This Week in County History 1978

 

 

 

 

 

This Week in County History.  ..  1978

 

For those of a certain age one game jumped out for coverage from calendar week 36 in County's past.  That was the last time the Hatters first team faced the Manchester United first team in a competitive match.

 

 

 

 

The near neighbours were drawn together in the second round of the then unsponsored Football League Cup.  We had won through the two-legged first round tie with Shrewsbury Town with a 3-1 victory at home after a single goal defeat at the Salop side's old Gay Meadow ground.  The victory came courtesy of the men who formed the best scoring partnership for many a year in Les Bradd and Stuart Lee who got a brace (presumably earning a couple more instalments in his sponsorship by Crazy Face jeans).  That first leg was moved from the scheduled Saturday to a Monday night and if I remember correctly the switch was because of a flower festival - I of course stand to be corrected.

 

County had actually come out of the hat first but the club very quickly reversed the fixture - something that it is much harder to do these days.  Chairman Freddie Pye was noted in the programme for the game as saying the decision was made for the County fans as they can all now see the game.

 

Obviously the attraction of a larger crowd was not uppermost in Freddie's eyes but a reported 42,834 turned out to watch what the majority thought would be a routine victory.  It was just nine minutes into the game when their expectations looked likely to be coming true as Joe Jordan put the team in red ahead on nine minutes.

 

 

 

County kept up their game not letting United have it all their own way and the scoreline stayed the same, then just after the hour mark the chance the County supporters had been waiting for arrived.  Paddy Roche was penalised in a 50-50 challenge at Stuart Lee's feet.  Penalty!

 

Up stepped defender Allan Thompson to level the scores on 61 minutes.  Safe to say It went a bit crazy in the areas where Hatters fans were watching, be that on the terraces or at various places in the seats .. but it was going to get better.

 

One of the most skilful men in that 1978 side Terry Park, and a relative home grown man who returned to the club several times during his career, found the space to score with eleven minutes remaining and County were in front.  Unbelievable!

 

After their impressive turnaround things looked even better when Gordon McQueen was sent off on 87 minutes for a very nasty retaliation because he had been fouled.

 

 

 

Then Peter Willis, a referee whose name went down in infamy amongst the Hatters fans, decided it was his turn to try and take the headlines.

 

His first move was to penalise keeper Mike Rogan for taking too many steps with the ball in his hands.  An offence that was very rarely punished but I guess the whistle blower just wanted to remind the veteran stopper that he was supposed to bounce the ball as he moved around his area.  So an indirect free kick inside the box.  The free kick found future County boss Sammy McIlroy and on 88 minutes the home side were level.

 

Shortly after the visitors from Stockport had their hopes totally destroyed as Mr Willis decided that former player manager Thompson had flicked his heel at Joe Jordan.  Sadly our man in green could not keep out Jimmy Greenhoff's spot kick as within two minutes not only the lead had been lost but hopes of a money spinning replay and a second go at a poor United side were also gone. They were to lose at home to Watford in the next round - not quite  as big a shock as a County win would have been.

 

  

 

The last words on that game on Wednesday 30th August 1978 are to give you the two line-ups:

Manchester U: Paddy Roche, Brian Greenhoff, Arthur Albiston, Sammy McIlroy, Gordon McQueen, Martin Buchan, Steve Coppell, Jimmy Greenhoff, Joe Jordan, Lou Macari and Ashley Grimes.  Unused Sub Steve Paterson

County: Mike Rogan, Andy Thorpe, John Rutter, Alan Thompson, Terry Park, Paul Edwards, Mike Summerbee, Carl Halford, Les Bradd, Derek Loadwick and Stuart Lee.  Unused Sub Eddie Prudham

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The performance in Stretford earned plenty of newspaper headlines, but after the fine entertainment and the frustration for the Hatters fans in the crowd, it was back to Division Four two days later for the visit of the old Wimbledon team playing their second season of League football.  The crowd was boosted slightly as 5604 turned up to watch the team who took Manchester United so close.  The game was a major let down as Alan Cork scored the only goal after 65 minutes.  As the report headline described it it was definitely a case of After the Lord Mayor's Show.

 

 

 

 

 

The teams that Friday 1^st September were:

County: Mike Rogan, Andy Thorpe, John Rutter, Alan Thompson, Terry Park, Paul Edwards, Mike Summerbee (Eddie Prudham), Carl Halford, Les Bradd, Derek Loadwick and Stuart Lee

Wimbledon: Ray Goddard, Jeff Bryant, Terry Eames, Steve Galliers, Dave Galvin, Dave Donaldson, John Leslie (Ray Knowles), Les Briley, Paul Denny, Alan Cork and Steve Parsons

 

County paraded their latest signing to the crowd before that Wimbledon game.  I still remember the headline on the news board on my way home from school, County sign former Under 23 International.  This was probably one of my first lessons in headline writers hyperbole.

 

In fact the man concerned had last played for England back in April 1966, in a 2-0 win over Turkey at Blackburn's Ewood Park ground.  The player who had signed from Leicester City but was better known for his lengthy career at Arsenal was George Armstrong.  George scored both goals in what was the final game of his five at that level.  Coincidently making his Under-23 debut on the same day was a certain Mike Summerbee, the County player-manager who secured George's signature for a injury prone season at EP.

 

County had been looking to sign him for several weeks with difficulties over financial arrangements being quoted as causing the delay.  In the end they paid a reported £5,000 for the 34 year old.  At the same time they were chasing another veteran in Liverpool's Ian Callaghan but as expected he decided to Join Swansea City instead.

 

The closing event of this week back in 1978 came on the day after the defeat to Wimbledon.  A young reserve side travelled to Carlisle United for a game with no goals in the Lancashire League.

 

 

 

 

The reserve side included goalkeeper Andy Cassidy, and outfield players Karl Cocker, Alan Walker and Alan Sumner

 

 

 

 

 

 

More from County's long history next week ... and I will try and find a win this time. Thanks to all the collectors who have allowed me to use images from their collections in this article.

 

Ian Watts