Thought I'd share this with you please log in to view this image The above picture shows Fulham fans queuing up to buy a programme at the Den on January 20th 1974. This was the very first league match to be played on a Sunday. Law at that time prevented tickets being sold for a game on Sunday so admission was technically free. Clubs got round this by making people buy a programme which got them entry into the ground. Millwall won 1-0 with Brian Clarke scoring. This was before my time, but did any of you attend this game?
Thanks for sharing TC. I know people who have a place in the Isle of Dogs so have gone past the site of the ‘Old Den’ and Cold Blow Lane a few times in recent years. But didn’t venture that way back in 1974. An austere time was 1974. Power cuts, fuel shortages and it wasn’t just the economy. Alex Stock was still re-building the Fulham side and making sure we didn’t concede goals. Unfortunately we didn’t score too many that year either, so 1-0 sounds about right. The highlight for us was Alan Mullery scoring ’The Goal of the Season’ against Everton. What I remember of Millwall around that time was ‘Arry Cripps - the man who was Terry Hurlock’s role model. And Keith Weller - the first man to wear tights in a televised match - who was my role model! [He was with Leicester by 1974 though]. Sticking to firsts, and television. As well as Millwall and Fulham playing in the first match on a Sunday, I have in the back of my mind that they also played in the first match under floodlights to be televised.
Possibly - and the 1974 power cuts were the reason the FA allowed the Sunday fixtures in the first place!!
