Between them they saw us through the nineteen seventies.
Two of them were nice men and one a bit of a rogue, the rogue was the better manager of the three.
Frank had the hardest job, he took over from Sir Matt, and had Charlton, Law and Best, so all seemed rosy. But Bobby and Denis were not quite the players they had been, and George started missing training. Also he was a bit unlucky in that he signed Ian Storey Moore who was a really good player, but got crocked by injury, he also signed Martin Buchan who became a top player for us. He had done well with Leicester before he came to us, but it needed somebody to change pretty much all the team, and he wasn't the man. Enter The Doc.
Before I talk about The Doc, now, and for a long time, when I go to a match I like to sit about halfway up the stand, you see all the game from there. But when I was a kid I liked to stand right next to the pitch, true it's hard to see the game, but if you are lucky a player will do something special right in front of you, maybe only feet away, I have a few memories of that, and it stays with you, the power, the pace, the skill, so different from the park games, the sound of a well struck ball even on a pass, it was an eye opener. So if you are taking a boy to his first games see if you can get him close to the action, it was always a laugh if one of them swore too.
As a by the by, a ticket for the paddock in 1976 was 70 pence. Sky has done a lot for football, but not for the prices.
I hope Mick and Ray can still afford to go.
The Doc, took us down, not his fault and got us back up at once. Plus the crowd increased, how cool is that.
We had some good players in his team, and played at a high tempo, a pressing game, though no-one called it that then.
Two good wingers Gordon Hill, a real talent, mistreated by the manager and captain (Buchan) imo, for not tracking back. He caused all sorts of damage at the right end of the pitch without having to help the defence. I don't remeber Buchan scoring many to help out the attack.
Steve Coppell, super hard working right winger. He had a degree, bet he was known as Prof in the dressing room.
The goals were shared out between Sammy McIlroy, Lou Macari, and Stuart Pearson. Pearson was a really good striker, and before Jimmy Greenhoff retired they had a fruitful partnership.
I think Coppell and Pearson would make it today.
In midfield we had Gerry Daly and Brian Greenhoff, what they lacked in talent they made up for in energy.
I was still going to a lot of away games with Mick and Ray, Mick never liked going south of Birmingham, he said he didn't like the beer, but really I think he was a bit intimidated (maybe not the right word) he seemed to think everyone was rich down there. It's true we were used to Holts beer, pale, frothy and bitter. Southern bitter seemed nearer mild to us and flat, let's say mitter.But as I was the sophisticate of the three I might have a rum and coke or a gin and it, much to Micks disgust.
As Tommy couldn't get the trouser snake to behave we moved onto Dave Sexton. Who was the English LvG without the fun interviews, or any fun at all really. He was a good man though and did one or two good bits of business. Ray Wilkins was one of his signings.
There were some odd decisions made in that period, selling Andy Richie who was one of us, scored plenty, and buying Joe Jordan in his place who came from hated Leeds.
Buying players and never giving them a chance.
We lost a bit of glamour over that period, Liverpool were masters and we didn't like it, we had some decent teams but few stars.
For me though, I still enjoyed it, still had plenty of laughs, but even that was coming to an end as work started to intrude, at least for away games unless they were very local.
At least with big Ron we got a bit of glamour back and one or two stars.
Frank O'Farrell, Tommy Doc and Dave Sexton
posted on 10/2/19
I thought you were getting on in the trio at that spouted up all over the boards.
Good article.
posted on 10/2/19
Sexton signed Joe Jordan as replacement for Stuart Pearson, not Andy Rtichie. Andy Ritchie was sold a couple of years later. Sexton also got us a very close second in 1980. The following year we were without McQueen and Wilkins for most of the season and only came 7th. Though ironically we actually won the final 7 games of Sexton’s reign.
posted on 10/2/19
I'm sure you are right Kilburn. I tend to rely on memory rather than google. Perhaps I should spend more time checking, but I only write for fun really, to pass a bit of the past on. The odd mistake doesn't matter. I did remember we got second with Sexton though, but not much to excite the crowd.
posted on 10/2/19
Joe Jordan and Andy Richie were at United the same time. He didn't replace him. Jordan came after Pancho left as I remember. And Brian Greenhoff played as a Centre Half under Doc with Buchanbauer. the pair of them let Bobby Stokes get through in an offside position in the 76 Final.
The 76 semi vs derby at Hillsboro was one of United's finest hours of all time. Magnificent.
Buchan famously twaaaated Gordon Hill on the pitch during a game at OT for not tracking back.
Coppell and Hill: The Doc's One-two... as the Gillette razor ad said.
posted on 10/2/19
and Coppelll was one of the best No7s we have had.
Went to his debut vs Cardiff City in Div2. In the match programme his name was spelt Kopel.
posted on 10/2/19
Also watching the banned UEFA game vs ASSE at Plymouth on the big screens on the pitch at OT. 50,000 of us paying a match ticket price to watch United on the telly in back and white.And there was a token in the match programme.
Buch of hooligans we were.
posted on 10/2/19
I fell in love with United under the Doc's reign - I just loved watching Coppell and Hill but strangely for a little kid, my favourite player was Martin Buchan. It might be my memory failing me, but as a kid it seemed that whenever Buchan was missing, we lost!!! ....... so who signed Peter Barnes and who signed Arthur Graham?
posted on 10/2/19
Thanks for this 52. Much appreciated. I tend to discuss your articles with my old man, and he seems to have the same opinion as you often.
posted on 10/2/19
but as a kid it seemed that whenever Buchan was missing, we lost!!!
++
without Buchan we were hopeless. In my time anyway I have never see one player have so much influence over the United team(s) he played in.
posted on 11/2/19
I met Martin Buchan, he came to open a new Asda in Rawtenstall, with Gordon McQueen.
I hung around after and had a two minute chat with both of them, I don't remember what anyone said, but Gordon smiled a lot more than Martin. I wonder if they had a trolley dash after.