedantic stickler for details when it comes to such things, it really annoyed me that they kept referring to the 1981 FA Cup Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City (Ciddy) as 'The Centenary one'. It may well have been the 100th cup final in the competition, as it was interrupted twice for the World Wars, but what was billed of at the time, and what was known as the centenary final, was the 1972 final between Leeds United (dirty Leeds) and Arsenal.
Here's the programme for the (Centenary) 1972 final.

Plus, while l was searching for my copy of the programme, l also came across the advert for the programme, on the back of my 1972 England v West Germany programme.

I know l really need to get a life, but these things are important!.

Oh, and if you're wondering about the England game, don't be surprised to learn that they were overrun by the Germans, humiliatingly beaten 1-3, a triumph orchestrated by the magnificent Gunter Netzer, after everyone beforehand had given the Germans no chance. The Germans had a young and mostly inexperienced team out, also had two good penalty shouts not awarded, and so much was expected from England.
Times haven't changed since then.

toodle pip

george best - hard tackles and dirty baths (with harry harris)

Harry Harris may be considered a top football journalist / biographer (or at least a prolific one), but he certainly doesn't check all of his facts (or his minions and accomplices don't).
I have just been leafing through George Best's 'Hard Tackles and Dirty Baths', ghost written by Harris, and one glaring error leaps out straight away.
The 1967/68 season was a momentous one for Best, and probably his most productive, as he ended the season with personal awards such as Footballer of the year, as well as helping win the European Cup at Wembley with Manchester United, beating Benfica 4-1 in the final (and scoring United's second goal in extra time).
However, according to Best and Harris, the season was also memorable for the first game of the season, the Charity Shield game at Wembley that ended in a 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, as the Spurs goalkeeper, Pat Jennings, scored from a kick upfield, the Wembley games bookended the season, and the game was the first to be shown in colour by the BBC on some transmitters. As they state in the book, who could forget that?
The trouble is, the game was not played at Wembley, but at Old Trafford, Manchester, as l still have the programme and remember it well (better than Best and Harris anyway).
Things like this really piss me off, as the book will no doubt be quoted to me when l am arguing about the game in the future, with a 'So you think you know more about it than Harris and even Best himself' thrown in for good measure.
On this kind of evidence, l'm afraid l most definitely do.



The goals from the game on youtube, which are certainly not from Wembley.

The programme for the game

toodle pip

the bedale rock festival 1990 programme

I put together the programme for the Bedale Rock Festival in 1990, and although l know you can always look back at the past and want to make changes, this programme just embarrasses me.
It was put together in a rush, using very basic equipment, but that still doesn't excuse the poor layout, spelling mistakes, and all round incompetence that l bought to the table, in my own inimitable style.
Hopefully all the other copies that were in existence have now ceased to be (as the Pythons would say), but mine is still lurking in the spare room, as a constant reminder of my devil may care foolishness.
The cover is the best part, and it's rapidly downhill from then on.
Maybe l should just pretend my brother did it, and absolve myself from blame.

toodle pip

coventry city's girl of the match

In the far off good old days when out and out sexism was everywhere, Coventry City used to have 'Girl of the Match' on the back cover of their programme, featuring a local (I guess) 'Dolly Bird'.
I was a young single lad at the time, never had a proper girlfriend, obsessed by football, comics and music (nothing much has changed) and l hate to admit it, but me and the girl above spent many a happy hour together.
That shows how hard it was (steady on!!) to get your hands on proper porn (or anything smutty) in them days, especially when still at school.  Now you can't avoid it.
Bloomin kids of today, they don't have any idea what it was like back in the old days (lucky sods).

toodle pip

old theatre programmes from the garage

 

Some of the old theatre programmes from the garage sort out.  I've always been a man of style and taste.

toodle pip

a battered motorhead programme

This is what a programme ends up looking like when you foolishly buy it before the show, roll it up and stick it down your trousers (it impresses the laydees), then head down to the front of a Motorhead gig (on this occasion at Newcastle Mayfair in 1980).
Like me, a bit worse for wear.

toodle pip

following oxford united

Although l am a Manchester United supporter, my family moved in between Oxford and Reading (to RAF Benson) while l was still at school, so l made a decision to follow one of the nearby teams while l was there as a second team, being unable to attend the Manchester United games.
As a friend at school (Hello Jonathan Knapp!) followed Oxford United, we teamed up and went to most of the games together from around 1974 - 1975 time.
I used to cycle to his house in Chalgrove, watch Football Focus (or whatever it was at the time) and then his father would drive us to and from Oxford, as he ran a TV shop there.
Many happy days were spent on the terraces at The Manor Ground, even including seeing Oxford being stuffed by Manchester City (Cup game) and beating Manchester United (when they were in the Second Division).  Oxford actually had a pretty decent home record when l was going, it was just that their away form let them down, so promotion was never a realistic option.
My attendance came to an end when l moved Oop North, as l divided my time between watching Darlington (the new local team) and travelling to Manchester to see United.
Funnily enough, one of the first games at Old Trafford that l went to on arriving Oop North (in 1976), was a FA Cup game against Oxford United (on my own by train).  I must admit, l kind of had divided loyalties that day, as l wanted Oxford to do well, but ultimately, they were still only a second team for me.  Manchester United won 2-1 (with two penalties), so l went home happy, especially after calling in to see relatives in Liverpool and going out for the night there.

toodle pip.

old everton and liverpool football programmes against manchester united

I've stated before that l am from Liverpool, but was taken to Manchester United football matches by my Uncle Ray when l was a kid (God bless him!) as soon as l displayed a passing interest in what used to be the beautiful game.
Some of the programmes l have just retrieved from the garage are from those happy times. All Everton or Liverpool home games against United.
Luckily l had the good sense to store the old programmes in the garage on shelves, not on the floor (and of course l also had them wrapped up to protect them).
Sometimes it pays to be anal (Phnnnaaarr!)
toodle pip

england schoolboy internationals

When l was a wee nipper, grubby at the knees, and longing to be a footballer (among millions of others), we used to have school trips to the old Wembley Stadium to see the England schoolboys play.  I found two of the old tickets amongst my countless junk, and l have scanned the two matching programmes. What amazes me, is that these footballers were deemed to be some of the best in their respective countries, yet none of them (as far as l know) went on to become superstars.  The only name l recognise is a certain Alan Curbishley in the 1973 programme, who went on to become the manager of Charlton Athletic and West Ham United. I certainly am an old git, when l can say l remember seeing football managers when the were playing as schoolchildren (and not in the Jimmy Savile sense).

toodle pip

what a super sunday!

What a great day l have had today.  We went to Lolls birthday do at Tunstall last night with Robbo and Kerry (and Cairon), but were home at a decent time because Rook wasn't drinking, so we nabbed a lift home with him and Deb when they left.  Managed to hit the pub first, witness Robbo hurting his ankle falling out of the pub, drink and chat at the party,  then eat about 72 sausage rolls before we left.  All of this and we were still  in time for 'Match of the Day'. Result!
A lazy lie in this morning with the paper was followed by a bath and the two football matches, Everton v Liverpool (2-2) and Chelsea v Manchester United (3-2 to United).  The results and games were great for me, and it was made sweeter by the fact Luis Saurez (we know what you are) had a winning goal disallowed    for Liverpool (hilarious), and Javier Hernandez for United had one stand that was offside (tremendous).  Fernando Torres capped off all the fun by being sent off for diving, in a decision that was surprising (but welcome) even to my blinkered eyes.
Apparently there will be repercussions from the Chelsea game, as Chelsea have reported the referee (Mark Clattenburg) for 'inappropriate' comments he made to two of their players.  If he is found guilty of being racist to them, l wonder if Chelsea fans will start booing the players involved.  I certainly hope they do.
It was such a fun packed day , l nearly forgot to say that l managed to bid on (and win) a load of old Manchester United programmes.  All of this was before l made some cheese pasta for tea (Mmmmmmm)
Altogether now........
Heaven......  I'm in Heaven.....

toodle pip

aston villa programmes - 61 seasons worth

This collection of Aston Villa programmes is for sale on Ebay now, and it consists of 61 seasons worth.  Now if that was a collection of Manchester United ones stretching back that far, my fingers would be red raw from placing bids. As it is, l still wouldn't mind these myself.  I have nothing but respect for the bloke (it's got to be a bloke) who collected them.

toodle pip

liverpool v manchester united 1972

As l am looking forward excitedly (but with a lot of trepidation) to the new football season, l was checking out some old football cuttings and memorabilia, and was reminded of this game.  It was 40 years ago to this very day that l went to it  -   Liverpool versus Manchester United at Anfield.  Our family were back in Bootle at the time, so l didn't have far to travel, but that didn't make up for Liverpool winning the game 2-0 (unless my memory has completely gone).  40 bleeding years!!  Where does the time go?

toodle pip 

mexico 1970 panini book

Amongst the many items of crap that l have, there are old football related pictures, 3D cards, books (and flick books), newspapers and programmes.  I don't however, have any Panini sticker albums, although l did used to collect them when l was a nipper. I saw this one for sale today.  It's from the 1970 World cup in Mexico (the first one l can remember), and is a complete original.  Nice .  Yours for a mere £1,999,99 (or near offer).  Not even l am mad enough to pay that kind of money, even if l was a multi millionaire.  I'd like the original, but reproduction copies (obviously in mint condition) can be yours for the less than costly sum of  £10.  I'm also still pissed off that the programme isn't worth much (less than £10), as l have one of those (somewhere).  Ah well, back to the comics (sad git that l am).

The programme

                                                       

 The reproduction, plus stickers

toodle pip

coronation programme 1937

This is from 1937, it's aprox 74 years old and it has survived a World War. I found it amongst my crap today and thought l'd flog it. A quick look on Ebay later, and l have decided l might as well keep the bloody thing, as copies are on sale for about a fiver or so. What the Hell is going on? Things like this should have been my pension fund. The world is going to pot and l don't understand it any more.

Maybe my old Royal family postcards will be my saving grace......

toodle pip

oxford united - it was 27 years ago

Whilst l was sorting out some crap today l found these little beauties, two pennants from about 1973 that l had stashed away. I have always supported Manchester United (it's a long story), but when l used to live at RAF Benson, about 10 miles from Oxford, l used to go and watch all their home games. The bottom two programmes are on sale on Ebay at the moment from the 1973/74 season, one of them being Bristol City on 20th April 1974, so it was just over 27 years ago l was at that. Christ on a bike, what an old bastard l am. Luckily l already have those programmes in my extensive collection. Obviously, because l am a sad hoarding git, l bought all of the programmes at the time, and have not thrown any away. Hurrah!

Notice on the Manchester United pennant, how few honours are on it. Liverpool (where l hailed from) were doing a lot better at the time, and continued to do so throughout the 1970's and 1980's. It's certainly changed since then though, even with King Kenny at the helm. Hurrah again!!

toodle pip