Brighton under Clough and Taylor's management - please describe the players!

[Goldstone Rapper]

I'm doing some research for the Seagulls TV website, working towards a section that covers each of the seasons in the 1970s. A few months ago I started a thread about the Albion players that featured under Pat Saward and got an incredible, insightful response from many NSCers, such as Freddie Goodwin, severnside gull, GT49er and many, many others who were around at the time. See Pat Saward's Brighton - please describe the players!

This time, I'd like to see whether any NSCers could help me get a better sense of the players brought in by Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. While I'm familiar with many of the names such as Joe Kinnear, Peter Grummitt and Fred Binney, I never had the opportunity to see any of them play and would like to get a better sense of what they were like.

Once again, dry facts such as when the player was signed, who they had spells with, and how many appearances they made are easy to find from Tim Carder's books, as well as matchday programmes and Wikipedia. However, if you were watching Brighton back then, I'd like your sense of the playing styles, strengths, limitations and anecdotes of the players, to help me bring to life the names of these players who graced the Goldstone in the mid-70s. (From the list, I've left off the ones such as Rollings, O'Sullivan, Winstanley and others who went on to play significantly in the glory years that followed).

Anyone can help? Much appreciated if you can

Here's the list:

Goalkeepers:
Peter Grummitt
Derek Forster

Defenders:
Paul Fuschillo
Ken Goodeve
Steve Govier
Allen Lewis
Dennis Burnett
Joe Kinnear
Ken Tiler
Harry Wilson
Steve Piper

Midfielders:
Billy McEwan
Ronnie Welch
John Boyle
Ernie Machin
Jim Walker
Tommy Mason
Wilf Smith
Phil Beal

Attackers:
Fred Binney
Ricky Marlowe
Barry Butlin
Neil Martin
Gerry Fell
Ian Mellor (particularly your impressions of what he was like before he 'clicked' in a strike partnership with Ward)
Sammy Morgan

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

barry butlin was on loan from sheff utd,didn't play that many games as i recall,but famously got the winner at selhurst

sammy morgan went a few games without scoring when he joined then bagged 2 in front of the north stand against palace

remember the joe kinnear testimonial,he scored our only goal from the penalty spot,lost 6-1 i think,loads of aggro in the north stand

 

[Ernest]

Ernie Machin's son Stewart works for Channel 4 racing and Racing UK as a presenter and is an on course race commentator

 

[macky]

i worked with Tommy Mason
still owes me a pound sneeky little git he came from derby if memory serve me right Think he went to carsharlton after us ?

 

[Ernest]

i worked with Tommy Mason
still owes me a pound sneeky little git he came from derby if memory serve me right Think he went to carsharlton after us ?

We signed a few players at the time from Derby or around that way including Peter Ward of course

 

[macky]

We signed a few players at the time from Derby or around that way including Peter Ward of course

am i right in thinking a lot of the derby players walked ouy briefly because of clough's sacking ?

 

[macky]

We signed a few players at the time from Derby or around that way including Peter Ward of course

wardy from burton wonder if was after that wasnt it ? just looked he came after clough had left

 

[Return of the Rev]

barry butlin scored the winner up at the palace one night!

 

[portslade seagull]

most were journeymen ... Grummitt was a good keeper ... thought Dennis Burnett joined us when we were in the 1st division under mullery

 

[macky]

clough left in 74 wardy came in 75

 

[happygull]

Having moved away from sussex in the early 70's to join the Royal Navy my time of watching Brighton was limited in them days but i use to get my football fix at Home Park Plymouth and Fred Binney was a hero. If in them days you had specialst equipment to track players movement where todays average might be 3.4 km per game , Freds would have been about 5 metres, he would have been an orchestra conductor telling players to go here there and everywhere whilst standing still himself .... but give him a chance and he'd put it away. Give the man 3 chances and he would put two away with the keeper pulling off a stunning save to deny him his hatrick ... FRED BINNEY ... a legend

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

Having moved away from sussex in the early 70's to join the Royal Navy my time of watching Brighton was limited in them days but i use to get my football fix at Home Park Plymouth and Fred Binney was a hero. If in them days you had specialst equipment to track players movement where todays average might be 3.4 km per game , Freds would have been about 5 metres, he would have been an orchestra conductor telling players to go here there and everywhere whilst standing still himself .... but give him a chance and he'd put it away. Give the man 3 chances and he would put two away with the keeper pulling off a stunning save to deny him his hatrick ... FRED BINNEY ... a legend

was a big binney fan myself,shame there wasn't enough room for him and wardy in the same team

remember one night game at home to shrewsbury,losing 2-0 at half time,at a time when teams were lucky to get a draw at the goldstone let alone win

anyway,we completly dominated the 2nd half and still losing 2-1,got a penalty in the last miute

fred binney with his back to goal waited for the ref to blow,turned round and buried it in the corner,fantastic night!

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

More than happy to oblige, my friend....


Goalkeepers:
Peter Grummitt - experienced keeper with Wednesday & Forest and pretty near an England cap. In his veteran stage on joining Albion and my fav Albion keeper of all time, until FDM came along! Grummit would win it hands down on actual keeping. he controlled the back four, coaching them all the time. often he was so good at it he had little to do but, when called upon he could be safe & he could be spectacular. Shame his Albion career would be short because of his age.

Derek Forster - bought as cover, rarely played. Claim to fame was that, I believe, he was the youngest league player (keeper) when making his Charllton debut at 15.

Defenders:
Paul Fuschillo - big & powerful, looked a good prospect but I think his knees did for him. Not to be confused with a player of same surname who played for Luton and had his leg broken at the Goldstone.

Ken Goodeve - The 1st signing, a centre half. One of quite a few through the revolving door. Came, went, who?
Steve Govier - Another centre back who did much as above but , like many, injury did for him.
Allen Lewis - Struggling to remember him!
Dennis Burnett - veteran Millwall centre half, class and could organise. A good centre back pairing needs brains & brawn, he was the brains.
Joe Kinnear - Spurs legend, came along for the free ride. major dissapointment, lazy & uncommited. Was actually jeered from the pitch when carried off with broken leg. Can't believe the manager Kinnear, was the same bloke.
Ken Tiler - tall, classy right back, fine & dependable. Played a few years after leaving Albion & father of Carl (not the weatherman!)
Harry Wilson - left back and a bit of a cult hero. Cultured left foot, fans favourite.
Steve Piper - Product of Sawards youth team, classy centre half who became a midfielder in the Hammon mould so his work was not always apperciated.

Midfielders:
Billy McEwan - tough tackiling blond midfielder. Didn't stay too long but had a long career after leaving Albion and went into management.
Ronnie Welch - quite small midfielder, busy player.
John Boyle - A Saward loanee from Chelsea. Unpopular as had been a Chelsea hard man and sent off against Albion many years before. At end of career and attitude a bit like Kinnears.
Ernie Machin - Midfield battler, experinced player and captained the side without being outstanding. Remember, we were not an outstanding or flair team.
Jim Walker - another fitting the role of hard working midfielder. Journeyman player.
Tommy Mason - little tiger of a player, snapping around and winning tackles all over the place. I liked him, helped by the fact I'd see him out & about down Sherry's in a time when players were not all superstars. Somehow he was only a bit part player.
Wilf Smith - classy coventry, Wednesday veteran, rarely played. Injuries I reckon.
Phil Beal - Another fine player with Spurs who came done for the ride, although he did have a few good games. mullery, an old team mate, soon sussed him and showed him the door.

Attackers:
Fred Binney - The guy just scored. been doing it for years at Exeter and did the same with Albion. Deadly in the box and, when we were unbeatable at home, Fred was awesome. but away from home, when we often had to attack from the half way line, he was lost. Big, big favourite. Would take a special player to have him out of the side....
Ricky Marlowe - another blond, white straggly hair & balding. Worked his socks off but, a bit like barn door, the harder he worked the less he produced. A long goal drought ended when a ball hit him and deflected into goal. Wholeharted and still connected vis REMF as Robert Eaton took Marlow's name.
Barry Butlin - on loan from Derby and scored after 4 mins in a 1-0 win at Selhurst at a time whenthat was a shock result. Gangly forward, only on loan.
Neil Martin - experinced forward, ex Coventry & Forest I saw him score 2 at Hillsborough in an early match but seems to have fallen out of favour quickly as not garaunteed a place..
Gerry Fell - tall and big built for a winger, type that would kick & run and quite fast with a rocket shot, and some even hit the target!
Ian Mellor (particularly your impressions of what he was like before he 'clicked' in a strike partnership with Ward) - Mellor was a prospect with man City before moving to norwich. he was quite a coup for us. gangly forward, but not much good in the air. Obvious talent but could look clumsy. Things really changed when he was able to use his footballing brain, with Wardy, rather than being a striker.
Sammy Morgan - Northern ireland Internation and bought in to beef up the frontline Old style muscle and could score but didn't really suit our style.

 

[mune ni kamome]

When Welch and McEwan signed it was a step up to a new level after the 8-2 mauling by the Gas. Very cultured players.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

most were journeymen ... Grummitt was a good keeper ... thought Dennis Burnett joined us when we were in the 1st division under mullery

Almost certain Burnett played while we we in division three,clearly remember him having a decent game in a night match early 1975. As to style is really was pass and move football.whether it be Clough,Taylor or Mullery it was fast break-out from defence,Towner or Sully being the main source. It only went sour when Mike Bailey took over,but then that is another story.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Can remember watching Rotherham United anytime 76-79 i thing we were losing at one stage but Binney bagged three in a win ? ?

 

[Monkey Man]

Joe Kinnear - Spurs legend, came along for the free ride. major dissapointment, lazy & uncommited. Was actually jeered from the pitch when carried off with broken leg.

That is HARSH!

 

[AnotherArch]

These names seem to spread across quite a few seasons and hence managers.Of these players probably only two went on to higher levels - Billie McEwan and Jim Walker (though not as a player but the Villa physio), whilst Fred coasted back in the West Country.
Many players were approaching the end of their careers, and some came for the free ride - Beal, Kinnear, whilst other oldies like Machin, Burnett, Grimmitt, all contributed to the start of the onwards and upwards movement - as did Morgan and Martin (what happened to him?).
Others continued to play key parts as the team moved on up - Fell, Tiler, Wilson, Steve Piper who was around for 10 years (where is Tiger Towner in this list?), until they were replaced in the final drive towards the top division.
Ken Goodeve was an expensive signing who was absolutely awful - in the Farrington/Peake mould.
Peter Taylor seemed to like signing players in pairs - Fuschillo and McEwan from Blackpool;Govier and Rollings - pair of centre halves; Marlowe, Mason, Welch all from Derby? Most were just hard working, journeymen footballers. Apart form Sully, Towner, Spider and then Wardy no-one could really dribble past defenders.
No-one was allowed to get injured in the Clough days. We once played at York near the end of one season, and to save on hotel bills, the team travelled there and back the same day on the train (we lost!).
The second best Peter Taylor signing has to be Nobby Horton.

 

[catfish]

The pick of the crop were Grummitt, Burnett, Tiler, Wilson, Binney & Mellor. The rest were a mixture of journeymen and pure crap.

 

[u'vebeenamexed]

Stevie Piper was a good player who ended up playing park footie out Worthing way after going into Insurance - nice bloke.

Barry Butlin did indeed score the winner in a midweek rain lashed 1-0 win at Selhurst. 86 minutes of desperate defending followed his goal.

Sammy Morgan played with a snarl on his face due to him leaving out his front teeth when taking the pitch.

Fred Binney had a Mexican moustache and was chunky/fat - but a great goalscorer (bit like Micky Quinn)

Gerry Fell had a bullet shot on him - remember him scoring a few beauties at the end of the season when we just missed out on promotion (the one where we broke the bar at Aldershot)

Harry Wilson was a ginger haired left back who was a bit dodgy.He always saved his best performances for playing against superstar Peter Taylor of Palace - after 90 minutes Harry would let him out of his pocket.

The midfielders you list are somewhat forgettable.