Those were the days.

[owl sees all]

How times have changed!

 

There is little doubt the game has changed a great deal. Has it improved though?

 

The days when footballers were asked to play three times a week, in mud up to their ankles, are indeed gone. The days when footballers were injured, but played on for the team, are gone. Some rules have changed too. There are now red and yellow cards and substitutions. And the constant fiddling with the offside law has led to many a controversy. VAR; don't even get started on that. That has certainly altered the beautiful game. But what hasn't changed is the pitch. Still the same shape. still the same markings. Eleven players on opposing sides, and three official, is still the order of the day. But those basics aside, the game in England is far different to yesteryear; but in different ways.

 

Remember the orange ball? Rolled out, occasionally now, but at virtually every ground during a past season. They are now a collector's piece. And, if you have one autographed by some well known players - like Steve Gerrard - you are rich.

 

 

Jack Kelsey played for the Gunners. In one match, a steward wandered over to him as he kept goal. Jack was astonished to meet the guy. And even more to hear what he said. ''Jack, the games been abandoned.'' True enough. He was the only player on the pitch. Couldn't happen nowadays.

 

 

And here's the goalie in clearer view.

 

 

''What do you most recall about that day Jack?''

''When I finally got to the dressing room the lads were all drinking mugs of hot tea. I got a cheer when I walked in.'' ''Who said he went up the pub!'' One of his team-mates quipped.'

 

Poor light, snow, mud and atrocious conditions. Those were expected back then.

 

 

Back in those days; rain was definitely wetter.

 

 

A drop of the wet stuff didn't stop the games. In fact the only match I went to, that was abandoned; was at Brisbane Road when the lightening got a bit too violent; and close.

 

Tom Finney showing off his water-skiing.

 

 

Next post; ''Mud, mud, glorious mud.''

[champers]

Sunderland fans at Wigan in 88. All seater stadiums? Pfft!

 

 

[champers]

The notorious Baseball Ground at Derby.

 

[owl sees all]

3 hours ago, champers said:

The notorious Baseball Ground at Derby.

 

Certainly a mud heap that.

[Nick Carter icp]

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

 

 

 

 

   There are two football players in that photo 

[owl sees all]

42 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   There are two football players in that photo 

Recognise the stadium?

 

The terracing profile and dog track give it away.

[champers]

57 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Recognise the stadium?

 

The terracing profile and dog track give it away.

Chelsea.

[roo860]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Certainly a mud heap that.

Alan Hudson for Stoke, he was some player!!!!!

Greenoff was no slouch!!

Edited October 3 by roo860

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Recognise the stadium?

 

The terracing profile and dog track give it away.

 

   Stamford Bridge

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Recognise the stadium?

 

The terracing profile and dog track give it away.

 

   Who is the other plyer in the photo ?

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Who is the other player in the photo ?

The best pic I've found was in The Guardian paper.

 

 

Another at The Bridge. More recent. Chelsea v Bolton.

 

[champers]

This statue outside Deepdale.

 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Who is the other plyer in the photo ?

 

   Wally Bellett playing for Chelsea 

[owl sees all]

9 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Wally Bellett playing for Chelsea 

 

''Named the sports photograph of the year, the ‘splash’ image as it came to be known stars the legendary Tom Finney sliding on a waterlogged Stamford Bridge pitch, with Bellett behind the wall of water thrown up. It was the inspiration for a statue and fountain outside Preston’s Deepdale ground.''

 

Quote taken from https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/wally-bellett-1933-2022

[champers]

Regarding that orange ball pic in the OP: that is Bangor City v Liverpool in a friendly on 27th Jan 1979. Liverpool captain is Emlyn Hughes, his dad was a Welsh rugby player, by the by.

The match was played to give Liverpool some game time when many fixtures were postponed because of the wintry weather accross the country. Liverpool didn't play a single league game in January.

Readers may recall that the UK was in the midst of "the Winter of discontent" with heavy snow that wasn't shifted because of strikes by local government workers. In May Maggie Thatcher won her first General Election.

Sources: Google.

 

[owl sees all]

Until quite recently, a muddy pitch was quite acceptable. The change - at least as far as the top flight was concerned - was the formation of the EPL. There were quite defined rules on pitches. Suddenly the Head Groundsman was recognised as being more important than the tea-lady.

 

But back in the day; mad was quite acceptable. Champers has (earlier post) pointed to the Baseball ground mud heap.

 

 

But being a Londoner, and not often able to travel outside the capital, meant that I saw the worst mud on the London pitches.

 

The big three were; QPR, Charlton and The Bridge. QPR overcame it, as did Luton, with plastic turf. That soon died a death however.

 

Sturdy boots and shin pads were essential wear.

 

 

A couple of Charlton pics.

 

 

 

QPR.

 

 

What's going on at the Bridge?

 

 

Away from London it must have been just the same. Here, Leicester are trialing their new soil spiker.

 

 

Man City, Spurs and Black Cats played on one of the worst pitches ever. The ground-staff, in Hong Kong, were famed for over-watering the playing area. They played in a close-season tournament in 2013

 

Here, Negredo (Man City forward) tries cooling the blood. As the Flanders and Swann song goes.

 

 

And the Hippos would be quite at home in this European ground.

 

 

Next post; snow and ice, and all things nice.

Edited October 5 by owl sees all

[Dancer57]

Great post!

I played amateur football in these conditions - Those were the days🤣

[owl sees all]

21 minutes ago, Dancer57 said:

Great post!

I played amateur football in these conditions - Those were the days🤣

I played amateur and some semi-pro until retiring at 42. I was getting injuries and couldn't shake them off. Got a groin injury, in Lincolnshire somewhere, and it stayed with me all season. Time to stop.

 

There was a match in Hainault. It was wet and muddy. I was watching the game and a player went off injured. They had no sub on hand (although at that time there was none allowed in the higher levels). I had my kit in the car boot and offered to take his place. Accepted by all. The ref came over and said not to head the ball. Well; I plain forgot. Nearly knocked myself out.

 

The dizziness stayed with me for days. I couldn't drive home. Good job the wife was with me. Who was still a learner. Never heard the end of it.

 

Edited October 5 by owl sees all