The Large One
Who's Next?
Is Henry Hughton still alive, or is he rotting, as he deserves to be, in some foetid ditch drinking untreated raw camel piss for a treat?
I must have seen them all since 74/75.
Those big games in the 70's were something else with huge away support for each team. When you are away you tend to stick together more.
you couldn't help but have 'butterflies' when these games came around, not just for the rivalry on the pitch but mainly for the air on menace and the real chance that this would be the match when you'd get thumped or arrested but, being as lad of a certain age, you just had to be there.
Like others have said, I'm glad to have experinced that excitement but I'm also glad that the rivalry is not so fierce now. You can shout, swear and make gestures during the game but the chances of getting hit by a brick or getting into a real riot have, hopefully, gone.
Questions, you may well think that but I couldn't possibly comment.
A few years ago I had what should have been a proud moment of going to Selhurst with 2 of my lads & 3 nephews. It just would happen to be 'that' match.
Still, the following game, the 1-0 win, made up for it and, I think, was our best performance at Selhurst.
that was 1st derby match and it was in 76! mellor scored right at the end!I know it wasn`t at Selhurst but I remember the game when the rivalry really started in 74 or 75. It was the 1-0 game when Mellor scored before 26 k and Palace took the north stand before the game punching loads of young lads, the sort who would get in the ground early to get on a barrier or near the front. Strangely enough the Palace hard nuts spent most of the game huddling in a corner behind the police once Brighton had got together.
I have never forgotten how cowardly they behaved that day. Got there comeuppence outside as well.
Sorry, it was the 1st match of the season, August, and it was 74/75 or just poss 75/76 but was def NOT 76/77.
Most of the interest came from the 2 managers, Clough & Allison, who were regular ITV pundits, but Clough left before the start of the season (so must have been 74/75) & the 'real' Peter taylor was our manager.