United return to the Seaside after 36 years

However if Blackpool had had their way the game would not have been played when it was on 19 October for the club wanted it moved to after the illuminations had ended. But the authorities would have none of it and the game went ahead as planned. This brought at least 1,000 United supporters to town on two illuminations special trains on Friday night and those that did not book accommodation slept in shop doorways and on the beach. Those that spent the night under the stars were up early the next morning and the comment was made "The Manchester United Red Army brought the taste of bomb warfare to Blackpool." Windows were smashed all over town and fires were started as gangs roamed around the streets looking for trouble.

By mid-morning 30 arrests had been made and Mrs Joyce Hankinson of the Windmill Café in Dale Street commented, "I thought a bomb had gone off in the café. There was a terrific bang. I went downstairs and someone had hurled a full bottle of beer through the café window. That was about 6am. We had not got to sleep until about 2am because of all the noise outside. We are going to close before the match ends. We do not want them back again." Chief Superintendent Alan Rydehead said, "We have enough men for the situation. No assistance has been sought from other forces but two detachments from the Lancashire County Constabulary Divisions in Preston and Lancaster are helping us [sic!]." Five hundred fans charged down the promenade chanting "United Aggro" and a watching police inspector remarked, "If they want it hard, they can have it hard. If they want a good time, they can have a good time. Either way we can cope with them."

The trouble apart, the visit of Manchester United brought the biggest crowd to Bloomfield Road since Boxing Day 1972 when Burnley had attracted a crowd of 25,277. Thousands of United supporters turned the Spion Kop, which had been given over entirely to the visiting fans, into a miniature Stretford End and there was an electric atmosphere with 22,211 inside the ground. They had something to cheer before the main event for in an It's A Knock-Out competition the Manchester United supporters' team defeated that of Blackpool supporters by 15 points to 13, a closer result than was to follow!

Both sides made changes from their previous game. Blackpool brought in the experienced Wyn Davies, playing against one of his previous clubs, at the expense of local youngster David Tong, the only change to the side that had lost 1-0 at Villa Park the previous Saturday. United, having drawn 0-0 with Portsmouth in mid-week, had to leave out Stuart Pearson who had a hamstring injury, Lou Macari replacing him, and they welcomed back Stewart Houston in place of Arthur Albiston at full back. The teams were therefore:

Blackpool - Wood, Curtis, Harrison, Hatton, James Suddaby, Walsh, Ainscow, Davies, Bentley and Evanson with Tong as substitute;

Manchester United - Stepney, Forsyth, Houston, Greenhoff, Holton, Buchan, Morgan, McIlroy, Macari, McCalliog and Daly with McCreary as substitute.

World Cup referee Jack Taylor was in charge of the game.

Rain that turned quickly to hail stones started pouring down as the game kicked-off and Blackpool attacked the south end immediately. Following a foul on Ainscow, Blackpool won a corner, which Evanson swung into the goalmouth and Davies headed home but Stepney was fouled so the goal was disallowed. It was nearly all Blackpool in the early stages as Walsh jinked past McCalliog but Stepney easily saved his weak shot. But then United had the ball in the net as a cross from the right was headed on to McIlroy who nodded the ball in but once again the effort was ruled out, this time for offside.

Alan Ainscow shoots watched by Brian Greenhoff (4), Glyn James (5), Stewart

After 13 minutes the alertness of Wood saved Blackpool as Greenhoff was allowed to run across the Blackpool box where he made enough space to hit an awkward shot that sent the goalkeeper sprawling across his goal to palm the ball away. Macari nipped in quickly to the loose ball but once again Wood came to Blackpool's rescue as he slid at the forward with his feet and the ball was cleared. United were getting more into the game as the minutes ticked away, Suddaby blocked a McCalliog shot, Evanson tidied up when Wood was hopelessly out of position for a McCalliog centre but after 22 minutes there was nobody to tidy up as Blackpool went behind.

James fouled Macari on the edge of the Blackpool penalty area and Forsyth stepped up to slam the free-kick past a non-existent wall and a static Wood and that was Blackpool 0 United 1. Even though United piled on the pressure for the rest of the half that was the way it remained up to the break. Blackpool did, however, mount one or two attacks of their own, most notably when Ainscow tried a snap shot from the edge of the box only for Stepney to make a great save and push the ball away for a corner.

Just as United were about to kick-off for the second half, a mob of their supporters ran onto the pitch and robbed them of the match ball. The youngster who grabbed it was intent on banging it into the Blackpool net but although he avoided tackles from the referee and United's McCalliog, he did not succeed in netting for the seven chasing policemen eventually brought him down and placed him under arrest. When the real action restarted it was end to end stuff again with Forsyth causing trouble with a run down the right and delivering a useful cross that Suddaby headed clear and for Blackpool Curtis sent a delightful chip into the box that Davies got on the end of but he was penalised for pushing.

Walsh and Davies go up for a header against Holton (6), Buchan and Forsyth.

Holton headed a corner past Wood but Ainscow brilliantly cleared off the line but then after 60 minutes United went two up and this after Hatton had spurned probably the easiest chance of the game when he blazed wide from within the six-yard box. A quick ball out of defence found McCalliog who raced away and his cross was sweetly met by Macari who swept the ball into the net. McIlroy then planted a header straight into Wood's arms when he had all the goal to aim at before McCalliog got the goal he deserved for all his good work when he made it 3-0 after 72 minutes. Hatton was replaced by Tong whose first touch of the ball sent it just wide of the United goal but generally it was United who controlled the game. McCreery replaced Daly near the end but by then it was all over and the 3-0 scoreline fairly reflected the afternoon's play.

Suddaby was Blackpool's star man as he defended brilliantly but he was given precious little help from his teammates who were "rocky at the back". There was not much in midfield where United were much quicker to the ball and much sharper all round with McCalliog at the centre of operations. Up front Davies was "a flop" on his return after a reasonably good first 10 minutes and Ainscow, Evanson and Walsh "did little to help" so United remained at the top of the table with Blackpool falling to 12th place.

Ironically the following game at Bloomfield Road on 26 October was against the same opponents but this time it was Manchester United reserves in a Central League match-up. George Wood and Glyn James, dropped from the first team, therefore found themselves up against a United side for the second week in succession. This time they were a little more successful as the game was drawn 1-1. The Blackpool side was Wood, McEwan, Betts S, Alcock, James, Wilson, Ronson, Betts M, Mills, Evans and Weston with Gardner as substitute. United fielded Roche, McKeown, Albiston, Martin, Sidebotham, Nichol, Sutcliffe, Young, Graham, Anderson and McCreery with Kelly as substitute.

Wood had already made good saves from Nichol and Graham when he was beaten in the 25th minute by a header from the latter player who nodded in a cross from McKeown and it was United leading by the one goal at half-time. For the second half Blackpool put on Gardner in place of Mills and made some positional changes. They paid off for in the 66th minute Evans ran on to a through ball from James and slotted the ball past Roche for the equaliser and that was that, the game ended Blackpool 1 Manchester United 1.

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Here's Harry

Harry Potts the Blackpool manager said in his programme notes before the game.

"GOOD AFTERNOON, everybody!

This is undoubtedly a day-of-days for Bloomfield Road, with those celebrated "Red Devils"- Manchester United— as Blackpool's opponents. So we regard it as a privilege to welcome our noted visitors, led by their chairman, Mr. Louis Edwards, his fellow directors, their manager Mr. Tommy Docherty and his team and of course, all United's thousands of fervent supporters.

I sincerely trust that the quality of football is in keeping with this big occasion. Provided that the match is played in the right spirit, (and one is confident that this will be the case) then today's Blackpool v. Manchester United clash will be a soccer feast for all to enjoy. Certainly, I regard it as one of the highlights of the season for us to be entertaining the celebrated "Reds" at Bloomfield Road.
Both Sir Matt Busby and Mr. Docherty are long-standing friends of mine. Tommy paid my former club, Burnley, an outstanding compliment while manager of Chelsea in sending his young son, Michael, to Turf Moor on leaving school to commence his soccer career among the "Clarets" juniors.

With regard to Sir Matt Busby, it was during his distinguished managership of United that Scottish international winger Willie Morgan left Burnley and went to Old Trafford as one of the first £100,000 players in the game.

Personally-speaking, I have been involved in many tense duels with United in my playing days. As a manager, also, I cherish a number of interesting links with Old Trafford.

As regards our own Blackpool activities lately, I felt that at Villa Park the Seasiders played welt enough to at least have shared the points. Blackpool did well, particularly as we had players taking part who were having to aim at gaining match fitness after injury. With a little more concentration Blackpool would undoubtedly have returned home better rewarded."


World Cup Referee Jack Taylor

As if the vistors were not legendary enough but this game was also to be officiated by one of the world's top referees at that time the legendary Jack Taylor.

Jack taylor from Wolverhampton was a highly experienced international referee having refereed more than 50 international and European Cup games in 32 different countries, including China and Russia. He went on The League line in 1955 after offficiating in local leagues and the Birmingham League.

Promoted to the referees' list in 1958 and subsequently went on the F.I.F.A. and U.E.F.A. panels. A World Cup referee in 1966, 1970 and 1974, he took charge of the 1971 European Cup Final at Wembley, the 1966 F.A. Cup Final and the 1962 F.A. Amateur Cup Final. He has also refereed F.A. Charity Shield matches, Irish Cup Finals and F.A. Youth Cup Finals.

During the 1974 World Cup Finals he was on the line for two games and refereed three games including the Final. A self-employed butcher, he was a magistrate in Wolverhampton and a member of the Sports Advisory Council. President of Wolverhampton Sunday League, chairman of the Charity Cup Competition a member of the Birmingham County F.A., he served on several committees and was a referees' examiner.

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Introducing Mancheter United and some of their stars













Back Row: Tommy Docherty (Manager), Stewart Houston, Stuart Pearson, Steve James, Paddy Roche, Alex Sfepney, Arnie Sidebottom, Jim Holton, Martin Buchan, Paul Bielby, Tommy Cavanagh (Trainer).

Front Row: Mick Martin, Sammy Mcllroy, Alec Forsyth, Brian Greenhoff, Willie Morgan, Trevor Anderson, Jim McCaIIiog Lou Macan, Gerry Daly, Tony Young.


ALEX STEPNEY (Goalkeeper). The only Londoner In lhe United Team. He joIned the Club in September 1966 from Chelsea for a £50,000 fee, and has been a regular goalkeeper ever since. He first made his name with MiIlwall and he helped them to win promotion to the Third Division. At the same time he became England's Under-23 International Goalkeeper. Transferred to Chelsea but he played only one League game for them before Sir Malt Busby signed him.

ALEX FORSYTH (Full Back). Hails from Swinton in Scotland. Signed from Partick Thistle in December 1972 for a large fee; a very cool defender and a welcome asset to the side. Settled in very well. A full Scotitsh Inter national capable of playing both full back positions and also midfield.

STEWART HOUSTON (Full Back). Formerly with Chelsea. Signed from Brentford Football Club, December 1973. A very big, quick and strong full back, and a great asset to the team. Can also play as a central defender.

MARTIN BUCHAN (Wing Half), Born in Aberdeen, he became a pro' fesslonal with Aberdeen F.C. in 1966 at the age of 17 and joined Manchester United In February 1972 for a large transfer fee. Made his debut in a League gamev. Tottenham Hotspur. He is a Scottish Under-23 and Full International.

JIM HOLTON (Centre Half). Born In Hamilton, Lanarkshire. A strong centre half signed from Shrewsbury Town in January 1973. Settled in very well, making a big Impact on the defence. Gained Scottish Under-23 and Full International Caps towards the end of season 1972/73. Regular Inter national during Season 1973/74 and member of Scottish World Cup Squad.

JIM McCALLIOG (Mid-field). Born Glasgow. Former Clubs were Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday. He signed for Manchester United In March 1974 from Wolverhampton Wanderers. A quick thinking mid-field player with some deft passes.

SAMMY McILROY (Inside Forward). Born Belfast. Played International Schools' Football (4 caps) before signing Apprentice Professional in August 1969. First team debut 6th November 1971 v. Manchester City in local 'derby' at 17 years of age. He won full cap for Northern Ireland at Hull v. Spain early 1971.

WILLY MORGAN (Outside Right). Signed from Burntey in August 1968 he joined their staff on leaving school. Made his First Division debut against Sheffield Wednesday at Hilisborough in April 1963 aged 18. Native of Sauchle, near Alloa, he gained full international lionours for Scctland against Northern Ireland In Belfast. Took some time to find his best form at Old Trafford but then played some excellent games and fully luslified the large fee paid for his transfer.

MICK MARTIN (Midfield). Born Dublin and signed for United from Bohemians In January 1973. Quickly came into the first team and held his place with some very good performances, Elre International who fitted in well, scoring a couple of vital goals in the struggle against relegation season 1972/73. Made several appearances in the first team during season 1973/74. A regular member of Eire international team.

GERRY DALY (Inside Forward). Signed from Bohemians In April 1973 and made his first team debut against Ban in the Anglo-Italian League. A very promising player, Eire International. Came into the first team during season 1973/74 and has a very promising future.

LOU MACARI (Forward). Born Edinburgh, Scotland. Signed from Glasgow Celtic in January 1973, making his debut for United against West Ham United on the 20th January 1973 and scored a goal. Full Scottish Inter national who played in the British Championships and was a member of the Scottish International Squad for their games in the close season.

STUART PEARSON (Forward). Born Hull. A big strong forward, signed from Hull City at the end of season 1973(74 and expected to be a big asset to the team during season 1974/75.

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