Match of The 70s, Episode 01, 1970-71 season

First episode of this great series; first broadcast summer 1995.
I had to remove the background audio ('The Wonder of You') from the section discussing Bertie Mee, which explains the somewhat odd audio during this part of the video.

[@pseudonymman9382]

Great to see Dennis waterman who is brilliant at this, as he was with Lads Army. This is apart from being one of the best tv actors this country has ever produced RIP Dennis

[@billycrotty4102]

Before the game of football was stolen from the working class. Dennis Waterman 👌🏼

[@NoelPetty]

Still think this is some of Dennis Waterman’s best work - RIP

[@mnd1955]

I'll second that.

[@mikewest1542]

Cant beat Minder or the Sweeney !

[@gerryodonnell8333]

RIP DENNIS

[@mnd1955]

@@gerryodonnell8333 Sad news. One of my favourite actors. Apart from Minder and The Sweeney, he was great in the story about the first World Cup. All the great ones are going now.

[@stewartwest347]

@@mnd1955 Dennis Waterman does this show perfectly.

[@2989andyd1]

11:00 Peter Lorimer, Rest in Peace

[@manweller1]

Thanks for posting great series having flashbacks of a golden era

[@Freddieduda]

Outstanding series. The 70s were truly the best time for football. But l guess you had to be there.

[@faeembrugh]

Wow, Ray Kennedy won around19 cup and league medals in his career. He was a fantastic player who had such a tragic end.

[@anthonymooney8636]

Never got the credit he deserved Jimmy Greaves describe him as the player of the 70s

[@Truthseeker1515]

I remember as a teen. Even during the 1980s, the FA Cup Final was very special! It was the event of the season. Everyone was watching the match on TV. Tracking team buses to the Wembley Stadium. Then the rot set in. What has the game become!

[@user-xq2zn8bu9q]

I don't know but you're dead right mate. The FA Cup was special. 😢

[@markbeaver5321]

Unfortunately the foreign kabal saw football as a great way to wash the dirty money earned from drugs and/or arms dealing.

[@markbeaver5321]

The FA cup used to be a massive event, two channels of the tv had 'FA Cup specials' of many of the popular quiz/panel game shows of the day and, the teams were shown throughout the day from their hotels, through to their journeys from their hotels to Wembley Stadium.

[@user-te1hi9rx7b]

PRIZE money for winning the FA CUP is less than finishing bottom in the Premier League. They should take away the 4th spot quaifying for Champions League and give it to the FA CUP Winners

[@frogstamper]

Great walk down memory lane, all my childhood heroes come to life again, thanks for posting.

[@Mrdorf14]

This was before my time but 70s football and 70s sports in general were the best.

[@colindant3410]

A thousand thank yous. I turned 16 during the 1970-71 season. Happy days!

[@garyhatter6468]

This was when football was affordable fir everyone to watch. The comments regarding the cup final build up was so true. It was a whole day affair and something to really look forward to.

[@overlook237]

I remember as a kid getting Beano, Roy Of The Rovers etc, always a storyline about the cup final in the week before the game. It's pretty much a sideshow now sadly rather than an occasion to look forward to.

[@user-zc4yd9ss7h]

I won a ticket for the Cup Final and went along despite being a Spurs supporter, rooting for Liverpool as I wanted us to remain the only Double winners. Having seen Arsenal win the league at WHL the previous Monday, I was gutted at the end. But a great goal by Charlie George.

[@boychildnew1]

Dennis is right that not everything was better in the past (no personal computers then or the youtube we are all watching this on, etc) but some things definitely were - another thing that was better in the 70s (and the 60s) was music. listen to all the cool songs in this series. miles better than the rubbish thats popular now...

[@patrickmckay307]

I was brought upon Celtic ,Leeds Pele ,Bobby Moore was An unbelievably talented player and tactician .🕊

[@tancreddehauteville764]

R.I.P. Dennis Waterman. Great actor, both in the Sweeney and in Minder. Part of my childhood.

[@johnruby147]

The guy talking about Hillsbourgh , his words would come back to be proved correct 19 years later

[@BigBlack81]

I'm watching this for the first time and seeing those words are CHILLING. Just so...eerie, given history's benefit of hindsight.

[@mrkipling2201]

That’s crazy. And that guy was saying that before any fences were installed at hillsborough.

[@chrisevans5259]

I remember growing up as a kid ...cup final day was a massive occasion.....the telly on cup final day was devoted entirely to the big showpiece...the BBC and Itv would lock horn in battle to who could deliver the best buildup and coverage of the fa cup.....now it's treated as a no more than a distraction for the so called big boys of football.....and the tv coverage now is terrible,...miss the good old days

[@johndearden7931]

10 minutes after that cup final I was in a crash on my Lambretta GP200 and ended up in a coma for 6 days! Whenever I see Charlie George being picked up off the turf I remember that!

[@younglock5499]

well said pal.

[@kidmack1121]

Sound's marvelous!

[@neilconnolly485]

Spot on

[@russellnewton6660]

Chris Evans we even knew what they had for breakfast, because we were watching.

[@fisherpeter695]

Watched this look back at 1970-71 a few years ago, and now convinced this era leaves the Premier League standing. These great teams and players often played 42 league games and many cup ties each season, often on pitches like farmers fields. Many of todays forwards like to pass the ball into the net. And often miss out. Martin Chiver's , John Radford, Peter Lorimer and Peter Osgood showed how the finish with power and accuracy. Sadly this clip shows the game in the FA Cup semi final, coming 3 days after defeat in the European Cup on the away goal rule, that destroyed the great Everton team of the late 60s early 70s. It also shows the great character of the Arsenal team that won the double, with a well balanced side. I can recall their captain Frank Mc Lintock playing for Leicester City at Goodison Park in the early 60s. as a half back. And now here as a solid central defender. Having watched football since the later 1950s I believe the finance driven Premier League and Europa Cup have enriched thousands of mediocre overseas players who wouldn't hold a candle to these 70s counterparts, and destroyed the passion and occasion of the FA Cup, and excitement of the former First Division.

[@raygrange7312]

Watching with a smile on my face. Great times. And what an amazing team Leeds were.

[@Britonbear]

How much better were the shirts then without all the crappy flair on them?

[@adrianpilcher703]

Or Dirty Leeds to give them there proper title.

[@Uthred2801]

Dirty Bastards long life Brian Clough

[@user-xq2zn8bu9q]

​@@Uthred2801Brilliant & sure to cause some controversy. 😁

[@GavinWoods]

The quality of play in that Derby vs United game was amazing. For all the modern pitches you wouldn't get play as good as that today on that sort of a pitch.

[@pressureworks]

These Match of The 70s programs are addicting. Very well done. Just sad my team in this decade, was stuck in Div 2 and 3

[@billyhunt]

Just like my team, Bristol Rovers..

[@paulkirkwood]

Watching - and loving - the whole series. What memories. Thanks so much for posting.

[@alibobsmarland9572]

I remember all these matches. Fantastic era!

[@neilhinkinson652]

This should be shown again on TV better then rubbish we have watch on BBC now watch all the series it first time around in 1995.

[@lennylaa1686]

Wow! What a showpiece occasion the Cup Final used to be,..virtually the whole nation would come to a standstill.

[@davidtunnicliff5442]

it was a whole day.

[@lennylaa1686]

@@davidtunnicliff5442 Yes.

[@kevwhufc8640]

5he roads / streets were empty, yes m8 everything stopped FA cup day was the whole day.. Shit, I really really miss all that, football today VAR cant celebrate bc they cancel the goal all money & bullshit nowadays ..very sad , our game been taken over by corporate bollox , yanks n other people clueless about English footy owning English clubs & never attending. I love watching these , but I get sad & a little pissed off tbh.

[@MrAlwaysBlue]

Exactly. The 3rd round was also an exciting day as the minnows came up against the the 1st Division teams.

[@mossie8]

I used to live just off Commercial Road - constant traffic day and night - deadly quiet on Cup final day - both BBC and ITV covering the whole day. It was magic. Sky money ruined the game - and owners seeking to make more millions have ripped the heart out of my club.

[@davidross2212]

Thank you for reuploading this. Brilliant series.

[@paulthompson8996]

Thanks so much for uploading this, impossible to get hold of on DVD, don't know why the BBC don't release it, but at least a chance now to watch it again.

[@ericcollins8794]

Expensive music rights probably

[@paulthompson8996]

Yes, hadn't thought of that.

[@truecrimescotsman]

"in the days when Summers really were summers....." Here is 2022 we get 2 hot days and the BBC report the world is coming to an end.

[@billycrotty4102]

I thought just the same 😂

[@andisadler2897]

Happy days, i remember 77-78 my first game. I was too young to remember 70-71. I do remember my team, brilliant in late 60s, early 70s then mid 70s in crisis, crippled with debt from a new stand which almost killed the club,relegated,promoted,relegated again. Rebuilding went on early 80s, promoted again, then late 80s relegated and promoted again lol. Then throughout 90s overseas players turned up at the club, brilliant vice chairman Matthew Harding. The italian job! and trophies once again!. then in early 2000s champions league football, the arrival of a russian billionaire who paid all the debts and glory years-the rest is history(i got arm ache).

[@oliprj8676]

No managers complaining about 'too many games' in those days

[@gerryryan]

The FA in those days were very insular and wouldn't change league fixtures to accommodate teams playing in Europe. There were huge pile ups of matches at the end of the seasons. I remember Leeds in particular having to play something ridiculous like 10 games in a fortnight and playing League games the day after European ones. Any managers complaints were dismissed by the FA. who were all powerful in those days

[@ricorico6826]

I was Gobsmacked when I saw in the description that this was aired in 1995. Where do all the years go. This part of the 70s is before my time but well remember later 70s. My lads look at footy from this era and point out holes everywhere in defence and about the nieveness of teams but I remember there was more magic, it was a working man's game. I watch football now and I just don't feel the same love.

[@tonygunk8261]

Thats getting older mate. Everything was better when we were younger. To me football will never be as good as it was in the 80s and 90s. But todays youngsters will of course feel differently.

[@goffer43]

Terry McCann's car at the start of this show! A great "Minder" reference!

[@danw1374]

'Hit him terry'

[@scottfrancis2008]

RIP the 66 from Ibrox

[@tomduggan51]

Paul thanks indeed for providing this excellent series-most enjoyable for its football action added to by Dennis Waterman's narration!

[@williamdunlop97]

Ah the chance to relive some of the greatest haircuts of the day .... ah memories

[@peterlewis6820]

Amazing players then,All household names,The West Ham players were real great players as the others from that era,The 1966 World cup was great to watch but the 3 World cups in the 70s was the best football entertainment in my opinion.

[@mick6370]

When most teams had and could keep there star players some tremendous teams and players in them days who played for trophy's and not money like today.

[@1salop2]

I think that referee decision for West Brom in the 2-1 win at Leeds was spot on. Was a deflection off the West Brom player, not a pass to a team mate. Fair goal.

[@seanbonella]

RIP Peter Lorimar...Billy Bremner and Emlyn Hughes

[@williamjamesdeering-webb1656]

For weeks afterwards we tried to copy that Willie Carr, Ernie Hunt free kick!

[@cyclingmaniac6343]

I don't have many hero's but Bobby Moore was a role model as sportsman as a footballer and as an individual.💎

[@bertcert991]

Left his wife and family for an air stewardess so not perfect after all great player though

[@cyclingmaniac6343]

@@bertcert991 his kids were grown up when he left his wife and very few marriages last longer than 20 years +

[@bertcert991]

@@cyclingmaniac6343 it depends if you have any morals (43 years in case you were wondering)

[@cyclingmaniac6343]

@@bertcert991 sorry I didn't realise I was having a conversation with a sanctimonious little prat, who thinks they're perfect making baseless assertion, and no I wasn't wondering. Nothing could be further from my mind. I couldn't care less.

[@raydoherty1196]

Miss the atmosphere, getting proper autographs( not scribble), hard tackles, men being men, managers staying undercover during games, players not picking up injuries all the time, players not getting tired, players not cheating, watching players training, different playing surfaces, etc etc etc. Used to watch the odd Italian game on channel 4 and laugh at how the rolled about everytime they were tackled and thanked God the English game wasn't like that! Oh how things have changed.

[@mohdazmi10]

The Latin drama took over in English football.

[@raphaelrau1728]

Yeah the innocence has gone the quality of everything has improved massively! Football hasn’t lost its roots and spirit! We just kicked the fat cat owners super league out forever! I went to the big protest at Arsenal,and we will protest again!

[@DuderinoDeux]

Trust me, the Italian game in the 1980s was ferocious especially with the defenders. For most of the 90s the football in Italy was miles ahead of the rest.

[@danw1374]

@@DuderinoDeux Yes the Italians were very tough physical players back then who never shyed away from a tackle, even more so than our lot. Our then England team found that out!

[@statto74]

I found it odd that they failed to mention that Tottenham also won the league cup this year, I appreciate ITV had the footage but still a clean sweep for London clubs.

[@Kelly14UK]

Maybe Spurs won it in the first half of 1970? Scotland and England were forever shuffling the League Cup about.

[@statto74]

@@Kelly14UK no, end of Feb 71.

[@Kelly14UK]

@@statto74 Cool.

[@waynemoro8650]

We would go out after the Cup Final as kids and recreate the goals... Happy days....

[@johndempsey7528]

I played in the Chelsea vIpswich game where the Referee gave a goal when the ball went into the side netting.John Dempsey Chelsea Blue Is The Colour.

[@bendover9663]

Wow hello there🖐️

[@Trev359]

I remember you well. I was in the Shed End that day. That was so funny.

[@johndempsey7528]

Delboy359 Hi yes it was funny but the Ipswich players were not happy at all. Glad to hear you were in the Shed End that day as that was was where the best support was.

[@Trev359]

@@johndempsey7528 Yes, you're right. If I'd been an Ipswich fan I would have been fuming.

[@johnquinn5092]

John what did you make of playing at Goodson Park?

[@fortheloveofmusic860]

Great stuff. Most remarkable to me are players not overexacurating goal celebrations. And don't all the players look like in their 30s? Football at it best.

[@shellsbignumber2]

Aghhh those were the days.

[@GirGir183]

10:40 Leeds in red shirts!!! Now I've seen it all.

[@mick6370]

Great header by Jones look at the power and angle of that goal.

[@garyhewitt489]

Ah when midfielders were all maestro's, dynamos schemers or playmakers Or dirty psychotic hitmen!

[@benellis9665]

The Leeds riot was interesting. The goal would certainly stand today. The move might not have got that far today because Leeds wouldn't have stopped, but I like to think the referee was about 40 years ahead of his time. :)

[@TelexToTexel]

All teams suffered alike, Arsenal lost to a penalty given at Huddersfield, which clearly shows that the Arsenal player suspected of handling the ball was outside the penalty area.

[@waldemarkoziarczyk5018]

Those were wonderful and magical years.

[@paulwebb6087]

@@TelexToTexel Stoke were cheated in semi final with Arsenal who scored when clearly offside when linesman mistook a paper seller in white coat for Stoke defender and goal was alloiwed

[@TelexToTexel]

@@paulwebb6087 Too bad it wasn't this season, Stoke has just announced an all black away kit, would never be mistaken for a paper sell in a white coat !

[@Liofa73]

The 70s where pitches were only properly playable for maybe 3 weeks! :)

[@TennisWithDennis]

Fantastic!

[@colinjennings3661]

Don Howe. This dinosaur held English football back for 20 years.

[@jeannotschumacher1024]

Bullshit

[@mrjones29]

8:35 Did these Arsenal players of old even get a caution let alone an FA ban for verbally attacking the ref like that in the tunnel? Did they hell, typical bloody Arsenal.

[@krisfarmer4751]

That footage was from at least two years earlier You can tell by the fact that Bobby Gould was there and by the socks worn by the team

[@lewisgreen1633]

I’ve seen that footage before. The Arsenal players acted like a pack of rabid animals...

[@jeannotschumacher1024]

Hahahaha. Not enough verbally attacking

[@MrAlwaysBlue]

6:40 VAR today would take 3 minutes to review that, and the pundits would disagree on the outcome

[@kennethmarshall306]

That was the problem with the old metal stanchions. For an example of one that DID go in and the ref didn't give it, youtube Partick Thistle v Dundee Utd: Worst decision made by a football referee ever !

[@HampsteadOwl]

Wrong to say that Bertie Mee "never kicked a ball in anger in his life". He did, in fact, have a short playing career, but it was cut short by injury.

[@TheNuovaman]

When football grounds were churches to the club and not corperate shopping precincts.

[@truecrimescotsman]

When the middle class gets control of working class pursuits it always ends up in ruin.

[@garyowens4269]

I loved football back then.

[@jimmyandtheresurrection7247]

The times when missing a penalty was a shame.

[@frankmachin5438]

Yeah cos in them days the ‘keeper couldn’t move till you’d kicked it....now as long as you don’t come off your line the ‘keeper can just about do as they please...

[@peterlewis6820]

Liverpool used to sing you'll never walk alone,United fans used to sing "you'll never walk again".

[@ceramiart]

Typical FA knee-jerk reaction to the "Donkey kick" free kick. Brilliant execution, taken hours of practice on the training field, but it's not football, let"s ban it!

[@Veaseify]

It was banned by FIFA, not the FA - Willie Carlin touched the ball with both feet before Hunt hit it, that is illegal

[@seltaeb3302]

Refs do their utmost to run a match full of players up to their tricks. That intro by Arsenal players & Don Howe was apalling. The Ref & Linesman got paid next to nothing & also had a day job whilst players done some training then fc-uk off home pub bookies. They should have went on strike & say you ref your games. Mind you Jack Taylor would take none of that agro. They knew Jack was a copper & stood no mucking about. Things are better now.

[@flemingcourt]

Who knew that Eric Idle was such a good commentator?

[@dwho19951]

I hope the background audio must be restored at some stage for that video because it's important to do that?

[@danw1374]

20:39 Just as tony green scored that goal for blackpool a fan goes flying over the advertisement hoardings lol too funny

[@Britonbear]

Such a shame that Tony Green's career was cut short. Great player to watch.

[@paulwebb6087]

Superb Stoke Big John Ritchie, Jimmy Greenhoff , Terry Conroy etc

[@nikandroskyriacou4023]

Brilliant series, any chance of adding all the years in this decade?

[@sitruunasitruuna-no2rm]

i like it my fav teams in england are chelsea. leeds and newcastle united

[@rudenonsbaglia]

It's not soccer, it's Football!

[@stev1963hit]

Back then it was commonly known as soccer too-dunno why people forget that

[@Suve35967]

As a M Utd fan,we were crap then as we are now,but i still prefered football then,more passion.

[@mrkipling2201]

Dan Smith definitely agree about the football. Mind you from the 2nd division season in 74/75 until the doc got sacked we played some great football.

[@Suve35967]

@@mrkipling2201 True.. crowd's of 63,500..in Div 2...Div 1never got.......,....Pearson...scores...hand up..clenched fist. 🙂

[@mrkipling2201]

Dan Smith that home game against Sunderland in the 2nd division. What an atmosphere.

[@Suve35967]

@@mrkipling2201 True but if I remember right a 0-0 draw

[@mrkipling2201]

Dan Smith no that game we won 3-2

[@stephentrout7879]

Ol' Careless Hands at his best against Colchester xD

[@JamesRichardTaylor]

One thing that is immediately striking is opposition fans clapping for the other teams goals. A custom once common but died out during the 70's as grounds (and society) became a lot less civil.

[@stingray4real]

RIP Dennis Waterman

[@lewisgreen2957]

I miss those orange footballs..

[@raygrange7312]

Those were good times.

[@Trev359]

They didn't mention the fact that on the highlights of the cup final the following day it was proven that George Graham didn't touch the ball for the winning goal. Eddie Kelly scored it.

[@jeannotschumacher1024]

That is wrong. But you had to look closely and in slowmotion.

[@user-li4ih2lj4j]

Ultimate football total football the best of all of Time

[@paulvenis2676]

No prima Dona,s posers or divers in those days. Just proper men when football was a man’s game.

[@neilnelmar8007]

Yet you have people saying football in the 70s and 80s was amateurish , utterly nonsensical

[@Trev359]

Exactly. Ability improves with each generation and better training facilities so you would expect today's players to be better but to say players of those days were amaterish is stupid. Players those days adapted to muddy pitches and icey pitches, didn't dive or try to get players sent off. No-one complained about a build up of fixtures. Today's players and young managers are a bunch of prima donas.

[@mohdazmi10]

Martin Chivers played well for Spurs and England until that Poland match in 1973. He never recovered from that traumatic experience. Sad but true.

[@martinwilliamdavies7977]

Don Howe's boy's. His Sistine chapel of football.. Apart from Wimbledon of course. The Best, God bless the crazy gang.

[@killercd7682]

Well that was interesting...

[@kennethmarshall306]

25:14 Strange looking Goodison Park.

Those over packed stadiums = Frightening!

Snowflake...

....born in the 50s you twat!

[@sitruunasitruuna-no2rm]

i wishd id had some day capri green

[@briancoburn6903]

Where's John Dempsey's goal for Chelsea in the Cup Winners Cup Final?? Great goal.

[@stephentrout7879]

Why is there contriversy? Sugget wasn't offside and Astle ran from his own half when Hunter booted it against Sugget. edit: I got all the names wrong oops.

[@danpreston564]

Suggett was a couple of yards off and under the rules of the time should have been given offside.

[@stephentrout7879]

@@danpreston564 I got the names wrong, Tony brown is who hunter boots it against and runs up the pitch and Sugget is the guy standing in leeds half offside but did everyone assume that once Hunter boots it against Brown it makes Sugget offside? Did he move towards the ball? (which you cant see out of shot) I dont understand why everyone stopped. It is because the linesman flagged so they all just assumed it was offside? The referee correctly overruled the linesman but I dunno *shrugs*

[@danpreston564]

Stephen Trout you have to watch it with the idea of how the offside law was applied in the early 70s. Suggett, standing in the offside position would have been given offside 99 times out of 100 in those days, moving towards the ball or not.

[@stephentrout7879]

@@danpreston564 Ok just because he was there, in an offside position, thanks for saying. (:

[@Britonbear]

@@stephentrout7879 The rules were different then. You could excuse a player being offside if he wasn't 'interfering with play' but that was quite rare; particularly for a player in the centre of the pitch like that.

[@Theraiman616]

Colchesther winning against leeds is something i would like to see again

[@dowdallerno1]

Great series . Shud be repeated.🍀😎✊😉

[@112sje]

If England had air-tech shirts in Mexico for the World Cup, surely Liverpool should not have had to play the FA Cup final in heavy long-sleeved shirts, as confirmed by Emlyn.

[@pressureworks]

6:54 The referee was a plonked.

[@lennylaa1686]

Best ''high kick'' against Banks was correctly given as a foul. But narrator Dennis Waterman nor indeed commentator David Coleman does not make clear @ 38-40,..the ref's ''bad decision'' was clearly a blatant handball by Francis Lee in the initial build up to the England goal. An obvious foul. If only we could get those Home Internationals back again, anyone agree?

[@gunternetzer9621]

No way did Best foul Banks - the ball was out of his hands.

[@lennylaa1686]

@@gunternetzer9621 No...in the old days, it was always the case that the keeper was given a fair chance to drop kick to clear the ball so anything approaching '' a high kick'' ie ''foot up'' was given as a foul...otherwise ALL strikers would try it on so it was seen as an unfair advantage. I'm sure the same applies today.

[@jimmyandtheresurrection7247]

The great bobby Moore. The media as usual making themselves a nuisance.

[@BlueSkiesAbove39]

Leeds United playing in red shirts???

[@robertboyle2573]

I think that was blood.

[@ingetesdal8634]

A team can still lose 5-0 to Stoke, and yet become double winners

[@bobwallacejnr6852]

17-53?? was that a premonition.

[@danw1374]

Certainly very creepy given what happened 19 years later. As always though it's only when tragedy occurs do authorities decide to act.

[@adrianpilcher703]

Had to go through Bradford and Heysel, and Spurs v Wolves Semi. There were plenty of warnings

[@andrewwebster2598]

Haha Spurs score at Leeds and no one jumps up to celebrate. Did Spurs not do away games?