"...better than a lot of people expect..." - Well, in terms of performance it was certainly better than the previous season, when we finished rock bottom with just 7 wins. It was only the collapse in the last few games, partially caused by the lack of a recognised goalkeeper, which dropped us into the bottom four. But of course the final outcome was worse than we expected.
Yes.Red Patch Bluebirds wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 7:16 pm The Northampton Philip Neal, he the same Phil Neal that went on to be Liverpool’s most decorated player?
I do vaguely remember this game and and recall the gangly youth that was Phil Neal playing though I didn’t know that at the time. The reason I recall him was that despite his tender years he had quite a gob on him and that made an impression on me as a rather callow youth myself..pjdaly wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 7:42 pm Thanks for submitting that, Xerxes. I remember the game quite well which is somewhat surprising as it was instantly forgettable. I guess the reason it sticks in my mind must be because it was the first game of the new season and hopes and expectations were high. I seem to recall off the top of my head that the only goal of the game was scored by Northampton's Harkin in the 26th or 27th minute - - - but there is no Harkin listed in their line-up so maybe my memory is playing tricks??? I do remember that a dog was running wild on the pitch for the opening few minutes of the match before somebody managed to finally kennel it. The game also marked the debut of the famed Harry Thomson in our goals. Harry was probably still a top-flight quality goalkeeper. Don't take my word for that, Thomson himself mentioned that he should still have been featuring in the old 1st Division. And it was evident enough throughout the season as his performances were outstanding and led to him, unsurprisingly, being named in the 4th Division XI at the end of the season. Yes, he was brilliant, but unfortunately Harry brought baggage with him and that baggage, which had led to strife with both Burnley and Blackpool in the top flight and his subsequent plummet from the summit, was the reason he was playing at the lowly end of he English Football League. And that baggage sadly but inevitably presented itself at Holker Street before too long . . .
Other points of interest, looking at those programme notes. I think that's the same Frank Large who had appeared at Holker Street for Leicester City in the FA Cup 3rd round just three and a half years earlier. And it would seem there was a veritable legend on the pitch that day; no, I'm not talking about our great Eric Harrison but the Northampton right-back, Phil Neal. Nobody could have known back then in August 1971 but this same Phil Neal later joined Liverpool and, I do believe, became the only English footballer in history to accumulate FOUR European Cup winners medals. Incidentally, Phil Neal was manager of Bolton in January 1991 when they beat us 1-0 at the old Burnden Park in the FA Cup and in his Bolton team that day was one Phil Brown. After that match, Neal apparently had nothing to offer in the way of credit to massive underdogs Barrow for their efforts that day BUT I do recall the EM quoted one of the Bolton players who commended us for our valiant performance - - - that Bolton player was somebody by the name of Phil Brown.
I remember that Mulvaney goal as he winked right at me as he lay on the turf. As a minor maybe I should have reported it to a Steward but they hadn't been invented then.
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