Talking of wingers, I used to love Ricky Holden. He was a sight to behold galloping down the wing, all legs and elbows leaving players in his wake. About as ungainly as you could get, without falling over, but so exciting. He went on to Oldham, and played with them during their stellar season, and then went to Man City. Strangely, I heard that throughout his short time with us, he had played with a ruptured knee ligament.
Was it him who scored after about 30 seconds in a home game against Newcastle when Dave Beasant took the ball out of the area kicking it having been passed the ball back from kick off? Was either him or Willie Falconer, was a great free kick and my first mid-week game.
Neither. It was the much-travelled Neil Redfearn. A pub quiz answer in that he scored with Watford’s first touch of the match.
That Birmingham game was a fierce occasion in front of 40,000 at St Andrews. They were a thuggish team at the time, managed by the late Ron Saunders. After the Barnes goal you describe they tried to bully their way back into it and got an equaliser but fortunately we had too much for them in the end. I forget how we escaped back to the car for the drive home. I do miss proper intense cup ties like that one.
Yes fantastic atmosphere. Who was their big black intimidating scary CH who just constantly looked like he was about to lump someone. Noel Blake ?
Loads of popstars seem to die fairly young. Fisher out of Climie Fisher, and one of the guys in Black Lace of Agadoo fame, plus all the drug-related deaths. Plus loads of suicides, guys from Associates, Big Country ....
Chales, of cancer aged 37 in 2001 per Wiki (but anyone can edit Wiki ). Born 4 days after me, ....would I lie to you ??
That was a real knife edge atmosphere. Birmingham fans were being carried away on stretchers, no idea why.
Before Barnes joined us we had played 5 seasons in our history in the 2nd tier finishing 19th 18th 22nd 18th and 9th. In the 6 years he played for us we were 2nd in the 2nd tier and the top flight and never relegated. He's easily the best player we've ever had. We weren't a one man team but he very significantly increased our level. Losing him was a major factor in our relegation as was signing Trevior Senior who had been prolific in the lower leagues but was a disastrous signing for us. We were linked with John Fashanu pre season and if we'd signed him instead it couldve been enough to keep us up. Bassett never fitted in at the club and in some ways it was the fault of the club for not being able to adapt quickly enough to the post- Taylor era. Bassett achieved 7 promotions in his career, including 3 into the top flight. He was old school but a very successful manager. Barnes knew he was going to Liverpool long before the end of his final season and GTs job wouldve been twice as hard without him. I'm sure that was on GT's mind when he jumped ship.
There was a really evil atmosphere in and around the ground after that game, the Brummies just could not take the fact they lost
I don't remember seeing or experiencing anything unusual on the way back from the game ? There were 4 of us fairly big lads but that in itself could've made us a target.
Given Birmingham's reputation I recall deciding not to wear anything that would identify myself as a Watford fan and after the match acted miserable walking through the angry Brum fans back to our car. Wasn't a Leeds fan killed at the ground the following season? I remember not being surprised.
