January 1973

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

As appeared in Rothman's Football Yearbook 1973-74 (4th year) :

The Queen Anne Press, London 1973

January 1973

1 A full league programme in Scotland, but Celtic's match is postponed due to the 'flu epidemic. Hibernian take advantage of the situation, beat Hearts, and go to the top of the table with the help of superior goal difference over Celtic.

2 England beat Holland 3-1 in the Under-23 international at Highbury-Iess than 12,000 people attend the match. Trevor Whymark Scores in his first representative match, and Dennis Mortimer (Coventry) gets tWo goals.

3 In the Common Market celebration match, 'The Three' beat 'The Six' 2-0 (Jensen, Stein) . . . Norwich reach the League Cup Final by beating Chelsea 1-0 at Carrow Rd. . . . Ian Hutchinson has a cartilage operation and will be out of football for two months. . . Frank O'Farrell is a possible candidate for the manager's job at Ajax . . . Ian Watson (Q.P.R.) breaks a leg in training, and Sammy McIlroy (Manchester U.) sustains serious injuries in a car accident.

4 Willie Ormond, 46-year-old manager of St. Johnstone, is given the job of Scottish national team manager. . . Derek Possee signs for C. Palace in preference to West Ham because the terms offered are much better. The 115,000 pounds transfer fee means that Palace have spent over 600,000 pounds this season for new players. . . The four home associations decide that the international match fees for players must stay on the 100 level pounds, because as Denis Follows put it: 'Wales and N. Ireland can't afford more, and it would be unfair to pay different fees to players from the same club.' . . . Leslie Lawrie, the former West Ham goalkeeper is appointed the trainer-coach of Millwall . . . New York Cosmos would like to sign George Best for their short summer season. According to his agent: 'Best is interested'.

5 The league programme is once again hit by the 'flu epidemic-four games are cancelled in England, three in Scotland.

6 In front of the biggest gate of the season-S6, 194-Arsenal beat Manchester U. 3-1.
As both Leeds and Liverpool also win, the positions on the top of table are unchanged. . . Burnley beat Aston Villa at Villa Park 3-0, and look certain of promotion-they are still unbeaten away. . . In Glasgow, Rangers beat Celtic 2-1. A last-minute winner is scored by Conn . . . Hibernian win 1-0 against East Fife, but their international full-back John Brownlie is taken-off with a broken leg. . . Lou Macari (Celtic) is put on the transfer list at his own request.

7 Benfica beat Boavista 4-1 and break a 26-years-old Portuguese record by winning 17 consecutive league matches.

8 David Coleman, the B.B.C. commentator is claiming high court libel and slander damage against league secretary Alan Hardaker. Mr. Coleman complains of criticism by Mr. Hardaker of his match commentary on Dec. Sth, 1970. . . Geoff Hurst suffers from pneumonia and is taken to hospital. . . Harry Gregg, the former Manchester U. goalkeeper, who now manages Swansea, wants George Best on loan. . . Peter Cormack (Liverpool) wins his appeal and won't be suspended.
Cormack is sent off in a league game v W.B.A. . . . Norwich striker Ken Foggo joins Portsmouth for a 25,000 pounds fee.

9 Chris Garland is ordered a complete rest for three weeks-he suffers from a groin injury. . . Asa Hartford (W.B.A.) is fined 50 pounds by a civil court for insulting behaviour towards a spectator after a match at Norwich.

10 Doug Livermore (Norwich) is suspended for two matches and will miss the cup tie v. Leeds . . . Q.P.R. put Ian Morgan and John O'Rourke on the transfer list. . .
Roger Cross rejoins Brentford from Fulham for a 16,000 pounds fee.

13 Third Round F.A. Cup day, with very few shock results. . . Bradford beat Blackpool 2-1, and Swindon defeat Birmingham 2-0. Otherwise the results are as expected. Holders Leeds draw with Norwich and Arsenal are saved by an 87th minute Armstrong goal v. Leicester at Highbury . . . Alan Ball sen., the Preston manager, gets involved in an argument with fans at Grimsby, and after a fight, is rescued by Preston officials. . . Four players, including Ron Harris of Chelsea are sent off . . . Dick Sheppard, the Bristol R. goalkeeper sustains a serious head injury at Tranmere and is taken to hospital. . . Italy can only draw 0-0 with Turkey at Naples in the World Cup.

15 Derby are at home to Tottenham and Chelsea play Ipswich at Stamford Bridge in the Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup. As C. Palace, Millwall and West Ham will all have to travel, it is a tough draw for London. . . The F.A. Council will recommend the use of two substitutes in major competitions - one of them may be a goalkeeper. Bertie Mee, Arsenal's manager opposes the plan on financial grounds :
'Using two subs. could lead to staffing problems for the smaller clubs'.

16 The club chairmen hold an important meeting behind closed doors. No communique is issued, but it is understood that further regional meetings will be held to hammer out concrete proposals for the A.G.M. . . . Ron Davies and Francis Lee are omitted from the squads announced for the England v. Wales World Cup tie. . . Liverpool beat Burnley 3-0 in the F.A. Cup re-play in front of a crowd of over 56,000 people . . . Ajax win at Glasgow against Rangers 3-1 in a match, which loses its 'Supercup' tag. UEFA state that they do not approve of such a competition and the games must be considered 'friendlies'.

17 Alan Pinkney is transferred on loan to Fulham . . . A favourable Cup draw for British teams in Europe. Derby are paired with Spartak Trnava, while Ajax have to play Bayern Munich. Leeds, Liverpool, and Hibernian also draw Eastern European opposition, who are not fully match fit in March. Tottenham will play Setubal in the UEFA Cup. . . Arsenal beat Leicester C. 2-1 in the cup, and the bookmakers make them favourites to win the trophy.

18 Tommy Docherty pays 200,000 pounds for Lou Macari-a record for a Scottish league player. . . Manchester U. also buy Eire and Bohemians midfield star Mick Martin . . . Bernie Wright, whose contract was cancelled by Everton, is re-signed by his old club Walsall . . . Alan Hardaker asks the Government to subsidise league football : 'The way things are developing, football is going to be out of business lock, stock and barrel. It is not in the least unreasonable to expect the government to pay a minimum of 5 million pounds in return for their take from the pools promoters' . . . Ron Greenwood accuses Port Vale of 'diabolical intimidation' in the cup tie v West Ham: 'For the first time in my life, I could relate violence on the field to violence on the terraces. People can say we were lucky. I agree-Iucky to come away alive'. Port Vale manager Gordon Lee answers: 'I can only treat the remarks with the contempt they deserve'.

19 The Blackburn v Chesterfield match has to be re-played because according to the Football League, Chesterfield used an ineligible player. Goalkeeper Jim Brown was transferred to them from Albion Rovers (7,000 pounds) on Dec. 22, but the letter informing the league was delayed in the Christmas post. The match was played on Boxing Day, but the letter didn't arrive until two days later. . . Derek Parkin, the Wolverhampton full-back is given permission to resume training. Parkin's career was in doubt due to heart trouble. . . Charlton sign the Barnet striker Colin Powell for 10,000 pounds and will play him against York.

20 A spectator runs on the pitch at Leyton, picks up the ball and scores a 'goal' against Hull. The match ended 0-0 . . . Arsenal win at Stamford Bridge with a Ray Kennedy goal-their lOth competitive match without defeat. . . Liverpool drop their first home point of the season (v Derby 1-1) . . . Lou Macari equalises for Manchester U. against West Ham. Bobby Charlton gets the other goal from a penalty in a 2-2 draw. . . 12 games are postponed or abandoned because of snow. . . Ron Saunders, the Norwich manager accuses Leeds of 'extreme professionalism'.

21 Don Revie refutes Saunders' accusations and says that Norwich are upset because they were beaten. . . Brian Clough indicates that he will quit football and seek a job outside the game, which will allow him more time with his family. . . The Russian F.A. abolishes drawn results for 1973. If teams finish level after 90 minutes play in league matches, penalty-kicks will decide the fate of both points.

22 Steve Govier (Norwich) is suspended for two matches after failing in an appeal at an F.A. commission. . . Nottingham F. draw 0-0 with W.B.A. and this F.A. cup tie will go to a second replay. . . Gordon Banks will play in a representative match next Saturday-as a right-winger !

23 Frank Knight, sacked by Nottingham F. after 33 years service as a player and coach, receives an 812 pounds 50 pence redundancy award by the Industrial Tribunal. . . A luxury 'pop-special' train will bring the Burnley supporters to London for the Q.P.R. match. The league paid 50,000 pounds to British Railways for the 12-coach train and have spent 15,000 pounds to equip it with 'discos', bingo facilities, restaurant, etc.
It will be hired-out to clubs during the season and the aim is to cut out vandalism.

24 England fail to beat Wales at Wembley in the World Cup. Toshak puts the visitors ahead and Hunter equalises with a tremendous shot shortly before half-time 1-1 . . . At Manchester, United draw 0-0 with Everton in front of the season.s highest league attendance, 58,960. Ted Macdougall is substituted by Brian Kidd, and the ex-Bournemouth forward leaves the ground ten minutes before the end of the match. . . Ajax beat Rangers 3-2 in Amsterdam, completing a double in the 'Supercup' which has been reduced to a couple of friendlies by the order of the UEFA.

25 Mike Bickle, the Gillingham striker, who broke a bone in his neck in September will not be able to play again . . . Stan Anderson resigns as manager of Middlesbrough. Harold Shepherdson takes over the job, but will also be available to work with the England squad. . . Malcolm Musgrove is the new manager of Torquay . . . Bill Nicholson attacks the disciplinary points system, because five of his senior players are on the brink of suspension.

26 FIFA agree to allow foreign teams to take part in a multi-racial tournament in South Africa. . . Danny Hegan is fined by Wolverhampton for disciplinary reasons and is dropped from the team.

27 Liverpool's first defeat in the league since Nov. 11 v Wolverhampton 1-2. . . Leeds beat Stoke 1-0 at Elland Rd. and the visitors' full-back Mike Pejic was sent off for a foul on goalkeeper Harvey. . . Q.P.R. beat Burnley 2-0, their first away defeat of the season. . . Bryan Robson scores twice in West Ham's 3-1 win over Chelsea and is the first player to register 20 league goals this season.

28 Brian Clough writes that he is willing to swap jobs with Sir Alf Ramsey . . . Benfica win their 20th consecutive league match in Portugal.

29 Terry Naylor (Tottenham) has a broken leg and will be out of football for six weeks. . . Leeds beat Norwich 5-0 in an F.A. Cup re-play. Allan Clarke gets a hattrick and expresses his hopes for a re-call into the England squad. . . In an interview, Sir A1f Ramsey re-states that he has no intention of giving up his job despite the unprecedented criticism of the last few days: 'I hope that I am doing the job to the best of my ability. When I'm not able to do so I will most certainly move out without anyone to help me' . . . Busy day at Huddersfield! Chairman, Frank Drabble, resigns and the club signs Phil Summerill from Birmingham for 40,000 pounds.

30 Bobby Graham moves to Tranmere from Coventry on loan.

31 Dave Robinson (Birmingham) signs for Walsall (12,000 pounds).