Result: 2-1 Win (HT 1-1) Owen 37, Radford 47; Woodward 4
Attendance: 6,566
Hereford United: Hughes, Mallender, Addison, McLaughlin, Tucker, Radford, Rudge, Tyler, Redrobe, Owen, Evans.
Port Vale: Boswell, Brodie, Griffiths, Tartt, Harris, Horton, Woodward, Lacey, McLaren, Leonard, Gough.
League Position: 19th (30 games in). Port Vale 14th.
On the Pitch: It seems a little petty to point out that the stock 7/8,000 crowds that have become the impressive norm are starting to slide down into the sixes. In fact the last home game had seen a "mere" 3,810 at ES (a 1-0 defeat against Plymouth) due to it being played in the afternoon because of the miners strike preventing the use of floodlights. We are way more creative when it comes to floodlight mischief today.
Your average game in 2024 has more subs than the TV series Das Boot, in contrast to this game, where the 22 players played out the full 90 minutes on a February 1970s pitch. This wasn't that rare either; it happened six times during the season.
I believe it was Radford's last ever goal at Edgar Street - disappointingly, it was only a 25 yarder, described as "stunning". His last goal was two games later at high-flying Bournemouth (2/3/74 2-3 8,370 advertised in Going by Car), this time a mere 35 yard tap-in. A proper baller!
Click on photos to enlarge.
Colin's Comments: Colin reveals that life was a lot simpler back in the day when discussing the concept of Sunday football matches...
A majority of our fans come from country areas and in many cases the wife does her week's shopping in the city while the husband watches football. Sunday is regarded as a family day - a day of relaxation, when we can do a bit of gardening and devote more time to our children than during week days.
Third Division Round Up: Upcoming opponents Bournemouth get a mention for selling Phil Bowyer to Norwich for £145k. That sounds a lot now anyway, but would probably equate to £2M if it happened today. To put it into context, the record existing British transfer record fee was only £240k, although it was broken around this time when Bob Latchford was transferred between Birmingham and Everton (see below).
In the Opposition: Wikipedia claims that goalkeeper Alan Boswell was ahead of his time for warming up outside of the area and for wearing gloves in the 1960s, which were unheard of/rare at the time respectively. Left back Neil Griffiths would play 218 league games for Port Vale between 1973-81, scoring his first goal for them against Hereford at Vale Park in April 1976. Tony Lacey would become Stoke City's caretaker manager in 1985, achieving a 100% record during his 8 games in charge, unfortunately all defeats.
Colin Tartt is worth a mention - described as a promising player in the programme, a bit of digging reveals that he had an erratic shooting ability, and, I quote, "he wasn't a dirty player, but he was as hard as nails, and a determined tackler". With a big up like that in the '70s, I can only imagine utter carnage. Bob Mountford was spotted playing local football by Stanley Matthews. Bobby Gough would after retiring become a sports master at a college, buy a pub, then a restaurant, plus have a dabble with building and part time coaching. Proper.
Speaking of proper, perhaps the most familiar name is Brian Horton, who would play over 600 league games (236 at Vale), and manage for over 20 years (including 5 years at Vale). His highest profile managerial appointment was a two year spell at Man City back when they were also proper, lurching between being either a bit rubbish or total rubbish, but definitely proper.
Edgar Street Chatter: There was always something that stood out of the page in these programmes anyway, but the following two words jumped out of the page before doing a triple somersault with pike - Stanley Matthews. There is football history, then there is the fact that Sir Stanley Matthews played at ES in a friendly in March 1966. 5,235 were present, and were treated to a 5-4 humdinger.
Vital Statistics: The great Colin Addison rocking the Jay out of the Inbetweeners look.
In the News: 14th February - a £350k move from Birmingham to Everton for Bob Latchford sees the British transfer record broken.
Meanwhile UK politics is in turmoil - then not now, just for clarity. A snap election is called on 7th February by PM Edward Heath in attempt to break the miners strike. The election is called for 28th Feb 1974. March 1974 is nuts, even by the standards of the day with a plane crash, a hung parliament, gas explosion, prison escape, royal kidnap attempt, plus a state of emergency. Actually, cancel that, quite a cheery month by early '70s standards.
In the Singles Charts: Devil Gate Drive by Suzi Quatro spends it's solitary week at No.1
In the Album Charts: The Singles 1969-1973 by the Carpenters is at No.1 for it's 4th and final week - although it would get back to the top spot in March.
On TV: 12th February - Bagpuss first airs on BBC1, allegedly only 13 episodes were ever made, which is surely wrong as it was on throughout most of my childhood? 18th February sees another "bored child in the holidays" staple The Walton's aired for the first time.
In the Maternity Ward: Some movers and shakers in the worlds of music and politics with Robbie Williams (13/1/74), James Blunt & Chris Moyles (22/1/74 - not twins), and Dominic Raab (25/2/74).
He's One of Our Own: Andy Debont, who was Hereford's No.1 during the 1996-97 relegation season, was born 7th February 1974.
