Nr. 494

SIR MATT SAYS GOODBYE – AGAIN (1971)

With a wave and to the deafening cheers of the adoring faithful, Sir Matt Busby stepped down for the last time as Manchester United manager. It was a case of déjà vu for Busby as two years earlier – after 23 eventful years that included the Munich air crash and the 1968 European Cup win – he had handed coaching duties to Wilf McGuinness. His retirement was brief as in December 1970, with McGuinness sacked, United’s directors invited him to take over again until the end of the season. After his second retirement Busby was a club director until 1982. He died in 1994.

Sir Matt had seen it all with United – tragedy at Munich to triumph in Lisbon. The road leading to Old Trafford is named in his honour.

Nr. 493

EUROPE’S LAST LOOK AT THE WORLDCUP (1971)

Brazilian superstar Pelé gave adoring soccer crowds in Europe a last look at the original Jules Rimet trophy before Brazil kept it for good. The summer of 1970 had seen Brazil beat Italy to become world champions for the third time and world governing body FIFA gave the trophy in perpetuity in recognition of this incredible feat. The dazzling style of the South Americans – epitomized by the talents of Pelé, Gerson, Vava, Garrincha, Jaizinho and Rivelino – won the cup in 1958 in Sweden, 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico, a winning run interrupted only by England’s 1966 win.

Pelé in Paris as part of Brazil’s whirlwind European tour before this particular Jules Rimet trophy returned to South America for good.

Nr. 492

AJAX’S FIRST STEPS TO EUROPEAN DOMINATION (1971)

Dick van Dijk’s goal after just five minutes in the 1971 European Cup final put Dutch champions Ajax on the road to establishing a European supremacy that was to last until 1973. On 2 June 1971, before a capacity 80,000 at London’s Wembley Stadium, van Dijk’s strike and a second from Arie Haan after 87 minutes put the Amsterdam club’s hands on the European Cup for the first time. It would be another two years – and two more European Cup wins – before their grip on it was broken. A five-year dynasty of Dutch ‘total football’ had been hastened in the year before when rivals Feyenoord had won the coveted trophy. Sandwiched between the goals at the two extremes of the game, Ajax dazzled to show their commitment to exciting football. Under the midfield generalship and flair of Johan Cruyff, Ajax set their stall out for future seasons and assured him a place among the best European players of the era.

Ajax captain Velibor Vasovic holds up the European Cup.

Nr. 491

GENTO ENDS ON A LOSING NOTE (1971)

Even the most fanatical Chelsea fan was able to spare a thought for the lonely figure of Francisco Gento disappearing down the tunnel as he left the football stage for the last time. After two decades as a legendary figure in international football he walked into retirement a defeated man. The fast, skilful Real Madrid winger with six 1950s and 196os European Cup medals to his name left Athens’ Stadium Karaiskaki empty-handed after British club Chelsea beat Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final. In a two-legged final, the teams first drew 1-1 before Chelsea claimed their first European trophy with a 2-1 win in the second leg.

Nr. 490

BEST ADDS CHEEK TO HIS REPERTOIRE (1971)

George Best won the biggest ovation of an unexciting May 1971 Northern Ireland v England international for a cheeky trick that was to cement further his ‘Will of the Wisp’ reputation. Best, always trying to innovate, pulled a fast one on Gordon Banks as the legendary England goalkeeper was about to punt upfield from his penalty area. In the split second the ball was between Banks’ hand and foot, Best nipped in and flicked it over the keeper’s head. In a flash he skirted the keeper and popped the ball into the net, only for the referee to disallow the goal, citing «dangerous play». England won 1-0.

Though he was never to grace the world stage with his country, Best proved his international class – as well as his cheek – against England.

Nr. 489

CHARLIE TAKES HIS ADULATION LYING DOWN (1971)

Talented Arsenal striker Charhe George claims, rather over-modestly, that he is more famous, certainly among supporters of other teams, for lying down on the celebrated turf of Wembley Stadium than for anything else. The iconic photograph of his goal celebration in the 1971 FA Cup final was flashed around the world and over 30 years on the mere mention of George’s name can still conjure up the image. Lying down, arms outstretched on the green turf, George was ecstatic at scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 extra-time Cup final win against Liverpool. Pictured soaking up the elation of the fans and his team-mates alike, his heartfelt expression of joy has become part of football folklore.
George had recovered from a broken ankle to play a significant part in Arsenal’s 1970-71 Football League championship success and helped clinch Arsenal’s first League and FA Cup double. George went on to make 179 appearances for Arsenal and scored 49 goals for the Gunners.

Frank Mclintock, George Graham and Charlie George milk the applause from the Arsenal faithful.

Nr. 488

TRAGEDY RETURNS TO IBROX (1971)

The number 13 lived up to its grim reputation as 66 people were killed at the home of Glasgow Rangers. As departing fans packed stairway 13 at the end of a match with city rival Celtic, barriers collapsed leading to an appalling death toll. A fan caught up in the crush said, «Around me I could hear shouting and cries, but as time went on – I was trapped for at least 45 minutes – these decreased until it was almost silent.» The 2 January 1971 disaster remains the worst in the history of Scottish football and a later inquiry blamed crowd momentum for the tragedy.

The grim sight of bodies laid out at Ibrox – the second time the ground had witnessed a major disaster in the twentieth century.

Nr. 487

SEAGULL MEETS ITS MATCH (1970)

One of the more bizarre mementoes in any football club’s trophy cabinet is in the Netherlands, and it’s a stuffed seagull. On 15 November 1970 thousands witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime event as a goalkeeper’s kick blasted a passing seagull out of the sky at the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam. Home keeper Eddy Treytel, a Dutch international, was the man who entered football folklore as he booted the ball high upfield in a Dutch First Division match against local rivals Sparta Rotterdam. Treytel’s unusual feat is commemorated by the stuffed bird, which stands alongside Feyenoord’s many domestic and European trophies.

Treytel’s bizarre achievement won him a place in Feyenoord football club’s folklore – and the seagull remains in their trophy room, too.

Nr. 486

EUROPEAN PENALTY ‘CIRCUS’ (1970)

English side Everton became the fust club to win a European Cup tie through the ordeal of a penalty shoot-out. Paired with German club Borussia Monchengladbach in the competition’s second round, Everton drew the first leg in Germany 1-1 At Everton’s Goodison Park Stadium on 4 November the second-leg result was a similar stalemate score and the penalty shoot-out rule, brought in at the start of the 1970 season, was invoked for Everton to prevail four penalties to three. Everton’s manager Harry Catterick, while pleased to go through to the quarter-finals, had yet to be convinced about shoot-outs, describing them as a «circus act».

Harry Catterick was manager at Goodison Park for 12 years, Though his side came out on top, he wasn’t a fan of the drama of penalties.

Nr. 485

‘DONKEY KICK’ BOOTED OUT (1970)

With a deft flick of heels the ‘donkey kick’ became part of British football folklore. The BBC’s Match of the Day programme cameras were at Highfield Road, Coventry, to capture an outrageously taken free-kick. Midfielder Willie Carr used both feet to flick the ball up behind him, where team-mate Ernie Hunt was lurking. Hunt, a proven striker, hammered the ball home from 25 yards past the Everton goalkeeper. Despite the unusual circumstances, the goal was given, to the delight of the Coventry crowd. However, the football authorities took a dim view and later scrutiny of the rule book showed that it should never have been allowed.

Ernie Hunt, above, and Willie Carr’s cheeky free kick move was a training ground routine too far and was swiftly banned by the authorities.

Nr. 484

CHARLTON’S ‘LITTLE BLACK BOOK’ OF REVELATIONS (1970)

Jack Charlton was never afraid to speak his mind, but it was a throwaway line during a television football programme on 4 October 1970 that got him into trouble with the Football Association (FA). During the chat Charlton said he’d once had a «little black book» of names of players he’d marked out for retribution when he encountered them again future matches. He was threatened with a joint FA and League enquiry, but later explained that he was just using a figure of speech and that no such book existed.

Jack Charlton was forced to quickly back-track once he made his ill-advised comments about a ‘Little Black Book’ of scores to settle.

Nr. 483

ANGLO-ITALIAN ANIMOSITY SPILLS OVER (1970)

Flailing fists replaced dessert as two footballing sides took to fighting in the streets of Rome in September 1970. FIFA president Sir Stanley Raus was prompted to demand a report after an off-field dash between Lazio and Arsenal players and officials. Ill feeling from a drawn Fairs Cup game spilled over at a post-match banquet. It never emerged which remark started the melee, but dozens were involved. Onlookers alleged even mild-mannered Arsenal manager Bertie Mee grabbed his Italian counterpart by the lapels and threw a punch. Arsenal went on to progress in the competition with a 2-0 home win.

Arsenal’s John Roberts challenges Lazio’s Giorgio Chinaglia during the extremely heated tussle between the two teams.