Ah. Thank you!! I think I’ve got the Liverpool team right, although I think Lawrence may have come later and Slater may have been in goal. I remember my Dad saying that you won’t see a better Division 2 team in your life. He was probably right.
Or Leeds: Bremner, Giles, Hunter, Sprake ... after the match I made it onto the Leeds coach for autographs. I asked Paul Reeny and he said "Na' and looked a way Gary Sprake (sitting next to him) said "Go on sign it ..." and Reeny did. That made a big impression on me as a 10 year old.
Ah. Thank you!! I think I’ve got the Liverpool team right, although I think Lawrence may have come later and Slater may have been in goal. I remember my Dad saying that you won’t see a better Division 2 team in your life. He was probably right.
Or Leeds: Bremner, Giles, Hunter, Sprake ... after the match I made it onto the Leeds coach for autographs. I asked Paul Reeny and he said "Na' and looked a way Gary Sprake (sitting next to him) said "Go on sign it ..." and Reeny did. That made a big impression on me as a 10 year old.
Saw Trautman at the Valley + other great keepers of the time - Bert Williams Wolves , George Farm Blackpool , Jack Kelsey Gunners , Ted Ditchburn Spurs Bartram was always the best tho
At the valley (I started going during the the Selhurst years) definitely Henry and then a close 2nd Giggs... unbelievable players. At Selhurst John Barnes and Gazza...I'm sure I've mentioned on other threads before but those two were just different level and blew me away.
Ah. Thank you!! I think I’ve got the Liverpool team right, although I think Lawrence may have come later and Slater may have been in goal. I remember my Dad saying that you won’t see a better Division 2 team in your life. He was probably right.
Or Leeds: Bremner, Giles, Hunter, Sprake ... after the match I made it onto the Leeds coach for autographs. I asked Paul Reeny and he said "Na' and looked a way Gary Sprake (sitting next to him) said "Go on sign it ..." and Reeny did. That made a big impression on me as a 10 year old.
To think that Charlton were close to signing Stanley Matthews but the board at the time pulled the plug because he was 'too old'. He famously went on to play at the highest level for another 10 years!
Trying to think of decent opposition we played in friendlies at The Valley
We played a very good Arsenal in 1993 for example, but they weren't at the world class level of some of the later players.
True, but it was like a proper game, Darren Pitcher (RIP) clobbered Ian Wright a couple of times but he got up and continued getting stuck in. Probably one of the best friendlies, I'd also include Brownies testimonial v Vicenza, although that moved on from "friendly" by, well, the kick off.
Geoff Hurst played for West Ham in a friendly at the Valley - his only ever appearance here. Swore like a trooper and quite shocked my Mum! It was Friday 21 January 1971. Team also featured Trevor Brooking, Billy Bonds, Frank Lampard and Harry Redknapp. Bobby Moore was a substitute, making, I think, his first appearance after being banned by the club for (allegedly) partying.
Comments
Gary Sprake (sitting next to him) said "Go on sign it ..." and Reeny did. That made a big impression on me as a 10 year old.
1. Frank Worthington for Huddersfield
2. Peter Shilton for Leicester
3. Gary Lineker for Leicester
Bartram was always the best tho
We played a very good Arsenal in 1993 for example, but they weren't at the world class level of some of the later players.
And Chopper Harris.