Jan 28 1978

[BigH]

Ok, we might feel that, right now, this country's regressing back to the 1970s (or maybe that's just me).

Back in 1978 we got hammered 6-0 at Watford:

https://oldwatford.com/1978/01/28/28th-january-1978-division-four-watford-6-doncaster-rovers-0/

Maybe you were at that game?

Here's the question. Who, if anyone, would we include in the team now? Big Bren? Millar?

The quality we have now is streets ahead of the dross we were served up then but will we ever see the likes of Laidlaw; a footballer who looked like he lived off ale and kebabs but who ended up playing over 500 games in a 15 year career (and went on to become a legend at Pompey)?

And whatever happened to Kevin Olney...

[BobG]

And Jo played in Division 1 as well with Carlisle United. Alongside Chris Balderstone, one of the Clarke brothers (I've forgotten which one but obviously not Alan!) and, I think, Matt Tees

And yes. I was at Watford that day. With a bloody Watford supporting mate. Terrible day. There was a young lad called Jones playing for us. I bellowed something inane and rude in his direction, and to my eternal shame, he heard me. I have never, ever forgotten that. And I have never, ever done it since.

We'd been stuffed 5-1 the season before as well.

Was Peter Kitchen still with us in 1978? I think he'd gone to Orient by then but if he was still with us I'd like to find him a place in the current squad.

BobG

PS Just checked. Matt Tees never went anywhere near Carlisle!

[Draytonian III]

What I was told is that Kevin Olney fell out with Billy Bremner and left at the season, I think he went to play for Scarborough. A few years later he was on police duty at Belle Vue

[Scooter]

Matt Tees - I’ve heard so much about him. My dad is a lifelong Grimsby fan and Matt Tees was the main player when my parents got together. My mum is from Donny and she once went to see Grimsby V Donny with my grandad just in the feint hope of seeing my then 17 year old dad. They didn’t see each other and he didn’t believe she had gone until she recalled the Town line up - and went on about Matt Tees.
He was on the Alan Shearer documentary about Dementia - poor fella is struggling but I would loved to have watched him play to see if he lived up to the hype

[tyke1962]

I was in my final year at school that season and I remember that Watford team under Graham Taylor , Luther Blisset and Ross Jenkins up top .

Swansea went up with Watford that year and within 3 seasons both were in the old first division .

Swansea were top of the first division in October 1981 and Watford finished second in their first season in the top flight .

It's hard to see the current leaders in league two having the same kind of success and the game is poorer for it in my opinion .

[BobG]

Hear hear Tyke! That unpredictability was, and is, the mainspring of football. It's domination by a select and clearly defined little group, harms the entire game. Thank you Sky.  Can you imagine a Coventry City equivalent winning the FA Cup? That glorious, glorious diving header? Or Sunderland?  I know it does happen of course . Wigan and Portsmouth are the obvious 2 examples. But it looks to be happening less and less as the financial stranglehold of the few inexorably tightens. 

Identity is being lost too of course. Teams are populated now by mercenaries from around the world, following the money. Remember when all the good ones were in Italy? Then the PL came along. But it's noticeable that the trickle heading away from England is growing stronger. Nothing lasts forever. The PL, and Sky, have forgotten that....

BobG

[Bessie Red]

It wasnt a very nice 16th Birthday present for me that's for sure!!

[BobG]

Matt Tees - I’ve heard so much about him. My dad is a lifelong Grimsby fan and Matt Tees was the main player when my parents got together. My mum is from Donny and she once went to see Grimsby V Donny with my grandad just in the feint hope of seeing my then 17 year old dad. They didn’t see each other and he didn’t believe she had gone until she recalled the Town line up - and went on about Matt Tees.
He was on the Alan Shearer documentary about Dementia - poor fella is struggling but I would loved to have watched him play to see if he lived up to the hype

He died Scooter. 4 November 2020.

Very sad. Sounds like he headed the ball too many times. Mind you, he terrororised an awful lot of defenders down the years!

BobG

[Donnywolf]

I was there and picked up a nickname on way to Thorne

I mentioned only the other day that I remember Elton John being about 10 yards from the 5 of us shouting 4 4 4 - 5 5 5 6 6 6 as each goal went in

I did think Fred Robinson scored with a shot come cross but memories eh ?

Anyway on way home the others were discussing the performance and I had said nowt (stunned). One of them said what about you John - Horror of horrors was all I replied and from that day to this due I suppose to my height one of them started calling me Big Horror

He then corrupted that to Bigorrah said with an Irish twist and last time I saw the one member of that gang that I ever see (some of them no longer with us) he rode up to me on his bike and said "Bigorrah" hows it going
mate

So I certainly remember it - we got hammered - I learned how to count past 4 - it was a hell of a way back home - and I now have to scrub a goal off lol

[mugnapper]

I was there with my mate. We went on the train, 15 year olds supping cans of Mckewans on the train lol!
It was the only game on in London due to torrential rainfall.
We had 3 goals disallowed, one by Fred Robinson, one by ORiordan, can't remember the other.
We got chased round half the ground a couple of times until a coach from The Masons Arms turned up late and we made a stand, bolstered by some Luton (I think) fans whose game had been postponed in the capital,
Referee shite, we got on the tube back to Euston, where we dodged some bored Chelsea thugs, hoping to pick off stray Northerners.
Back on the train, more vile beer but back in the Rockingham by half 8.
Great Day Out, but shit result. I enjoyed Halifax 0-6 better as it only took an hour to get home!

[Donnywolf]

Hi Mugnapper

I was half right with Fred Robinson scoring then.

Was it a shot come cross from way out on left touchline - can you remember ?

[tommy toes]

Talking of Joe Laidlaw.
The Big Match Revisited is on ITV 4 in a few minutes.
Featured game is Carlisle v Everton from 1975.
Maybe Joe us playing.

[Scooter]

Matt Tees - I’ve heard so much about him. My dad is a lifelong Grimsby fan and Matt Tees was the main player when my parents got together. My mum is from Donny and she once went to see Grimsby V Donny with my grandad just in the feint hope of seeing my then 17 year old dad. They didn’t see each other and he didn’t believe she had gone until she recalled the Town line up - and went on about Matt Tees.
He was on the Alan Shearer documentary about Dementia - poor fella is struggling but I would loved to have watched him play to see if he lived up to the hype

He died Scooter. 4 November 2020.

Very sad. Sounds like he headed the ball too many times. Mind you, he terrororised an awful lot of defenders down the years!

BobG

Thanks Bob, I didn’t know that. Yes, very sad

[Branton Rover]

I only got to back to 1980 & agree we our now miles ahead of where we were back then when the club took its fan base for granted - it gets me so mad on social media when these whipper snappers / millennials start decrying our current board for lacking ambition and the like - even before the disgraceful Richardson era we lived a hand to mouth existence - basically trundling along with zero ambition then thrashing around to try and find someone/something  to flog off to meet the next tax demand from the revenue - the sale of the Belle Vue club was sanctioned to pay a £50k tax bill - Peter Wetzel bought the club for the £50k the club needed then almost immediately sold it on to the golf club for £250k - that’s business I know but it’s hardly a sustainable model for running a town’s football club.

[BigH]

So true Branton.

Great memories guys.

I remember Watford coming to Belle Vue, '76 I think, and looking up at the D Box to see Elton in a purple suit with matching fedora.

Oh, what glamour!

[BradwellRover]

Day before I was born...Dad was probably paying an active interest in the game though!