A FANS VIEW - 1970 to 1972

1960 - 1970	1970 - 1972
1972 - 1975

Season 1970 - 1971

Top of the First Division, Huddersfield Town, unbelievable!

By now I was a regular home supporter and did manage the occasional away trip but generally went to watch Halifax Town when Town were away from Leeds Road.
The first two games of the season were played at home and we won them both, scoring three goals in each game in the process. Look out boys here come The Town. But life with the big guns proved rather difficult thereafter and we managed to finish in a creditable 15th position despite only winning 9 out of the remaining forty matches. The most memorable victory was surely the home win against the mighty Arsenal who were on their way to the double.

Also memorable that season was the fact that three of the home games I attended were also attended by another 40,000+ people. Those games were Manchester United and Leeds in the league and Stoke City in the FA Cup. And each game had their own memories.

I think it was the Manchester United game that saw the last time that Best, Law and Charlton ever played together. I was stood in the Cowshed with a friend when we were approached by a lad who looked to be about 10 years old. He went up to my friend and in a thick Lancashire accent said 'gimme yer scarf'. At the time it was the fashion for people to tie their scarves around their wrists. We of course told him to go away in no uncertain terms. He went away and a couple of minutes later came back with some companions that were rather older and heftier. Luckily the long arm of the law came to our rescue that time but the consequences if the Bill had not been around could have proven rather painful.

For the Leeds United match I ventured into the main terrace with my Leeds friend. The United supporters had created a little havoc around the ground before the game got underway. Little things like setting fire to the grass on the Kilner Bank and pulling down lampposts were somewhat intimidating when I was stood in the middle of them during the match. Luckily the game ended in a 0-0 draw so I didn't give away my loyalties by cheering when Town scored.
I had many more encounters with Leeds fans around that era as I remember them playing at least 3 'home' games at Leeds Road when they were ordered to play them away from Elland Road as punishment for crowd problems. Funny how the Town fans always used to support the teams that Leeds were playing against and joined in the fighting on the terraces. Some good pitch invasions in those days too.

The Stoke match was an FA Cup third round replay, The first game being a 3-3 draw at the Victoria Ground. I remember listening to the results as I came away from a Halifax home match that day.
The replay was held on a Wednesday evening and I somehow got myself hemmed in to the Kilner Bank for the 120 minutes of goalless play (extra time was played). The second replay was held at Old Trafford and Town were beaten by 1 goal to 0. But the fact that 40,363 people turned out to watch Town play against Stoke in a night match and only in the 3rd round of the Cup just goes to show how the imagination of the home supporters can galvanize them into following their team. And it wasn't as if we were top of the league or in the middle of a good run of results either.

We finished the first season in a respectable 15th position and the future looked rosy. Oh how wrong we were!

Season 1971 - 1972

I remember going to Goodison Park and ending up in the Gwladys Street boys pen. Oh dear. Constant nagging of a policeman got us in to the main part of the ground - in the middle of the home supporters! Ever been had? Frankie was at his best that day. Cornered by an Everton defender by the corner flag with his back to goal he still managed to get a cross into the box by flicking the ball up into the air and volleying it over his head. 'Oh Frankie Frankie, Frankie Frankie Frankie Frankie Worthington!' Now why did that six foot docker with the Scouse accent give us that dirty look. Another draw I'm afraid.

This was the season of dire performances. There was still the main part of the team that played so well the previous season but the other teams had sussed us out and we had a terrible time.

Played 42 - Won 6 - Drawn 13 - Lost 23. Bottom of the league and down to the Second Division. Well at least we got through to the sixth round of the FA Cup. Oh and we beat Leeds at home in the league too.