http://www.britishpathe.com/video/f-a-cup-fourth-round-swansea-v-stoke Nostalgia aint what it used to be!!! The North bank before it was covered-27 K gate official figure ?
Ivor Allchurch's goal was a cracker. Got to love that old footage. So busy concentrating on crowd shots they missed one of the goals. Glad we play on a better surface these days too.
Not much televised football in those days. Cup Final,the odd International,or friendly,so it's really great to see some of yesterday's heroes on film,preserved for posterity. Flashes of the Allchurch brothers,Harry Griffiths,Cliff Jones,Terry Medwin and Mel Charles. Great stuff. But that pitch,what a state. 27,000 gate?Hmm. More like 30+. Tax fiddle probably!!!
If any of today's prima donna's tried a 50 yard cross field pass with the old,wet,leather ball,they'd be out of the game for months recovering from the sheer effort of it. It was meat and drink,however, to the likes of Allchurch,Haynes of Fulham,and McIlroy of Burnley,to name but three of the top inside forwards of their day,and they could land the ball on a sixpence.
Yes there was a lot of fiddling going on be clubs in those days saying there was less in the ground than there actually was.. Clubs cant really do it now as grounds are all seater and tickets are limited to the size of the stadium..the vetch pitch was always getting waterlogged in the far left corner if you were viewing from the north bank...Happy days but the liberty is better and it would be even better if they would allow a part of it to be able to stand for those who want too..
Back in the day,The Vetch Field had to contend with the first team,reserve and Welsh League games,plus the Schoolboys. End of season would also see the local league play-offs. Consequently,the pitch always had that worn out look,with the goal areas looking like a swamp on wet days.
I was standing on the North Bank and well remember someone slipping the ball past Roger towards the goal. We were directly behind it and as it headed for the far corner it rolled over the hill and got diverted past the post. Would have been a defo goal on a flat pitch.
brilliant fair play.....that's when football was football and everyone could afford a ticket......superb pitch 2, in great condition for a fourth round scrap. had 2 laugh at the comment on jones getting tackled>>>>he sent him down in a slithering belly flop!! >>>classic>>>>hey lucky chico didn't play in them days>>>he would have scored him a nine for the triple salco. great vid and much enjoyed thank you
Hey,aber,are you growing any vetch on your allotment? Nice little earner for you,there must be loads of Cardiff fans' up your way who would pay top dollar for some good old vetch!!!
What a brilliant bit of footage of days gone by, bit before my time but could see the Vetch was packed in every part of the ground, my parents would go down and sit in the old double decker stand and watch their heroes as we saw there - Cliff Jones, the Allchurch brothers, etc. If they were still alive I wonder what they would make of our current team and stadium in comparison.
Yyes very nostalgic even the advert for Vale of Neath Ales across the Double Decker. I remember Evans Bevans Brewery closing when I was 16 or 17.
