Changing of the guard.

May 8th 1971 - First Double Winners. 

I’ve been reminded of a story involving John Z, at that time in the early 70’s, an amateur boxer from Highbury.
He went on his own to an away game at Forest and was approached by a group of Forest fans who were looking for Cockneys to beat up.
Because hardly anyone wore colours at away games in those days, you would mainly be recognised by your accent.
Now, as he was a decent boxer he could of handled himself against a few but there were just too many for him to take on.
So when they started asking him questions to hear his accent, he pretended to be deaf and dumb and used started waving his arms around and grunting.
They took pity and left him alone.

Les Cardy. 

Les used to to be in overall charge of the Arsenal Supporters Club football team that we were playing for in 1968. 

Les had very poor eyesight and wore glasses that were so strong you had to have good eyes to see through them. They were like Milk bottle bottoms. 

Fred L was having a trial game with us and Charlie Mc, who’d introduced Fred L, to the team, was injured. Les is standing next to Charlie who’s saying “ great tackle Fred, great pass Fred, great header Fred, great shot Fred” throughout the first half. At half time Les turns to Charlie and says “ your mate Fred is having a good game, we’ll sign him up”.

                                                               Season 1973-74.

Frank “Tick Tock” McLintock has gone. 

One of the Greatest Arsenal Captains. 

Frank McLintock left Arsenal for QPR, 6 months before completing the 10 years that would have gained him a testimonial. He inspired them to 2nd place in the League, their highest ever posistion the next season. 

He was replaced by Terry “ Henry “ Mancini who Arsenal bought from QPR for roughly the same money that they received for Frank McLintock.  No comment!!!

Mancini achieved one important thing in Arsenal’s history. He scored a goal against Wolves that probably saved us from relegation in 1975. 

Charlie Mc, Spooky & myself were in Spain and met Hoyboy & Alfie S out there. 

Hoyboy had been on the run since jumping bail in 1972. He was finally caught in 1975. 

Little did I realise, that I wouldn’t see him again until the 1980 Cup Winner’s Cup Final in Brussels. 

Good Day Sunshine. 

Man Utd. 

Because of an incident with some off duty Spanish police, I’d had to return to London sharpish. 

I went to the first home game against Man Utd and met Whitty, Rod M, Eddie H, Granty & some of the younger blokes such as Dodger, Edwin, Teddy T & Vic W. We stood on the North Bank, right at the back just before the gangway. 

About half an hour before kickoff, United fans, who were in the Clock End invaded the pitch and started running towards the North Bank. Most of them were dressed like “Bay City Rollers” with scarves tied to their wrists. 

The police and stewards formed a line across the pitch and stopped them except for one very fit, very big fella with a white “t” shirt on. 

We stood there watching as he evaded all the police and ended up at the bottom of the North Bank terraces. We strained our necks to watch as this fella came up the terraces, shoving first the kids  then the singing fans out of the way. Finally, he’s standing in front of us, We’re leaning on a crash barrier, and he shouts “who’s your leader?”

We all look at each other and reply “ we ain’t got one “

He then catches someone’s eye and says “you’ll do”.

Someone says “come here then” and steps back from the barrier. The United fella, instead of walking around the barrier, puts his head down and starts to duck under it. 

Our bloke then kicks him straight in the head and he tumbles back down the terrace and disappears beneath a flurry of boots and fists. 

Someone turns and says “ what a mug!!!”

That’s the last incident, I recall, of us standing on the  North Bank. 

We would be on the side or in the stands, except for a brief spell in the Clock End, from now on. 

Changing pubs. 

Off the field most of us had stopped going to away games and home games were so bad that at half time we’d go for a drink in the green hut behind the North Bank and stay in there until full time. 

We had also started drinking in the Greyhound pub in Balls Pond Rd and used to drive back in Whitty’s van and Putney’s car to our house opposite the gunners, parking in an alley way next to it. 

Before one game, Granty had been annoying everyone, so we tied him to the roof rack on the van and drove to the ground. 

People in Green Lanes & Blackstock Rd couldn’t believe their eyes as the van went past with him shouting from the roof. 

Changing the Guard (off the field).

A new generation of fans were replacing us on the North Bank containing by Jeffries, Jenkins, Binnsy, Mick E, Legsy, Kenny B, Kelly, Finsbury Park boys and Frank D with the Boreham Wood firm. 

The police were getting organised and courts were handing out prison sentences for football related offences. 

The fighting had also gone to a different level with fists & boots being replaced by Stanley knives, hammers and razors. 

Changing the Guard (on the field).

Don Howe had gone in 1971.

George Graham in 1972. 

Frank McLintock in 1973.

Ray Kennedy in 1974. 

Bob Wilson in 1974. 

Many of the others were struggling to maintain their previous form. 

Apparently there was discontent because Alan Ball was earning double what the others were getting. 

We’d even been knocked out of the League Cup by Tranmere at home. 

There were 2 highlights left in the season though. 

(1) - I got to see Johann Cruyff again. 

Geordie’s well deserved Testimonial. 

(2) - Man Utd got relegated. 

Old Gunners. 

And Gooners. 

Next Post - Saturday 9/5/2020. 

Decline & Fallout. 

Don’t forget to raise a glass to the victors on VE Day 

Also the victors on First Double Day. 

Cheers!!

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