1974.
Off the Pitch.
In February 1974 Kenny H and myself went on a 6 day holiday to Moscow.
Russia was still a Communist country in those days and very few foreign tourists visited there.
Although, if I don’t mention that Putney had visited there a fortnight earlier, he won’t forgive me.
I’m writing about my visit to Moscow because I managed to get myself thrown out of Lenin’s tomb, much to the astonishment of the Muscovites queuing to get in and scaring the life out of Kenny H.
I think that beats getting escorted out of Birmingham, Bristol Rovers, Bolton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Highbury, Leicester & Reading etc.
Moscow. 1974. - Cold!!
Spain 1974 - Hot!!
In May, Kenny H, Charlie Mc, Putney, Blanco, Rod M & myself went off to Spain again to work in the bars and nightclubs. Granty would visit on holiday with his wife.
Charlie Mc and the two Glaswegians, Tommo & Alan, still live their with their families.
Pacha Boys 1974.
Season in the sun.
Highbury on Sea.
2 of the Greatest teams ever.
Holland should have won.
My favourite non - Arsenal player. Johann Cruyff.
With Franz Beckenbauer in 1990.
The greatest ever??
Before coming home, Blanco & myself managed to see Cruyff & Neeskens play for Barcelona after their transfers from Holland. Barca would become Champions for the first time in 12 years.
I remember we had seats about 3 rows from the front by the half way line and as Cruyff came to take a throw in, Blanco jumped up and shouted “go on Johann”. The look of surprise on Cruyffs face was a picture, as they never had many English speaking tourist fans in those days.
Barca - 1974.
Champions season.
Barca shirt I sometimes wore when working in Pacha.
Season 1974-75.
Decline & Fallout - On the Pitch.
Back at Highbury, Steve Burtenshaw had left and been replaced by Bobby Campbell as coach.
Brian Kidd & Jimmy Rimmer had been bought to replace Bob Wilson & Ray Kennedy.
Alex Cropley came in for Peter Marinello but the main highlight was the emergence of Liam Brady, who’d made his debut the previous season and was showing signs of becoming an Arsenal legend.
View of the North Bank from our house 1974.
Campbell - Rimmer - Kidd.
Alex Cropley joins.
Brian Kidd - first game, first goal.
Away at Leicester.
He wouldn’t stay long as his wife couldn’t settle in London, apparently.
Arsenal finished 16th.
Average attendance 28,315.
Knocked out of League Cup by Leicester.
Knocked out of FA Cup by West Ham at home.
The Decline was almost complete.
Only L.Brady, T.Ross. G.Rix & D.O’ Leary were giving any hope for the future.
Season 1975-76.
Everton knocked us out of the League Cup 1-0 at Highbury, after we’d drawn up there.
I recall going with Putney and Buster W to the away FA Cup game at Wolves where we lost 3-0.
Terry Mancini would score his only goal for Arsenal against Wolves in the penultimate home game of the season at Highbury.
This probably saved Arsenal from relegation as they proceeded to lose their last 3 games afterwards.
I also remember being at QPR for the penultimate game of the season.
The rest is best forgotten.
Fallout.
Bertie Mee then sold Bob McNab and then, to the dismay of the North Bank, Charlie George.
Charlie was so fed up with Bertie that he nearly joined the team from the Lane.
Sadly, No more of this.
With the crowd averaging 26,949 the writing was on the wall for Bertie Mee though.
Thanks Bertie, but time to go.
Next Post - Sunday 10/5/2020.
Arsenal go Green.
Comments - oldgunnersandgooners@ gmail.com
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