1975 12 27 Big Match Arsenal v QPR Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland Leeds United v Leicester City

[Music] [Music] I welcome again to the big match what a wonderful Saturday for the well-being of football the biggest crowds turned out yesterday for four years a total of 762 2064. let's hope they were impressed enough to go again I'm sure many of them were there were certainly big crowds at our three matches some 126 000 and they really got value for their money as you'll be seeing the three games all have a direct bearing on the top of the first and second division and our main match is the London Derby game between Arsenal and Queen's Park Rangers and from that game we have our studio guest today Liam Brady of Arsenal and Phil parks of Queen's Park Rangers also from the top of the first division Leeds United the team really running into form now against Leicester city and The Clash at the top of the second division between the top two in fact Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland so a big match that's again packed with significant action and for a start we go across to Highbury where the flags have not been flying very proudly this season even so there's a wonderful atmosphere in this 39 000 crowd for the local Derby between Arsenal and Queen's Park Rangers both sides in fact had played 24 hours earlier on boxing day this then is the scene for today's encounter and Arsenal have made two changes from the side that lost his Ipswich as they come out onto the field led by Alan Ball their 18th in the table they've lost three of their last four games and badly need a good result from this match today their opponents Queens Park Rangers let out by England Skipper Jerry Francis they're right up there third in the first division table they've lost only one of their last 10 games in the league and they all want to keep that sort of run going our first job of course is to catch up on the two teams for today as I say arsenal have made those two chains from the side that lost Ipswich John Radford and Eddie Kelly are both left out Sammy Nelson returns to number three and Frank Stapleton to number nine QPR make a change from the side that beat Norridge John Hollins is at four and his place at substitute goes to Mick leech but for one man a special day with a special meaning Frank McClintock of QPR 36 today after nine years at Arsenal a chance to speak a moment ago with George Armstrong and here with Peter Story another who enjoyed years of Glory there with Frank now wearing the number five shirt for Arsenal course young David O'Leary getting better with every game the referee is Bill Gau of Swansea with the two men who've skipped England there doing the tossing up Alan Ball and Jerry Francis and that having been done it's time for the start so it's Arsenal who get us away and this London derby with a lot of meaning to it attacking the goal to our right red and white shirts white shorts who's smarter English today in gloor Mike moves and blue shorts the change of shorts sir is not the Clash buying third in the table Arsenal in a certain amount of trouble now five off the bottom as well as the reunions with Frank McClintock here Dave Sexton who used to be a coach here at library and Bobby Campbell on the left who used to be a coach at Queen's Park Rangers foreign [Applause] O'Leary there for Arsenal and he was born [Applause] twice here last year in a Two-Two draw and then from the penalty spot Thomas the balls again turned inside instinctively and a lot of Stories being called to referee GAO story who was booked yesterday and in fact only returned yesterday after suspension and straightway there in a spot a bottle with a referee we've got a foul there on Thomas so Gillard with the free kick floated towards the far post River underneath it and so too was wherever Francis foreign [Applause] [Applause] Stapleton Armstrong your story ball Thomas heard in that challenge Again by story and the referee coming again for Peter story calling to him and he'll have to go story just can't ignore it now is this trouble for Peter story I think the referee's giving him every chance there's two talking dues okay the story Smiles goes away I hope that his shaky heats the water web then talk playing it back and operated with a chance to pass for Arsenal but Kappa is there for him and he's going on he's gone past which he turns it in oh my goodness and staple him very nearly put it in without knowing it great run there by Brady when the cap opened up and he turned it back from the byline and somehow it hit Stapleton on the nails and Parks was grateful to grab it now I can Givens get in there no because the whistle had gone here I've been talk just laying that one away for Webb listen and balls getting short shift there from two Arsenal tackles one after the second success box fully player booked yesterday at Ipswich and booked here today the third time in fact in 23 minutes of the referee has felt the need to speak to Peter story if you let the lip read that I'm not telling you anymore for the words of referee Guard from Swansea to pay the story thank you while Bose at least is on his feet now [Music] and I think he'll be fit to go on so vol's all right to go on a free kick to Paint Spot pointers letting that run to cross us here's David ball a nice little pick there by Alan Paul beautifully played there for Brady Armstrong going hard into the box Brady Sharko and a great three I think people may have been expecting Freddie to curl that one into where Armstrong was running in the fireplace from that fly and Parks made a super episode foxy may run into tremendous saves yesterday again one in particular against Ted McDougall from a flying Halo had another Beauty there and has more problems here particularly if O'Leary can turn it back but you can't because Gibbons is there story hoping to turn that in again Nelson not very much space there still got around them but couldn't get it over without the ball going out of play and a goal kick for English all right we're actually running across to Sammy Nelson that's really there actually because the I think Samuel Nelson said something to the linesman there and the referee quietly went across and had a word with Sammy Nelson about that without making any fuss about it there's Nelson again giving the ball away this time to Francis Brady really tackling back hard and Brady having a good game for Arsenal this story and now here's Brady again that's a let me fall again for him roller for George Armstrong while still wants more towards Stapleton and Paul will hope to get in there and somehow Clark saved it again great uh Ball by Brady good cross there by Armstrong stable enough well and ball almost able to force him before Parks had the last word so another corner for us for [Applause] and just giving Armstrong an extra yard to try and get that ball in delivery saved by Clarks this time from o'neilly well the Young Center Hall caught that beautifully it came through a crowd of players clutch couldn't possibly have seen that for the last possible Split Second but still reacted quickly enough to get it away and Parks the man they've got to be Armstrong with this corner again floating it in and this time the fist of Parts gets it away [Applause] to Village what a good call thereby Gibbons we'll see some beautiful Crossfield balls today that one to tennis and rookie was right back there to get his ore in for Arsenal the little number seven George Armstrong feels like this Harry [Applause] Brady Webb turning it uh skillfully White there for Hollins Nelson's gone up two here's Nelson kids outside him unstable he's through the middle and again that man Parks has stopped it foreign [Applause] this ball into the area Armstrong having two goes at it and eventually getting it back to philpotts as the whistle goes for half time with no goals and the best possible reason for that is the brilliant form of Phil Parks he saved poor that looked Unstoppable but each time that massive frame of his got in the way is superb reflexes keeping Queens Park Rangers very much in this game after a goal is first half a lot more to come today of course but the halftime score at Highbury and this is important first division game Arsenal nil Queens Farm Rangers nil we'll be right back with the second part 32nd roll to TX 15 second roll to GX to Highbury for the second Chris park range is now attacking the goal to our news beating Francis with great ease there no goals in the first half and indeed it's a rather depressing fact that there have been only four goals in five London first division derbys so far this season all because of one man really here today yes that's him Phil parks make that through for Brady and it hasn't gone yet for Arsenal as it comes to Alan Ball now maybe for Stapleton and finally football [Applause] all right well inside the first minute of the second half dollar found a way past Phil parks and it seemed that the ball would never go in it was flicking around there for so long and eventually it came to Alan Ball and he Lashley in Arsenal won who is Bob Rangers now Alan Paul without who got it and a man beaten at last Phil Fox who had no chance foreign two points so precious for Arsenal lying five up the bottom lost three of their last four games [Applause] Armstrong stableton look up rice right in there all right so pushing there on McClintock bench particularly for Bobby Campbell on the left the coach approach Street alongside him Peter Simpson you can see the substitute in the back element all again going there and again [Music] to Brady really has enjoyed himself today Brady but he didn't enjoy that very much and I think Clement's probably caught him as he tumbled over him Clement is being pulled across [Applause] referee making sure that uh great is all right and Clement being called across to referee build out foreign [Applause] [Applause] it's a throw five all making another good run but he couldn't quite good work was there for it yes Francis is an Arsenal throw s in good skill again beating Thomas another fun for Brady that's a good piece of play by Brady in another very good save by Parts a little bit of school there by Nelson that started the whole thing off and Brady took it on well and FOX also took it Arsenal playing obviously much better than they did yesterday in Ipswich well I suppose Jerry Francis has got to get his side going but the longer it goes on the more you think it's got to be maybe an individual flash of skill from the likes of Stan Bowles but we'll sort something out for QPR all right those who took a knock in the first half of course and failing to make a contact there Elizabeth taking it up there now now this time for Hollins there's his shot and we'll save by rumor and I have made his angle well but it was a good build up there by Rangers Holland's taking that fast swirl okay people there to Armstrong Alan ball trying to play it on then Armstrong got there two staple and dropped over and McClintock was equal to it storied a ball nice to the ball there again to Stapleton what a good turn by him [Applause] came in the Hallmark of that move was a lovely turn by Stapleton another very efficient piece of goalkeeping by Phil Collins by Webb I'll give him just after this one and he might be in with a chance I'll give us a little chip oh and it was a friction too high almost can turn it back which he does oh and beautifully punched up almost away as far as gonna add header in and river is covered remarkably quickly foreign punched up in the air and the defender helped him to get it away for this corner promise with it towards the new post that looked like Givens but obviously it couldn't have been cut chasing back [Music] Arsenal throw Gibbons it's very subdued up front this afternoon yeah nice timing there by Francis and now he has balls on for crisis coming around that ball and balls playing it off crypto Francis to continue that it's 20 minutes now Paul all right so attacking on the far side for an offside against Brian Kidd [Music] hey foreign and somehow deflected away Power Ranger's waking up a little bit now oh made a sign of the linesman after making a sign of the lines when steinbows his name goes into the book well go down in the book is descent but also of course recording that incident foreign [Applause] [Applause] sliding that into the path a flying kick the Box Brian came the scorer and you would not believe it would you the ups and downs of goalkeeping the man who kept Rangers in the game with three or four magnificent saves in the first half but truly worrying about which he could do nothing and then as the ball is splayed on to Brian kid from Alan Ball that's allowed the ball to go under his body and that makes it Arsenal tool with Rangers noodle Brian killed the score box who'd be a goalkeeper more competitive it seems so far anyway so Bobby Campbell on the left the Arsenal coach I would think much [Applause] happier Stapleton Brady Stapleton and Clarks down again well they took that suit perfectly strong back to Rice into ball again Thomas told who really hasn't stop playing he really has had a fine game George Armstrong I think there were those earlier on this season thought that his uh he's at Arsenal certainly the first two we're just about over well he suddenly rice just a little too fast to get that ball and effectively [Music] [Applause] [Music] here comes the referee not looking at his watch yet though so they're still be time for Rangers has given small and his cousin has been a very Superior game as indeed most of them already just met up front so it's another goal kick s two miles second half and Brian Kidd having got these the frequently talk in that Rangers defense Above All Because Phil Parks their goalkeeper was in such Splendid form how ironical that that second goal should have passed under his body and into the date so there we are then then Arsenal an important win for them by two girls to know the final score against their check on it again as we leave Highbury Arsenal two three spark Rangers nil so Arsenal fans breathe a little easier after that one and now let's meet our two guests from that game Liam Brady arguably Arsenal's man of the match although Alan Ball also had a tremendous game and Phil Parks Phil I thought you were going to be the man of the match until that little accident closed to the end uh Liam let's come to you first of all because it was a remarkable transformation by Arsenal you played so poorly apparently against Ipswich the previous day how did that come about do you think well it's uh it was Ipswich really they pressurized us a lot and uh we never really settled down but yesterday we tried to do the same to Queens Park Rangers but did you get a bit of a roasting from Bobby Campbell and Bertie Mead to that yeah we got we got told off a half expected at mine yeah what did you weren't putting enough effort maybe into the game on Friday uh well yeah our attitude and the way we applied ourselves yeah you told us off about that and we rectified it certainly did because I thought Phil that QPR really didn't look like champ like a championship side yesterday no we really didn't click as a side at all yesterday was that you were hustled out of it by Arsenal or I think so yeah um we let them play a little bit and they took it from there whereas uh normally we we sort of do the same to Arsenal as they did to us the great thing about Arsenal I think at the moment they're going through this difficult period Liam but they've got the courage to try a lot of youngsters I mean you're only 19 yourself what about some of the other youngsters who are well we've got four or five you know we're in and out of the team who are who are wearing and now the team last season but now are having a long run Dave Valerian Richard Palin for example you know back had a plane really great uh Frank Stapleton Frank stapling has come in again yesterday and he's proved it you know he's going to be a really good Center for this we've got one or two very good examples the way you Arsenal youngsters got on well together and the first clip in fact is is involving you as well Liam just tell us what happens here deep in the well I tried to pressurize Terry Francis as much as I could and he uh give he gave the ball away to Frank Stapleton Frank Stapleton never so well push her back to Peter story clear story played at the me and I looked up just there in the scene Jordy Armstrong over on the right wing what a great game he had as well didn't you George oh he's fantastic yeah he's a dream to play with helps you out ever so much you give a great cross down Frank jumps well and directs your header down to Allen ball who nearly nicked in and got a goal you look a bit angry here Phil yeah well I think uh Davey Webb tried to clear that there and with the pressure of Alan Ball he just missed out there no this is Liam again well I was going to take Frank McClintock and hit on here till Frank staple and run across me so I just decided to Belt it and it was going outside the post but started to Swerve in and the top Phil left it just a little bit too late and I was about to rejoice when pressure or what but they they certainly moved yesterday anyway yeah which would you have regarded as your best save yesterday um perhaps that one there um because it did move in the air and I had to I was at one side of the goal and I had to get right across to the other side but I think the most Spectacular from a lot of people from the Layman's point of view if I can put it that way is is one you made from a close range from uh David O'Leary following a corner coming up now tell us about this one Phil yes well the corner comes across there they all jump and miss it it controls it ever so well there and sort of turns it on the volley a really great shot but but really it's it's straight at me there um although they're sort of in slow motion it was you know kind of came very quick um it's still more or less straight at you and it's just a pure reflex so you don't really know much about them no no we've got to come to that moment though now haven't we about nine minutes from the end yeah what on Earth happened there I don't really know tell you the truth I thought I had the ball at one stage and I couldn't believe it when it you know I hadn't got it should we have a look at it again you're welcome yeah in fact it looked to me very much as though Frank McClintock may have got in your way a little bit well Frank did get was was directly between the ball and myself melon ball then yeah yes and uh Kitty does well actually I wasn't expecting him to shoot days as you see I'm not really ready until sort of there and he and he hits it now and uh you know he just goes past Frank's leg I simply see it a little bit laid and I don't know of course I just went around all wrong and you know I couldn't believe it when he's in the back of the net it actually hit me on the arm yeah and Ben stand behind me yeah yeah when would you have last made a mistake like that because I think most professionals Liam regard this fellow is a pretty consistent goalkeeper and consistently good don't they well I think he's one of the best in the game anyway yeah yeah so when did you last make a an error like that uh a direct shot like that I can't honestly remember really uh I don't think I've let one in for Queensborough Rangers like that no for a long long while anyway let's go let's go to a personal note very quickly at Liam because uh you've got a couple of Brothers who used to play for QPR I think I in fact I mentioned a couple of years ago that you came from Belfast and I think half the Republic of Ireland wrote to me and said you're a Dublin lad and that you've got a couple of Brothers who played for qprm for millwall yes sir my brother Ray my brother Pat played with uh millwall and Queens Park Rangers did you know that Phil by the way I didn't actually no no until you mentioned it just what are they doing now well Ray is Republican in Seven Oaks and uh Pat's teaching in Germany I see pretty pleased with the way the young brothers getting on as well well I hope so anyway did they watch you at all uh Ray watches me uh every time we play at Highbury yeah and the point about youthful is that people mentioned about your odd boots yesterday on the on the program at least last weekend on the program yeah and before they get on about your gloves tell us about these strange gloves that you wear oh these you got them there with you I've got the gloves here yeah they're uh they're German I said they made I think the German third choice goalkeeper Cliff place with my machine glad back he uh he sort of sponsors them you know puts his name to them and when we played over there at uh pre-season he uh he lent me a pair of half time because mine weren't doing too good and uh he gave them to me after the game and what's the point about the the padding on the uh on the back well I think it's just to stop the ball from slipping when you punch you punch it and on the front they seem to be very padded as well yeah it's it's a special material it sort of holds the water can you turn it towards the camera let people have a look at that yeah it holds the water and um for some reason or other is they're fantastic it's like Like Glue yeah yeah and Dave Sexton's got a lot of contacts in Germany and he sends away for them so the man with odd boots and strange gloves that's it yeah brilliant game yeah still apart from that one moment and so did you as well Liam thank you very much indeed both of you for coming and joining us on the big match today thank you bro thank you very much before we move on to our second game in fact we just got to look at uh a little uh newspaper cutting in fact that we spotted last night from the classified edition of The Evening News some new football tactics at Highbury uh to me it's a technical Marvel the way those newspapers are ever produced but what about this for a paragraph Don Givens had a chance but O'Leary tickled him and quickly put the ball out of play I thought we'd seen everything but obviously we hadn't let's move on to our second game now a mighty clash between the top two in the second division between Bolton Wanderers who were lying second and Sunderland the leaders there was a crowd of 42 000 at Burnham Park for this one how like the old days that must have seemed and really they had some good quality football too just listen now to the Bolton manager Ian Greaves describing one of the day's goals what about terrific well I think I played against John Charles once or admired him but TV got ahead of him better than that then I've got to see it well you can see for yourself now as we go across to burden Park Bolton against Sunderland the pictures come from Granada television the commentators Geralds instead Bolton are in the white shirts easy for Bolton Joe Bolton that is Holden what more taken away from him by Charles for Malone [Music] Tarts Henderson faced by Greaves and playing another cross with Kerr coming in Holden get in but offside offside given as Holden worked an opening for himself laid it across the six yard area shani's little back heel beats it all but not the linesman's flat Thompson Jones [Applause] Paul Jones and the number five shirt coming up as number 11 Peter Thompson goes out to take the corner Jones on the goal line there half an Argon Corner swinging in towards allardyce Paradise coming again referees say no the referee is disallowed it it came over from the corner allodice had a go there was then something like a Rugby scrum as they tried to heal it out and presumably it was there that the infringement occurred before the ball came through and what more folks investment government foreign it's a good throw by The Keeper function away with Greaves outside him Byram Reed Jones good control Chase it rather long way in the end four degrees coming in now headed by Richardson for Greece good Son by Robson and Montgomery goes down on it all starting from a great ball by Gary Jones Greaves was going round then Montgomery got behind the shot and somewhere there there was another infringement and Sunderland get relief from a free kick alone had come forward well because little chip touch on by finny for Kerr again lovely laugh car started it with that very clever little lob two Vinnie could he gave it back Kerr took it aimed for the chip over the goalkeeper's hands got pulled it wide he kept given [Applause] cars to take it tall Holden right at the back of the penalty area ready for a run Robson at the near post but it's aimed towards Kerr in fact [Applause] came over Kirk and steaming in and allodice forced to go back to cover in it like a bullet pass it all Thompson and Reed Richardson thank you Thompson taking on Kerr second tackle was by Finney and it concedes the corner Paul Jones has gone up into the goal markers Thompson takes the corner [Applause] what a happy boy driven corner by Thompson amalodice came bulleting in on it and Montgomery had no chance [Applause] what more Gary Jones Thompson Reed thank you Reed's cross [Applause] the big smile from John Barham as he nods in the easiest of crosses just came through into the Gap completely unmarked and it was an easy hitter for him fast Montgomery well some thrilling stuff there and now at the top of the second division Sunderland and Bolton locked together each with 33 points I'm glad to say that the action on the program is so good today that I hope you'll excuse us if we give the letters a Miss for just one week because now we have to get straight on to our third game and now everybody is beginning to notice the surge to the top of Leeds United and yesterday Leeds were at home to Leicester city a game that pulled in a crowd of 45 000 and I can assure you that they're going to be back for a bit more as well judge for yourself then as the pictures come from Yorkshire television commentators Keith Macklin Leeds United in white the area Clark of a clear shooting Giants and the deflection coming out to Eddie gray the deflection off wallet Betty Gray and it's fine for a corner the referee says that it hit a Leicester defender on its way behind and it's a quantity excitement in both friendly areas both sides spraying them all around [Applause] both taking their shots both looking good Economist cross touch 18 for it in the Valley area getting it over off the line Hunter was almost on the scoresheet then Ronnie mccurling it just passed well we've had more good efforts in this game with logos that we've had in some 90-minute matches even the goalkeeper of lauded Mark Wallington was applauding then [Applause] takes the kick very quickly to Hunter foreign [Applause] [Applause] except Harvey up for Mackenzie Lorimer slipped past the tackle of Samos low right across the goal everybody Five Guys ahead of that pass [Music] Garland the Mystic please going forward again it might have been a go down in the first minute they might have had one or two themselves lot him up mainly a game of so much action ago must come soon here's Mackenzie putting it back Samuels didn't know much about that but got Tui Clark go at the ball valves hit it hard and low not Mark Wellington could do nothing about it remember scooting down the middle it was Samuels who cut it out only as far as cherry laurimar triangle one two three with Bremner Jerry short and Wallington a fine save yeah whoever Jerry The Man Who rattled that Rini gremler Cherry looking for Clark road but it's been there [Music] [Applause] Mackenzie [Applause] bring it down foreign [Applause] taking a rabbit out of a hat [Applause] Duncan McKenzie back to Gold looked as if the chance had gone suddenly bow it's in the top right hand corner [Applause] Hunter Allison thought that might have been out of play Eddie gray Betty Gray getting fast eating a foul Challenge and a good low class three the lesson in France getting in a terrible tangle but give maximum credit to Eddie gray for that Eddie gray had about six inches of touchline a desperate and probably fall tackle from all the center contenders got the ball over and while lockley and his fellow Defenders got in an awful jungle Peter Larimer applied the toe end foreign [Applause] the second half Bremner winning that from Lee and he's in a tight corner too oh surely Samuels do it gremler gave him the Christmas present Weller [Applause] well John samwell's probably to his own surprise found himself Inside the six-yard Box William offered it to him gift wrapped but he couldn't take it takes it fast Rose Clark Hustle by low holding it [Applause] Eddie gray and this time Alderson does manage to get in the tackle but the Leicester defense looks oh easy look NZ what I give Porky dweller foreign [Applause] [Music] leads four two minutes of normal time remaining Chris De Clark to Harris [Applause] to Clark inside is Lorimer oh my word so that's it next week of course it's the cup something we should reflect fully and on the ball next Saturday lunchtime and the big match of course next Sunday afternoon at a new time of five past two five past two next Sunday well we wish you all a very happy new year and leave you today with that old football saying that goalkeepers are crazy today our guest Phil Parks might even agree some stunning saves Phil and then that nightmare moment in the match at hybrid yesterday [Applause] his ball that into a path of flying kick s [Music] thank you [Music]