Not sure of how to keep myself occupied I decided to see what delights awaited me, on the Sky Box, that had been receently recorded.
Much to my surprise, there was an edition of ‘The Big Match Revisited’ that I had not watched and, more importantly, it featured Luton Town Football Club.
The game featured came from April 1977 and pitted Luton Town against a promotion chasing Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge.
Looking at the team selected by Happy Harry Haslam, due to an injury ruling Ron Futcher out, 18-year-old, David Geddis, on loan from Ipswich Town, was given the chance to lead the line.
After a pretty even start, in front of a vociferous Shed, it was to be Chelsea that took the lead when the Hatters defence afforded Steve Finnieston far too much space and his shot, from close range, gave Milija Aleksic no chance in the Luton Town goal.
But after going behind, the Hatters probably enjoyed their best spell of the game with Alan West, Jimmy Husband and John Aston, all spurning chances.
Unfortunately, Luton Town were forced into a change when Paul Price was carried away, on a stretcher, after being kicked, albeit accidentally, in the face by Ken Swain. Graham Jones, just 17-years-old, entered the game as the Hatters substitute, further reducing the average ae of the Luton Town side.
It was later revealed that Price had suffered an eye injury, along with severe concussion, but was deemed fit enough to sit in the stand and watch the second half.
With Harry Haslam keen to get his charges into the dressing room for the half time chat, Luton Town were to concede a second goal, a strike from John Sparrow, from all of 20-yards out that left Milija Aleksic with no chance.
2-0 down, at half time, it was aways going to be a tall order for the Hatters to get back into the game and that proved to be exactly the case.
Indeed, Chelsea could have increased their lead after Paul Futcher was caught dallying on the ball, but when Ken Swain netted and turned around to celebrate, the goal, much to the Hatters delight, was chalked off for offside.
Forays forward were unproductive for Luton Town with the Chelsea goalkeeper, Peter Bonetti, being mostly untroubled, all a far cry from the reciprocating fixture, at Kenilworth Road in which Luton Town thrashed Chelsea 4-0 with Fuccillo, Chambers, Husband and Buckley getting on the score sheet.
The 1976/1977 Second Division campaign ended with Luton Town finished in 6th position, after a tail-off in form during the dying embers of the season.
Chelsea, on the other hand, were to finish 2nd, thereby earning promotion to the First Division.
Do anyone have any recollections of this trip to Stamford Bridge?
From a personal point of view, I can recall being deluged in CSE / GCE and I cannot even recall making the trip down to St Pancras and then to Fulham Broadway.
Date – 09-April-1977
Team – Milija Aleksic, Steve Buckley, Paul Futcher, John Faulkner, Paul Price, Brian Chambers, Jimmy Husband, Alan West, David Geddis, Lil Fuccillo, John Aston
Substitute – Graham Jones
Attendance – 32,911
COYH
The USA Way - Two Halves Or Four Quarters?
Two Halves!
Two Halves!
Vote
Four Quarters!
Four Quarters!
Vote
Photo of Mad Hatter
Mad Hatter
Left school at 16 and spent nigh on 44 years in the Aviation industry both on the shop floor and in the offices. Writing has been a hobby / passion of his since Vital Football started and for the last decade the editorial role at Vital Luton Town has been…