Category Archives: Matches of Yesterday

Derby fans need no reminding about their beloved club’s financial problems, and this weekend’s fixture list threw up a match that probably haunts their memories in more than one way. In 1984, Plymouth and Derby were pitted against each other in the FA Cup Quarter Finals and, after a draw at Home Park, they metContinue reading “September 3rd Plymouth v Derby”

Fulham and Luton meet in the Championship this weekend and each team will be hoping that their forwards can emulate the prowess of Malcolm Macdonald, an old boy of both clubs. He started out as a full-back at Fulham in the late 60s, but a switch to centre-forward was the catalyst for a fine career. Continue reading “#10 Luton v Fulham, Dec 11”

Alan Ball is the focus this weekend as two clubs he served with distinction, Everton and Arsenal, meet in the Premier League. Ball, of course, is famous as one of the players who won the World Cup for England in 1966 and he enjoyed significant success at club level too, especially with Everton where heContinue reading “#9 Everton v Arsenal, Dec 6”

Mention QPR and Luton in the same sentence to football fans of a certain age and they will almost immediately think about artificial pitches and the complaints from other teams about the allegedly unfair advantage that these two teams (among others) gained from having Astroturf or something similar.  In 1981 QPR were the first professionalContinue reading “#8 QPR v Luton, Nov 19-22”

The qualifying rounds are over and now the clubs from Leagues 1 and 2 join the draw alongside the non-league teams who have made it this far.  How will this year’s programme of matches compare with the First Round fifty years ago?  The players taking part this weekend have got plenty to live up to.Continue reading “#7 FA Cup First Round – Nov 5-8”

Liverpool meet Brighton at Anfield this weekend, which reminds us of how Liverpool and Brighton fans have both enjoyed the services of some great players over the years including Michael Robinson, Mark Lawrenson and Adam Lallana.  But perhaps the Brighton/Liverpool player who is most celebrated is a man regarded by many as one of theContinue reading “#6 Liverpool v Brighton – Jimmy Case”

Weekend 2/3 October One name that links these two teams is Jimmy Hill.  For nearly 50 years he was familiar to (and not always popular with) football fans for his match analysis for ITV, BBC and Sky.  However, before he settled so successfully in the world of television, he had enjoyed a fascinating career asContinue reading “#5 Coventry City v Fulham”

Weekend 25th/26th September This weekend’s nostalgic match-up sees the ‘Battle of the Initials’ resume, as Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion lock horns again in a fixture that recalls two massive cup clashes that both went the way of the Londoners. The lesser feted encounter (at least outside of west London) is the 1982Continue reading “#4 QPR v WBA”

1977 was a bad year for Everton and April was its cruellest month.  Liverpool won the League, the European Cup and knocked the Toffees out of the FA Cup under controversial circumstances when Bryan Hamilton’s late ‘winner’ was chalked off by referee Clive Thomas.  The disallowed goal meant a replay, which Liverpool won, effectively endingContinue reading “#3 18th/19th September Aston Villa v Everton”

Weekend 11th/12th September Leicester City v Manchester City; Chelsea v Aston Villa This weekend’s selected fixtures bring back memories of the 1969 FA Cup Final and the legendary manager, Tommy Docherty. The 1969 Cup Final pitted soon-to-be-relegated Leicester against recent League Champions Man City.  Getting relegated and winning the cup is the sort of doubleContinue reading “#2 – September 11th/12th”