Author Topic: Fifty years ago today (Read 6221 times)

Chipperfan · « **on:** May 18, 2018, 07:18:24 AM »

Fifty years ago today, along with my Mom and Dad I climbed into my Uncle Frank Pardoeâ€™s new Ford Escort and set of for Wembley. We were all wearing rosettes my Mom had made especially for the game we were heading for.

Turned out to be a good day, and I can still remember seeing the net bulge as the Kingâ€™s shot flew in.

Anybody else there to see us lift the Cup?

Droitwich Baggie · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2018, 07:56:52 AM »

Yes.
My step father, my brother in law, and also my friend.
We all went by the coaches from the ground. We had all seen every match, both home and away that season.
Because we could produce the Colchester away stubs, we were guaranteed tickets.

ex coseley kid · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2018, 09:40:55 AM »

You lucky chaps.

I see the official site is - naturally enough - festooned with pics and video from the day.

Fantastic, but will we ever see the like again?

Chipperfan · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2018, 09:52:59 AM »

Quote from: ex coseley kid on May 18, 2018, 09:40:55 AM

You lucky chaps.

I see the official site is - naturally enough - festooned with pics and video from the day.

Fantastic, but will we ever see the like again?

Believe!

Seriously, I hope so, but football is a different game these days and clubs like ours are feeding off scraps most of the time.

SmethDan · « **Reply #4 on:** May 18, 2018, 09:56:06 AM »

Quote from: Chipperfan on May 18, 2018, 07:18:24 AM

Fifty years ago today, along with my Mom and Dad I climbed into my Uncle Frank Pardoeâ€™s new Ford Escort and set of for Wembley. We were all wearing rosettes my Mom had made especially for the game we were heading for.

Turned out to be a good day, and I can still remember seeing the net bulge as the Kingâ€™s shot flew in.

Anybody else there to see us lift the Cup?

Unfortunately not, I was only four months old at the time. Seems so long ago (which I suppose it was) but when you break life down to months and incidents you realise it goes by in a blink. Hopefully one day I'll get to share in trophy lifting memories such as yours. COYB

.

ex coseley kid · « **Reply #5 on:** May 18, 2018, 10:13:18 AM »

Quote from: Chipperfan on May 18, 2018, 09:52:59 AM

Believe!

Seriously, I hope so, but football is a different game these days and clubs like ours are feeding off scraps most of the time.

I do feel strangely optimistic, Chipperfan. I know we have a summer of huge change that could go either way for us but I'm just feeling like we've got a bit of positivity about us now that's been missing for some time.

Either way what a special day today is.

VANDERLEI · « **Reply #6 on:** May 18, 2018, 10:46:30 AM »

My dad was there.

superkev · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2018, 11:31:32 AM »

I was there aged 16, it was a worry at first as our coach (Harper brothers from aldridge) ran into another car near Oxford and we were stranded at the side of the road whilst they ordered a replacement coach we thought we would never make it so me and my dad hitched a lift. First an Everton car stopped then drove off when they saw our colours but we did get a great lift to wembley off 2 albion fans.
the coach did actually make it just on time but we took no chances and like everyone else I was right behind the goal when that worldy bulged the net. You never see that goal on any TV build up programs, i suppose its too old now.
one other memory was in the 120th minute Graham Lovett breaking away and we had 3 on one but GL blazed it over the bar, so he must have been time wasting

Jack Thrust · « **Reply #8 on:** May 18, 2018, 12:22:54 PM »

My mom is the Albion nucleus of our family, having gotten into it through her dad. My dad only started going to the Hawthorns when they were courting as he had to go if he wanted to see her on a saturday!

Anyway I digress, my mom went to every preceding cup game with her dad, however when it came to the final she was snubbed in favour of her brother. He had only a passing interest as he was much more interested in playing football than watching it. My mom was gutted and is still bitter about it to this day bless her.

Slimbo · « **Reply #9 on:** May 18, 2018, 12:56:36 PM »

I wasn't there for the FA Cup but was there for the Man City league cup final

BigFrank20 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 18, 2018, 01:45:59 PM »

Yep me and me old da were there stood next to an Evertonian in the Albion end

SmethDan · « **Reply #11 on:** May 18, 2018, 01:52:58 PM »

Quote from: BigFrank20 on May 18, 2018, 01:45:59 PM

Yep me and me old da were there stood next to an Evertonian in the Albion end

'Hard to believe I know' Frank, but I bet a senior citizens season ticket was the last thing on your mind that day

.

divinewind · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2018, 02:18:05 PM »

Quote from: Slimbo on May 18, 2018, 12:56:36 PM

I wasn't there for the FA Cup but was there for the Man City league cup final

Me too, we couldn't get tickets for the final despite going to most home games that season, plus the cup games v Colchester (40,000 turned up on a Wednesday night for a 3rd round replay), Pompey away and Blues in the semi.
We watched the game on our black and white tv. Those who went saw the game in colour.

Chipperfan · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2018, 02:21:29 PM »

Quote from: divinewind on May 18, 2018, 02:18:05 PM

Me too, we couldn't get tickets for the final despite going to most home games that season, plus the cup games v Colchester (40,000 turned up on a Wednesday night for a 3rd round replay), Pompey away and Blues in the semi.
We watched the game on our black and white tv. Those who went saw the game in colour.

Some of those who didnâ€™t go were able to see the game in colour too. It was the first FA Cup final broadcast in colour. It was on BBC 2.

divinewind · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2018, 02:31:01 PM »

We weren't that posh Chipper, we didn't get one until 1973.

divinewind · « **Reply #15 on:** May 18, 2018, 02:33:48 PM »

Dennis Clarke was the first sub to be used in a Cup Final.

Chipperfan · « **Reply #16 on:** May 18, 2018, 02:36:11 PM »

Quote from: divinewind on May 18, 2018, 02:31:01 PM

We weren't that posh Chipper, we didn't get one until 1973.

Haha. When I left home in 1976 my folks were still watching a black and white TV. They came to my flat in â€˜77 to watch the jubilee celebrations in colour.

Droitwich Baggie · « **Reply #17 on:** May 18, 2018, 03:07:12 PM »

https://twitter.com/WBA/status/997447218826305536?s=19

🎥 Our 1968 FA Cup final squad... As introduced by their gaffer, Alan Ashman.

AlbionFan · « **Reply #18 on:** May 18, 2018, 03:13:38 PM »

I was there and what a day. I do feel for younger supporters, my sons include, who have never seen us win a Cup Final.

I still have the 45RPM Vinyl record that was issued shortly after our win, the A side "Albion Day" and the B side "Albion Way" the artist Roy Edwards. Unfortunately, I don't have a record player these days.

I also have a 45RPM Vinyl of a Ray King record, issued in 1979 (Ron Atkinson and our Three degrees era), the A side â€œWest Bromwich Albionâ€ and the B side â€œOh Oh Oh Oh Ohâ€

Do any of the older members remember these records?

divinewind · « **Reply #19 on:** May 18, 2018, 03:22:09 PM »

I had both those singles plus the LP of the commentary of the final.
Anyone remember the song Joe Piano Henderson tried to get us to sing before the 1970 LCF?

Chipperfan · « **Reply #20 on:** May 18, 2018, 04:01:56 PM »

Quote from: Droitwich Baggie on May 18, 2018, 03:07:12 PM

https://twitter.com/WBA/status/997447218826305536?s=19

🎥 Our 1968 FA Cup final squad... As introduced by their gaffer, Alan Ashman.

Thatâ€™s fantastic. I hadnâ€™t realised how young the team was.

iwastherein68 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 18, 2018, 05:19:56 PM »

Quote from: Chipperfan on May 18, 2018, 07:18:24 AM

Fifty years ago today, along with my Mom and Dad I climbed into my Uncle Frank Pardoeâ€™s new Ford Escort and set of for Wembley. We were all wearing rosettes my Mom had made especially for the game we were heading for.

Turned out to be a good day, and I can still remember seeing the net bulge as the Kingâ€™s shot flew in.

Anybody else there to see us lift the Cup?

Yes mate. I went to every game that season home and away. Despite that had a hell of a game getting my ticket for the Final. Vouchers were given out with the Colchester tickets, but someone got mine for me and I never saw a voucher. I had no evidence that I had been to a single game, paid at the turnstile. But then my wonderful Mum god bless her, when emptying my Jacket pocket before taking it to the cleaners, found the stub of my ticket for the all-ticket 1st replay at Anfield. Taught me a lesson and the following season bought my first season ticket ( Brummie standing) and I have had one ever since. Just purchased my 50th consecutive ticket. Now resident in the East.

don1thedon · « **Reply #22 on:** May 18, 2018, 05:47:40 PM »

Thanks for sharing the memories guys, this was an absolutely fabulous day, I also watched it on B&W tv! It was probably the season that really cemented my love of WBA.
I remember my excitement when we beat Blues at Villa Park in the semis & then waiting at the local newsagents for the Sports Argus to arrive so I could read the match report. My next door neighbour was an avid Blues fan & he'd been taking me to St Andrews hoping to turn me into being a City fan but it was the stripes that I really loved (& still do, silly old sod!).
Loved Alan Ashmans guide to the team, great memories. Hopefully a few more to come eh!!

divinewind · « **Reply #23 on:** May 18, 2018, 06:32:09 PM »

The mid to late 60's side is my all time favourite Albion team, full of characters, played great football, 4 finals in 5 years, winning two, the other year we got to the semis and Cup Winners Cup quarters.
Did anyone go on the long train journey to Dunfermline?

Chipperfan · « **Reply #24 on:** May 19, 2018, 06:39:02 AM »

So, fifty years ago today I went up to West Bromwich in a minibus with a group of people from Chapel in Amblecote (we were let off turning up on account of the previous dayâ€™s events).

Spent the morning standing on a wall (think I was outside a bank), hanging on to a storm water down pipe, waiting for and watching first the team bus to come slowly down the high street and then for the players to present the Cup to the crowds from the balcony of West Brom town hall. The roads and pavements were heaving with people, and even the old concrete bus shelters had folks standing on top of them.

Pretty sure a couple of the players made speeches (Graham Williams particularly though Iâ€™ve no idea what he said) and I remember amongst all the noise the volume went up when the Kingâ€™s turn to hold the Cup aloft came.

I remember reading there were around 115,000 people gathered in the high street that day.

Tell you what, if Carlsberg did weekends...

divinewind · « **Reply #25 on:** May 19, 2018, 09:13:32 AM »

I think over 200,000 lined the route. We got there early and were right at the front outside the town hall. We talked to the coppers trying to hold us all back.
We parked near to the site of our Stoney Lane ground, it was just waste land. There would have been old Albion fans present that day who would have seen us play there as kids.
West Brom High St was the main London to Holyhead Rd back then.
No M5, no Expressway, the Great Western Railway and Hawthorns station had closed the previous year. It could take an hour and a half to get back to Coseley after a game, yet night matches all kicked off at 7.30pm.

Wimpy bars, Cinderella Rockafella lol, wonderful memories of that cup run.

kc56wba · « **Reply #26 on:** May 19, 2018, 10:13:48 AM »

I went to every game even the second replay v Liverpool at Maine Road and didn't get a ticket for the final, but I did get a final ticket for 1970 League Cup final.

Chipperfan · « **Reply #27 on:** May 19, 2018, 10:50:47 AM »

Quote from: kc56wba on May 19, 2018, 10:13:48 AM

I went to every game even the second replay v Liverpool at Maine Road and didn't get a ticket for the final, but I did get a final ticket for 1970 League Cup final.

That game at Maine Road, what a night that was. How bloody good were we?

divinewind · « **Reply #28 on:** May 19, 2018, 10:54:40 AM »

So many fans missed out and people who hadn't been for years went, i
even knew a wolves fan who got tickets.
The next season the club put stubs on Albion News to reward loyalty, but that wasn't foolproof, but no doubt it was shrewd marketing business.

divinewind · « **Reply #29 on:** May 19, 2018, 10:59:49 AM »

Quote from: Chipperfan on May 19, 2018, 10:50:47 AM

That game at Maine Road, what a night that was. How bloody good were we?

Our second goal; Osborne rolled it out and it went 10 passes without a Liverpool player touching it, until Tommy Lawrence picked out of the net. Still ranks as one of the best team goals ever.

Chipperfan · « **Reply #30 on:** May 19, 2018, 11:04:37 AM »

Quote from: divinewind on May 19, 2018, 10:59:49 AM

Our second goal; Osborne rolled it out and it went 10 passes without a Liverpool player touching it, until Tommy Lawrence picked out of the net. Still ranks as one of the best team goals ever.

That was a hell of a team. Some tremendous footballers.

Watching the old films of them Iâ€™m surprised at how mobile the players were, and also how fluid the line up was. Ashman certainly hit on something that season.

superkev · « **Reply #31 on:** May 19, 2018, 08:01:02 PM »

Maine Road? thats the wettest I have ever been it never stopped that night

bangkokbaggie · « **Reply #32 on:** May 20, 2018, 01:06:26 AM »

67/68 was the season I began supporting the Albion when a neigbour encouraged my dad to go to the games. What a perfect season to start watching and supporting us.

I have little recollection but do remember some games we attended including the thrashing of United and win against West Ham which I think were successive games.

As to the final that we watched on TV, I can hardly remember anything. What I do recall were the scenes the next day on the way to West Bromwich town centre which was heaving with supporters making me feel so proud to be a 'baggies' fan. Still remember John Osborne seemingly waving to me from the open-top bus.

I have the badge cut out of a shirt which I reckon was a reserve kit for the final that was given to me by Lady Barbara Millichip a few years later.

Happy memories.

Laguna Baggie · « **Reply #33 on:** May 20, 2018, 07:57:39 AM »

What a day that was - I had a rattle that my Dad ripped out of my hand when Big Jeff hit the back of the net. We went on the train from Dudley Port if I recall correctly. I was the same age as our eldest grandson - 10 - and I hope he doesnâ€™t have to wait that long to see us do it again.....

AlbionFan · « **Reply #34 on:** May 20, 2018, 08:30:19 AM »

I remember queuing up overnight outside the Smethwick End for my Semi-Final ticket, I think we had to produce stubs from previous rounds

In those days, I was a member of the Dog Kennel Lane Supports Club. The Committee had been allocated Final Tickets from the club and decided to hold a draw of the the membership as the fairest way to allocate the tickets and I had the very good fortune of being allocated one from that draw.

A few days before the Final, Graham Williams visited the Dog Kennel Lane club. I was at the bar waiting to be served when Graham came and stood next to me, naturally, I asked him what he thought the result would be, he said "1-0 will do for me". I obviously bought him a drink!