Manchester United’s forgotten HOME game at Stoke City, with hooligans, 200 extra police and a standing ovation for George Best
Archives of Stoke City Manchester United was forced to play West Bromwich Albion at the Victoria Ground as a result of severe crowd disturbances.
A date for Stoke City’s historic Victoria Ground sticks out like a sore thumb in the diary.
And picture Irwin Sargent, the chief superintendent of Longton, when he was informed of the Football Association’s proposal.
After hooligans threw knives into the away section at the close of the 1970–71 season, Manchester United was
punished by having to play their first two home games of the next season away from Old Trafford: one at Anfield and
one in the Potteries.
Therefore, 27,649 people attended the Man Utd vs. Arsenal game on Friday, August 20, which ended in a 3-1 victory.
Pitch invasions had occurred, and there were rumours of “600 skinheads” hurling bricks at supporters being
marched to Lime Street station and of windows of homes being broken.
And on the Monday three days later, Frank O’Farrell brought his side and thousands of supporters to Stoke to take
on West Bromwich Albion.
Special “beat the soccer bad boys” arrangements were laid on, including more than 200 policemen who were drafted
into town along with a dozen dogs.
And it wasn’t just the police who were getting prepared.
He took the dog into the pub and said: “If there are any signs of trouble we’re ready for it.”
But trouble, there was none – or, at least, only four arrests – two inside and two outside the ground, for
which Chief Superintendent Sargent cut a relieved figure.
He said: “It really was like a dream come true – everything went so smoothly.
“I congratulate the fans. This has been one of the nicest surprises I have had, considering the trouble at
other United games.”
British Rail had made plans to keep opposition supporters apart as they arrived in the city and after the
last of the “soccer specials” ferried them home, Stoke City chairman Albert Henshall took a deep sigh of
relief.
“I’m a very happy man,” he said. “I was worried and a bit hot under the collar before he game… but the
police were there in real force and they have done a marvellous and wonderful job.”
Stoke were given 15 per cent of the gate receipts from a 23,146-strong attendance and West Brom
received compensation for missed income. Gate receipts were shared until 1980.
On the pitch, it was all about George Best.
Peter Hewitt wrote for the Sentinel: “Best held centre stage with a 90-minute solo spot that brought a
standing ovation that even referee George Hartley and his linesmen joined in.
“As soccer’s entertainers come into the own under the new disciplined regime (of O’Farrell), Best
emerged as the top man. At times it was though his though his Old Trafford colleagues were just making
up the supporting cast.
“It takes more than one man to take a team to the top of the First Division but this was Best in the mod to
tease and torment any defence and shattered Albion had no one to touch him.”
He stroked home the first from a Bobby Charlton corner after 10 minutes and, five minutes before the
break, he sent in a left winger corner “so accurately that sturdy Gowling never had to move as he powered
a header past Jim Cumbes”.
Best then streaked forward in the 55th minute to hammer in the third.
Alistair Brown scored the game’s third goal with what was essentially the final kick, but Man Utd went
home, and the title run led by Best continued until the middle of December—and, unfortunately, an away
game at Stoke.O’Farrell had managed 14 victories and four draws in his first 20 games as manager, but
Best’s decision to take a week off to spend time with Carolyn Moore, Miss Great Britain 1971, followed an
11-game losing streak that began with a 1-1 draw at the Vic.
For that, he did not receive a standing ovation.
Read more news on https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply