Where did the time go, the best atmosphere I have ever experienced at the Vic, cracking game

http://inthemadcrowd.co.uk/UI/Match.aspx?oid=2558

Obviously you are not old enough to remember my greatest memory Pools v The Busby Babes in front of the record crowd at the Vic. with over17000 crammed in.Remember teams took the cup seriously in them days and played a full first team. In fact speaking to one international player (name dropping) he said a cup final medal was the pinnacle of a professional players career in those days.

[quote="Johnjo1".Remember teams took the cup seriously in them days and played a full first team. In fact speaking to one international player (name dropping) he said a cup final medal was the pinnacle of a professional players career in those days.[/quote]
when you got an ex cup final winner as a guest speaker at a referees society meeting they all had one thing in common. they brought their winners medal along to show everyone.

I went to the replay at Villa park as well.

Listened to it on the radio, one of only 2 times I have cried because of a football game, the other was Bayern Munich v Leeds in European Cup final in 1975, though that was tinged with anger as well, I was only 9 in 1974 remember.

when you got an ex cup final winner as a guest speaker at a referees society meeting they all had one thing in common. they brought their winners medal along to show everyone.[/quote]

Now lower league teams dont always play their strongest teams. When exactly did the FA cup lose its magic? was it when the Prem Lge started in early 90s or when Man U pulled out 10 years later or somewhere in between? .

For me the first time it didn't feel as though it mattered was when only 2800 turned up v Millwall in 1999 , though I think amongst our support if we are drawn away it's always been a big day out, shame the club don't always feel the same.

Speaking of refs, Im on busy reading Howard Webbs book, comes across as a decent bloke, always thought he was a bit aloof. He was once came to the Corner Flag as guest speaker at an Hartlepool RA meeting ,came across well then, what an imposing bloke, refereeing legend IMO.

when you got an ex cup final winner as a guest speaker at a referees society meeting they all had one thing in common. they brought their winners medal along to show everyone.[/quote]


He says in his book , the FA Cup final at Wembley is the pinnacle of achievement for an English ref , possibly even more so than World Cup final. Think it stems from a generation of refs who like ourselves were up at 8am on cup final day watching the build up etc, such a special occasion and memories for kids of that generation who grew up in the 70s and 80s. 1973 me and my dad went next door to watch it on their colour tv. Must've embarrassed my dad as by 1974 we had one.

That and the Leeds game were nights to remember. Complete with entirely fictious official attendance figures, there was at least 16'000 in the ground when we played Leeds in that cup game.

The Leeds attendance was given as 16000. 16000 tickets were sold, whether there were 16000 on the night I dont know , it had been postponed twice and a could've knocked a few off the Leeds support. Never seen any tv footage of this game, other than grainy highlights the night after on local tv, but I seem to remember the Rink End wasn't chocca , like the rest of the ground. The Town End was like Leppings Lane that night, remember the Grimsby league game 2 days later (2200 attendance ) and the crush barriers where buckled in the middle of the Town End.

[quote="horden"][


He says in his book , the FA Cup final at Wembley is the pinnacle of achievement for an English ref , possibly even more so than World Cup final. Think it stems from a generation of refs who like ourselves were up at 8am on cup final day watching the build up etc, such a special occasion and memories for kids of that generation who grew up in the 70s and 80s.
not sure whether its all the live televised football you can pick up nowadays that has diluted the cup final. for years and years apart from the world cup this was a novelty due to it being the only televised game you could see live. different sides getting to a final helps also as nowadays apart from the odd one it seems perm any 2 out of 8 playing in one.

I was on the Mill House side. The stands were packed, the terracing was packed like I've never seen it. I was a kid sitting on the little wall with my dad behind me. There was no way anyone could have walked through by the way because that entire walkway was also packed.

I was in The Town End for that eventually played Leeds Utd gam and it was so rammed I remember having to stand like a sardine in one place such was the crush. Going to the bogs or getting something to eat was a no no as I couldn't move. It was scary to be quite frank especially when Bob Newton took those two pens. Coupled with that fear there was great excitement and a wall of noise when he scored. I saw him hit the ball but couldn't see it enter the net and only new it had by the crowd's reaction. Not sure how there were no injuries that night. The rest of the ground looked rammed to me but I remember a gap at the Rink End possibly to separate Poolies and Leeds fans. Sixteen thousand does seem a made up figure but a crowd like that I guess I or Horden will never again see in our life time.

You are right, the Mill House was packed, with if I remember correctly, people standing between the terraces and the wall. I stood in a couple of places that night, the little bit of terracing between the Town End and Clarence Road stand, that was full but not rammed, and the corner between the Mill House and the Rink End, again full but not rammed. We will never see the likes of it again. Football between 1965 and 1985 was a joy to behold.

I was in Mill House n'all with me girl. Right at the front next to the pitch. Bloody fantastic - I can see it now.

A friend of mine was amazed by the name of your location ..........so does Blackhall "rocks"