Wolves v Manchester United, 16th September 1972

Highlights of a First Division match between Wolves and Manchester United on 16th September 1972.
The 1972-73 season showcased the abilities of the Wolves team with a 5th placed finish in the league and semi-final appearances in both the FA and League Cups. The season was also a personal success for Wolves striker John Richards. His 36 League and Cup goals were suitably rewarded with the Young Player of the Year award for 1973 and also a cap for England at the end of the season. Richards had formed a highly successful partnership with Derek Dougan and 'The Doog' contributed 17 league and cup goals for the season.
The Wolves strikers were supported by a highly capable midfield, led by inspirational captain Mike Bailey, with the very efficient Jim McCalliog as Bailey's partner in the centre of midfield and the creative talents of left winger Dave Wagstaffe and Kenny Hibbitt on opposite flanks. Wolves were fortunate to have good cover in reserve in Barry Powell, the versatile Alan Sunderland and the enigmatic Danny Hegan, but Bill McGarry's team were at full strength for the match against United.
Frank O'Farrell's Manchester United team had begun the 1972-73 season disastrously and, prior to the match with Wolves, were bottom of the First Division with no wins in the opening eight matches of the season. Against Wolves, United included six of the team that had beaten Benfica in the 1968 European Cup with goalkeeper Alex Stepney, Tony Dunne, David Sadler, Bobby Charlton, George Best and Brian Kidd all in O'Farrell's team at Molineux. However, despite such pedigree United's poor run continued and, with the team still occupying a relegation position in the league, O'Farrell was sacked following a 5-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on 19th December 1972. His replacement was Tommy Docherty and he subsequently guided United to survival with a finish of 18th in the league.
Originally broadcast by ATV Star Soccer with commentary provided by Hugh Johns.

[@Wolvesfan-oz6yh]

How on earth didnt John Richards get 80 caps for England. He was so tidy, a beautiful footballer., almost perfect.

[@stephendines1936]

Dougan was a super star.

[@limedickandrew6016]

Listening to Hugh Johns commentating, always brings back such fond memories of Star Soccer on ITV on Sunday back in the seventies. Such a great decade to grow up in, as I did.

[@1061andy]

brilliant goal from the Doog - he was quite a player

[@joe-vl3nd]

The Doug will always be king of the Molieunix 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Paul_Lucas]

4:19 Richards looked miles offside - back then of course he doesn't need to be near or receiving the ball to be - but if you pause you see it's a perfectly timed run and an excellent call by the lino.

[@kennylees2939]

I was a 15 year old school boy from Walsall went to see best Charlton only time I ever seen em live.was Impressed and went to wolves few times later through the years . although always Walsall popped now and again watch then division 1 teams

[@richardsharpe2966]

That Wolves side of the 70's was a good team but needs two other extra special plays that would have won a lot of cups they only won the league cup which was a great shame

[@explosion009]

Who cares about offside,it was my first match with me dad,,happy days

[@caractacusbrittania7442]

That wolves team was a great bunch, Parkin, parks, mcalliog, Wagstaffe, mcall , daly Kenny hibbit, the doog, John Richards, Loved watching them as a kid from the north bank (the cow shed) Much later saw Emlyn Hughes score an own goal when he played for Liverpool against wolves, then much later when he played for wolves they won the league cup against forest, Hughes lifted the trophy, and won the only medal that was missing in his trophy cabinet.

[@craigedwards1132]

Nice to see no pushing and shoving during corner kicks

[@mnd1955]

I was at that game and have still got the programme. Very poor performance from the whole team bar Stepney that day. Just from the clip, you can see the lack of cohesion and you know it's bad when Bobby Charlton can't make a simple 10 yard pass. Wolves weren't a bad team back then though and played some nice football. Dougan was always a menace to any defence.

[@wanderer6664]

I was 12 days old when this was played.

[@peterh1353]

Bobby Charlton - one of the greatest footballers this country ever produced, but however good your technique if you smoke, drink and go home at mid-day you can never be better than this in your mid thirties.

[@blueringer3092]

Rip Tony dunne 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@TheGlassman63]

The orange ball makes it more difficult to see for the viewer. Thought they only used them on snowy days.

[@TheWelwyn21]

It was my 15th birthday I think I went to arsenal play Liverpool although I am Chelsea fan, that's what you could do back in the day. I saw villa win the league at Highbury in 1980 . I do miss going to football when you could just turn up and go and watch any game. Best was useless, Charlton was too old

[@timothyfarrell5240]

Saw them play in New Zealand against Auckland

[@MrLawman10]

united were a poor side then, george best going awol, an ageing bobby charlton and an injury plauged denis law, the glory days were a long way off, having said that i never missed a home game and went to my share of away games that year, it was torture.

[@danielschofield6985]

and they're a poor side now

[@jerryoshea3116]

Even an average game(and this was'nt one of them!)was better than todays phony,pampered BS(which i still watch llike some kind of addict). And i was trying to think of the name of this Commentator?He had a great voice,and excellent turn of phrase..Very subtle, and economical with his observations.

[@MarkAntony]

Hugh Johns was the commentator, in the days before co-commentators, who now interupt at every second, with gibberish tactical nonsense!

[@ysgol3]

Bobby Charlton TODAY moves faster than he does here !

[@Mayhemdog]

What's with the orange ball in September?

[@baggierols73]

4:20 it's Wolves's, Leeds v WBA 1971 offside goal moment 😂

[@garrywood5345]

Never Easy Seeing The Great 60s Team..descending into Decline. Where was Buchan?

[@vordman]

Charlton was clearly passed it and Best anonymous. Stepney "earnt his corn" though. Haha.

[@limedickandrew6016]

@@vordman Think it was Charltons final season at Man Utd. As for Best, at this stage in his football career, he was more interested in birds and booze!

[@HandleGF]

The Doc kicked the old passengers off the bus, improved the fitness of the rest and only got relegated in 1973-74 cos he had no strikers worth the name. Eight first-choice players from that relegation season were still regulars in his glory years, 1975-77. He bought a few decent forwards and put Macari and McIlroy back in midfield cos they could run around all day (AND score more goals from there).

[@johnhawkins6506]

A rarity as it's normally utd who get the decisions go their way!!

[@thebeatnumber]

Even back then?

[@richardsharpe2966]

Within a few weeks Jim McCalliog would be at Old Trafford then in 76 won an FA Cup winners medal with Southampton

[@tigerarmyrule]

Poor passing from Bobby Charlton and George Best off in a world of his own not remotely interested. Awful days at Man Utd.

[@richardgarratt8788]

ti gerarmyrule

[@richardgarratt8788]

tigerarmyrule please. mmm

[@mohdazmi10]

a mediocre season for MU...

[@vordman]

Haha, that Richard's goal was the most offside goal I've ever seen!

[@ivrishcon-abarth38]

Before I was born, but any day ManUr´s lose is a good day!

[@MarkAntony]

Worst Manchester United team post WW2.

[@larryjenson8368]

The good old days when all the players were White.

[@paxvobiscum777]

poor pathetic excuse for a humanbeing.

[@baggierols73]

You're only saying that 'cus ya Mrs likes the Heath Town blacks inside her 😮