Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: dave.woodhall on February 02, 2017, 02:55:51 PM
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He's 70 soon and his family would like a few reminiscences about him. So - get reminiscing.
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You do know it's mandatory for a Villa fan of a certain age if they ever meet Bob Wilson to ask him if he remembers Sammy Morgan. It actually isn't mandatory, Bob Wilson probably thinks it is though.
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Was there at Highbury on the Bob Wilson dying swan act he went on the ground and then looked up to see if ref was watching and then proceeded to be poleaxed. The return game at home Bob Wilson got pilloried & booed mercilessly I think the ref was Clive Thomas but remember Sammy as a good pro, think his song was 6 foot 2 eyes of Blue Sammy Morgan's after you la la la la la la la la la
Thought he used to be a teacher.!
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Was there at Highbury on the Bob Wilson dying swan act he went on the ground and then looked up to see if ref was watching and then proceeded to be poleaxed. The return game at home Bob Wilson got pilloried & booed mercilessly I think the ref was Clive Thomas but remember Sammy as a good pro, think his song was 6 foot 2 eyes of Blue Sammy Morgan's after you la la la la la la la la la
Thought he used to be a teacher.!
Bob Wilson walked past the bus we were on as we were waiting to park at Wembley for a cup final in the 1990's - everyone on bus sang that song and he scurried off to get away from us. He looked worried to death.
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Was there at Highbury on the Bob Wilson dying swan act he went on the ground and then looked up to see if ref was watching and then proceeded to be poleaxed. The return game at home Bob Wilson got pilloried & booed mercilessly I think the ref was Clive Thomas but remember Sammy as a good pro, think his song was 6 foot 2 eyes of Blue Sammy Morgan's after you la la la la la la la la la
Thought he used to be a teacher.!
He went to teacher training college in Nottingham with my sister-in-law, but I don't know if he finished the course or not, nor whether he actually got a teaching job.
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A worthy, brave successor to Andy Lochhead. As a student in London I'd didn't get to see him play very often, but was there at Highbury and immediately warmed to the guy, not just for footballing reasons but for refusing to hide against a far more exalted side that most reckoned we had no chance against.
Happy Birthday Sammy.
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I'm sure that Sammy would admit that he wasn't the most skillful but he was fully committed from the moment he walked onto the pitch and we loved him for that. He wouldn't hide and bust a gut for the club while he was here. We would benefit with the same attitude from the players today. Mind you if he was playing today he'd probably be sent off in most games.
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I wrote this for H&V a few years ago:
Emotions were strong during the FA Cup game at Highbury in 1974, though in a nastier way. Arsenal were a division above us while we were enduring a season of struggle which would end with the sacking of manager Vic Crowe. We had little chance, it seemed. The match turned on the explosive confrontation between our striker Sammy Morgan and the opposition keeper Bob Wilson. Morgan, a bustling, aggressive centre-forward of the old school, gave Villa the lead with a diving header and with his physical presence was a constant threat to Wilson. I had never fully understood the expression “hopping mad” until I saw Wilson literally jumping up and down in anger as he protested to the referee about Morgan’s challenges. Finally, Wilson went down and stayed down, and Morgan was sent off. Villa’s players and fans were convinced that the keeper was faking injury and the atmosphere at the Clock End became quite unpleasant and violent. By this time Arsenal had equalised but Villa’s ten men, with the large away contingent applauding every kick and every tackle, held on for a deserved draw.
You could have written the script in advance for the replay at Villa Park a few days later. The atmosphere was electric, with almost 48,000 fans packed into the stadium on a midweek evening. Wilson was jeered and Morgan cheered throughout the game and it was, of course, Sammy Morgan who headed the decisive first goal in a 2-0 win.
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I was at both games and, have posted on here before about Sammy. I was, like everyone at the clock-end that day, incensed at Bob Wilson's behaviour. I was more incensed with the behaviour of that show pony referee Clive Thomas. When he made the decision to send off Sammy he was still in the centre circle so he was actually guessing at what had happened. Both men should be ashamed, even today. Unforgivable.
I remember the replay and Bob Wilson was shit scared because every time Sammy went anywhere near him, not only was he under pressure from him, he was under pressure from the majority of the crowd. For all the younger posters on here who wonder what a near full (standing terraces) Villa Park was like when the crowd were excited, this match is one that stands out.
Happy birthday Sam, a relatively brief Villa career but one that will always be remembered for that match and, wholehearted commitment every time you played.
I think his son posted on here a couple of years ago giving us an update on him.
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My first recollection is that Sammy Morgan was an international at Villa in an era when we had very few of them. I think he and Chris Nicholl were the first two internationals I saw playing for us.
The Arsenal cup tie was probably his defining moment for us, but in reality he was doing no more or less than he did in every game for Villa. It just so happened that these two games were caught on tv in an era when few games were.
I recall the affection with which he was held, notably his chant referred to above, and as he walked through the concourse at Wembley prior to the League Cup final in 1996 he was spotted and suddenly found hundreds of Villa fans singing his song. He seemed touched and embarrassed in equal measure.
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6'2" was at the recent 70's book signing top gent. Wish I had a recording of the cup tie I was stood in the north bank with my old school caretaker Eric crow who was a massive arsenal fan his brother was the one with the massive Union Jack. Anyway sammy was definitely one of my first villa heros. Happy birthday big fella
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Sammy Morgan hard working fearless centre forward loved by most always seemed to be busting a gut happy birthday
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If I remember correctly my first game at VP was in January 1974 in the 3rd round of the FA cup against Chester City. Villa won 3-1 and Sammy Morgan got 2 goals - one a diving header at the Holte End..
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Could we link this with the Sammy Morgan v Bob Wilson thread from a few years back ?
http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=45959.0
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Sammy was an old fashioned, no nonsense centre forward. He was hard as nails on the pitch but wore glasses off it. I was a schoolboy when Sammy played for Villa. My abiding memory of him was from another game against Arsenal at Villa Park. Our later to be legendary keeper Jimmy Rimmer was in goal for them at the time. A cross came over from the left, a high one in the air on the six yard line and both Jimmy and Sammy challenged for the ball. I think the keeper got his hands to the ball first but such was the force of Sammy's aerial challenge, Rimmer ended up spreadeagled in the back of the net and required treatment before he could continue. Nothing dirty, just full on hard. Sammy was a player from another era, whole hearted and physical. Happy Birthday Sammy.
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Scored the first goal I ever saw at Villa Park. 6th October 1973.
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Lovely fella
22;50 starts to talk about his time at villa
part 2
part 3
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That incredibly-wet Wednesday evening of the replay was one of my all-time memories of Villa Park as a rocking place. It pulsated that evening with the tension from the previous Saturday and the arrival in town of the Arse: one of the game's Big Teams (they had, after all, won the double three years' earlier; still a big deal back in them days).
Along with the 1970 LC semi against Manure, the cup replay against the Arse was proof-positive of the impact of a home crowd: the atmosphere was simply awesome, and Bob Wilson had a virtual hiding from us! We still had to play well in dreadful conditions but we prevailed thanks to big Sammy Morgan and a screamer from Bruce Rioch.
We went to high-flying, first-division Burnley in the next round and lost 1-0. I was there, along with around 8,000 Villa fans; a magical away day (despite being pelted with golf balls by those pesky northerners!).
Morgan was one of those strikers - like McInally - who always won their supporters over with 100% effort and honesty: he roughed up the opposition and, like a prize fighter, would go toe-to-toe in order to win his battle with the oppo centre backs.
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i thought alun evans got the 2nd.
was at highbury with my granddad and bob Wilson was a disgrace that day just didn't like being roughed up by big Sam.
the replay at vp was a magical night the noise that night was unbelievable. about 40 of us from rubery got the school coach driver to take us to the game in the school coach we had a whip round and he was happy as larry.
Sammy morgan that night gave us one of those performances that will stay with you for as long as you live if any young players need to know how to play the centre forward role then get a video of that night.
happy birthday big Sammy morgan a true legend
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That incredibly-wet Wednesday evening of the replay was one of my all-time memories of Villa Park as a rocking place. It pulsated that evening with the tension from the previous Saturday and the arrival in town of the Arse: one of the game's Big Teams (they had, after all, won the double three years' earlier; still a big deal back in them days).
Along with the 1970 LC semi against Manure, the cup replay against the Arse was proof-positive of the impact of a home crowd: the atmosphere was simply awesome, and Bob Wilson had a virtual hiding from us! We still had to play well in dreadful conditions but we prevailed thanks to big Sammy Morgan and a screamer from Bruce Rioch.
We went to high-flying, first-division Burnley in the next round and lost 1-0. I was there, along with around 8,000 Villa fans; a magical away day (despite being pelted with golf balls by those pesky northerners!).
Morgan was one of those strikers - like McInally - who always won their supporters over with 100% effort and honesty: he roughed up the opposition and, like a prize fighter, would go toe-to-toe in order to win his battle with the oppo centre backs.
This was my first night game at Villa Park
I can still see the bright green grass, yellow shirts of the Arsenal and Sammy marauding away
He was on Football Focus on the Saturday before/ or after and I remember he wore glasses and my Uncle on the way to the game calling him "Professor Sammy"
Happy Days
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That incredibly-wet Wednesday evening of the replay was one of my all-time memories of Villa Park as a rocking place. It pulsated that evening with the tension from the previous Saturday and the arrival in town of the Arse: one of the game's Big Teams (they had, after all, won the double three years' earlier; still a big deal back in them days).
Along with the 1970 LC semi against Manure, the cup replay against the Arse was proof-positive of the impact of a home crowd: the atmosphere was simply awesome, and Bob Wilson had a virtual hiding from us! We still had to play well in dreadful conditions but we prevailed thanks to big Sammy Morgan and a screamer from Bruce Rioch.
We went to high-flying, first-division Burnley in the next round and lost 1-0. I was there, along with around 8,000 Villa fans; a magical away day (despite being pelted with golf balls by those pesky northerners!).
Morgan was one of those strikers - like McInally - who always won their supporters over with 100% effort and honesty: he roughed up the opposition and, like a prize fighter, would go toe-to-toe in order to win his battle with the oppo centre backs.
Absolutely this!
Was saying to my mate at the Preston game...I wish we had someone like Sammy Morgan in the team...he'd give the team and the crowd a massive lift.
Happy Birthday Sammy!
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Remembering Sammy brings a smile and happy memories.
I had already spent a joyful night on the Holte in what one reporter called a wall of 10K fans and 20K fingers howling at Bob Wilson every time he went near either the ball or a player when I was lucky enough to meet Sammy at a mutual friend’s party.
Sitting quietly in a corner with his wife and wearing specs was ‘6 foot 2 eyes of blue’, the scourge of defenders and goalkeepers and what a nice couple they were.
On another occasion he kept us entertained in the kitchen playing a squeeze box. Always friendly and good company.
I understand that he later became a school teacher and I think, worked for Norwich with the youngsters.
Thanks Sammy, have a good birthday, you deserve it.
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The atmosphere that Weds night at Villa Park is etched into my memory. I've had many great nights there over the years but that night was extra special. The injustice of what happened a few days earlier, the opportunity to put one over on Arsenal and let the country know we were still a massive club. The whole ground and Sammy gave Wilson a dogs life & it was extra sweet that Wilson's error lead to Sammy's goal.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/cdtnQa/image_6483441_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cdtnQa)
image url (http://imgbb.com/)
My other memory of Sammy was a hat-trick against Hull few weeks into our promotion season. I think he was injured shortly after that.
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Wasn't Vic Crowe unaware that he wore glasses until Bill Shankly told him during a phone call? The story was in Children of the Revolution.
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My other memory of Sammy was a hat-trick against Hull few weeks into our promotion season. I think he was injured shortly after that.
Sammy started the season in fine form partnering Brian Little, then Bobby Campbell and finally Keith Leonard before Brian returned. We had a great team coming together but our strikers were always getting injured. At one point a young lad called Betts was brought in as we had all our strikers injured. I think Sammy's last game for us was a defeat at Fulham which was a rare defeat with Sammy in the side.
As for the Arsenal game, even though I was a nipper I remember it for so many reasons; my first time on the Holte (my Dad preferred the Witton). Only today, over 40 years later, reading the report below did I understand why we went in the Holte - it was pissing down that night. Having watched the Holte in awe from the Witton End, I really was lucky to be in there on such a special night. There was times when my feet weren't on the floor, I got separated from my Dad but somebody would grab me by the scuff of the neck and pull me back up. The noise was like nothing I'd ever heard before. It was everything I'd ever imagined it to be only better. There was no going back to the Witton End after that game. I was hooked.
I can still to this day see Sammy's goal, a cracking diving header in front of the Holte. Either there's a B&W photo of him in mid-air or the image is ingrained on my brain. Possibly both. The other photo of Sammy that stays with me was I think in the Villa programme - Sammy in a pair of jam jar specs. Very Michael Caine but bloody hell! Sammy Four Eyes!
Sammy vs Bob Wilson Match reports (https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2012/01/24/flashback-1974-villa-drive-through-in-fa-cup-with-thrilling-arsenal-win)
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6 foot 2, eyes of blue, Villa legend through and through!!
One of my first Villa heroes. Happy birthday Sammy Morgan. I was always proud to sing your name for the Villa cause.
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I was gutted when Andy Lochhead had moved on/was not good enough and delighted when Sammy arrived. Happy Birthday Sammy.
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I heard his name on a bus somewhere in Erdington. I asked my mom who he was and she said he played for the Villa. It's one of my first memories of the club.
So even though I never saw him play he's forever part of my football club.
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I was at the famous Highbury game aged about 12, went for a piss and Sammy had scored by the time I got back. Went for another piss (too much pre-match pop) and Sammy was off. So I missed the two biggest incidents and Sammy's most famous moments. The replay was pure panto with Wilson as the villain. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else in the universe, especially when Sammy was within 5 yards of him. I almost felt sorry for him, but not quite. A cracking night.
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Gary Shaw had a Labrador named Sam after Sammy Morgan when we were kids
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Oddly enough I was only thinking while I was sat daydreaming in my office that it was 43 years ago this week since that unforgettable night when Big Sam and Alun Evans scored the goals that beat an Arsenal team that was riding high in the old first division while we struggled to finish just below half way and of course that signalled the end of Vic Crowe's time as manager.
A brilliant night - Villa kicking towards the Holte End in the first half and an early goal by Sammy set us on the road.
As I'm sure has been already mentioned - the atmosphere was white hot that night.
Happy Birthday Sammy.
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Lovely fella
22;50 starts to talk about his time at villa
Thanks for posting that. As you say, what an absolutely lovely fella. I'll watch the other videos you posted over the weekend.
Happy Birthday, Sammy.
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A brilliant night - Villa kicking towards the Holte End in the first half and an early goal by Sammy set us on the road.
I bet Bob Wilson loved that decision! The volume of the derision aimed at him as he took his place in front of the Holte was incredible (and justified). He really started jittery and must have been anticipating the first Sammy Morgan challenge with trepidation.
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In an era when wearing the Villa number 9 shirt was a big responsibility, Sammy wore it manfully.
Top bloke.
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Not sure if i've remembered right but didn't he have a long throw that we quite often used him for.
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Does anyone have the links to either of the 74 cup games against the arse
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He provided a couple of us with complimentary tickets on a midweek trip to Hull. Had a chat with him, really pleasant softly spoken guy - opposite to his playing persona!
Another memory from that night was the aroma of fish wafting over from the docks!!
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Does anyone have the links to either of the 74 cup games against the arse
As mentioned on a previous Sammy Morgan thread...
The Highbury game was televised and shown on LWTs Big Match. The games were played during the power crisis, the BBC cameras were at the replay, but highlights of the match were not shown that night (or were shown for maybe 5 minutes only), as television transmission shut down at about 10pm.
I've never found any links on the internet to either game, hopefully the tapes were not wiped and will maybe turn up one day.
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I was also at both games.
The return at VP is amongst my top memories, Villa ran out first and went down to the Witton end.
which meant Wilson had to warm up in front of the Holte. Villa Park was a cauldron, by the time it kicked off Wilson was a wreck, "Wilson wants an Oscar" being the most repeatable chant.
Fairy tale time as Sammy scores.
Another Memory, although a bit vaguer, after the Antwerp game away, we were on a bar crawl. I can not remember if it was in a hotel or bar but we stumbled in and having a drink was, Phillips, cumbes, Gidman and Morgan probably others (Bernie help out). Sammy said, or words to the effect " I have had every goalkeeper in the first division except cumbes, but if he plays again like he did tonight I will have him as well"
True legend.
Happy Birthday Sammy
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Hi everyone - thank you for the many wonderful comments about Sammy. He is my father-in-law and we are trying to put together a scrap book with as many memories as possible from his playing days for his 70th brithday celebration. His time at VP was certainly the highlight of his career and he always talks fondly of his time there.
The comments are great, and we will certainly be including a few of them in the book - does anyone have any images / newspaper clippings or anything else of Sammy from his time at VP?
Anything would be appreciated. We have some bits and pieces, particularly some of the stuff from the Arsenal cup tie. But if anyone has anything else, happy to pay postage / can forward on my email.
Much appreciated and I know Sammy would be most grateful as well.
Kind regards all!
Carl
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One of those players you would hate playing for the opposition, but oh so glad he was playing for the Villa. 6ft 2 eyes of blue, Happy Birthday Sammy.
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Not sure if it was just us but we always referred to him as Sam the Wham. I was at Highbury and will always remember Wilson totally losing it after a bit of Sams 'geeing up'. Many happy returns big fella.
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I was also at both games.
The return at VP is amongst my top memories, Villa ran out first and went down to the Witton end.
which meant Wilson had to warm up in front of the Holte. Villa Park was a cauldron, by the time it kicked off Wilson was a wreck, "Wilson wants an Oscar" being the most repeatable chant.
Fairy tale time as Sammy scores.
Another Memory, although a bit vaguer, after the Antwerp game away, we were on a bar crawl. I can not remember if it was in a hotel or bar but we stumbled in and having a drink was, Phillips, cumbes, Gidman and Morgan probably others (Bernie help out). Sammy said, or words to the effect " I have had every goalkeeper in the first division except cumbes, but if he plays again like he did tonight I will have him as well"
True legend..
Happy Birthday Sammy
It was a bar in Antwerp; I can't remember exactly which players other than the ones mentioned were there, I think Frank Pimblett was there and came over as a bit if a miserable sod. I do remember Sammy & Cumbes seemed to be particularly good mates and were pouring beer over each other's heads.
Happy Birthday Sammy
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A brilliant night - Villa kicking towards the Holte End in the first half and an early goal by Sammy set us on the road.
I bet Bob Wilson loved that decision! The volume of the derision aimed at him as he took his place in front of the Holte was incredible (and justified). He really started jittery and must have been anticipating the first Sammy Morgan challenge with trepidation.
I can't remember now whose decision it was to play that way - for as long as I remember Villa kicking towards the Holte End in the second half has always been the preference. It would be interesting to see who kicked off in the first half ?
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Does anyone have the links to either of the 74 cup games against the arse
As mentioned on a previous Sammy Morgan thread...
The Highbury game was televised and shown on LWTs Big Match. The games were played during the power crisis, the BBC cameras were at the replay, but highlights of the match were not shown that night (or were shown for maybe 5 minutes only), as television transmission shut down at about 10pm.
I've never found any links on the internet to either game, hopefully the tapes were not wiped and will maybe turn up one day.
I remember this being the days of the 3 day working week (I'd just started work a few weeks earlier) and we had to do most of our 38 hour week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays when we could have the heating and lighting on and we did short days on Thursdays and Fridays.
I also remember the tv shutting down at 10.00pm, but I also remember coming home (absolutely delirious) and watching the highlights on tv - if it was a 7.30pm kick off (or was it 7.15pm because of the energy crisis ?) it couldn't have finished until 9.10pm - anyone remember night games finishing around then ? It was always an hour or so after the game finished that I got home to Great Barr, so something doesn't add up somewhere.
I've searched Utube more than once for anything on the replay, if anyone ever comes across anything, please, please, please put the link on here.
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Does anyone have the links to either of the 74 cup games against the arse
As mentioned on a previous Sammy Morgan thread...
The Highbury game was televised and shown on LWTs Big Match. The games were played during the power crisis, the BBC cameras were at the replay, but highlights of the match were not shown that night (or were shown for maybe 5 minutes only), as television transmission shut down at about 10pm.
I've never found any links on the internet to either game, hopefully the tapes were not wiped and will maybe turn up one day.
I remember this being the days of the 3 day working week (I'd just started work a few weeks earlier) and we had to do most of our 38 hour week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays when we could have the heating and lighting on and we did short days on Thursdays and Fridays.
I also remember the tv shutting down at 10.00pm, but I also remember coming home (absolutely delirious) and watching the highlights on tv - if it was a 7.30pm kick off (or was it 7.15pm because of the energy crisis ?) it couldn't have finished until 9.10pm - anyone remember night games finishing around then ? It was always an hour or so after the game finished that I got home to Great Barr, so something doesn't add up somewhere.
I've searched Utube more than once for anything on the replay, if anyone ever comes across anything, please, please, please put the link on here.
The game would have finished at about 9.10 and TV shut down at 10.30. Sportsnight would have been on after the nine o'clock news ended at 9.25.
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Cheers Dave - I'd forgotten about Sportsnight (with Coleman) being on a Wednesday night at 9.25pm after the 9.00pm news on BBC1.
I remember the first game being on ITV, so was the replay on Sportsnight ?
Following on that famous win - anyone else remember going to Burnley (then a top side in the old first division) for the 5th Round ?
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I was also at both games.
The return at VP is amongst my top memories, Villa ran out first and went down to the Witton end.
which meant Wilson had to warm up in front of the Holte. Villa Park was a cauldron, by the time it kicked off Wilson was a wreck, "Wilson wants an Oscar" being the most repeatable chant.
Fairy tale time as Sammy scores.
Another Memory, although a bit vaguer, after the Antwerp game away, we were on a bar crawl. I can not remember if it was in a hotel or bar but we stumbled in and having a drink was, Phillips, cumbes, Gidman and Morgan probably others (Bernie help out). Sammy said, or words to the effect " I have had every goalkeeper in the first division except cumbes, but if he plays again like he did tonight I will have him as well"
True legend..
Happy Birthday Sammy
It was a bar in Antwerp; I can't remember exactly which players other than the ones mentioned were there, I think Frank Pimblett was there and came over as a bit if a miserable sod. I do remember Sammy & Cumbes seemed to be particularly good mates and were pouring beer over each other's heads.
Happy Birthday Sammy
I too was in that bar in Antwerp and my recollection of Sammy (although I was a very inebriated 17 year old) was that he didn't look like a footballer let alone the colossus that terrified Bob Wilson, due to his thick glasses and haircut. He will never be forgotten by Villa fans of my generation....or Bob Wilson
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Cheers Dave - I'd forgotten about Sportsnight (with Coleman) being on a Wednesday night at 9.25pm after the 9.00pm news on BBC1.
I remember the first game being on ITV, so was the replay on Sportsnight ?
Following on that famous win - anyone else remember going to Burnley (then a top side in the old first division) for the 5th Round ?
Sammy Morgan led the line in that one too. I chiefly remember it for the huge convoy of travellers club coaches on the M6 and ,I think, it was the opening of The Bob Lord Stand at Turf Moor.
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From the Evening Mail
FA Cup Flashback: Aston Villa beat Arsenal in 1974 titanic tussle
IF Aston Villa will be underdogs away to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday, they were even more so when Vic Crowe’s side visited the Gunners in the fourth round in 1974.
IF Aston Villa will be underdogs away to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday, they were even more so when Vic Crowe’s side visited the Gunners in the fourth round in 1974. But they went through after a titanic two-game tussle thanks to a sterling effort from players and fans alike.
Brian Halford reports on a cup conquest which owed much to the Holte End’s hounding of a star goalkeeper.
OVER the years, many FA Cup ties have been swayed by a crowd getting involved and roaring their team to victory – cranking up the noise to drive the players on to find that vital inspiration.
Such support is often described by players and managers as “the extra man.” An unseen force that lifts the 11 blokes on the pitch to new levels.
This notional additional team-member, comprising thousands of voices, affects the whole team – a collective force which galvanises collectively. But its input can also be specific. To devastating effect. Especially when a sense of grievance is thrown into the mix.
That’s what happened when Aston Villa met Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1974. Gunners’ goalkeeper Bob Wilson made an enemy of Villa’s fans in the first game at Highbury and when the replay arrived at Villa Park, four days later, they were waiting for him.
Never mind the extra man, Wilson was effectively “extra man-marked.” And that was a huge factor in Villa, 11th in Division Two, knocking the First Division side out of the cup which they had recently lifted.
After a 1-1 draw at Highbury, Villa won the replay 2-0 in front of a crowd of 47,821, including very few from north London.
“The mountain of humanity known as the Holte End must be included in the scoreline,” reported the Mail. “There are times when a crowd can be very much part of a performance. This was one of them.”
The seeds of that momentous Villa Park night were sown in the 63rd minute of the first match at Highbury.
Vic Crowe’s men had travelled down to the capital in poor form, adrift of the Second Division promotion race after 11 league games without a win. In none of those games had they scored more than one goal.
Crowe badly needed new players but the board insisted he had to sell to buy, a strategy which had just begun with agreement to sell Trevor Hockey, a £40,000 signing from Norwich six months earlier, to Rotherham for just £25,000.
Villa’s only win in two months had been over little Chester in the cup third round, so their supporters travelled south more in hope than expectation.
But right from kick-off their expectations rose as their team put in a storming start which evoked memories of the memorable League Cup semi-final win over Manchester United three years earlier.
“For the armada of Villa supporters enjoying a day out in the soccer sun,” the Mail said, “the opening 11 minutes was akin to the display against Manchester United and culminated in Sammy Morgan’s goal when he nodded Ian Hamilton’s cross past Wilson.”
Villa still deservedly led 18 minutes into the second half when Morgan and Wilson were involved in the powder-keg moment. The striker chased the ball into the box and Wilson collected it then, somewhat belatedly, went down as if pole-axed.
“Wilson has the Leeds United habit of wanting to help referee the game,” observed the Mail, “and this was a factor in Morgan’s dismissal.
Wilson’s excessive appealing to referee Clive Thomas had helped the decision to book him for his initial innocuous challenge on the goalkeeper. This proved expensive two minutes later as Morgan challenged for a 40/60 ball in favour of Wilson and ended up in the dressing-room after being sent off.”
Villa’s travelling fans were enraged, not least because the Gunners’ custodian had made quite sure he collected the ball before going down.
While Morgan headed for the bath, Wilson was – surprise, surprise – fit to continue and Villa’s ire only increased two minutes later when Ray Kennedy pulled Arsenal level.
‘That’s that then,’ thought the North Bank. Now, surely, the Second Division side, a man short for the last 25 minutes, would be steamrollered.
Not so. Villa, with Chris Nicholl, pictured right, and Ian Ross rocks at the back, held on. All back to Villa Park four days later – four days in which the pot of this spicy affair was kept bubbling nicely as Morgan and Wilson continued their spat via the papers.
Crowe did his best to keep a lid on the feud – “It’s being built up as a potential bloodbath but is nothing of the kind” – but by the time Wilson ran out for the replay he had full ‘public enemy number one’ status. His reception was not entirely friendly.
This was a poor season in a poor era for Aston Villa but, among the dying embers of Crowe’s waning reign, here was a great cup night.
A 2-0 win and, as the Mail put it, “Wilson was mercilessly barracked by the Holte End and, in the second half, the Witton End took over – and the customers in the stands were not silent either!”
The key moment arrived early. In the 12th minute Wilson, at the Holte End, prepared to clear a routine ball.
“As he came out, the barracking cascaded deafeningly from behind him,” said the Mail. “At the same time, Paddy McMahon ran in to harass him from the front. Wilson, obviously put off, cleared hastily, straight to Alun Evans.”
Evans crossed and Morgan headed home with Wilson scambling back in vain and Villa’s fans erupting in ecstasy.
The match was not all about Wilson, though. A strong, vastly-experienced Arsenal side, including Alan Ball, Peter Storey, Pat Rice and Bob McNab with the precociously talented Liam Brady on the bench, was superbly contained by a Villa team impressive all over the pitch.
John Gidman had winger George Armstrong in his pocket. When Armstrong switched flanks, Charlie Aitken did a similar job on him and Gidman was freed up to get forward. It was a night when Villa had all the answers.
“Arsenal simply could not cope,” reported the Mail. “They were not capable of living with Villa in a footballing sense.”
Midway through the second half, Bruce Rioch rode three tackles before pulling the ball back for Evans to make it 2-0.
Villa had breathing space and closed the tie out without alarm as the celebrations got underway. Jim Cumbes, in goal, was never stretched.
The chap at the other end, meanwhile, could not get out of Villa Park fast enough, albeit with dignity in tact. “There are no hard feelings,” Wilson said. “I expected the crowd reaction as the situation had been blown up out of all proportion.”
He had been a bit less composed two hours earlier with 15,000 Holte Enders on his case...
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Sammy Morgan helps celebrate a Bruce Rioch goal.
Blink and you'll miss it. About 1 minute 10 seconds.
Happy 70th to you
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I posted this some time ago: the Leeds Centenary match in 1974. Sammy played in it.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/diBPMF/ZFpbnRa.jpg) (http://ibb.co/diBPMF)
upload multiple photos (http://imgbb.com/)
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He's 70 soon and his family would like a few reminiscences about him. So - get reminiscing.
Hang on, a quick check on Wiki' and I'm fully aware it might be incorrect but....
Date of birth 3 December 1946 (age 70)?
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6 foot 2, eyes are blue
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Sammy Morgan helps celebrate a Bruce Rioch goal.
Blink and you'll miss it. About 1 minute 10 seconds.
Happy 70th to you
Its a national scandal that there is no footage available of the Arsenal cup ties despite them both being televised.
I remember Brian Moore having a fit about Sammy at Highbury - living in London at the time it was the main game shown at 2pm on the Sunday afternoon highlights but they were brilliant. Felt 6'2 myself going into school on the Monday - little Aston Villa giving Arsenal a footballing lesson and it was even better after the replay.
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We are having a garden party for him in the summer - yes his birthday has passed but we are waiting for the nicer weather for an outdoor celebration!
He's 70 soon and his family would like a few reminiscences about him. So - get reminiscing.
Hang on, a quick check on Wiki' and I'm fully aware it might be incorrect but....
Date of birth 3 December 1946 (age 70)?
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HI MorrisNeilson,
did you get my reply to your message? New to this forum so wanted to double check...
I posted this some time ago: the Leeds Centenary match in 1974. Sammy played in it.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/diBPMF/ZFpbnRa.jpg) (http://ibb.co/diBPMF)
upload multiple photos (http://imgbb.com/)
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Does anyone have the links to either of the 74 cup games against the arse
As mentioned on a previous Sammy Morgan thread...
The Highbury game was televised and shown on LWTs Big Match. The games were played during the power crisis, the BBC cameras were at the replay, but highlights of the match were not shown that night (or were shown for maybe 5 minutes only), as television transmission shut down at about 10pm.
I've never found any links on the internet to either game, hopefully the tapes were not wiped and will maybe turn up one day.
I remember this being the days of the 3 day working week (I'd just started work a few weeks earlier) and we had to do most of our 38 hour week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays when we could have the heating and lighting on and we did short days on Thursdays and Fridays.
I also remember the tv shutting down at 10.00pm, but I also remember coming home (absolutely delirious) and watching the highlights on tv - if it was a 7.30pm kick off (or was it 7.15pm because of the energy crisis ?) it couldn't have finished until 9.10pm - anyone remember night games finishing around then ? It was always an hour or so after the game finished that I got home to Great Barr, so something doesn't add up somewhere.
I've searched Utube more than once for anything on the replay, if anyone ever comes across anything, please, please, please put the link on here.
The game would have finished at about 9.10 and TV shut down at 10.30. Sportsnight would have been on after the nine o'clock news ended at 9.25.
There was no Sportsnight that evening. At 9.25 was Till death us do Part followed by European figure skating and 1020 closedown. Early evening was dominated by Commonwealth games coverage.
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The highlights were definitely on the tv afterwards though.
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The highlights were definitely on the tv afterwards though.
And bbc1
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carl
theres a nice patch of green in between trinity road and wiiton lane that would make a nice setting for sammys garden party
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Cheers Dave - I'd forgotten about Sportsnight (with Coleman) being on a Wednesday night at 9.25pm after the 9.00pm news on BBC1.
I remember the first game being on ITV, so was the replay on Sportsnight ?
Following on that famous win - anyone else remember going to Burnley (then a top side in the old first division) for the 5th Round ?
I think by 1974 Sportsnight with Coleman had metamorphosed into Sportsnight with Gubba.
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He did indeed finish his teacher training and worked for many years in a local high school before running Norwich City and Ipswich Town academies.
Did loads of work with youngsters in football and gave a lot back to the local community.
Was there at Highbury on the Bob Wilson dying swan act he went on the ground and then looked up to see if ref was watching and then proceeded to be poleaxed. The return game at home Bob Wilson got pilloried & booed mercilessly I think the ref was Clive Thomas but remember Sammy as a good pro, think his song was 6 foot 2 eyes of Blue Sammy Morgan's after you la la la la la la la la la
Thought he used to be a teacher.!
He went to teacher training college in Nottingham with my sister-in-law, but I don't know if he finished the course or not, nor whether he actually got a teaching job.