Quote Originally Posted by MikeSB View Post
Thanks for that Mick, they were great times and I was there at Stamford Bridge that day when we won that game and if my memory serves me right they had Jimmy Greaves and Terry Venables playing for them. I think I am right that was the only time we have ever beat a PL/First Div team in the cup ever even under the Dario regime. Fans today think it was all doom and gloom in those far off days...I went on a FA cup special train from Crewe and got interviewed by the BBC when we arrived at Euston only because I think I had the biggest Alex rosette on my coat and when I looked again, someone had nicked it! I saw John Mahoney cry his eyes out in his last match for us which is why both you and I abhor the actions of some of our academy players who refuse to sign contracts...They were hero's and Frank Lord especially and not one player in the modern era has beaten the number of hat tricks he scored here which is still a record..

Oh I forgot to mention that it was a very physical game back then too when shoulder charging the goalkeeper and others was allowed. I don't think most of our academy graduates would have coped with all that and in many ways another reason to think the game has deteriorated for the worst.....No subs back then but I think that has been a good thing and maybe two not three imo...
Thanks for your input, Mike. Those indeed were good memories and today's footballers should take note and be grateful for what they have in this pampered game. I have been looking further into those young footballers of that period. Many were thrust into a physical division at a tender age even then. Our longest serving player, Tommy Lowry, was only 21 years of age, when he made his debut in 1966. From that mighty trio in the heart of defence, Mick Gannon was 21, Keith Stott when he started out was just 20 and Eric Barnes began playing for Crewe at the tender age of 20 in 1958. Legendary Johnny King was 18 when he made his debut in 1951. Others include: Frank Blunstone (later of Chelsea and England), aged 17, Bert Llewellyn (19), Chris Riley (19), Peter Gowans (19) and latterly in 1977, Peter Coyne was just 19. Some fantastic players there.