Freddie Goodwin.
Well-known member
28th November 1973.
Brian Clough was still in his 1st month at Albion and so the sporting press was still vary much looking in on 3rd Div Albion.
Walton & hersham seemed a nice easy FA Cup 1st round tie and Albion fans were out in force to invade the leafy suburbs of Surrey, only to witness a drab 0-0 draw. Still, no problems in a replay at the Goldstone.....
The early 70's were a time of strife. Floodlit games were banned due to the energy crisis so the game had an afternoon KO. Having not missed a game in years, a stern warning from a teacher was not going to stop me bunking school to make the game.
The game was a nightmare. Inept though the Albion often seem now, this was woefull. Eventually Walton broke away and scored and the impossible now seemed likely.
Albion turned on the pressure and, in the last 10 mins laid seige to the Walton goal but never looked like scoring. Instead, 3 breakaways in the last 10 mins gave the final score of 0-4.
We were a laughing stock and, with the media on Clough, there was even a report and footage on the main evening news.
That was about my lowest point of supporting Albion up to then. Things could surely not get any worse....not until the following Saturday when we lost 2-8 at home to Bristol Rovers!
BTW, my teacher thought I had suffered enough and didn't make a big deal of me bunking off.
Brian Clough was still in his 1st month at Albion and so the sporting press was still vary much looking in on 3rd Div Albion.
Walton & hersham seemed a nice easy FA Cup 1st round tie and Albion fans were out in force to invade the leafy suburbs of Surrey, only to witness a drab 0-0 draw. Still, no problems in a replay at the Goldstone.....
The early 70's were a time of strife. Floodlit games were banned due to the energy crisis so the game had an afternoon KO. Having not missed a game in years, a stern warning from a teacher was not going to stop me bunking school to make the game.
The game was a nightmare. Inept though the Albion often seem now, this was woefull. Eventually Walton broke away and scored and the impossible now seemed likely.
Albion turned on the pressure and, in the last 10 mins laid seige to the Walton goal but never looked like scoring. Instead, 3 breakaways in the last 10 mins gave the final score of 0-4.
We were a laughing stock and, with the media on Clough, there was even a report and footage on the main evening news.
That was about my lowest point of supporting Albion up to then. Things could surely not get any worse....not until the following Saturday when we lost 2-8 at home to Bristol Rovers!
BTW, my teacher thought I had suffered enough and didn't make a big deal of me bunking off.
