January 1972

Note : The news from thirty years ago has an archive below

As appeared in Rothman's Football Yearbook 1972-73 (3rd year) :

The Queene Anne Press, London 1972

January

1 Frank McLintock, Arsenal captain, is awarded the M.B.E. in the New Year's Honours List. First goal of the year scored by Dave Lennard (Blackpool), 30 seconds after the kick-off against Watford . . . Manchester U. are well beaten at West Ham (3-0) and Leeds U.'s 2-0 win at Liverpool boosts their hopes. Derby Co. respond to Brian Clough's attack with a 1-0 win at home to Chelsea, for whom 18year-old Steve Sherwood makes his debut in goal. Q.P.R. keep up the pressure on the leaders in the Second Division with a 3-1 win over Burnley, Mick Leach scoring twice . . . Alan Ball's father is quoted as saying' Alan didn't want to move South,but Arsenal guaranteed him 12,500 pounds a year' . . . Paul Hallows (Bolton W.) is carried off with a fractured skull at York.

2 Record takings in Italy for a league match 130,000 pounds in Milan, at a 0-0 draw between Inter and Juventus . . . In Portugal, Benfica beat Sporting Lisbon 3-0 in their local 'derby' match. . . Ajax are now four points clear at the top of the Dutch League. . . A group of English managers has initiated the idea of a Great Britain side taking part in the 'Little World Cup' being held in Brazil.

3 Europe's first all-weather pitch is opened in Islington. The cost of the pitch is 130,000 pounds . . . In Glasgow, Celtic score in the last minute to beat Rangers 2-1.

4 Bill Shankly attacks the Everton management for not attending Alan Ball's disciplinary hearing. However the appeal against Ball's caution is successful. Vernon Stokes, head of the F.A. Disciplinary Committee, announced that 1,114 players have been booked so far this season. He has called a meeting of the chairmen of the regional committees to discuss the problems arising from mass appeals. . . Chelsea goalkeeper, Peter Bonetti, passes a fitness test, and is given the all-clear to play at Tottenham in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final.

5 Everton Chairman George Watts defends the club against Shankly's charges. 'We didn't know about the date of the hearing, and Mr Mee informed me that he does not wish Mr Catterick to attend.' Shankly, having consulted Arsenal secretary Bob Wall, withdraws his previous statement. . . Cray Wanderers of the Metropolitan League face extinction after 100 years. . . Ray Kennedy (Arsenal), Alan West (Burnley) and Phil Parkes (Q.P.R.) make their England Under 23 debut against Wales at Swindon. Q.P.R. have to pay 3,000 pounds to Walsall, Parkes' previous club, for this international honour! England win the match 2-0 with goals by Malcolm Macdonald and MikeChannon . . . In the League Cup semi-final, Chelsea won their way through to Wembley with a 2-2 draw at Tottenham. Chivers and Peters (penalty) twice put Tottenham H. ahead, but Chris Garland, and Alan Hudson, who had conceded the penalty, twice equalised. Hudson's goal, shot direct from a free kick, was scored only two minutes from time. . . At Hillsborough, Stoke C. and West Ham U. draw 0-0 after extra time, and a second replay is fixed for Old Trafford.

6 The League disclaims any blame for the fixture muddle, and attacks the U.E.F.A.for the inconvenient European Championship quarter-final dates. Alan Hardaker praises the Tot ten ham H.-Chelsea match. 'It showed how top-class professionals can produce a hard, fair, exciting game without having any trouble.' But the Football League is attacked by the Chairman of the National Federation of Supporters Clubs, who feel that the banning of flags and banners is 'ridiculous and pointless' . . . Bobby Howe, the West Ham utility player signs for Bournemouth, the 30,000 pounds transfer fee bringing the Third Division club's expenditure to 200,000 pounds in the past 18 months. . . Real Madrid beat their local rivals Atletico 1-0 and stay top of the Spanish League.

7 Denis Follows, F.A. Secretary, says that the League had at least a year's prior notification of all the U.E.F.A. and other international fixtures. . . George Best has gone missing! The Irish international star has not reported for training at Old Trafford all week, and is dropped from Manchester U.'s team to play Wolverhampton W. tomorrow. A meeting with Frank O'Farrell fixed for Monday.

8 Manchester U., without George Best, lose 3-1 at home to Wolverhampton W., in sixth place, who win with goals by Dougan, Richards and McCalliog (penalty). Sammy McIlroy, Best's replacement, scores United's only goal five minutes from time. Manchester C. and Leeds U. both draw and move a point closer, Manchester C. 1-1 at Tot ten ham H., and Leeds U. surprisingly 2-2 v Ipswich T. at Elland Road. Ipswich T. were 2-0 up, and Allan Clarke scored a controversial equalising goal seven minutes from time with a swerving shot. At the bottom of the table, Willie Wallace gave C. Palace both points at Nottingham F., while W.B.A. drew 2-2 with Sheffield U. at home. In the Second Division, Norwich C. move five points clear with a 2-1 home win over Fulham, Ken Foggo scoring their winner 20 seconds from time. In the top of the table clash, Millwall and Q.P.R. drew 0-0 at the Den.

10 George Best interviewed by Frank O'Farrell at Old Trafford. He is ordered to move out of his luxury house, back into digs for the rest of the season. Also fined two week's wages, and ordered to train morning and afternoon for the rest of the week to get fit for the Cup-tie against Southampton . . .

At an F.A. Disciplinary Committee hearing, Nottingham F.'s Sammy Chapman, already under a six-week suspended sentence, was cleared after being sent off after an incident with Mick Jones in the match against Leeds U. The Committee decided that (quote from Committee Secretary Herbert Bird). 'It was a mystery incident which few people saw, and the linesman who drew the referee's attention to it told the committee that it was not a serious foul. The Committee took the view that, although it was a sending-off offence, it was of a trivial nature. More important, they took into account the remarkable improvement in Chapman's conduct on the field since he was put under the suspended sentence on January 20 last year. It's obvious that Chapman has made a big effort and he has now only ten days to go before he is free of the six-weeks suspended sentence.' Players appealing against bookings included Frank Clark (Newcastle U.), Jim McCalliog (Wolverhampton W.), Neil Rioch (Aston Villa), Roy McFarland (Derby Co.), Ollie Burton (Newcastle U.) and Mike Bernard (Stoke C.).All had their cautions recorded. David Wagstaffe (Wolverhampton W.) had a booking recorded, but it would not count as one of three. .

Ian Moore reported to be unhappy at Nottingham F., but manager Matt Gillies still adamant that he stays with the club...

11 'The pressure is on Arsenal' says Dave Mackay, Swindon T.'s player/manager before the third round F.A. Cup tie. Fulham intended to sign Alan Stephenson, who has been on loan for ten weeks, for 40,000 Pounds. . .
The F.A. Management Committee approached the Metropolitan London League, asking them to tryout the no-offside expcriment for a full league season. Chairman Ken Aston, the F.I.F.A. official, said that they should oblige, as the system might change the face of football. . . Cliff Lloyd advises Bobby Bell to resume training with C. Palace. Manager Bert Head says 'He'll be very welcome. We have to sit down and discuss our difficulties'.

12 A tremendous draw for British teams in Europe. England are drawn to pJay West Germany in the Europcan Championship quarter-finals, while in the Champions Cup, Arscnal play the holders Ajax, and Celtic are paired with Ujpesti Dozsa. In the U.E.F.A.CupTottenham H. have to travel to Rumania again, this time to play U.T.A., and Wolverhampton W. are drawn against the crack Italian side Juventus. Sir Alf Ramsey said that he was delighted with England's pairing. Arsenal boss Bertie Mee said 'I'm very happy with the draw. Their kind of football is known to us, but we have a great respect for their ability' . . . Fourth Division leaders Brentford have appointed joint-chairmen, Les Davey and Walter Wheatley, in place of Eric Radley-Smith.

13 Both Denis Follows and Alan Hardakcr vow that the Football Association and the Football League will do everything in their power to help England in her European Championship aspirations. . . Spain beat Hungary 1-0 in a friendly in Madrid. Reading engage Charlie Hurley as their new manager. . . John Marsh (Stoke C.) is fined 75 pounds and given a 28-day suspended sentence. . . George Best is recalled for Manchester U.'s F.A. Cup clash with Southampton . . . The Alan Stephenson deal is off, Fulham being unable to meet West Ham U.'s terms. . . Bobby Bell discusses his problems with C. Palace managcr Bert Head and decides to resume training next Monday.

14 Magistrates clamping down on hooliganism. A Tottenham H. fan is fined 100 pounds for violence, and bound-over not to visit a football ground for a year. . . Jimmy Greaves announces his come-back, and will make guest appearances on the Continent with Johnny Haynes . . . The big Cup build-up begins, but several ties are in doubt owing to bad ground conditions. . . West Germany insist that their European tie must be played on April 29.

15 The Third round of the F .A. Cup produces few surprises. Cardiff C. beat Sheffield U .at Bramall Lane, and Hull C. win 3-0 at Norwich. Amateurs Blyth Spartans force a replay, drawing 2-2 with Reading, and Bobby Moore is carried off after ten minutes of West Ham U.'s tie against Luton T. John Hughes (C. Palace) is sent-off by referee Tommy Dawes against Everton in a hard game at Selhurst Park. Five players were booked in the game, which was nearly abandoned due to spectator invasions of the pitch. Both '71 finalists opened with convincing away victories, Arsenal 2-0 at Swindon, with Alan Ball scoring his first goal for the club, and Liverpool 3-0 at Oxford.

17 C. Palace Chairman Arthur Wait blames Everton and referee Dawes for last Saturday's scandalous Cup-tie. 'It was a diabolical game, and Everton were the culprits. Dawes had a real stinker, at one stage I thought he was going to book the corner flag' . . . Eddie Kelly is left out of the Scottish Under-23 squad, Willie Carr taking his place. . . In the draw for the Fourth round of the Cup, the top clash is Liverpool v Leeds U. at Anfield. Arsenal are drawn away again, against the winners of Blyth Spartans or Reading. In the Scottish Cup, Celtic have an easy draw against Albion R. Rangers announce that Willie Henderson is unhappy, and wants to leave the club.

18 If England are knocked out of the European Championships by West Germany, they will go on tour during the summer. . . Wembley plans to stage a special pageant on Cup Final day to celebrate the centenary of the competition, but there will be no community singing. In the transfer market, Neil Young and David Connor join Preston N.E. from Manchester C. for a combined fee of 90,000 pounds, and Billy Wilson joins Portsmouth from Blackburn R. for 15,000 pounds. The F.A. and the Football League will do everything to facilitate England's future international fixtures. The April 29 First Division programme will be brought forward this year, and six dates are set aside next season for internationals apart from the Home Internationals. . . In their F.A. Cup replay Middlesbrough beat Manchester C. 1-0.

19 Dixie Dean is taken to hospital following a heart attack. . . In F.A. Cup replays, Reading beat Blyth Spartans 6-1, and George Best plays a brilliant game to steer Manchester U. to a 4-1 extra time win over Southampton . . . Burnley pay 50,000 pounds to Chesterfield for their goalkeeper Alan Stevenson, and Blackpool pay East Stirling 7,000 pounds for 19-year-old George Wood. Tommy Bryceland is the new player/ manager of St Mirren.

20 Ian Moore announces that he will stay with Nottingham F. to help them in their fight against relegation. . . West Ham U. intend to build a new luxurious training area with an indoor ball court.

22 Chelsea topple Manchester U. from the top of the First Division, winning 1-0 at Old Trafford with a goal by Peter Osgood, to enable Leeds U. to take over the leadership. Aston Villa take over as new leaders of the Third Division, and in Scotland, Celtic are now four points clear. . . Derby Co. reported to be ready to pay 150,000 pounds for Everton striker Joe Royle.

24 Jimmy Pearce is suspended from Tot ten ham H.'s next two matches in the U.E.F.A. Cup. Chelsea, as European Cup Winners Cup holders, are invited to play against the winners of a competition played by clubs situated in North and Central America (the Concacaf Trophy). Southern League Hereford U. produce the shock of the F.A. Cup so far, holding Newcastle U. to a 2-2 draw at St James' Park. . . John O'Mara (Brentford) is suspended for five weeks.

25 Ken Knighton (Hull C.) is suspended for six weeks. . . The England v Wales World Cup qualifying matches are arranged for November 15 (Cardiff) and January 24, 1973 (Wembley).

26 Stoke C. reach a Wembley final for the first time in their history, beating West Ham U. 3-2 in the second replay of the League Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
Goalkeeper Bobby Ferguson was injured in an early collision with Terry Conroy, and Bobby Moore took over in goal. Shortly afterwards Stoke C. took the lead with a penalty by Mike Bernard. West Ham, with ten men, equalised with a deftected shot by Billy Bonds, and after Ferguson's return, took the lead through
Trevor Brooking. Minutes before half-time Stoke C. got back on terms through Peter Dobing. In the second halfConroyscored quickly to put StokeC. back in front.
Bobby Ferguson was so badly concussed in the collision with Terry Conroy that he 'has no recollection whatsoever of the tie. He doesn't know even now where he is.' Greenwood then blasted Stoke C. by saying 'Their attitude towards my injured goalkeeper in the second half was not what I would call good sportsmanship'.
Stoke C. Manager, Tony Waddington said: 'After this, Wembley could be something of an anti-climax. It's a shame either side had to lose such a game. It was out of this world' . . .

Hereford U.'s F.A. Cup tie with Newcastle U. is postponed due to a waterlogged pitch - the third time that the tie has been called off. Southampton strengthen their defence by signing 22-year-old Jim Steele from Dundee for 50,000 pounds. Steele expected to play against Nottingham F. at the Dell on Saturday. . .

Scotland beat Wales 2-0 in the Under-23 international at Pittodria Park, with goals by Jardine and McQuade . . . In the first leg of the Texaco Cup final, Derby Co. draw 0-0 at Airdrie.

27 Brentford announce that joint-chairman Les Davey is putting forward a project to move the Fourth Division club from Griffin Park to a 25-acre site in Hounslow . . , At an F.A. Disciplinary Committee meeting, Peter Storey receives a 28-day suspended sentence and a 75 pounds fine, and Martin Chivers is fined 40 pounds and severely warned about his future conduct. . . Aston Villa announce that they will be playing Santos of Brazil at Villa Park on February 21. Pele is contracted to play, subject to injury. The Brazilian side are also due to play Sheffield W.

28 Aston Villa win 1-0 at Tranmere, and still head the Third Division.

29 Manchester C. move two points clear at the top of the First Division, beating Wolverhampton W. 5-2 at Maine Road, Francis Lee scoring a hat-trick. Leeds U. lose 1-0 at Tottenham H. to a Martin Chivers goal, after a defensive blunder. Derby Co., with a first-minute goal from John Robson, beat Coventry C. at the baseball ground, and stay in third place, while Manchester U.'s poor run continued at West Bromwich. After taking an early lead through Brian Kidd, Manchester U.were forced back by sustained W.B.A. pressure. Bobby Gould scored the equaliser, and their winner came from the recalled Jeff Astle. The bottom two places in the Division were filled by Nottingham F., who lost 4-1 at Southampton, and C. Palace, who went down by the same score at Liverpool. Chris Lawler scored twice to reach 50 goals for the club - none from penalties. Charlie George returned to the Arsenal side, and scored twice in their 5-0 win at Sheffield U.

In the Second Division, Norwich C. slipped, losing 1-0 at Burnley, and Millwall moved into second place with a 1-0 home win over Middlesbrough. Q.P.R. held to a 1-1 draw at Luton, and Birmingham C. move into fourth place, with a 4-1 home win over Swindon. Watford look doomed to relegation losing 4-0 at Hull, and are now five points adrift of Cardiff C., who also lost 4-3 at home to Blackpool.

In Division 3 Notts. Co. beat BlackburnR. 1-0 at home and Bournemouth drew 1-1 at Port Vale. Brentford slip to second place in the Fourth division losing 2-0 at home to Reading, Scunthorpe U. taking over the leadership.

31 Hereford U.'s F.A. Cup tie with Newcastle U. postponed yet again because of a frozen pitch. Blackpool goalkeeper Neil Ramsbottom is training with Fulham for a week, with a view to joining the club.

Other Transfers:

Brian Bromley (Portsmouth) to Brighton ; Dave Gibson (Aston Villa) to Exeter C. ; Gerry Humphreys (C. Palace) to Crewe Alex. ; Dennis Longhorn (Bournemouth) to Mansfield T.; Dixie McNeil (Northampton T.) to Lincoln C.; Tony Parry (Hartlepool) to Derby Co. ; Ronnie Rees (Nottingham F.) to Swansea C. ; Tommy Spencer (Workington) to Lincoln C. ; David Stocks (Bournemouth) to Torquay U. ; Dennis Wann (Blackpool) to York C.