So,
The Doc got us back up to the first division at the first go. 1976 was the turning point in my life that would change me for good or bad, into the person I am now.
Unemployment was very high in the UK and I didn't fancy working on the family farms. So, I joined the Junior Leaders Regiment which would give me sixteen months of experience before joining the regular army.
Prior to that we had done well in our first season back in the first division and reached the FA Cup Final against Southampton. Back then the FA Cup final meant something, and teams used to spend a week in preparation somewhere in the countryside.
Southampton happened to spend their week just up the road from my school. They were training on the pitches adjacent to my school. We got invited over for a kick about so I got to meet the players who they had of note that week. Peter Osgood, Mick Channon and Jim McCalliog who had played for us under the Doc the two seasons prior.
If only I had known who Bobby Stokes was, I would have nobbled him during the kick about.
1977 was probably where the Liverpool rivalry started for me. My troop sergeant was a big fat scouser who was all full of it before our FA Cup final with them that year. Little did we know then that Jimmy Greenhof's chest would have a profound effect on events 22 years later.
I watched that game in a pub in Canterbury. I got back to the barracks a little worse for wear and nearly got locked up for my troubles. Needless to say I was in deep $hit with my troop sergeant, which wasn't helped by a copious amount of gloating on my part.
Shortly afterwards the Doc was sacked for failure to keep his todger in his pants (nothing wrong with that in my opinion) and we then went into a period of doing nothing.
Many United fans, myself included think we would have gone on to much greater things had we have not sacked the Doc.
To be continued.
Seventies Part II
posted on 12/3/18
70's was all about the The Docs magnificent brawling and fearsome Red Army. They kept United the top dogs in English football when the team couldn't on the pitch. Away games were like a scene from Ben Hur with masses of United's Red Army descending on grounds as far as the eye could see. Most home games at OT the gates were locked well before kick off.
That semi final vs Derby at Hillsborough was the defining moment when everybody knew that United were back and the red army made sure that everybody was going to know about it too. And they did.
Even been banned didn't stop them. Packing out OT watching European home game vs ASSE been played 200 miles away on black and white screens erected on the pitch. And yes even a token for that game was issued.
The Doc, Pancho, Buchanbaer, Merlin, Coppell and the rest mobilised United into an fighting force and quite literally took on the country as one.
Then. The Doc got sacked.
And it just, stopped.
Enter Dave Sexton. Yawn.
posted on 12/3/18
'A mate of mine and I' that should read.
posted on 12/3/18
Cheers VC. Interesting to read that you didn't want to become a farmer. Funny how you have something in common that you would never guess.
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I had farming on both sides of my family. I just didn't want to do that for the rest of my life.
posted on 12/3/18
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 10 minutes ago
Cheers VC. Interesting to read that you didn't want to become a farmer. Funny how you have something in common that you would never guess.
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I had farming on both sides of my family. I just didn't want to do that for the rest of my life.
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I could have gone down that route as my family had a farm. Luckily my brother took it on, so I was free to persue another career.
posted on 13/3/18
Looking forward to the players VC, we had some good ones and some not so good. I felt sorry for the managers after Sir Matt, Dennis and Bobby were getting on, and at least three or four other top players needed replacements.
posted on 13/3/18
That was an exciting young side the Doc put together
He would have gone on to further success at utd only for his affair with the wife of one of his staff
posted on 13/3/18
He would have gone on to further success at utd only for his affair with the wife of one of his staff
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I have no doubt about that.
posted on 13/3/18
Who was your favourite player from that team VC
Martin Buchan was a class act imo
posted on 13/3/18
Who was your favourite player from that team VC
Martin Buchan was a class act imo
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Gordon Hill probably. I also liked Pancho and Sammy Mcllroy.
posted on 13/3/18
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 21 seconds ago
Who was your favourite player from that team VC
Martin Buchan was a class act imo
..............
Gordon Hill probably. I also liked Pancho and Sammy Mcllroy.
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Gordon hill and Steve Coppell on each wing
đ brilliant