I know this is on here elsewhere, but this is a much longer version. I thought I would add it to my list. Probably the most talked about match in the Albion's history.
I was a 15 year old kid in Denmark at that time. My friends had all found there favourit, english team: Liverpool FC . Man.Utd. ; Arsenal, etc. But since that day : Dec.30. 1978. I am a WEST BROMWICH ALBION fan.
That's a time when there were lots of good teams in div 1 and each team had a few really top players so result was on their day anyone could beat anyone else...also notice something strange.... Players actually TRYING to stay on their feet when tackled
+HankMorgan i was 17 the rascism at most away grounds them days was bad, we had a very night knit bunch of lads from all colours and creeds, although the sikh took some stick at highbury, he had a baggies turban, worth a few digs to watch them lads grace the field
@@MrMarolles RIP Gerald..it was not better 9 years later when Guillt was booed at Wembley (England vs Holland, 1988) and Jon Motson called it good old fashioned barracking..!
I was at this game in the Stretford paddock, behind the away dugout. In 44 years I can count on one hand when the opposition have been applauded off the pitch after the final whistle and this was in the top 3 performances. A stunning match
They are amazing trailblazers, as an Albion fan and young lad back then, I was following us everywhere, I instinctively knew the racism was WRONG on a basic human level, collectively our fans knew it as well, I witnessed some awful treatment on my travels and it really made me feel sick, it was embarrassing behaviour, I remember Blues away was very bad , we won 3 - none and Cyrille got a hatrick...it was ace... these black guys were ours, they were making us feel proud because we were a much better team with these lads playing, more dynamic , the black kids from Handsworth, Smethwick and West Brom had quickly started to come to the Hawthorns because they now had role models they could relate to , the terraces became a mass of navy & blue now added to the yellow and green scarves and shirts making it a more colourful visually in the stadium . This whole era was ground breaking stuff that in my honest opinion played a huge part in the challenges of the whole issue.....makes me very proud that my club, The Albion and those amazing lads AND their team mates who recognised all of it as well with their team mates everyone circled the wagons....we all stood taller...especially, Cyrille, Laurie and Brendon , they stood the tallest.
Regis and Cunningham should have been England internationals for years but they weren't and we all know why. As an LFC fan I used to enjoy watching WBA in those days, fantastic team. Cunningham was something else.
And it's for this reason West Brom are up there as my 2nd team. How ironic that the development of Batson, Regis and Cunningham came under Ron Atkinson, given his remarks about Marcel Desailly.
What a team Albion had back then. Been An Albion fan for 50 years now and I'm so proud of that side, they demolished Man Utd at Old Trafford, The 3 degrees Laurie, Big Cyrille, and Brandon, awesome.
I know what you mean about racism back then. I am a lifelong Liverpool fan, and racism at Anfield - and indeed at Goodison Park was absolutely shameful. What was even more shameful was the fact that Liverpool FC NEVER ONCE spoke up against it. Even right through to the '80s, when John Barnes was getting bananas thrown at him by Everton AND so--called Liverpool 'fans' racist scum. Regis, Cunningham and Brendan Batson were the forefathers of all British black footballers to follow. I applaud them.
And the thing to remember is that it wasn't a football banter thing - this is something that we were suffering from teachers at school, in housing,in employment, when just walking down the road etc. There were a few times that I was refused service in local shops. The National Front were very active at time. The booing in football matches was PURE EVIL HATE , not light-hearted banter as they try to dismiss it these days
My Dad saw him play against Hereford when at Orient, took us apart and was applauded off in the end - despite the standard abuse he got from the idiots. 4-1 to Orient. West Brom bought him very soon after
I often come back to watch this great game, not so much for the great goals, but as a white man myself who has always despised racism, to see this fine WBA team, with amazing black players, come out on top. As a Watford fan I remember the abuse the likes of Barnes and Blissett used to get years ago, it appalled me and just makes so many people look so ignorant. Admire the game, admire the talent, and enjoy these magnificent players while you can. Regis, what a player.
Even as a Man Utd fan, I was in complete awe of West Brom's performance at this match. Aside from Nottingham Forest, they were the most entertaining side of that late 1970s period.
What a game complete with wonderful goals. On the sad passing of Cyrille Regis it serves as an fitting memory of a great footballer and gentleman. And wasn't Laurie Cunningham a joy to watch too.
I’m a Liverpool fan born in 61 and had the wba kit also had West Ham away shirt and would often borrow my mates Everton away kit in training ( amber gold and blue )
I am an Albion fan and to hear such praise from a Liverpool supporter make me realise just how good we were - Regis Cunningham Robson Brown Statham Cantello Wile etc all tremendous players. Shame in 2012 that we are a pale shadow of how we were
I watched them play Liverpool at the Hawthorns in 1979. I normally as a neutral, chose the side stands but mistakenly ended up in the away Kop. Was nice seeing the choirmaster who was on a fan's shoulders directing the kop singing.
RIP Big Cyrille Regis. A truly humble gentleman (off the pitch) and an absolute beast of a Centre Forward on it. Tremendously talented with a monumental physical presence both on and off the field of play. What a loss not just to the great game and the selfless work he did after his career ended. We'll certainly miss him but God loved him more and has other plans for him elsewhere. On a lighter note, the '3 degrees' (Big Ron Atkinson's) famous line have lost another 'earthly' member, but heaven will surely be celebrating as he rejoins close friend and team mate Laurie Cunningham! Those were tough times back in the day but that team and the style of football they produced lit up the old first Division for me. Goodnight, God bless Cyrille R and THANKS FOR THE MANY MEMORIES! Your legacies will of course live on forever in our hearts
Holmleighnyd, I can tell you as a United fan of a certain age this is still one of the most talked about matchs by my peers. United fans who were there still talk about it. I messaged a friend when Cyril Regis died and I happened to mention I was at this match, so was he. Despite the success United had in the following decades, my father, brothers and friends still talk about this match. One of the greatest ever at Old Trafford
As a 12 yr old, I remember sitting in the Stretford End watching this game. Even though we got humped, it's still one of the best games I've ever seen at OT. WBA, around this time had a fantastic team. I distinctly remember Gary Bailey making some awesome saves and Len Cantello's goal. Watching this clip, have to say I'm impressed by the standard of WBA's play, absolutely lightning on the break and happy in possession.
@@edmundpower1250 Yes, he loved getting out there on Saturdays and midweek evening games. He also refereed many local and regional games, especially in the local Sunday league and was a voluntary referees instructor encouraging those who loved the game, that might not fit in as a player, get out on the field as a ref or linesman. Thank You for your Nice and Thoughtful reply, it brought a proud tear to my eyes.
@@stevemc6671 You must be so proud Stephen to have a dad who appeared on TV in such big games. I remember this game and the brilliant commentating as well. You were blessed to witness this first hand... With dad on the line😊
I was a 16-year-old West Brom fan. I was at the WBA v Orient home game in 1977 when Laurie Cunningham was playing on the left-wing for Orient. He absolutely murdered the West Brom defense that day and the Albion supporters were singing "sign him up, sign him up" which Albion did shortly after for 110,000 pounds! What a player!
I was at this game in the Stretford End supporting United. United were just out played by a great WBA side, I remember being surprised by the noise the small band of Albion supporters at the other end were making-come on you Baggies-could be heard loudly from them throughout the game, did not normally hear anything from away fans unless we were playing Leeds liverpool and city
WBA sure had some quality in that side back then. From Keeper Godden right through to Cunningham, Regis, T Brown, Bryan Robson, Cantello, Derek Statham, Batson, John Wile. Many England internationals sprinkled with Scots. Oh for those great days and times without the racist elements
without doubt this is the best game of football ive ever seen on the TV, people talk about "the Barcelona way " and the way they knocked the ball about, but nothing they've produced comes anywhere near this performance by WBA , also take a look at the 1954 FA Cup Final again WBA played total football in a 3-2 win against PNE
To show that pace and grace on to REEEGEES Oooooooooh whaaaat A gooooooooooal!!!! A life definatley to be celebrated and not mourned God bless you big C. And your family
I had a season ticket for United that season, and missed only 2 games. Bristol City and, unfortunately, this one. Not the result I particularly liked - obviously, but what a match. Had to make do with the TV highlights. Albion were some force to be reckoned with then. Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis, what a deadly duo they were!
Great game which showed how good laurie cunningham was, he simply floated around the united team with , control, pace, skill and shooting which thankfully we can still watch 40 years later.
Great game, my older brother is a Man Utd fan and me A Baggie I remember this day as a kid and the scores coming in on the TV I couldn't believe what was happening. A great Albion side a great day for all Albion fans. Thanks for the upload.
As a long-suffering West Brom fan (since 1974) I find myself looking at this for the umpteenth time. All three United goals were down to defensive mistakes. Bailey actually had a good game in the United goal. 8-0 would have been a fairer result. Godden, Batson, Statham, Robson, Cantello, the two Browns, Cunningham and the incomparable Cyril Regis. Some team. The only weakness was the centre of the defence and it definitely cost us a league title that year plus the weather which played havoc with the fixture list. The two 'managers' are hilarious at the end.(Not on this video) How can Dave Sexton give Stevie Coppell 'man of the match'? He must have been on pretty strong medication. And Atkinson's comment "one of the coloured front people" says everything about the man and the period ...
Atkinson's "off mic" comment was really bad but he was the guy who signed, picked and played black players at the highest level and broke the color bar in England. He is also defended by a lot of his former players and that has to say something about him. Remember that "Love Thy Neighbor" was on the telly back in those days as well as "Till Death Do Us Part" with Alf Garnet.
I'm Albion ,was there and everywhere we went, a tidal wave of racism awaited. We overcome and we were ahead of our time. Great never to be seen again times in regarding our team.
this was the night I became a Life long United supporter...yes we lost but I just fell in love with the shirt...I was 10 years old...I will never forget this game
An epic match! I was a MU supporter back then. But this west brom team was something else. They developed English Fotboll with their entertaining football. A memorable day this was. I was doing my army service in the Swedish artillery at the time. Watched the game in the barracks. In the evening I got involved in a fight in a Disco. A guy accused me of trying to snatch his girlfriend. The truth was that she came on to me. I lost the fight but I went home with her later that night.
Nice post - one of my earliest and happiest memories from the game. I don't support Albion, but every time I go to the Hawthorns, I always think about that game and that Albion team generally!
@@gillpayn3104 Spot on. The BBC guys ( Motson, Davies et al) were always hung up on statistics. Gerry, Brian and another favourite Hugh Johns were more about the game they were watching. Quality commentators.
Was at this amazing game and although we lost it was worth the trip over the Pennines and back to Tetney near Grimsby even in horrendous weather conditions.
Yes folks racism was around in the 70s and 80s and yes it was even worse than it is today...!!! Sinstadt was a excellent commentator but even he was lost for words at times..United,s defence was shredded that many times during the game the ambulance was called for..!! Great game, the Utd fans were hostile in those days and the walk/jog/run/sprint was like chariots of fire!! RIp Cyrille & Laurie rest of team absolute credit...
That was extremely common in England in those days and for many years after. NOTHING was said by the teams, NOTHING was said by the league, NO fines were issues, NO condemnation was published - even when fans threw things like bananas etc. Today, many condemn when they hear it happening in Italy or Russia - but still try and pass it off as banter off it happens here
@@tdonovan4735 A few times back in the late 70's I went to Lincoln City with my dad and his mate , I was 9/10 years old. To this day I still remember the monkey chants coming from a section of Lincoln fans from behind the goal, directed at one of their own players!! Not only that, he was their BEST player! A striker called Tony Cunningham, scored a lot of goals for them. It wasn't just the sound either, you could FEEL the aggression, to the point where I can remember it scared me a bit even as a little white kid. I'm sure it's easy for some to think that it can't ever have been THAT bad, but it really was.
@@Vortigan07 thanks for your honesty and let’s celebrate how far the uk game and society has come and let’s keep pushing to lessen and eradicate racism
Some fantastic goals in that game, from both teams, Cantello's possibly being the pick of the bunch. This was New Year's Eve, 1978, if I remember correctly. After this game a blizzard swept the country and for the next two months the pools panel kept having to be called in as matches kept getting cancelled as numerous snow storms came and went, with a few mild days in-between.
Our lack of undersoil heating is what probably cost us the title that season, later we were playing catch up three games a week and our squad was small and we ran out of steam.
I am very surprised that Malcolm Finlay has not commented on this. He is a very long time Albion fan. He was based around the Uplands on match days. Nickname Finn
@@edmundpower1250 var "stop start" over tactical games, diving, trying to get free kicks, going berserk when scoring a penalty beautiful perfect pitches all the same, lightweight ball ( do you can bend them easy) players are here today gone tomorrow for more money elsewhere, huge team squad so any injury to players makes very little difference to team, bottom end of premier league got no chance to win anything only go up to get more money, tv pundits talk mostly about money, contracts, transfer windows. But yes it is better now😒
Oh and see how it goes now? Covid! empty stadiums so they don't need entrance fee money they get all the money from tv fees! So going to watch a live match will soon be a thing of the past just watch on TV! But you can still buy your shirt at a very extortanent price
i have supported wba since 1964 and was there - my only visit to old trafford - we arrived a bit late and went into the stretford end to miss as little of the game as possible - we had to save our cheers till we got back to our car ! - this team came so close to winning the league
Of course England can produce skilful players. Gascoigne, Barnes, Hoddle, Waddle, Beardsley, Giggs (welsh but raised in England), Le Tissier. However these days more robotic players are being produced without any magic.
Great play on match...Thanks. Fortunately times changes for better today on racism. I knew Cunningham in Spain...By the way...from what city is WBA? Saludos desde Barcelona.
it's said that a realy bad winter caused a huge fixture pileup and the baggies with a relatively small squad couldn't finish the job off definitely should have won the league criminal that team never won a trophy
@@thomasandersen6719 No Thomas, He very well could be the lads Great Grandad... If Kai's dad had Kai at say 18, and Kai's Grandad had Kai's dad at say 19, and TG (Kai's Great Grandad) had kai's grandad at say 20, and Kai is now say 5, that would make it true.
What an exciting team WBA was in the 70s that team could have challenged for the title had they been able to hang onto Bryan Robson for a bit longer. Also Big Ron has took a lot of stick in recent years for some racist remarks he made and rightly so , however he was also one of the few managers that openly championed
