The Football League Files: Man Utd v Stoke City 1971/72 Division One

[Applause] the can he find the shot brilliant goal it's in what a goal hello and welcome to the football league files this is the show where we delve into the United archive to show you matches you've probably never seen before and probably forgotten as well we're going to go all the way back to April 1972 it's United's last home match of the Season against Stoke City it's the end of Franco Farrell's First full season in charge and it's a pretty tough time for the football [Music] club Shannon going on the near post for the cross Davis is further over gets the header Davis gets it Rond is following it in again for C best and it's found it beautiful ball for Bell here it is the ball to Brooking Brooking has made a SP and [Applause] [Music] he so then it is April 1972 last match of that season it's United at home to Stoke City delighted to be joined there by Jimmy greenoff Jimmy you're going to be waving The Stoke flag here of course today and Alex Stephany is is is with me too now Alex just set this one in context sh we about how things were under Franco Faron coming towards the end of that season yeah it was strange Jim because what happened was when Frank came in at start of the Season uh I think there have been a few uh sort of pressing that other managers were going to take over but Frank came in and Incredibly done a fantastic job up to Christmas we were five points clear at Christmas uh don't forget it was only two points for winning those days uh we beat Southampton 5-2 and then for some unknown reason we we didn't win games after that and uh I think Derby went on to win the title but um uh Martin buckon was didn't come till the end of March you know when when the transfer window closed so um we could have done with him before it might have been a different story and Jimmy you you playing at Stoke City under that marvelous manager W Tony wadington yeah I mean still revered even to this day and uh yeah W easy to play for just wanted to go out let you play the game entertain the public and obviously what a better place to come to we love playing against Manchester United great great friends with some Busby you know and what was it like for Stoke City to be coming to Old Trafford was it as intimidating a place as it is today no not for the players there they they all wanted the big time and and sto also was starting get in the eyes on things that they just won The League Cup Final uh two semi-finals um FA Cup now they relish the big time and no bigger stage than Manchester United for The Stoke players you've played a load of matches against Stoke City that that that season Alex can you remember how Keen the team were at least to end the season with a smile especially after falling away at Christmas yeah we had to I mean because it it's your supporters the supporters here are absolutely fantastic and the crowds that we used to get you know weekend week out when we played at home was unbelievable so you try the last game of the season you're not winning anything but you want to you want to basically win the game and what was United's record like against your Stoke City team at that at that time well at that time it was okay probably 50/50 but after that it became very much in favor of Stoke City me and Alex were talking earlier and it does we had a lot of replays in Cup matches League Cup or FA Cup but but Stoke seem to come out afterwards cheers guys well that set the scene for you on the football pitch let's just find out what was happening away from it things felt more depressed then even though actually we're technically in a much deeper economic M at the moment obious in F with the main would you go down to main dark wet and get paid th for it you wouldn't do that would any human being do that but they [Music] did my proud boast here folks I've interviewed every prime minister since Ted Heath in 72 to this day including Cameron and that sa you doing the maths is eight prime ministers so I've interviewed them all that length several of them in dining Street including Mr Stater uh and I did Cameron shortly before I left Northwest tonight so it's my part B all started in 72 say the Vietnam or was probably the dominant International issue that was going on I don't think that America should have been there it's not their country I can remember thinking well you know what's this all about you know it's crazy and lives have been lost the reports every week where you know so many more had uh had been killed I couldn't really see the point about it but at the same time again I wouldn't be uh enough into that sort of thing to realize the necessity of that war in in Vietnam I just tend to think most wars are surely unnecessary and the ones that have happened since have led me to believe even more that if you you can avoid going to war then uh it's doing everyone a big favor isn't it funny enough the Vietnam War was something that uh sort of I was interested in if you like you know uh lasted I don't know about eight or nine years and um Jen Fonda did all our campaigning and so it was something uh although I wasn't that interested in a lot of news items cuz you're you're still at school but that was something that stuck in my mind you know seen all the bombs getting dropped over there and a lot of innocent people killed and injured and what have you I can remember fa vivid memory of the the I wasn't didn't take part but I can Vivid remember through the media the protests that were going on [Music] here I had a family how can I get a beet car I mean I remember George had the the E type Jag which sat two people could you imagine a football away a family getting you could know they that was for all the yies in those days that wanted to be whatever they wanted to be not sure i' have been in the Beet never been into cars to be honest so wouldn't have much memory of it but I've never had a be I don't think i' ever never driven one but I have had experience of a beetle uh because when I worked as a young reporter on the East Anon times in Lan I did uh have a car I was of the three young journalists who worked on this newspaper under an aging editor I was the only one who could drive and had managed to get a car on the HP a little old fashion I wasn't into my fashion but I think everybody had the the long hair and if you show clips of the games back then not just myself but most of the players that was the the feature at the time long hair um and I'm sure you've got a few pictures of me with dodgy with a dodgy coat on so I was well I as well mention a dodgy coat cuz I know that's coming but you know you do sheep skin coats which again if if you owned a sheep skin coat you know you were doing well I'm not any close to a great degree and you know that seemed me most days [Music] life funny enough there was a Lassie from Scotland I can't think of her name off hand she sang it before them and they became she became the big I can't remember her name actually but I remember the song very well great great song well it's a fantastic piece of music um and my daughter's called Grace and I do play on the by pipes although in fact partly because it got to number one I think it's one of those tunes that Pipers don't like to play that much because it's it feels a bit sort of Showbiz and whenever I'm out playing the pipes at different dudes and what somebody say oh play Amazing Grace I love Amazing Grace which is fine it's a very very very simple tune to play uh it is a beautiful piece of music though and I think it's fantastic when backp getting the charts I love it there we are 1972 was the year and you know Alex looking at those pictures you sort of cringe at the sort of gear that we all used to wear in those days but it was very fashionable then wasn't it it was fashionable I mean the colors on his shirt was wide and if you had a tie on the winds and not had gone out of f fashion then it was the big wide tie and The Big Knot and uh the flower shirts again it was just something and different colors you know and flares still I think they might have still been in the whole the whole bit how important was fashion in the club at Stoke City then Jimmy definitely not no I mean we were way behind the Manchester United and the arsenals Etc that you know me we were kind of like it was home from home from me from barnesley you know so it was kind of you wear what's put out in front of you and listen when you came here and and played for Manchester United when you left so did you notice a big different in difference in in fashion wise the way people dressed was it important to cut a cut a bit of a dash here where you could get away with things that stok I think the people round about the club all the kind of what they call anger honors or whatever I mean they kind of were a little bit more uh the air was longer even than Georgie best the flares were wider than anybody else's like Alex said but yeah everything was kind of uh I don't know the girls seemed to be a little bit more prettier as well but on just on a serious point you coming from Barn you you'd have felt that minor strike that first minor strike very deeply yeah very much so I think Mom and Dad did more than anything you know um I was kind of playing at Leeds at the time and um well Leeds in Birmingham and even so yeah they kind of all their customers and all their friends were miners Etc you know and the wives were there to them were in the factories and yeah I mean they had no money and kind of everyone helped one another and giving buying one another half a dozen eggs and a bottle of milk to help them out it was that bad thank you very much indeed Jimmy the year was 1972 April 1972 last match of the season season then Manchester United against Stoke City it's coming right up hello again welcome back to the football league files the year is 1972 it's Manchester United's last home match of the Season against Stoke City both teams are in pretty shocking form really Stoke haven't won in the last six matches they've lost four of those and similarly United have only won one out of seven on the commentary Gantry it's Gerald sinat the final League game of the season at Old Trafford brings together Manchester United and Stoke City and as they're meeting for the seventh time this season this promised to be not so much a league game or an Old Boys reunion but Stoke have rather spoiled that by bringing a side which has been virtually decimated by injuries and by influenza Richie and doing went down with flu overnight so this is a pretty unfamiliar lineup up another familiar face missing of course uh Gordon Banks keeping goal for England tonight so farmer is in goal and two youngsters in the side George Jackson who is 19 came on for his first game as sub against Derby in the Texico Cup in October this is his eighth League appearance Tommy Walker wearing 8 also 19 the sum of Tommy Walker used to play for Newcastle this is his second league game Manchester United a rather more familiar lineup but one or two are less experienced players there particularly of course Tony Young wearing number six made his League debut back in September 1970 when he came on a sub for Tony dun at ipswitch but his next appearance was not until the game against Liverpool earlier this month today he makes his eighth appearance so it'll be Manchester United in the white shorts who will kick off from left to right defending the stretford goal Mr Yates from reic is our referee he gets the signal from his linesmen that they're ready and away we go George best turning it back for Tommy O'Neal [Applause] melro best again with young making a Sprint forward this is Ian Moore D Buck Robby Charlton and now United with seven men forward that's aimed for L's head but Got Away by bla best more D scarcely a Stoke player touched the ball yet charlon well we played 45 seconds and I guess Manchester United must have hit about 15 passes and it all finally comes to an end with that nod down Bobby Chon a slightly lucky bounce off his chest the defense standing back letting him go and that's 1 n with now a minute and a quarter on the watch some unnecessary invading of the pitch by United supporters suddenly now finding their Retreat cut off by the police which is why there is a hold up they're looking for a gap jump over the fence during thech thank you finally been HED off in a corner and so we'll restart and this is very nearly the first kick of the ball that Stoke have had one- nil down Marsh good overhead by buckham Walker back to [Applause] Berard Jackson out of play well if ever a side were caught cold it was Stoke then [Music] La Manchester United in these six previous games have not beaten Stoke this season there have been four draws and twice stok W by the odd goal in three [Applause] this is Young he's got stely coming out to meet [Applause] him O'Neal young be char as it was set up for his left foot but the Gap didn't open what now right foot this time [Applause] [Applause] fmer greenoff all on his [Applause] own mroy [Applause] [Music] W Mar Walker James and buckham there protecting Stephanie BS header the best Moore is outside him on his left two faints to a shot and he tries one and Marsh was troubled by it twice George best cocked his right foot Twice The Stoke defense braced themselves for the shot and when it came at the third attempt farmer really was only able to smuggle it round the first United corner and it's not been given for some reason there must have been offside before it [Applause] best [Music] [Applause] bucken Neil's pass cut up by Pedic James young impressing the crowd with his coolness greenoff well to get in a shot there he had half a glimpse of the ball Struck it quite well but was forced to drag it wide James to Charlton good break here he's turned into trouble if he'd been able to balance himself to go left he might have got away from it more to try now playing looking for the onew they've done it well three men involved in that first time passing with great confidence watch how well they do it once it goes into the box from Moore there's the first pass the second from lore and Moore finishing off his fifth goal of the season for man Manchester United will Stevenson lucky to get it back and now Stoke trying to play it close in the area and stepy saves the corner pushed on by Charlton for mroy Moore taking charge again L vque moving outside him on his right young just ahead more there they're all one ing the ball seeing goals to be had [Applause] here fic green off and that was really struck by Jackson laid off well by greenoff in the first place Charlton mroy and char again change of direction that dismissed East LA [Applause] y done both fullbacks have been frequently up in attack for United very little for them to do at the other end more now side nitting but the ominous thing for Stoke was the way he just sold two Defenders with no difficulty at all Mike Bernard Willie Stevens might well have shot then a Stoke throw Marsh beaten by best Charlton forward for Mo and he's dangerous with these breaks from the halfway line particularly with best to distract the defense and he's still going he could score here great save by farmer but what a run by Moore the defense really didn't know whether to go for him in case he slipped it to best and best simply by running was a great help there to [Applause] Moore solid Tackle by Young and stepy saves it with his chin on his shoulder from going for a corner little private display down there for the benefit of the stretford end to respond the referee completely unimpressed and he's now given the corner taking it on a signal from his linesman or Alex stepy after all that exertion really thought he' saved it Stokes first Corner then East good Header by Jackson and off the line by O'Neal Jackson got up well [Applause] then meloy thank you very much as Willie Stevenson East lovely change of Direction at fo James and put out there by Tony Dunn I [Applause] think Walker seemed to have the ball then really looked as though it should have been his and Tony Dunn came careering across cross to [Music] clear East Jackson on his right Walker just ahead of him and greenoff just snatched away from Jackson by Stephany was a good save because greenoff really belted it greenoff is one of only two players in this Stoke side today who've scored goals in League football this season it shows how much they've had to reconstruct the team Pedic stuck to him well then bestest tested him twice with a little faints but P wasn't deceived this is United's fourth corner and L's head and that's a penalty magn magificent save by Mike pic and it'll get him booked and it would have needed something like that to get a player booked in this game referee left with no alternative at all the instruction is quite explicit about this it is technically cheating that was a goal all over for Manchester United from a magnificent header and touched over and that now gives best the chance to score live now from the penalty sends farmer the long way no difficulty at all 3-0 to Manchester United George best brings his total for the season to 26 with his second penalty of the [Applause] Season as that's halim in they go at the end of 45 minutes of exhibition football almost devoid of tackling complete non-aggression pack between these sides and that really suits a footballing team like Manchester United and predictable the goals have come from the footballers Moore Charlton and from best's penalty halime then Manchester United three Stoke n just an exhibition match for Manchester United final home game of the 1971-72 season remember 3-0 up at halftime what will they do in the second half we'll find [Music] out you're back with the football league files it is halime in April 1972 Manchester United's last home match of the Season against Stoke United are three goals to the good here's the second half with Gerald sinan so for the second half Stokes start with Le they substitute on in place of Mike Bernard and away we go with Stoke kicking off 3-0 down to Manchester United and since they knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup they've played 11 games and scored seven goals two by Richie who's not playing today two by greenoff they were penalties and three own goals by their opponents Stevenson for Le The Substitute Jackson to Marsh Cur for greenoff head Steve James was up with him [Music] [Applause] FL Jackson BL going on ahead of him and that's more back [Applause] covering turny young is number six for United La getting it back from y O'Neal up in front this is maroy with O'Neal going [Applause] ahead no real sting in any of those tackles young for Bobby [Applause] Chara best there's the cross and what a good save by farmer was hit very hard and it was going away from him Lees good pass for greenoff but he was offside he playing it down very conveniently for more qu of an hour of this first half gone could see Bobby Charlton measuring that pass but so did bla East bla keeping going that's Stevenson and this is Le lack of anticipation there by Stoke three against three now more best and lore on for more and bucking there too and a fine save Again by [Music] [Applause] farmer tommmy O'Neal to Young B Young once again for mroy now Mo and best O'Neal on best's right still best for one two and best wiggling round for it and he couldn't quite get there before [Applause] [Applause] farmer [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Stevenson Marsh who spent a lot of this game up as an auxiliary forward for Stoke Jackson [Applause] Stevens Jackson's cross Tommy O'Neal got aead to it Charon a long one for best to Chase and I doubt very much where the best was offside there I suspect that that was one of those instances where best reflexes beat the best of linesmen and he was on the move as charlton's foot hit the ball and that can very often deceive a linesman [Applause] Charlton maoy turning it for young and a beautiful pass from Young for best best trying to come out of trouble forc to play it back was no way ahead for him now organized with plenty of people in defense Charlton and L sneaked around them and a fine save again from farmer he's earned his money this [Applause] afternoon George [Applause] East [Music] [Applause] spotted a foul mroy penalized free Kick The Stoke beof well shielded by Walker Stevenson D more for Charlton Morrey wide out on the [Applause] right play waking up again a bit best for O'Neal Tommy O'Neal could see his first goal coming there for Manchester United and got a bit over excited banged it down the tunnel just to show that it's not quite as easy as perhaps it looks the policeman could couldn't kick it back into play either so we've got just a little bit more than a quarter of an hour left greenoff for [Applause] Jackson having his sleeve pulled by buckon mroy to best L best again young sprinting through best chip and it's come out to charlon look wildly disappointed done to Charlton Jackson East greenoff on his left green off's run made space for East steeply a good save it was good running by greenoff to open the Gap up for East ging ging gets it back by courtesy of Stevenson repays the compliment by giving it to Pedic MO goling [Applause] best best notot turned over by farmer Farmer has had a busy afternoon and on the whole has coped very [Applause] well Walker in at the near post but James too strong for him we've had a minute and a quarter over [Music] time Jackson Stevenson this is Marsh Pedic and that could have been a goal it really should have been turned in by kenoff just started his slide a fraction too late I think that Stephanie might have taken a little sting off it to upset the timing of greenoff buck him put it away for the corner Pedic SK was off his line trying to suggest that Jackson was [Applause] offside and that's the final whistle the end of The League season at Old Trafford a guard of honor of policeman to protect the players as the crowd swarm onto the pitch and the end of a somewhat disappointing game and indeed a disappointing season for Manchester United top of the table and Five Points clear at one time and now reconciled to a season which we'll see them in the top half but nothing very much more so they go in today Victors over Stoke City by three goals to n disappointing season then for Manchester United at least it ended well United declaring at halftime effectively 3-0 winners against Stoke Alex stepy and Jimmy greenoff are with me um Jimmy I thought you're going to score at the end there but yeah good goalkeeping touched it away didn't he he's a good one to stop just a fingertip yeah we got loads to talk about we'll see you shortly it's the football league files we've seen a bit of an exhibition from Manchester United really the last match of the 1971-72 Season peing St o city in including Jimmy greenoff by three goals to nil you looked a bit of a tired side that day I think it's fair to say yeah I think there was The League Cup and then that was it the celebration hadn't stopped so it show we look very unfitted men against boys whatever you like to say just you know you don't you didn't earn our wages did with that day and what you you said at the start there I mean that you wanted to go out with a flourish after a disappointing season you did it and when when Manchester United opened the score in the very first minute I think I've counted one Stoke City player actually managing to touch the ball Alex before that opening goal for United yeah it was it was a great start that's what you want you know last game of the season and to score early on like that it was fantastic and and the goals we scored actually I mean don't forget we've got best LA and Charon on the pitch yes and I think you find that Dennis was involved in all three goals basically but um that's what it that's what it was about I mean as Dennis usual find finds Bobby BBY put it away and uh what a great B those two were and Dennis would have finished that sort of header wasn't it really that's that's how they used to play I mean that's was all about those three Lads I mean you'll see some more wind GE scores as well so Jimmy can you remember your feelings when when when you've gone to to to Old Trafford and you think well we give it a good old crack Lads and and and you're a go down on one of your players have managed to get a header on it and nobody else oh yeah I mean you go to Old Trafford obviously want to show do the business and what have you but I think even the team sheets when you kind of looked at both team sheets probably deflated is more than anything there what I thought about the first goal if you show you to I mean all our players were going no after you after you Bobby after you you know and let's see a goal you know we see it on TV now let's see it in real life the second goal though United schol was a was a nice team goal a lot of interplay and that was that the sort of stuff that Franco Farrell encouraged yeah I think I think he did I mean uh I think because of Way the season that basically had um panned out uh with the way Dennis and Moore come in you know I mean stor come in and uh I mean look he just keeps on running and Dennis is there again he's he he's put he's put in through to scored a goal they were good skills those even though you you watching him again to show on the sort of pitch you all took for granted didn't know anything else did you no that's right you just got on with it I mean nowadays we all talk about it don't with the the foreign players especially you got to call the game off we're not playing on that rubbish but no let's do it and I think watching that game how good Dennis L was to me he was just absolutely incredible you know just even even like going in for rebounds off the keeper which never came but he was there and myself as a forward down looking for that and L rebounds off the keeper last match of the Season nothing at State cruising come but he was still doing he still went for it good amage yeah that's right listen the last goal is very interesting for all sorts of things is isn't it and we said how how how the game has changed and there's a magnificent save from Mike pedig on the line on this one isn't it absolutely I mean that is Dennis Do's trademark you know headers from Corners I mean what a fantastic header and Mike I mean that's all he could do really but I mean that was a law in those days you know today you've been sent off I think Gerald sinak quite kindly described it as a technical foul this by P on the line I don't know what was technical about it but George George rolling rolling in the penalty and um 26 goal of the season and just a couple of penalties as well and a bit like like we said about Willie Morgan in in in another show I think when when when he lined up to take the penalties he never missed did he George B missed I mean but the amazing thing about it Jim was from my point of view John Farm was absolutely superb on the day he kept the score down tremendously but I've never seen a goalkeeper today with so much mad on him they don't get of Prem today no you and and that and that that rule with the the old fullback on the line I mean there was no great Ruckers there no great and and the referee actually looked a little bit reluctant didn't he just say I'm really sorry I've got to take your name here when now it have been Russians and a red card wouldn't it great sa wasn't it it was but as as Alec always always said you put two two players on the on the line you can't do anymore put them on the post and what he's doing his job really he's not he wasn't the tallest of guys Mickey Pedic so realized they couldn't head it over so in fact if you look again it kind of head goes as far as it could and then the hands come up but and you wouldn't actually in that situation have done anything else would you and I'm not just sure these days you do anything else either actually no you just don't want it to go in the back of the net and that was typical of Mike Pedic so the hands out to save it unfortunately yeah I mean listen you had a tough old time up there didn't you in in this particular match you're a very young untried team they've obviously been celebrating they obviously wear in that motivate they let a goal in in the first minute but we listen we look very closely the guys behind the scenes we managed to dig out doing one or two not bad things in this match you yeah but yeah then some of my best mates weren't playing some good players weren't playing that day and I mean you you got to get on with it but I mean he played a couple of lads did Tony and that's how he was Georgie Jackson and Tommy Walker both Manchester United Lads Manchester United supporters and last game at season where we can't do anything they can't do anything let me make the dream come true so that's why he played those two Lads it was a very fashionable haircut in those days that one I I have to say you you'd um you'd probably swap it now wouldn't you if you could hate it you must think kind of like when Brian Robson looks at his curly hairs and all that and do I wish I'd never had it and that I can't understand why I L it get so long looks horrible doesn't it and and this this is this is the big moment right at the end um you must have thought you must have thought you in from and I'm happy with that I do that time and time again I mean Alex's got a good hand on it and yeah and he stopped me from scoring flattering score really and Al Alex looking at looking at you as well and some of your moments you thought you might have had a game with not too much to do 3-0 up at a halftime but you you had you had one or two busy moments in that game wearing the old white gloves I noticed which was a little fashion statement as well we spoke about earlier in the show Jim it was one of the silly things that the laundry ladies U put them in Bleach one day and and uh that's how they came became White and that was I mean but they weren't white after this match after all the mud we were playing but it was something that I just got used to and I wanted to play with him in the right place there that little George E he he was a player wasn't he was a great player one he George and uh but you know you can see how game the game changed differently I mean it's all about angles goalkeepers about angles today the ball can do so many different things you know and here we are the white gloves yeah with a crucial touch not bad sorry Jim did look at you there in kind of disbelief really I thought Mickey ped hit it with good pace and you make your run and know it needs a a tap in good hands man good hand yeah there weren't too many words exchanged between that we could see at that that moment but You' obviously gone gosh I mean in those days anyway just accept it didn't you I mean nobody kind of tried to get Mickey Mickey Pedic sent off did there anything like that Jim just get on with the game well let's just have a quick look show we how that lead finished in the 7172 season Derby County where the Champions they're actually confirmed Champions when I think they were all on holiday in newor that they beat leads Manchester United finished eighth Stoke City finished 17th and Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield were relegated guys it's been absolutely great fascinating really really enjoyed looking back Jimmy green and I accept me thank you very much indeed for your company thank you Jim brilliant stuff and uh not the best of seasons for Manchester United not the best of times for Manchester United 1972 but at least they sent the fans into the summer with smiles on their faces and goals on their minds [Music] Cheerio [Music] rocket and I think it's to be long long time touch down brings me around get to I'm not [Music] man [Applause] Ro Rocket Man burning [Music] on