Team Of The Eighties

[Lord Derfyl Cadarn]

There is an interesting film on BT TV currently called Team Of The Eighties, which charts Crystal Palace under Malcolm Alison and Terry Venables. It starts during the mid seventies and shows footage and discussion from the match at The Racecourse in 1977. For those of you too young or traumatised to remember we had to stop Palace from beating us by two clear goals in order to gain promotion to the old Division Two (now Championship). There was the odd day over the following ten years that I did not think about that night! At the time it was the worst feeling I ever had watching WFC. Then along came the play-off final defeat.

[davewilli]

Unbeaten at the Racecourse all season just needing 2 draws from last 2 home games to go up, we amazingly bottled it. Cried for the first time leaving the ground, especially when much more experienced supporters were predicting we would not beat Mansfield on the Saturday. The gloom merchants were ful of themselves,; the club had no ambition and it was clear wedidnt want to go up. We then lost the great John Neal taking king Billy Ashcroft with him, however if we had gone up we may never have witnessed our greatest season and greatest team the following year. Arfon held it together and the money made from the improving gates and previous cup exploits allowed him to make 3 massive signings Les Cartwright, Dai Davies and Dixie Mc completing that fabulous line up.

[billybersham]

Originally Posted by davewilli

Unbeaten at the Racecourse all season just needing 2 draws from last 2 home games to go up, we amazingly bottled it. Cried for the first time leaving the ground, especially when much more experienced supporters were predicting we would not beat Mansfield on the Saturday. The gloom merchants were ful of themselves,; the club had no ambition and it was clear wedidnt want to go up. We then lost the great John Neal taking king Billy Ashcroft with him, however if we had gone up we may never have witnessed our greatest season and greatest team the following year. Arfon held it together and the money made from the improving gates and previous cup exploits allowed him to make 3 massive signings Les Cartwright, Dai Davies and Dixie Mc completing that fabulous line up.

I went to seventy percent of the games that season but at 9 was to young to really appreciate what was on offer,how good of a player was Les Cartwright Dave,as it was usually Whittle,Thomas,Shinton,Mcneil who made the headlines.

[Kiddy Dragon]

Originally Posted by Lord Derfyl Cadarn

There is an interesting film on BT TV currently called Team Of The Eighties, which charts Crystal Palace under Malcolm Alison and Terry Venables. It starts during the mid seventies and shows footage and discussion from the match at The Racecourse in 1977. For those of you too young or traumatised to remember we had to stop Palace from beating us by two clear goals in order to gain promotion to the old Division Two (now Championship). There was the odd day over the following ten years that I did not think about that night! At the time it was the worst feeling I ever had watching WFC. Then along came the play-off final defeat.

But thats what made 77-78 so much the better.

[eastsussexred]

There was a coachload of Mansfield fans who had come to support Palace at that game as I remember, as they needed Palace to get at least a point for Mansfield to stay in second place, and Mansfield were not playing on that Saturday. It was weird watching the Mansfield and Palace fans fighting each other in the techend.

[davewilli]

Originally Posted by billybersham

I went to seventy percent of the games that season but at 9 was to young to really appreciate what was on offer,how good of a player was Les Cartwright Dave,as it was usually Whittle,Thomas,Shinton,Mcneil who made the headlines.

Les was a bit unsung, obviously past his best days for Coventry & Wales but him and Alan Dwyer created bags of chances down the left for the front 3 that season. Best was the twice taken corner v Blythe Spartans. We had a sticky start following the disappointment of the season before and it took a while for Les to find form but the team really blossomed when Mickey T was switched to play more central and Les played wide left.

[cynprifathro]

When Dwyer got injured, John Neal switched Graham Whittle our leading scorer to left full back. That decision in my view contributed to us missing out on a well-deserved promotion in season 1976/77! Thankfully, Arfon's three signings of Les, then Dixie and Dai, helped to put matters to right the following season.