[Football] Were the 70s and 80s the golden era of football?

[Shooting Star]

Hi all,

History Indoors is an organisation run by researchers from the University of Essex providing free history talks to the general public during the lockdown on Zoom. Our next talk on Wednesday looks at whether the pre-Premier League 1970s and 80s was a golden era or not. Terracing and affordable ticket prices versus racism and hooliganism?

This might be particularly enjoyable for Albion fans. Do you look back on pre-PL football with fondness?

The talk is at 2pm and 7pm on Wednesday 1st July. You can find out more and sign up here: https://historyindoors.co.uk/talk/the-golden-age-english-football-before-the-prem/

 

[Leekbrookgull]

So subjective,Ward 4/Mellor3. Case at Highbury. Robbie at Hereford. Stuart the week before and the list goes on.Good Luck.

 

[Napper]

late 80s / early 90s the best.

Players getting more professional but still had the Tuesdays clubs and still a bit tasty between fans

 

[Eeyore]

So subjective,Ward 4/Mellor3. Case at Highbury. Robbie at Hereford. Stuart the week before and the list goes on.Good Luck.

You've just aged us all another ten years.

 

[JJ McClure]

Terracing and cheap tickets are nice but hooliganism, Heysel, Hillsborough, Bradford City, and rampant racism would suggest that it wasn't a particularly golden era.

 

[Eeyore]

FA Cup semi-final 1984.

Put the noise on. Notice something happen whilst John Barnes is on the ball...

The way we were.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm1no4eP0DU

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Calling [MENTION=34942]Dr. No[/MENTION]

 

[Eeyore]

It was of its time. I grew up with it. But it's much better now, Excepting that the commercial side has created more division. There are less rags to riches.

That said, teams still bought their way to the top flight.

 

[lawros left foot]

So subjective,Ward 4/Mellor3. Case at Highbury. Robbie at Hereford. Stuart the week before and the list goes on.Good Luck.

We had never heard of Archer, Bellotti and Stanley in the 70s and 80s. The Goldstone was stolen in 97, so, the OPs question is pertinent.

 

[Palacefinder General]

Great for racism and cut up pitches.

Bin this thread off to the bear pit immediately!

 

[GT49er]

For me they were. But there again, for me the 70s and 80s were the golden years for so many things back then!

 

[Sheebo]

FA Cup semi-final 1984.

Put the noise on. Notice something happen whilst John Barnes is on the ball...

The way we were.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm1no4eP0DU

Absolutely shocking

 

[GREASED WEASEL]

Derby,Forest,Everton & Villa winning the league

Forest & Villa winning the European Cup

Man Utd in Div 2

Sunderland & Southampton genuine shocks winning the FA Cup

England v Scotland games were massive

Modern day football is massively overrated as illustrated last night watching Burnley against Watford

 

[Weststander]

We had never heard of Archer, Bellotti and Stanley in the 70s and 80s. The Goldstone was stolen in 97, so, the OPs question is pertinent.

Arrangements for the land theft, and personally profiting from it, were hatched in 93.

 

[lawros left foot]

I loved football in the 70s and 80s, but, I’m not sure if that was just because I was young then. The Albion were great to support in those days, mainly good football, quite a lot of success, hoodoo sign over Palace for the majority of those 2 decades , beer was relatively cheap, big crowds, good atmosphere.
Generally though, English football wasn’t that great. We had , as a nation huge success in Europe, but, we were pretty crap on the international front. Hooliganism and racism were a blight on the game, but, if you weren’t an ethnic minority, it wasn’t thought to be much of a problem. The hoolies could usually be avoided, with a bit of street smarts and sometimes luck, unless you wanted a ruck yourself. The 3 big football disasters of those 2 decades did give birth to a lot of improvements across the game, and led to the driving out of the thugs.? I believe even the European ban was a good thing, as it did lead to the authorities having to face the reality of just how far down football had sunk in this country.

I would love to have seen players like Best, Marsh Curry, Bowles etc play on today’s pitches, with today’s scientific approach to training, and the modern diets. How good would they be today?

 

[CliveWalkerWingWizard]

During lockdown I have watched quite a few of the old fa cup and league games, quality of football is terrible on the most part. Add in hooliganism and racism, the answer is no. The only problem with today’s game is the money aspect, granted that is a very big problem.

 

[Dr. No]

Our next talk on Wednesday looks at whether the pre-Premier League 1970s and 80s was a golden era or not.

Calling [MENTION=34942]Dr. No[/MENTION]

No.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

During lockdown I have watched quite a few of the old fa cup and league games, quality of football is terrible on the most part. Add in hooliganism and racism, the answer is no. The only problem with today’s game is the money aspect, granted that is a very big problem.

Some of the football was just awful. Watched an fa cup final , that while it had flashes of skill was mostly a succession of balls lumped forward and misplaced passes. Modern football looks like its from a differemt planet in comparison.

 

[studio150]

Mud fields for pitches
Dirty Leeds kicking lumps out of everyone
Hoof football
Needing a sixth sense to avoid violence
Racism
Getting drowned on open terraces
Guaranteed food poisoning if you ate any food at the ground

Yep great times

 

[blue-shifted]

Football better now

Supporter experience better then

As for the racism. Fair enough comments on here. I have to say I didn't notice it that much or maybe at that age and at that time I wasn't as disgusted as I am now, so don't ever remember my day out being ruined by it. It was only about 5 years ago, we seriously put homophobia on the same level as racism.