Football nostalgia from the 80s/90s...

27-12-2018 08:47AM #1

...don't recall any thread of memories from the 80s or 90s. Many of you must have football moments and trivia from that time, from ridiculous transfer rumours long before social media (Leeds were definitely signing Maradona) to jokes about Kevin Pressman's weight to Panini stickers that just could not be found to where were you when Gary McKay scored THAT goal to crazy kits inspired by rave culture - or the lovely Danish ones - to 9 replays against Cobh Ramblers.

I'll start off with a straightforward one, there was a time when it seemed like everyone knew "I'm Stronger Now" by Definitive Two...it was the music associated with the only league we knew outside Ireland and Britain...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHXfHFNlJ_w

ctrl-alt-delete · 27-12-2018 09:23AM

I can't find any images but I used to love the late edition Evening Herald newspaper in Dublin. It had a pink/orange wraparound cover and it had all the football results in it. That cover was printed after the 3pm games.

I'd be in work in a petrol station of a Saturday , no smartphone, no TV, no radio on the forecourt. It was a godsend when the lad used to drop them off - I'd be straight over to pick one up and check the scores.

Kolido · 27-12-2018 09:30AM

Maradonna, I believe, is still the only player to break the world transfer record twice.

Edit: I stand corrected, Ronaldo did this also as pointed out by Nunu.

Father Hernandez · 27-12-2018 09:32AM

Deleted User wrote: »

...don't recall any thread of memories from the 80s or 90s. Many of you must have football moments and trivia from that time, from ridiculous transfer rumours long before social media (Leeds were definitely signing Maradona) to jokes about Kevin Pressman's weight to Panini stickers that just could not be found to where were you when Gary McKay scored THAT goal to crazy kits inspired by rave culture - or the lovely Danish ones - to 9 replays against Cobh Ramblers.

I'll start off with a straightforward one, there was a time when it seemed like everyone knew "I'm Stronger Now" by Definitive Two...it was the music associated with the only league we knew outside Ireland and Britain...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHXfHFNlJ_w

Good idea for a thread and not meaning to send people to Twitter, good page dedicated to 'Crap 90s Football' I follow, worth a look

https://twitter.com/Crap90sFootball/status/1077304701807460354

Nunu · 27-12-2018 11:12AM

Kolido wrote: »

Maradonna, I believe, is still the only player to break the world transfer record twice.

Ronaldo broke it twice I think?

PSV to Barca.
Barca to Inter.

Nalz · 27-12-2018 11:28AM

https://youtu.be/iG6raK8ksR0

Beasty · 27-12-2018 10:55PM

Wembley 1985. I had been to the League Cup final in 1983, and the FA Cup final later that year, but never got to the replay due to work commitments (in those days the replay was the Thursday following the final, and you had to get to OT probably on the Sunday to queue up for tickets, although I could probably have picked one up via the supporters club if I had managed to get the day off work). The 1985 final was therefore to be the first time I directly witnessed United picking up a trophy. Not only that, but I managed to capture possibly(:pac:) the most important incident of the match on camera - this was the photo I took that day:

Before that moment Peter Willis and Kevin Moran had been battling for the title of villain of the day, but once Big Norm struck that ball, no-one cared, and we sang "10 Men Went to Win, Went to Win at Wembley" on the way back up the M1 to Leeds (where I was living at the time)

Beasty · 27-12-2018 11:10PM

I'll throw one up of Kevin Moran terrorising Adrian Heath in the league cup that same 84/5 season while I'm at it:

dmc17 · 27-12-2018 11:26PM

Before we had the internet

Bleating Lamb · 27-12-2018 11:31PM

Beasty wrote: »

Wembley 1985. I had been to the League Cup final in 1983, and the FA Cup final later that year, but never got to the replay due to work commitments (in those days the replay was the Thursday following the final, and you had to get to OT probably on the Sunday to queue up for tickets, although I could probably have picked one up via the supporters club if I had managed to get the day off work). The 1985 final was therefore to be the first time I directly witnessed United picking up a trophy. Not only that, but I managed to capture possibly(:pac:) the most important incident of the match on camera - this was the photo I took that day:

Before that moment Peter Willis and Kevin Moran had been battling for the title of villain of the day, but once Big Norm struck that ball, no-one cared, and we sang "10 Men Went to Win, Went to Win at Wembley" on the way back up the M1 to Leeds (where I was living at the time)

One of best ever goals scored in Wembley ....great photo to have.

thegreengoblin · 27-12-2018 11:33PM

ctrl-alt-delete wrote: »

I can't find any images but I used to love the late edition Evening Herald newspaper in Dublin. It had a pink/orange wraparound cover and it had all the football results in it. That cover was printed after the 3pm games.

I'd be in work in a petrol station of a Saturday , no smartphone, no TV, no radio on the forecourt. It was a godsend when the lad used to drop them off - I'd be straight over to pick one up and check the scores.

I remember it well. It was based on the old Manchester Pink newspaper. I always got a good laugh seeing 'John Giles reports from Old Trafford', or wherever he was, at the top of a match report. Gilesy had just been doing co-commentary on the game for RTE back when they showed live Saturday afternoon matches, so the idea of him doing a match report was quite hilarious!

OwaynOTT · 27-12-2018 11:54PM

Fowler's hat trick against Arsenal. Watching it down home, about 15 of us packed into the sitting room around the small tele.
The step father, a Utd fan to his son, 'Arsenal will stuff these wasters.'
Cue, fowlers hat trick, with the first goal going in pretty much straight away after this comment.
Me, the only Liverpool fan in the room smiling like a Cheshire Cat.

Watching a match on aertel teletex also.

Beasty · 28-12-2018 12:20AM

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

One of best ever goals scored in Wembley ....great photo to have.

I sold a 20"x16" print to a guy who travelled down on the same bus with the Leeds/Bradford branch of the supporters club. It was the only copy that went outside my personal ownership until I started sharing on websites such as this one

Imagine my surprise when 20 years or so later I saw it up for sale on Ebay. It sold for £20 (which was probably about 10x what I charged for it). Imagine my further surprise when a couple of years later I was at the home of an avid United collector, and found he had that original framed on his wall

I managed to get one copy of it signed by the full United team (never got sub Mick Duxbury's signature though), as well as one signed only by Whiteside. One day there was a something on at a cricket match at Headingley. United and Everton captains Bryan Robson and Peter Reid would be there signing stuff. Reid's face dropped when I asked him to sign a print, but he did, as did Robbo who was sat beside him laughing at the "memory" Reid had been asked to autograph.

28-12-2018 12:22AM

The Kenilworth Road Riot in 1985, when ten thousand Chelsea, West Ham and Milwall fans broke turnstiles to cram into Lutons away end, hundreds then repeatedly tried to cross the pitch to attack home fans, driving back the police, "took" another stand and tore it apart to provide metal poles and concrete blocks to inflict serious injuries. It was like a medieval battle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ulESIRFKWs

emo72 · 28-12-2018 02:08AM

the 80s? liverpool fans may find some joy here.

GiftofGab · 28-12-2018 02:19AM

Rte teletext page 221 checking the latest premier league scores.

Skid X · 28-12-2018 02:30AM

Listening to Midweek Radio Commentary on BBC Radio 2 (later Radio 5) on 909 metres Medium Wave with interference from foreign language channels and ghoulish background noise.

They couldn't be arsed broadcasting the full game (or maybe weren't allowed), so the introduction would often be "tonight we are at Highbury, where there has already been a goal ..." and as the taped commentary of the goal from Peter Jones or Ron Jones was played, you would pray that it had gone your way

The kids whinging about stream issues these days don't know how lucky they have it etc etc

Zebra3 · 28-12-2018 08:23PM

Probably doesn't count as nostalgia, but Euro84 wasn't shown live on either BBC or ITV.

And those two semi-finals..... :pac: :pac: :pac:

28-12-2018 08:37PM

As for nostalgia, with Liverpool on the verge of the title, and Leeds marching back into the top flight, all we need is a few Es and Adamski’s “Killer” at no. 1 and it’s May 1990 all over again *
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* I’m aware both clubs are a long way from either achievement...

scudzilla · 28-12-2018 09:20PM

Beasty wrote: »

Wembley 1985. I had been to the League Cup final in 1983, and the FA Cup final later that year, but never got to the replay due to work commitments (in those days the replay was the Thursday following the final, and you had to get to OT probably on the Sunday to queue up for tickets, although I could probably have picked one up via the supporters club if I had managed to get the day off work). The 1985 final was therefore to be the first time I directly witnessed United picking up a trophy. Not only that, but I managed to capture possibly(:pac:) the most important incident of the match on camera - this was the photo I took that day:

Before that moment Peter Willis and Kevin Moran had been battling for the title of villain of the day, but once Big Norm struck that ball, no-one cared, and we sang "10 Men Went to Win, Went to Win at Wembley" on the way back up the M1 to Leeds (where I was living at the time)

I Was there too, standing more or less directly behind goal but right at the back, hanging off the roof supports, Wembley really was a kip

I was only 15 at the time, that season i'd been to maybe 12 home games and the guy who ran the coach took pity on me and got me a ticket (he used to collect all the tokens from programmes that gave you the right for a ticket)

Remember travelling down the M1 and we stopped at 2 service stations, the places were battle grounds

:D

When Norman scored the place went nuts, we gate crashed a wedding in the midlands on the way back

A few days later i was walking through my hometown and bumped into Neville Southall, i sorta knew him and was good friends with his brothers, oh how i took the piss

Beasty · 28-12-2018 09:51PM

scudzilla wrote: »

I was only 15 at the time, that season i'd been to maybe 12 home games and the guy who ran the coach took pity on me and got me a ticket (he used to collect all the tokens from programmes that gave you the right for a ticket)

I used to pick up 2 programmes (so I could keep one intact) and go to all the home youth games so had all the tokens. I had a League Match Ticket Book which only gave priority for home matches, but wrote to United the previous close season asking to go onto the waiting list for a Season Ticket. That close season they got back to me and I had to move about 3 metres to take up my new ST seat. Been there ever since, except when they moved me to the away section around 96 when they were rebuilding the stand.

Even with a ST you were not guaranteed a ticket for everything - I remember having to queue, again with all the tokens, for the CWC Final in '91

scudzilla · 28-12-2018 10:13PM

Beasty wrote: »

I used to pick up 2 programmes (so I could keep one intact) and go to all the home youth games so had all the tokens. I had a League Match Ticket Book which only gave priority for home matches, but wrote to United the previous close season asking to go onto the waiting list for a Season Ticket. That close season they got back to me and I had to move about 3 metres to take up my new ST seat. Been there ever since, except when they moved me to the away section around 96 when they were rebuilding the stand.

Even with a ST you were not guaranteed a ticket for everything - I remember having to queue, again with all the tokens, for the CWC Final in '91

Norman, the guy who ran the coach, had at least 20 season tickets, he ran a 50 seater bus to all games and gave big tickets to regulars only. Had a LMTB myself for United Road from 86 until 89, then moved to Stretford End, natural progression i guess

Waiting list for Season Ticket back then...lol, 2.80 for United Road, cash at the turnstiles most of the time

Beasty · 28-12-2018 10:52PM

I started in the Stretford End and got a LMTB there from 1980/81 before moving to the seats a couple of years later. They reckoned the ST waiting list was years long back then, but I only applied for the one, and I guess there was a bit of a "natural" turnover allowing single tickets to become available

The guy who sits next to me was using his dad's ST for many years (after his dad had died) before he took advantage of an "amnesty". He's been going for longer then me, but still, unlike me, hasn't got his name on his seat:)

Of course eventually they upgraded all LMTBs to STs, meaning you're up against 50,000+ for the big matches.

I do try and get to the odd European away match which improves chances for a final ticket, and intend applying for a ticket for PSG, given the ease of access to Paris and probably relatively cheap accommodation given the size of the city. Chances are I won't get one, but there's a chance I will given my record of prior applications

Beasty · 30-12-2018 01:25PM

Here are some more memories (#1):

My first FA Cup match involving United - a draw at White Hart Lane, which was followed by a defeat in the replay at Old Trafford when Glen Hoddle found himself in goal!

That Milk Cup final defeat to Liverpool in 1983 - my first trip to Wembley with United

The FA Cup Final against Brighton - but never got to the replay

2-0 down to Barcelona after the first leg at the Nou Camp. I've never known a better atmosphere at Old Trafford than the night of the second leg. I was behind the Scoreboard End goal as Bryan Robson dragged us through to the semi-final. I had to apply for my first passport after that match, in case we got to the final. Alas it was not to be....

The ticket from the Milk Cup match against Everton when that photo of Kevin Moran and Adrian Heath was taken. Unfortunately another home defeat, this time 1-2

Beasty · 30-12-2018 01:40PM

Chapter #2 - 1985 to 1991:

6034073

1985 FA Cup Final versus Everton, already covered above

1990 FA Cup Final with Jim Leighton in goal

1990 FA Cup Final replay - turned up at Wembley to discover Leighton had been dropped, with the legend that was to become Les Sealey taking his place, although Lee Martin also grabbed a few headlines that day

1991 Rumbelows Cup Final - mine and United's second appearance in the League Cup Final, and second defeat

1991 - CWC Final versus Barcelona, with Sparky playing against the team he had previously left us for. We were flown into Schipol Airport and taken off the plane away from the terminal. No-one bothered with passport checks, but we were never to be let out of the sight of the local police. Driven to the stadium in Rotterdam, we had to go straight into the ground. It was lashing with rain. I was in a decent position on the half way line, but there was no roof. We didn't care though. We were Looking on the Bright Side of Life....

Beasty · 30-12-2018 01:54PM

Chapter 3 - 1992 to 1996:

3rd time lucky in the 1992 League Cup Final versus Forest

1994 it was sponsored by Coca Cola, and another defeat, this time to Villa

1994 got better though, having won the league, we were going for our first double against Chelsea - 0-0 at half time turned into 4-0 at full time

1994/95 I missed a few matches due to a couple of back operations. I travelled down on the supporters club bus to the final league match at West Ham - still cannot understand what happened that day! The next week I was back down to see Everton gain some revenge for the final 10 years previously

1995/6 was different again though. For the first time I witnessed us win the league on the pitch, against Middlesbrough at the Riverside. I actually had money on a Middlesbrough and Newcastle double that day, as it was the only way we would not win the title. On the way home I had a blowout on the A1 at Wetherby. I had to change a wheel on the inside lane of a major road (there was perhaps 3 or 4 feet of "hard shoulder"), using the light from cars from behind

Then back to Wembley again - won't mention the suits, just the double-double:)

Beasty · 30-12-2018 02:03PM

The final chapter - 1999.

A very special year. I missed the FA Cup Semi Final replay, but had a pretty decent excuse, as our first child arrived the day of Giggsy's spectacular celebration

I was there for the final though:

Then to the Nou Camp. We were only handed our tickets on the plane out. This time I could wander round Barcelona. but actually ended up spending a lot of the day on the phone discussing work matters. When I got inside the stadium I had to start climbing, and climbing, and climbing. I ended up on the back row from of the highest tier in the corner behind the goal. I could not have been further away from the pitch - so that's where they put those paying 15 quid for a ticket! - I was there though and that was all that mattered

30-12-2018 09:30PM

Seriously, take it to the United form.

PhlegmyMoses · 30-12-2018 09:45PM

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Seriously, take it to the United form.

Jaysus, it is hardly a huge hit of a thread getting clogged up. Those are some interesting posts as well that speak to the experiences of loads of fans of different clubs back then. Keep sharing Beasty and the rest

Beasty · 30-12-2018 10:01PM

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Jaysus, it is hardly a huge hit of a thread getting clogged up. Those are some interesting posts as well that speak to the experiences of loads of fans of different clubs back then. Keep sharing Beasty and the rest

For some of us there is a lot of nostalgia attaching to those memories. There are probably quite a number around here now who were not around for part, or all, of those decades, It was a very different football world then, and I would hope that some, like yourself, like hearing some of us older fogies reminiscing

Beasty · 30-12-2018 11:49PM

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

and the rest

We would need a memorabilia thread for all the really interesting stuff;)

Football nostalgia from the 80s/90s...

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