Football in the old days

[dave.woodhall]

Was it better?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30699020

The best bit is at the end.

[BC54 VFC]

An interesting article, Dave, and good to see you being quoted at the end. Your second quote is very true. Living in Handsworth Wood I used to regularly see Tony Brown and, later, Cyrille Regis.   

[TopDeck113]

Was football better in the "old days"? If you're 16 and your team have just won the League Championship ten years after being in the third tier, of course it was.

If you're freezing on some crumbling terrace, having been marched there by the local constabulary for your own protection, watching Norton, Kerr, Ormsby et al going through the motions,  no it wasn't.

[dave.woodhall]

Was football better in the "old days"? If you're 16 and your team have just won the League Championship ten years after being in the third tier, of course it was.

If you're freezing on some crumbling terrace, having been marched there by the local constabulary for your own protection, watching Norton, Kerr, Ormsby et al going through the motions,  no it wasn't.

You look at some of the crowds in the mid-eighties and marvel at how low they are. Then you remember what we had to put up with and you marvel that they were so high.

[DeKuip]

I well remember watching football in the 70s and being told by older relatives that "football's not what it used to be". Comments about it being played by "girls"with long hair like George Best or our own Chico Hamilton and Willie Anderson, earning far too much money!
Dave's right in that we all basically want to have our youth back.

There's lots I miss about football from back then, particularly the atmosphere. It's hard to explain to younger fans what real atmosphere is - that buzz around the ground in the build up to kick off, or when an attack or pressure builds. Singing or chanting can contribute or even spoil an atmosphere but fans nowadays think it is atmosphere.
It would be stupid to suggest that modern comfortable family friendly grounds are in any way a negative compared to back then, but losing that real buzz is a side-affect of it all.

[Rudy65]

Its the lack of competitiveness I really miss.

In the 70's a good manager with a keen eye for a player could bulld a squad from nothing and win the league. Derby, Forest etc. Teams did dominate, like leeds but they didnt win everything. There was a wide mix of teams winning the trophies.

I also think that football was more entertaining but maybe my memory just concentrates on the great teams we had in the 70's and early 80's

Football also seemed more exciting because there was less to see and beey little on TV. Going to a game was a real treat

[Damo70]

Asa Hartford is mentioned in 'players living round the corner'. He lived in my aunts road in Lichfield at one point. Noel Cantwell lived next door to my mum and dad's friends who we used to visit in Coventry. John Deehan lived with his parents a few minutes away from me and my parents. I remember being impressed with his TR7. I can remember watching that Leicester v Shrewsbury cup tie with the different keepers in 1982 on MOTD or Star Soccer. Around that time I also remember Star Soccer making a big fuss of the Stoke keeper Peter Fox being sent off in the early days of the professional foul rule. And an Everton v Liverpool game around the same time that was shown live and Glen Keeley on loan from Blackburn got sent off early for a professional foul. I think it ended 0-5 and was the only time he pulled on an Everton shirt.

[Hillbilly]

I well remember watching football in the 70s and being told by older relatives that "football's not what it used to be". Comments about it being played by "girls"with long hair like George Best or our own Chico Hamilton and Willie Anderson, earning far too much money!
Dave's right in that we all basically want to have our youth back.

There's lots I miss about football from back then, particularly the atmosphere. It's hard to explain to younger fans what real atmosphere is - that buzz around the ground in the build up to kick off, or when an attack or pressure builds. Singing or chanting can contribute or even spoil an atmosphere but fans nowadays think it is atmosphere.
It would be stupid to suggest that modern comfortable family friendly grounds are in any way a negative compared to back then, but losing that real buzz is a side-affect of it all.

I think you've hit on something there. Back in t'old days you could tell what was happening with your eyes closed. There was an enveloping background noise that rose and fell with the action. I was at the Newcastle match earlier this season. I closed my eyes for a moment and got nothing. That said, nothing happened in that match and I was in the Doug Ellis.

[dave.woodhall]

I well remember watching football in the 70s and being told by older relatives that "football's not what it used to be". Comments about it being played by "girls"with long hair like George Best or our own Chico Hamilton and Willie Anderson, earning far too much money!
Dave's right in that we all basically want to have our youth back.

There's lots I miss about football from back then, particularly the atmosphere. It's hard to explain to younger fans what real atmosphere is - that buzz around the ground in the build up to kick off, or when an attack or pressure builds. Singing or chanting can contribute or even spoil an atmosphere but fans nowadays think it is atmosphere.
It would be stupid to suggest that modern comfortable family friendly grounds are in any way a negative compared to back then, but losing that real buzz is a side-affect of it all.

I think you've hit on something there. Back in t'old days you could tell what was happening with your eyes closed. There was an enveloping background noise that rose and fell with the action. I was at the Newcastle match earlier this season. I closed my eyes for a moment and got nothing. That said, nothing happened in that match and I was in the Doug Ellis.

Witton Lane.

[Damo70]

SIR Doug Ellis.

[Hillbilly]

I well remember watching football in the 70s and being told by older relatives that "football's not what it used to be". Comments about it being played by "girls"with long hair like George Best or our own Chico Hamilton and Willie Anderson, earning far too much money!
Dave's right in that we all basically want to have our youth back.

There's lots I miss about football from back then, particularly the atmosphere. It's hard to explain to younger fans what real atmosphere is - that buzz around the ground in the build up to kick off, or when an attack or pressure builds. Singing or chanting can contribute or even spoil an atmosphere but fans nowadays think it is atmosphere.
It would be stupid to suggest that modern comfortable family friendly grounds are in any way a negative compared to back then, but losing that real buzz is a side-affect of it all.

I think you've hit on something there. Back in t'old days you could tell what was happening with your eyes closed. There was an enveloping background noise that rose and fell with the action. I was at the Newcastle match earlier this season. I closed my eyes for a moment and got nothing. That said, nothing happened in that match and I was in the Doug Ellis.

Witton Lane.

Thought I'd get away with that, posting in what I calculated were the wee small hours back in the UK. I'm now pretty sure you are some sort of cyborg who doesn't sleep.

[rob_bridge]

Asa Hartford is mentioned in 'players living round the corner'. He lived in my aunts road in Lichfield at one point. Noel Cantwell lived next door to my mum and dad's friends who we used to visit in Coventry. John Deehan lived with his parents a few minutes away from me and my parents. I remember being impressed with his TR7. I can remember watching that Leicester v Shrewsbury cup tie with the different keepers in 1982 on MOTD or Star Soccer. Around that time I also remember Star Soccer making a big fuss of the Stoke keeper Peter Fox being sent off in the early days of the professional foul rule. And an Everton v Liverpool game around the same time that was shown live and Glen Keeley on loan from Blackburn got sent off early for a professional foul. I think it ended 0-5 and was the only time he pulled on an Everton shirt.

I sat next to John Deehan at church when I was young. He had a Motty style sheepskin coat IIRC.
Graham Lovett's parents lived next door to my cousins in Garrett's Green.

Seems like a different world and it beacuse it was nearly 4 decades ago

[Lastfootstamper]

A contrast to the current mood: when he was on loan at Wolves, Michael Mancienne rented the house next door to my youngest brother. When he moved out, he left everything. Wardrobes of designer clothes, games consoles, plasma televisions, the lot. Dunno they're born these days.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Its the lack of competitiveness I really miss.

In the 70's a good manager with a keen eye for a player could bulld a squad from nothing and win the league. Derby, Forest etc. Teams did dominate, like leeds but they didnt win everything. There was a wide mix of teams winning the trophies.

I also think that football was more entertaining but maybe my memory just concentrates on the great teams we had in the 70's and early 80's

Football also seemed more exciting because there was less to see and beey little on TV. Going to a game was a real treat

Pretty much this.

On the pitch the quality of football, the skill, technique and athleticism of the players is many many times higher.  You're guaranteed to see at least one incredible world class goal every week in the Premier League.

The facilities are much better, the threat of getting your head kicked in is pretty much gone.

However, the thing I miss is the (nearly always misguided) belief at the start of every season that this could be Villa's year.  I already know that Chelsea, Man City or Man Utd will win it, with perhaps Arsenal or Liverpool having a go at it.

I was 9 when Villa won the League; and I don't think I'll live long enough to see Villa win it again.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Its the lack of competitiveness I really miss.

In the 70's a good manager with a keen eye for a player could bulld a squad from nothing and win the league. Derby, Forest etc. Teams did dominate, like leeds but they didnt win everything. There was a wide mix of teams winning the trophies.

I also think that football was more entertaining but maybe my memory just concentrates on the great teams we had in the 70's and early 80's

Football also seemed more exciting because there was less to see and beey little on TV. Going to a game was a real treat

Pretty much this.

On the pitch the quality of football, the skill, technique and athleticism of the players is many many times higher.  You're guaranteed to see at least one incredible world class goal every week in the Premier League.

The facilities are much better, the threat of getting your head kicked in is pretty much gone.

However, the thing I miss is the (nearly always misguided) belief at the start of every season that this could be Villa's year.  I already know that Chelsea, Man City or Man Utd will win it, with perhaps Arsenal or Liverpool having a go at it.

I was 9 when Villa won the League; and I don't think I'll live long enough to see Villa win it again.

I was -2 if it makes you feel any better.