Blackpool v Fulham November 1976 Lookback

B

Bloodorange

Well-known member
This weekends match up would seem on paper to be a tough ask for Pool in securing some points against the current league leaders.Read on

By way of comparison in November 1976 Fulham rolled into town with Bobby Moore, and George Best in the line up and managed by Alec Stock.

Rodney Marsh was replaced by the on loan Teddy Maybank from Chelsea for this match and a certain John Evanson was a regular in the Fulham midfield.

Blackpool had started the season strongly and were nicely placed 3rd in the table with Fulham in 14th.

This was the Pool era of entertaining attacking footballing under Allan Brown complimented by the dual goals galore threat of Walsh and Hatton.

An interesting inclusion for Pool in the absence of both Suddick and Ainscow was Jimmy Weston another of Pool's Skelmersdale United graduates signed in 1974.

He went on to make over 100 appearances having debuted in 1975 and yet he is one of those I have difficulty recalling.

Bill Bentley lined up in midfield rather than his usual left back berth to no less effect.

Pool not to be outshone by the superstar line up from London's South West came out on top in a 5 goal thriller running out winners 3-2 with a goal apiece for Hart Hatton and Walsh and in reply a brace for Fulham's Mitchell lifting Pool to 2nd in the table.

Pool of course went on to finish 5th narrowly missing out on promotion once again whilst Fulham finished a lowly 17th.

Line up

Wood Gardner Harrison Ronson Suddaby Hart Weston Spence Walsh Hatton Bentley.

The bigger they are the harder they fall

Enjoy the game
 
Bloodorange said:
This weekends match up would seem on paper to be a tough ask for Pool in securing some points against the current league leaders.Read on

By way of comparison in November 1976 Fulham rolled into town with Bobby Moore, and George Best in the line up and managed by Alec Stock.

Rodney Marsh was replaced by the on loan Teddy Maybank from Chelsea for this match and a certain John Evanson was a regular in the Fulham midfield.

Blackpool had started the season strongly and were nicely placed 3rd in the table with Fulham in 14th.

This was the Pool era of entertaining attacking footballing under Allan Brown complimented by the dual goals galore threat of Walsh and Hatton.

An interesting inclusion for Pool in the absence of both Suddick and Ainscow was Jimmy Weston another of Pool's Skelmersdale United graduates signed in 1974.

He went on to make over 100 appearances having debuted in 1975 and yet he is one of those I have difficulty recalling.

Bill Bentley lined up in midfield rather than his usual left back berth to no less effect.

Pool not to be outshone by the superstar line up from London's South West came out on top in a 5 goal thriller running out winners 3-2 with a goal apiece for Hart Hatton and Walsh and in reply a brace for Fulham's Mitchell lifting Pool to 2nd in the table.

Pool of course went on to finish 5th narrowly missing out on promotion once again whilst Fulham finished a lowly 17th.

Line up

Wood Gardner Harrison Ronson Suddaby Hart Weston Spence Walsh Hatton Bentley.

The bigger they are the harder they fall

Enjoy the game
Click to expand...
Yes George Best was outstanding for Fulham inspiring them to come back from 0-2 down to 2-2 before Pool got the winner. Very entertaining game.
 
Trammo said:
Yes George Best was outstanding for Fulham inspiring them to come back from 0-2 down to 2-2 before Pool got the winner. Very entertaining game.
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Yes, one of my favourite games that has stayed in my head watching from the Scratchers and funnily enough spent the whole game wondering how ex-Pool player Evanson was in the same team as that “stellar” bunch having spent the previous seasons calling him “For Fecks Sake Evanson!”
 
Alfie Conn said:
Best header of the ball I have ever seen in Mickey Walsh's goal.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Check out the MOTD footage on YouTube, you can see someone waiving a crash helmet in the air in celebration in the South. Top commentary by Barry Davies as the camera pans to The Kop "and the crowd at the popular end go wild"

I was in the West Stand that day as a nipper. Remember the day very well, big crowd with small away following but I cant honestly say I knew who George Best or Bobby Moore were really at that point. It was my first season and I was only getting familiar with our players Walsh Hatton Ronson Suddick etc.
 
Bloodorange said:
This weekends match up would seem on paper to be a tough ask for Pool in securing some points against the current league leaders.Read on

By way of comparison in November 1976 Fulham rolled into town with Bobby Moore, and George Best in the line up and managed by Alec Stock.

Rodney Marsh was replaced by the on loan Teddy Maybank from Chelsea for this match and a certain John Evanson was a regular in the Fulham midfield.

Blackpool had started the season strongly and were nicely placed 3rd in the table with Fulham in 14th.

This was the Pool era of entertaining attacking footballing under Allan Brown complimented by the dual goals galore threat of Walsh and Hatton.

An interesting inclusion for Pool in the absence of both Suddick and Ainscow was Jimmy Weston another of Pool's Skelmersdale United graduates signed in 1974.

He went on to make over 100 appearances having debuted in 1975 and yet he is one of those I have difficulty recalling.

Bill Bentley lined up in midfield rather than his usual left back berth to no less effect.

Pool not to be outshone by the superstar line up from London's South West came out on top in a 5 goal thriller running out winners 3-2 with a goal apiece for Hart Hatton and Walsh and in reply a brace for Fulham's Mitchell lifting Pool to 2nd in the table.

Pool of course went on to finish 5th narrowly missing out on promotion once again whilst Fulham finished a lowly 17th.

Line up

Wood Gardner Harrison Ronson Suddaby Hart Weston Spence Walsh Hatton Bentley.

The bigger they are the harder they fall

Enjoy the game
Click to expand...
Jimmy Weston left footed attacking midfielder. Very good passer though his right foot was exclusively used just for standing upright.
 
My first ever Pool game at age 7
Went on the back of my brothers motorbike (which was scary as hell) and then walked up the the steps into The Kop, which at the time I thought was massive.
My brother had told me to look out for Best & Marsh as they were top players, however after his winning header (still my favourite goal of his), Mickey Walsh was my footballing hero. And is still my favourite Pool player of all time.
 
Last edited:
Bloodorange said:
This weekends match up would seem on paper to be a tough ask for Pool in securing some points against the current league leaders.Read on

By way of comparison in November 1976 Fulham rolled into town with Bobby Moore, and George Best in the line up and managed by Alec Stock.

Rodney Marsh was replaced by the on loan Teddy Maybank from Chelsea for this match and a certain John Evanson was a regular in the Fulham midfield.

Blackpool had started the season strongly and were nicely placed 3rd in the table with Fulham in 14th.

This was the Pool era of entertaining attacking footballing under Allan Brown complimented by the dual goals galore threat of Walsh and Hatton.

An interesting inclusion for Pool in the absence of both Suddick and Ainscow was Jimmy Weston another of Pool's Skelmersdale United graduates signed in 1974.

He went on to make over 100 appearances having debuted in 1975 and yet he is one of those I have difficulty recalling.

Bill Bentley lined up in midfield rather than his usual left back berth to no less effect.

Pool not to be outshone by the superstar line up from London's South West came out on top in a 5 goal thriller running out winners 3-2 with a goal apiece for Hart Hatton and Walsh and in reply a brace for Fulham's Mitchell lifting Pool to 2nd in the table.

Pool of course went on to finish 5th narrowly missing out on promotion once again whilst Fulham finished a lowly 17th.

Line up

Wood Gardner Harrison Ronson Suddaby Hart Weston Spence Walsh Hatton Bentley.

The bigger they are the harder they fall

Enjoy the game
Click to expand...
Nicely set up Blood. And, of course, the crown went mad in the popular end.
 
I remember being there on the Kop that day, and seeing Best and Moore, but don’t remember much about the game, I was just an 8yr old kid back then.
One thing that sticks in my mind though (although I could be mistaken) was a Fulham fan, stood quietly watching the game with the side of his head covered in blood and it all down his shirt. It was the days before they segregated the kop i think.
 
NNOP said:
I remember being there on the Kop that day, and seeing Best and Moore, but don’t remember much about the game, I was just an 8yr old kid back then.
One thing that sticks in my mind though (although I could be mistaken) was a Fulham fan, stood quietly watching the game with the side of his head covered in blood and it all down his shirt. It was the days before they segregated the kop i think.
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Apparently according to legend on here round about 1966/67 there was a lone Fulham fan willing to take on all comers outside the Kop after the game.
 
NNOP said:
I remember being there on the Kop that day, and seeing Best and Moore, but don’t remember much about the game, I was just an 8yr old kid back then.
One thing that sticks in my mind though (although I could be mistaken) was a Fulham fan, stood quietly watching the game with the side of his head covered in blood and it all down his shirt. It was the days before they segregated the kop i think.
Click to expand...

No, it was segregated. Stick Blackpool Fulham 1976 into Youtube, there's a 3 minute clip good quality from Match Of The Day or a 9 minute clip that's a bit flakey. Well worth a look.
 
I started going that season but missed that game, it looks like a cracker. It's hard to believe that George Best and Billy Ronson are no longer with us, it doesn't seem very long ago. George Wood's blue jersey was unusual in those days, he was a great keeper.
 
I'm not sure why, because it wasn't my usual haunt, but I was in the Sratching Shed that day.
Will settle for the same result tomorrow. UTMP
 
1966_and_all_that said:
When I watched it live me and my Dad swore that Mickey Walsh seemed to hang in the air for ages.
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That’s my everlasting memory of him, I’ve not seen anyone since (ok perhaps Ronaldo) who had that ability to, as you say hang in the air. As a nipper I sat on the wall behind the goal in the south, I watched many a corner into the near post for a flick on by Walsh to either the goal, or Hatton and others. He was a supreme header of a ball…and my favourite Pool player in my lifetime.
 
Next Goal WIns said:
My first ever Pool game at age 7
Went on the back of my brothers motorbike (which was scary as hell) and then walked up the the steps into The Kop, which at the time I thought was massive.
My brother had told me to look out for Best & Marsh as they were top players, however after his winning header (still my favourite goal of his), Mickey Walsh was my footballing hero. And is still my favourite Pool player of all time.
Click to expand...
My first game as well, my uncle took me so I could say in later life I saw the legend that was the Belfast boy. Don’t remember much of the game, but the ground and the occasion will be with me forever
 
My memory of Jimmy Weston is that he wasn't much cop when he came into the side, didn't seem good enough, but he had a golden spell when he was superb and I couldn't believe it was the same player. Can't remember how long that lasted. I'm sure we signed him and another lad from Skelmersdale at the same time? But I can't remember who the other guy was. Brownie points if anyone can? Or is my memory playing tricks?

We also got Micky Burns from Skelmersdale, and Peter Suddaby started out there too.
 
voyeur said:
My memory of Jimmy Weston is that he wasn't much cop when he came into the side, didn't seem good enough, but he had a golden spell when he was superb and I couldn't believe it was the same player. Can't remember how long that lasted. I'm sure we signed him and another lad from Skelmersdale at the same time? But I can't remember who the other guy was. Brownie points if anyone can? Or is my memory playing tricks?

We also got Micky Burns from Skelmersdale, and Peter Suddaby started out there too.
Click to expand...
The only other I can recall is full back Peter Hardcastle although he arrived under Bob Stokoe in 1971.
 
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