has anyone ever seen the valley (or any other) pitch in a worse state?
Perfect conditions for a proper game of football played at a time when men were men. I noticed after Bolton scored that even in the 60's footballers did that 'patting the arse' thing with each other- why DO so many of them do that!?
When you see the state of that pitch and the nonsense in regard to the match that was called of at the valley Christmas last, because of a bit of frozen pitch surround, for the match officials I do wonder about the modern game?. Football is not an exact science, our officials see to that. I do remember seeing Charlton playing in a snow storm down at the Valley around this time, and a really bad fog where I could not see the other end of the pitch from the covered end. Great bit of footage.
Does anyone remember a game against Birmingham at The Valley around 1980 (possibly 81) that got called off during the match due to rain, thunder and lightning, I remember sitting or standing in the South Stand I think Frank Worthington was in the City team, possibly a very young Curbishley aswell. Its the only home game I can recall being called off once it had started, in fact im not sure I can remember any cafc game being called off once it had started that I have attended.
I recall hearing about a game when sam bartram was in goal and the game was called off due to the fog , but no one told sam and he remained on the pitch while everyone was in the changing rooms .
Does anyone remember a game against Birmingham at The Valley around 1980 (possibly 81) that got called off during the match due to rain, thunder and lightning, I remember sitting or standing in the South Stand I think Frank Worthington was in the City team, possibly a very young Curbishley aswell. Its the only home game I can recall being called off once it had started, in fact im not sure I can remember any cafc game being called off once it had started that I have attended.
There was friendly game v. Leyton Orient (i think) that was abandoned after about 5 minutes.
I remember a game against Cambridge in the 70s (Think it was 0-0) and the Valley was just mud- absolutely no grass. At least it wasn't a beach like Stamford Bridge. The Baseball Ground was notorius in the 70s - think it was a combination of poorer technology and more football played on the pitches.
Such pitch conditions were fairly commonplace right up until the late 1980s/early 1990s when the influx of money into stadium development after Hillsborough and Heysel revolutionised the 'spectator experience' with all seater stadia and decent drained pitches. Remember Ipswich and 1961? Portman Road always had a great surface and the skilful Ipswich players under King Alf were able to play most teams off the park literally and metaphorically during a very hard winter. The players were boffins at home and beasts away from home as my old man, an Ipswich fan would have it.
Comments
Amazing bit of footage, never seen it before. Frank Bough commentating by the sound of it, taking a break from his more 'exotic' activities.
Our pitch was not as bad as some, Derby's in particular, and of course Wembley at times was awful (1969 league cup). And then there's this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmM_IAuwh9E
Made me laugh when a match got postponed due to rain though.