Versus Leicester FA Cup 68- Was you there?

[mikemiller]

I can remember Downes missing from close in at Millmoor at the railway end in a big game..

So can I - but it definitely wasn't v Leeds, as I'd first thought. Possibly one of the League Cup games v Bolton or Burnley in 1969?

[gwru]

Been looking for Rotherham United side against West Ham 1965 league cup 4th round. Can't find it. Anybody know. My 1st ever game at Millmoor. Sure Rod Jones was in goal. Wilcockson Clish full backs. Tiler played. Not sure if Madden played Centre Half. Don't think Hasledon was there then. Rabjohn played. Lyons Chapple Galley Pring pretty certain they played. Not sure if it was Bobby Williams or Casper in midfield. Thanks if can find the side.

[LincsMiller]

lets be honest.. if we were dished up that kind of football at NYS the teams would be booed off... strange how our memories lie to us

I agree it looks less skilful but its all relevant, playing surfaces were nowhere near to what we have now, no dieticians etc. Trevor Swift used to turn out for a kick about on Canklow playing fields Sunday afternoon. It has all changed but the noise and excitement of 20.000 fans remains the same, and we can't get half that number of fans at NY most of the time.

[mikemiller]

Been looking for Rotherham United side against West Ham 1965 league cup 4th round. Can't find it. Anybody know. My 1st ever game at Millmoor. Sure Rod Jones was in goal. Wilcockson Clish full backs. Tiler played. Not sure if Madden played Centre Half. Don't think Hasledon was there then. Rabjohn played. Lyons Chapple Galley Pring pretty certain they played. Not sure if it was Bobby Williams or Casper in midfield. Thanks if can find the side.

Jones, Wilcockson, Clish, Casper, Madden, Tiler, Lyons, Chappell, Galley, Williams, Pring
L 1-2 (Galley scored)

[gwru]

Jones, Wilcockson, Clish, Casper, Madden, Tiler, Lyons, Chappell, Galley, Williams, Pring
L 1-2 (Galley scored)

Thanks. Rabjohn didn't play. Fair side out.

[caytonmiller]

I agree it looks less skilful but its all relevant, playing surfaces were nowhere near to what we have now, no dieticians etc. Trevor Swift used to turn out for a kick about on Canklow playing fields Sunday afternoon. It has all changed but the noise and excitement of 20.000 fans remains the same, and we can't get half that number of fans at NY most of the time.

agree 100%. in my mind the 1980 team would wipe the floor with our current squad though looking at some of the games in reality i very much doubt it

[sCORaFU]

I agree it looks less skilful but its all relevant, playing surfaces were nowhere near to what we have now, no dieticians etc. Trevor Swift used to turn out for a kick about on Canklow playing fields Sunday afternoon. It has all changed but the noise and excitement of 20.000 fans remains the same, and we can't get half that number of fans at NY most of the time.

I think the game has gained something since the late sixties, but also has lost quite a bit as well. On the one hand its now more skilful, faster and played on better surfaces in better stadia (generally). However, there's more cheating (diving and shirt pulling), the art of tackling has almost disappeared (see previous). The top two divisions are loaded in favour of the larger clubs making it much, much harder to get to the top without foreign backing, which also means that the club loses the local flavour. Fact is that you never heard fans singing "He's one of our own" back in the sixties because they didn't need to. Swings and roundabouts I'm afraid.

[Muchthemillersson]

The game wasn't all ticket. Not because of any difficulty in organising ticket printing and sales. Two years previously the Millers drew at Old Trafford and managed to organise tickets for the replay on the following Tuesday.

The Millers secretary had asked Leicester to make the game all ticket as we expected a big following. Leicester refused, believing that a 42,000 capacity would be plenty. They were wrong.

I was stood outside with 100s of unlucky Rotherham fans. Just before the end of normal time they opened the gates at the home end. I was one of many of our fans to get in the home end, before they shut the gates again. Unfortunately we only got to see us lose.

I went to the Leicester game and got in. One report I read today said there were 10,000 Rotherham fans in the ground but I think that is a gross exaggeration. It seemed to me that the Leicester fans all turned up early and the Millers fans who had to travel after work arrived when the ground was full and couldn't get in.

I wrote to Leicester City after the match complaining about our fans who couldn't get in because they hadn't made it all ticket and they replied saying they didn't expect so many people to come. That's proved a lie by your comment about the club secretary asking Leicester to make it all ticket and the fact that the attendance at Millmoor was 23,500.

We drew the first game 1-1 and there's was a twice taken penalty. Alan Hill saved the first one but the referee judged that he'd moved before the ball was kicked. Neutrals who watched the TV said he didn't.

[mikemiller]

I went to the Leicester game and got in. One report I read today said there were 10,000 Rotherham fans in the ground but I think that is a gross exaggeration. It seemed to me that the Leicester fans all turned up early and the Millers fans who had to travel after work arrived when the ground was full and couldn't get in.

I wrote to Leicester City after the match complaining about our fans who couldn't get in because they hadn't made it all ticket and they replied saying they didn't expect so many people to come. That's proved a lie by your comment about the club secretary asking Leicester to make it all ticket and the fact that the attendance at Millmoor was 23,500.

We drew the first game 1-1 and there's was a twice taken penalty. Alan Hill saved the first one but the referee judged that he'd moved before the ball was kicked. Neutrals who watched the TV said he didn't.

You can see the TV match highlights using link in opening post

[Nardendee]

The last paragraph on Muchthemillersons’ post is what I remember most about the first game. I was sat on the front row of the main stand.

The David Nish penalty. It was a great save and I remember feeling cheated when the re-take was ordered.

I also remember Match of the Day missing Steve Downes’ equaliser. Presented by the late great “ There are some people on the pitch, they think it’s all over.....It is now. Kenneth Wolstenholme.

Leicester were beaten 3-1 at Filbert Street by Everton in the quarter final and to this day that is the last time we reached the 5th Round.