1971-72 season scrapbook

[Sufferingfool]

That’s a great article love this thread.

[LeedsCityRam]

Tuesday 4th April 1972 & whilst Derby were reflecting on the previous day’s defeat to Newcastle, title rivals Man City went to Southampton knowing a win at The Dell would take them back to the top of the table

In another surprise, City crashed to back-to-back league defeats with a Ron Davies brace giving 4th bottom Saints a priceless 2 points;

 

Man City’s defeat kept them in 3rd & meant Derby stayed top ahead of their game at West Brom the following day. Leeds were also due in action vs 2nd bottom Huddersfield, needing a West Brom win for the chance to go top;

[Guest]

City had not long before, looked to be reasonably strong favourites for the title. They had opened up a five points lead over their rivals but that had now been frittered away by taking just a single point from three games against less fancied sides; Newcastle away, Stoke at home and now Southampton away.

City, statistically seemed now to be the outsiders among the four teams still in contention because their goal average was also quite inferior to the others. It seemed that to win the League they probably had to win all of their five remaining games, which presented a very tall order.

It also seemed likely that the title might not be decided until the final day of the season. This was to be a neck-to-neck chase for the line along the final furlong for the four teams out in front. It was the closest run race for the title in living memory.

[strawhillram]

6 hours ago, LeedsCityRam said:

Tuesday 4th April 1972 & whilst Derby were reflecting on the previous day’s defeat to Newcastle, title rivals Man City went to Southampton knowing a win at The Dell would take them back to the top of the table

In another surprise, City crashed to back-to-back league defeats with a Ron Davies brace giving 4th bottom Saints a priceless 2 points;

 

Man City’s defeat kept them in 3rd & meant Derby stayed top ahead of their game at West Brom the following day. Leeds were also due in action vs 2nd bottom Huddersfield, needing a West Brom win for the chance to go top;

For me this was the classic era of football. All clubs had a chance, unlike the rich few we have today.

Each of those top teams were full of fantastic players. I used to know every player and their shirt numbers. Now I’d have no idea. Perhaps it was because I was a young boy who was absorbed with football, but not anymore

Edited April 4, 2022 by StrawHillRam

[LeedsCityRam]

Matchday 38 – Wednesday 5th April 1972 & the visit to The Hawthorns to meet West Brom

West Brom came into the game 6th bottom but had been improving since starting the New Year bottom of the table – they had also held Derby to a scoreless draw at the BBG back in September. Derby knew they needed a win to stay clear of the chasing pack, all of whom would have a game in hand over the Rams after this match. Unfortunately, Derby were only able to grab a point here with another 0-0 draw – pic below of WBA keeper punching clear before John O’Hare could nip in

 

 

 

Programme of the day from the West Midlands;

 

Derby’s point kept them top despite Leeds beating Huddersfield 3-1 at Elland Road. The chasing pack all now had a game in hand & were within 2 points of the Rams ahead of a full fixture list 3 days later;

[Guest]

This was Derby’s fourth game in nine days and their third in five. Clough named an unchanged side. No doubt he would have welcomed an opportunity to freshen things up but he had little option other than to keep faith with the men who had performed so well for most of the season. Albion included the promising Asa Hartford in midfield and the dangerous duo of Tony Brown and Jeff Astle up front. McFarland turned out with head bandage to protect the stitches he had inserted to his injury in the previous game.

Although the Rams were playing their usual cultured brand of football in the first half they were finding it difficult to find a way through the Baggies’ resolute defence, in which John Wile was outstanding. The home side preferred a long ball style of play allied to a more physical approach and although they did trouble the Rams’ rearguard once or twice, there was no way past the superb Boulton.

Gemmill linked up well with Durban but then failed to capitalise in front of goal and Durban himself could only muster a weak header from a McGovern centre. Hector missed a fine opportunity to put Derby ahead when Robertson, who was about to attempt a back pass, failed to notice him. With only John Osborne to beat, the Rams’ striker disappointingly placed his shot wide of the goal.

Later, Hector had a powerful volley blocked by Suggett but arguably the best chance of a disappointing contest fell to Durban from a Webster cross. Rising unchallenged on the edge of the six-yard box, he could not get his header on target. Albion rallied late on but the game ended goalless.

Clough thought Derby were beginning to look jaded, saying , “There were a lot of tired legs out there but we will keep plugging away.”

The Rams had just scored five goals in the last six games, one of them being an own goal, which was concerning.

Colin Boulton was to become the only player to have appeared in every game of the Rams’ two championship winning seasons. He was a police cadet in Cheltenham  when Tim Ward signed him in August 1964 and until he established himself as the first choice’ keeper from December 1970 onwards, he had been the understudy to Reg Matthews and then Les Green. Prior to this, he made 25 appearances following his debut in 1965. He went on to make more appearances than any ‘keeper in the history of the club, a record previously held by Matthews.

If goalkeepers were judged purely on sheer consistency and reliability then Boulton was among the very best in the country. It was seldom that Derby conceded a goal that could be directly attributed to a Boulton error. He was unfortunate to be around when England probably boasted a group of custodians, led by Banks, Shilton, Clemence, Bonetti and Corrigan that were the best in the world. In any other era, Boulton would surely have gained England international recognition.

Not particularly tall, by today’s standards, he was probably at his peak that season and it is ulikely that Derby’s 23 clean sheets in League matches could have been achieved without a ‘keeper of his quality.

Boulton had a very safe pair of hands – he was a good wicketkeeper too – and preferred to catch the ball cleanly rather than punch it away. He was also an excellent shot stopper. His temperament was first class too. In fact about the only time he lost his temper was in the forthcoming Texaco Cup final against an over aggressive Airdrieoneans side. Boulton  was fortunate to escape with a booking for landing a classic right hook on the jaw of visiting striker Drew Jarvie, who was left flat out in the penalty area. Boulton had just punted the ball upfield and a full view of the demolition escaped the referee and linesman, who were following the ball. Not Brian Clough though and a club disciplinary fine immediately followed

Although Clough always maintained he was on the lookout for better players and was often linked with the brilliant young Peter Shilton, then at Leicester City, Boulton stayed at Derby until Tommy Docherty sold him to Tulsa Roughnecks in 1978. He then moved to Los Angeles Aztecs but after an unhappy time there he joined Lincoln City under Colin Murphy in 1980. But after only four games, a broken leg, sustained at Crewe, ended his career.

[LeedsCityRam]

Matchday 39 – Saturday 8th April 1972 & the visit to Bramall Lane, Sheffield

Sheffield Utd had led the division until early October & although they had now slipped to 9th, they were still having an excellent first season after promotion. Derby meanwhile were desperate for a win after dropping 3 points in their last two games. A good time then for the Rams to turn in their best away result of the season, walloping the Blades 0-4 with goals from Gemmill, O’Hare, Hector & Durban

Extended highlights below ?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/b328z71s440?start=308&end=655

 

 

Programme of the day from South Yorkshire;

 

Derby’s win meant they stayed top but the other 3 title challengers all won also. Rodney Marsh scored his first two Man City goals in a 3-1 home win against West Ham whilst Liverpool also won 3-1, at home to Coventry. Leeds meanwhile belied their ordinary away form with a 0-3 win away at Stoke to stay 2nd & a point behind the Rams;

Man City highlights   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TiGLhRgQNM

Liverpool highlights   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFcFGCa7Y0

 

 

[Guest]

 

The goalless draw at the Hawthorns had kept the Rams at the top of the table but if they were to lift the title they needed to start scoring goals again.

Sheffield United had enjoyed a fabulous start to the season. At the end of September they had been top of the League, winning eight of their first 10 games and drawing the other two. It couldn’t last and when they had visited the BBG towards the end of November, in a wholly one-sided game the Rams had brushed them aside three-nil. Five months later there were indications that the Blades were beginning to rediscover their early season form. They had beaten Newcastle and drawn with Manchester United over the Easter period, so doing the double over the Yorkshire side was not a foregone conclusion, particularly as the Rams had dropped three points in their last two matches. Despite this ‘wobble’ Clough kept an unchanged side for the visit to Bramall Lane where Derby had not won since 1958.

The Rams were followed by a huge contingent of supporters at Bramall Lane, which at the time was still a three-sided stadium; the fourth side opened out directly onto the playing area of the Bramall Lane cricket ground where Yorkshire still played and it had hosted Test matches in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. When Yorkshire eventually left Bramall Lane to concentrate on enhancing the development of their home at Headingley, United enclosed the football ground by building a stand along the fourth side, which still remains today. Similarly, Northampton Town and Northamptonshire CCC shared the County Ground, Northampton at this time before the football club moved to the new ground at Sixfields.

McFarland led the Rams out still sporting a head bandage to protect the wound he sustained against Newcastle. His presence gave out a clear signal of leading by example. Early on the Blades looked the more confident of the two sides as they tested the Rams’ rearguard with a series of attacks. Stewart Scullion went close to putting them ahead, Colquhoun headed just over from a corner and then Boulton mishit a goal kick straight to Alan Woodward. But he rescued the situation by running out to retrieve the ball as he dived at the winger’s feet as Woodward advanced into the penalty area.  However, it was Gemmill who put the Rams in front in the 12th minute, much against the run of play, as he converted a cross from Kevin Hector.

Six minutes later Hinton floated over a corner from the right and when Durban and Bobby Hope went up to challenge, Durban extended the lead with a header, which took a deflection off MacKenzie before finishing in the back of the net. These two setbacks stunned United who began to fade and the Rams were unlucky not to increase their lead before the interval after playing some fine and much welcome attacking football, during which Hemsley headed off the line after Hinton’s shot beat ‘keeper John Hope.

Twenty minutes after the resumption Hector made it 3-0 with a neat near post header from yet another Hinton cross.  It was the back-to-form striker’s 200th goal in League football. Nine minutes later O’Hare completed the rout by adding a fourth. His goal, arguably the best of the lot, came after a short corner which was followed by some clever play on the edge of the box and when the ball eventually came to the centre forward he evaded a challenge, swerved cleverly and rifled an accurate shot into the far corner.

The 4-0 win took Derby to 54 points. It was their biggest away victory in the three seasons since returning to the First Division. Clough, although happy, thought they could have doubled their goal tally.

The same afternoon, Leeds beat Stoke 3-0 at Elland Road, Manchester City overcame West Ham at home and a packed Anfield saw Liverpool, dark horses for the title, win 3-1 against Coventry City. It was beginning to look as though it would all depend on Derby’s last two games of the season, away at Manchester City and at home to Liverpool on 1 May. But before then there was the little matter of a home game against Huddersfield, which had to be won.

I remember walking out of Bramall Lane that afternoon while telling my dad that I thought this performance had really convinced me that Derby were now established as a serious force in the game and there was no team that we should fear. For me, it was a watershed moment of personal realisation almost five years into the amazing journey we had travelled on with Clough & Taylor, which no one could have foreseen when the pair had arrived in 1967, with the exception maybe of the magical duo themselves.

Stoke City (3-2) and Arsenal (5-0) were the only other teams to win at Bramall Lane that season and just like the reigning Double winners, the Rams had just simply swept the Blades aside.

Archie Gemmill was born in Paisley and he made his debut for his hometown team, St. Mirren in 1964, aged 17. In  1967 he transferred to Preston North End. He scored the first goal in a 1-1 draw against the Rams in the FA Cup at Deepdale in 1970 and also played in the replay, which the Rams won 4-1.

He initially took time to settle in the Derby team after being signed to replace the popular Willie Carlin in September 1970. Once he did it became obvious why Clough and Taylor had been so keen to acquire his signature. He was magnificent throughout the 1971-72 season. He added pace to the midfield and his will-to-win was infectious.

Gemmill who played 40 League games and was ever present in both the League and FA Cup games, was by now a firm favourite with supporters. Once in possession, he was difficult to shake off the ball, partly because of his body strength, and he particularly enjoyed running through defences with the ball, allowing teammates to get into position to receive a pass. In fact his passing had improved out of all recognition too, which had been noted by Tommy Docherty who had made him an integral part of the Scottish international side.

Although Gemmill only scored three goals that season, his fine effort against Chelsea at the BBG on New Year’s Day was a match winner and, coming shortly after the dispiriting 3-0 defeat at Elland Road, it was a particularly important one. His proudest moment must have been at the season’s end when’ in the absence of Roy McFarland on England duty, Gemmill collected the First Division trophy at the BBG.

[PistoldPete]

On 04/04/2022 at 13:55, StrawHillRam said:

For me this was the classic era of football. All clubs had a chance, unlike the rich few we have today.

Each of those top teams were full of fantastic players. I used to know every player and their shirt numbers. Now I’d have no idea. Perhaps it was because I was a young boy who was absorbed with football, but not anymore

Two points separating the top four and Leeds with a game in hand. A real nail biter to the last of course and yes we are biased but isn't that the best way , to have an open competition rather than the closed shop we see nowadays? 

[PistoldPete]

10 minutes ago, Brailsford Ram said:

 

The goalless draw at the Hawthorns had kept the Rams at the top of the table but if they were to lift the title they needed to start scoring goals again.

Sheffield United had enjoyed a fabulous start to the season. At the end of September they had been top of the League, winning eight of their first 10 games and drawing the other two. It couldn’t last and when they had visited the BBG towards the end of November, in a wholly one-sided game the Rams had brushed them aside three-nil. Five months later there were indications that the Blades were beginning to rediscover their early season form. They had beaten Newcastle and drawn with Manchester United over the Easter period, so doing the double over the Yorkshire side was not a foregone conclusion, particularly as the Rams had dropped three points in their last two matches. Despite this ‘wobble’ Clough kept an unchanged side for the visit to Bramall Lane where Derby had not won since 1958.

The Rams were followed by a huge contingent of supporters at Bramall Lane, which at the time was still a three-sided stadium; the fourth side opened out directly onto the playing area of the Bramall Lane cricket ground where Yorkshire still played and it had hosted Test matches in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. When Yorkshire eventually left Bramall Lane to concentrate on enhancing the development of their home at Headingley, United enclosed the football ground by building a stand along the fourth side, which still remains today. Similarly, Northampton Town and Northamptonshire CCC shared the County Ground, Northampton at this time before the football club moved to the new ground at Sixfields.

McFarland led the Rams out still sporting a head bandage to protect the wound he sustained against Newcastle. His presence gave out a clear signal of leading by example. Early on the Blades looked the more confident of the two sides as they tested the Rams’ rearguard with a series of attacks. Stewart Scullion went close to putting them ahead, Colquhoun headed just over from a corner and then Boulton mishit a goal kick straight to Alan Woodward. But he rescued the situation by running out to retrieve the ball as he dived at the winger’s feet as Woodward advanced into the penalty area.  However, it was Gemmill who put the Rams in front in the 12th minute, much against the run of play, as he converted a cross from Kevin Hector.

Six minutes later Hinton floated over a corner from the right and when Durban and Bobby Hope went up to challenge, Durban extended the lead with a header, which took a deflection off MacKenzie before finishing in the back of the net. These two setbacks stunned United who began to fade and the Rams were unlucky not to increase their lead before the interval after playing some fine and much welcome attacking football, during which Hemsley headed off the line after Hinton’s shot beat ‘keeper John Hope.

Twenty minutes after the resumption Hector made it 3-0 with a neat near post header from yet another Hinton cross.  It was the back-to-form striker’s 200th goal in League football. Nine minutes later O’Hare completed the rout by adding a fourth. His goal, arguably the best of the lot, came after a short corner which was followed by some clever play on the edge of the box and when the ball eventually came to the centre forward he evaded a challenge, swerved cleverly and rifled an accurate shot into the far corner.

The 4-0 win took Derby to 54 points. It was their biggest away victory in the three seasons since returning to the First Division. Clough, although happy, thought they could have doubled their goal tally.

The same afternoon, Leeds beat Stoke 3-0 at Elland Road, Manchester City overcame West Ham at home and a packed Anfield saw Liverpool, dark horses for the title, win 3-1 against Coventry City. It was beginning to look as though it would all depend on Derby’s last two games of the season, away at Manchester City and at home to Liverpool on 1 May. But before then there was the little matter of a home game against Huddersfield, which had to be won.

I remember walking out of Bramall Lane that afternoon while telling my dad that I thought this performance had really convinced me that Derby were now established as a serious force in the game and there was no team that we should fear. For me, it was a watershed moment of personal realisation almost five years into the amazing journey we had travelled on with Clough & Taylor, which no one could have foreseen when the pair had arrived in 1967, with the exception maybe of the magical duo themselves.

Stoke City (3-2) and Arsenal (5-0) were the only other teams to win at Bramall Lane that season and just like the reigning Double winners, the Rams had just simply swept the Blades aside.

Archie Gemmill was born in Paisley and he made his debut for his hometown team, St. Mirren in 1964, aged 17. In  1967 he transferred to Preston North End. He scored the first goal in a 1-1 draw against the Rams in the FA Cup at Deepdale in 1970 and also played in the replay, which the Rams won 4-1.

He initially took time to settle in the Derby team after being signed to replace the popular Willie Carlin in September 1970. Once he did it became obvious why Clough and Taylor had been so keen to acquire his signature. He was magnificent throughout the 1971-72 season. He added pace to the midfield and his will-to-win was infectious.

Gemmill who played 40 League games and was ever present in both the League and FA Cup games, was by now a firm favourite with supporters. Once in possession, he was difficult to shake off the ball, partly because of his body strength, and he particularly enjoyed running through defences with the ball, allowing teammates to get into position to receive a pass. In fact his passing had improved out of all recognition too, which had been noted by Tommy Docherty who had made him an integral part of the Scottish international side.

Although Gemmill only scored three goals that season, his fine effort against Chelsea at the BBG on New Year’s Day was a match winner and, coming shortly after the dispiriting 3-0 defeat at Elland Road, it was a particularly important one. His proudest moment must have been at the season’s end when’ in the absence of Roy McFarland on England duty, Gemmill collected the First Division trophy at the BBG.

Wonderful again Brailsford. Did Alan Woodward have extravagant mutton chop whiskers? 

[Jimbo Ram]

7 minutes ago, PistoldPete said:

Two points separating the top four and Leeds with a game in hand. A real nail biter to the last of course and yes we are biased but isn't that the best way , to have an open competition rather than the closed shop we see nowadays? 

Can't wait to find out what happens......great stuff......

[Guest]

33 minutes ago, PistoldPete said:

Wonderful again Brailsford. Did Alan Woodward have extravagant mutton chop whiskers? 

No Pete he was quite clean cut with prematurely greying hair. Could you be thinking of Trevor Hockey who had developed a wild man look by the early 70s with shoulder length hair and long sideburns and sometimes a beard?  He was still with the Blades at this time but he had broken a leg the previous month.

Woodward was a very good winger (right and left) who, if Ramsey had not decided to exclude wingers from his teams, could well have been capped by England (if Alan Hinton wasn't available of course). A couple of seasons after this in the first minute at the BBG he hit a 40 yards screamer past Colin Boulton at the Normanton End in the first minute. We were left open mouthed in shock as it flew in but we recovered to win the game.

Edited April 8, 2022 by Brailsford Ram

[PistoldPete]

3 hours ago, Brailsford Ram said:

No Pete he was quite clean cut with prematurely greying hair. Could you be thinking of Trevor Hockey who had developed a wild man look by the early 70s with shoulder length hair and long sideburns and sometimes a beard?  He was still with the Blades at this time but he had broken a leg the previous month.

Woodward was a very good winger (right and left) who, if Ramsey had not decided to exclude wingers from his teams, could well have been capped by England (if Alan Hinton wasn't available of course). A couple of seasons after this in the first minute at the BBG he hit a 40 yards screamer past Colin Boulton at the Normanton End in the first minute. We were left open mouthed in shock as it flew in but we recovered to win the game.

Maybe it was the guy from the Onedin Line I was thinking of. Just my imagination that everyone had bouffant hair and sideburns in the 1970s. 

[Foreveram]

1 hour ago, PistoldPete said:

Maybe it was the guy from the Onedin Line I was thinking of. Just my imagination that everyone had bouffant hair and sideburns in the 1970s. 

1970’s was the last time I had hair ?

[True Ram]

6 hours ago, PistoldPete said:

Two points separating the top four and Leeds with a game in hand. A real nail biter to the last of course and yes we are biased but isn't that the best way , to have an open competition rather than the closed shop we see nowadays? 

Pistoldpete I've spoken to  Ron's wife about going to the celebrations she said they have not been invited and Don't  now what's happening have you any information about it 

Thanks  true ram 

[PistoldPete]

52 minutes ago, True Ram said:

Pistoldpete I've spoken to  Ron's wife about going to the celebrations she said they have not been invited and Don't  now what's happening have you any information about it 

Thanks  true ram 

That’s very odd. Alan Hinton says he is flying in from the states and he is not in best of health either. Maybe Phil Lowe will be better contact as he’s been in recent touch with a lot of the legends. I will message Gladys too.

[True Ram]

12 minutes ago, PistoldPete said:

That’s very odd. Alan Hinton says he is flying in from the states and he is not in best of health either. Maybe Phil Lowe will be better contact as he’s been in recent touch with a lot of the legends. I will message Gladys too.

Thanks 

[Brammie Steve]

9 hours ago, Brailsford Ram said:

No Pete he was quite clean cut with prematurely greying hair. Could you be thinking of Trevor Hockey who had developed a wild man look by the early 70s with shoulder length hair and long sideburns and sometimes a beard?  He was still with the Blades at this time but he had broken a leg the previous month.

Whose?

(Attributed to Norman Hunter's Mrs.)

 

Edited April 8, 2022 by Brammie Steve

[PistoldPete]

17 hours ago, True Ram said:

Pistoldpete I've spoken to  Ron's wife about going to the celebrations she said they have not been invited and Don't  now what's happening have you any information about it 

Thanks  true ram 

I have an update and will DM you.

[True Ram]

11 minutes ago, PistoldPete said:

I have an update and will DM you.

Thanks mate 

I will pass it on to Ron's wife