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Post by Oblong of Dreams on Aug 14, 2024 12:06:04 GMT 1
Last night's game brought back old memories of the old reserves league, what with being in the Riverside with all other sides being empty. For the younger folk, back then the season tickets were booklets which had vouchers for each game which you'd tear out and give to the turnstile operator, so there were extra vouchers for the reserve games.
A few highlights that stick in the memory for me: a game against title-challenging Newcastle United's Reserves back in 1994/95, with Kevin Keegan in attendance. At half time KK came to shake hands and sign autographs for the kids, and after he signed the inside of my season ticket booklet he mistakenly handed me his pen and headed down the tunnel holding my season ticket... before presumably realising his error halfway to the dressing room and coming back out sheepishly!
Another highlight from the following season under Brian Horton was a game against Aston Villa reserves, just a week or so after the first team had beat Birmingham 4-2 in a game where Steve Bruce handled the ball more than Steve Francis... and a group of Villa fans had made the pilgrimage to Huddersfield so they could congratulate us!
Anyone else got any good memories of this forgotten part of the game?
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Post by themanfromatlantis on Aug 14, 2024 12:14:06 GMT 1
I don’t, or none that I could recall, but I do remember the fixtures and how they were probably taken quite seriously by the clubs and players at the time. It was still quite an honour to top these leagues back in the day. Clearly not as valuable as the first XI leagues, but I recall it being quite competitive.
I’m sure there will be plenty on here that will post some memories though…
Good OP…
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Post by colnevalleyblue on Aug 14, 2024 12:31:20 GMT 1
I can remember Peter Jackson playing himself in a reserve game in 1997 after he came back as manager. Think it was against WBA.
We won 4 or 5-1 and Jackson scored a penalty, crowd was about 6,000.
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cojones
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Post by cojones on Aug 14, 2024 12:32:46 GMT 1
Seeing some great reserve teams visiting was one. Tomato soup and half time! I remember the lad who used to sell the teamsheets too!
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terrier67
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Post by terrier67 on Aug 14, 2024 12:39:59 GMT 1
Central League against Liverpool drew quite a crowd if I recall - Steve Ogryzovic (sp!) in goal.
You could actually walk all the way round the ground to pass the time too - well I remember doing it, so I presume you were allowed.
Sometimes took ages to get the ball back out of the eastern terrace with only one or 2 ballboys/staff covering the whole stand
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Post by Art Vandelay on Aug 14, 2024 12:40:25 GMT 1
I have vague memories of watching Manchester United’s reserves at Leeds Road. Bryan Robson was playing for them as he was coming back from (another) injury.
Did this happen or have I made it up?
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Post by Oblong of Dreams on Aug 14, 2024 14:01:22 GMT 1
I can remember Peter Jackson playing himself in a reserve game in 1997 after he came back as manager. Think it was against WBA. We won 4 or 5-1 and Jackson scored a penalty, crowd was about 6,000. I was at that one, too. I'd completely forgotten until you mentioned it. Good times... |
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Post by canuckterrier99 on Aug 14, 2024 14:07:48 GMT 1
I can remember Peter Jackson playing himself in a reserve game in 1997 after he came back as manager. Think it was against WBA. We won 4 or 5-1 and Jackson scored a penalty, crowd was about 6,000. I was at that one, too. I'd completely forgotten until you mentioned it. Good times... That was his farewell game, hence playing and taking a penalty. And the large crowd. |
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Post by Christ in Shades (art) on Aug 14, 2024 14:14:42 GMT 1
I have vague memories of watching Manchester United’s reserves at Leeds Road. Bryan Robson was playing for them as he was coming back from (another) injury. Did this happen or have I made it up? No, you haven't, think it was 87/88 there was an odd number of clubs in the 2nd Division so each club had to sit out 2 Saturdays on which we entertained Liverpool's stiffs and Manchester United's stiff with the Town first team playing. Paul Walsh played for Liverpool that day and gge Cowshed as well s the main stand was open. |
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Post by benhomly on Aug 14, 2024 14:15:37 GMT 1
Central League against Liverpool drew quite a crowd if I recall - Steve Ogryzovic (sp!) in goal. You could actually walk all the way round the ground to pass the time too - well I remember doing it, so I presume you were allowed. Sometimes took ages to get the ball back out of the eastern terrace with only one or 2 ballboys/staff covering the whole stand Remember the Central League games well. We'd also wander off around the ground, sit in the little dugouts they had for the St John's Ambulance and crawl under the snack bars looking for change dropped from the previous first team game. Happy days |
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trotsky
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Post by trotsky on Aug 14, 2024 14:19:17 GMT 1
I used to attend most of them.
The incident I remember mostly didn't take place on the field though.
It was at half-time and I was queuing up for a pint.
A bloke at the front received his frothy pint a lager and then decided to lean against the door of the bar to guzzle it down.
He was just raising it to his lips for his first taste when the door he was leaning on was opened from inside.
He just about managed to stay on his feet but stumbled backwards and threw the whole pint over his face/head.
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Post by mosher on Aug 14, 2024 14:38:57 GMT 1
I can remember Peter Jackson playing himself in a reserve game in 1997 after he came back as manager. Think it was against WBA. We won 4 or 5-1 and Jackson scored a penalty, crowd was about 6,000. I remember being at that game, but thought it was in 2003/4 when he came back again? I'd be inclined to take your word for it though, 90s through to 2010s can sometimes be a bit blurry  |
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Post by joeyjoneslocker on Aug 14, 2024 14:47:37 GMT 1
I have vague memories of watching Manchester United’s reserves at Leeds Road. Bryan Robson was playing for them as he was coming back from (another) injury. Did this happen or have I made it up? This is the only one I remember, me and my old man went to a few but I have no memory of any apart from this. |
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Post by londoncowling on Aug 14, 2024 15:01:05 GMT 1
I used to attend most of them.
The incident I remember mostly didn't take place on the field though.
It was at half-time and I was queuing up for a pint.
A bloke at the front received his frothy pint a lager and then decided to lean against the door of the bar to guzzle it down.
He was just raising it to his lips for his first taste when the door he was leaning on was opened from inside.
He just about managed to stay on his feet but stumbled backwards and threw the whole pint over his face/head.
the Central League was great, far better than the B team/ u21s etc . a blend of pros ,youngsters trialists and players returning from injury and as has been said there was so much more credence to the games and the league Stiffs league revival yes please |
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trotsky
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Post by trotsky on Aug 14, 2024 15:24:32 GMT 1
Another thing I remember was seeing Daley Thompson turn out for the opposition reserves, might have been Mansfield?
He was shite and unless they were short of squad players, was quite clearly only there because he might have put a few more bums on seats for their home games.
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Post by alexdire on Aug 14, 2024 15:51:57 GMT 1
I have vague memories of watching Manchester United’s reserves at Leeds Road. Bryan Robson was playing for them as he was coming back from (another) injury. Did this happen or have I made it up? I think it happened twice. Once before the 86 world cup and again before the 90 world cup. |
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Post by Bassingham Terrier on Aug 14, 2024 16:16:52 GMT 1
Last night's game brought back old memories of the old reserves league, what with being in the Riverside with all other sides being empty. For the younger folk, back then the season tickets were booklets which had vouchers for each game which you'd tear out and give to the turnstile operator, so there were extra vouchers for the reserve games. A few highlights that stick in the memory for me: a game against title-challenging Newcastle United's Reserves back in 1994/95, with Kevin Keegan in attendance. At half time KK came to shake hands and sign autographs for the kids, and after he signed the inside of my season ticket booklet he mistakenly handed me his pen and headed down the tunnel holding my season ticket... before presumably realising his error halfway to the dressing room and coming back out sheepishly! Another highlight from the following season under Brian Horton was a game against Aston Villa reserves, just a week or so after the first team had beat Birmingham 4-2 in a game where Steve Bruce handled the ball more than Steve Francis... and a group of Villa fans had made the pilgrimage to Huddersfield so they could congratulate us! Anyone else got any good memories of this forgotten part of the game? I remember it back in the 60s when it was called the Central League. Always of quite a high standard too.  |
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Post by araucaria on Aug 14, 2024 16:28:55 GMT 1
This might be false memory syndrome, but I recall sitting in the stand for a reserves game in the mid-60s where Peter Dinsdale, on the halfway line playing towards the Bradley Mills end, realised he had missed his chance to head a long ball (from the opposition keeper?) as it ballooned over him, so he stuck his leg out behind him and cushioned the ball back over his head and it dropped at his feet. The meagre crowd roared as if there were thousands there. I’ve never seen anything like it since.
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Post by araucaria on Aug 14, 2024 16:35:09 GMT 1
I have vague memories of watching Manchester United’s reserves at Leeds Road. Bryan Robson was playing for them as he was coming back from (another) injury. Did this happen or have I made it up? No, you haven't, think it was 87/88 there was an odd number of clubs in the 2nd Division so each club had to sit out 2 Saturdays on which we entertained Liverpool's stiffs and Manchester United's stiff with the Town first team playing. Paul Walsh played for Liverpool that day and gge Cowshed as well s the main stand was open. Our first team beat Liverpool reserves 3-1 that season. It was the first time I took my daughter to the ground. It’s probably the only time I’ve ever seen us score against a Liverpool team (other than Everton). The whole ground used to be open for reserve games of course, probably until they put the gate up between the East Stand and the Bradley Mills end in the late 70s. |
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Post by sabailand on Aug 14, 2024 17:56:57 GMT 1
Sometimes went when i had nowt to do, saw some big opposition names down the years either coming back from injury or new signings.
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Post by monkbar on Aug 14, 2024 18:52:41 GMT 1
I used to go to them all, free with your season ticket. The game would finish just in time to get to the Marsh in Cleck for the quiz.
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Post by htafcokay on Aug 14, 2024 19:09:33 GMT 1
I can remember Peter Jackson playing himself in a reserve game in 1997 after he came back as manager. Think it was against WBA. We won 4 or 5-1 and Jackson scored a penalty, crowd was about 6,000. I remember being at that game, but thought it was in 2003/4 when he came back again? I'd be inclined to take your word for it though, 90s through to 2010s can sometimes be a bit blurry Survival Trust match 2003, Wembley Wizards vs. Town All Stars. Jacko played and actually got the job off the back of his involvement in that game. |
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Post by CaptainHart on Aug 14, 2024 21:07:51 GMT 1
Went to lots of Central League games, couple of memories:
Saw Bryan Douglas (One club man for Blackburn, they've named one of their stands after him, surprised to find he's still alive at 90. He also played for England) get sent off. Also saw Frank before he got in the first team; scored an amazing overhead kick at the Cowshed End.
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Post by jakeg on Aug 14, 2024 21:22:10 GMT 1
I have vague memories of watching Manchester United’s reserves at Leeds Road. Bryan Robson was playing for them as he was coming back from (another) injury. Did this happen or have I made it up? I do remember going to old Trafford for a town central league game with dad...presume it was 80s. Think we played a few first teamers as we didn't have a game. No idea who played or the result....that's not very helpful is it!! |
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Tinpot
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Post by Tinpot on Aug 14, 2024 21:31:14 GMT 1
No, you haven't, think it was 87/88 there was an odd number of clubs in the 2nd Division so each club had to sit out 2 Saturdays on which we entertained Liverpool's stiffs and Manchester United's stiff with the Town first team playing. Paul Walsh played for Liverpool that day and gge Cowshed as well s the main stand was open. Our first team beat Liverpool reserves 3-1 that season. It was the first time I took my daughter to the ground. It’s probably the only time I’ve ever seen us score against a Liverpool team (other than Everton). The whole ground used to be open for reserve games of course, probably until they put the gate up between the East Stand and the Bradley Mills end in the late 70s. My first ever reserve fixture, that! 8 year old me thought it was brilliant that we'd beaten Liverpool! |
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Tinpot
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Post by Tinpot on Aug 14, 2024 21:33:16 GMT 1
I was at that one, too. I'd completely forgotten until you mentioned it. Good times... That was his farewell game, hence playing and taking a penalty. And the large crowd. Terry Yorath holding up a huge card with a number 5 on it - joking that he was going to sub him off just before the penalty iirc. |
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Post by mosher on Aug 15, 2024 7:13:53 GMT 1
I remember being at that game, but thought it was in 2003/4 when he came back again? I'd be inclined to take your word for it though, 90s through to 2010s can sometimes be a bit blurry Survival Trust match 2003, Wembley Wizards vs. Town All Stars. Jacko played and actually got the job off the back of his involvement in that game. Probably the one I’m thinking about but I probably went to both back then, used to go to every match back in the 90s, making up for lost time I suppose 😂 |
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cuz
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Post by cuz on Aug 15, 2024 8:40:21 GMT 1
Remember getting Bob Latchfords autograph when he was subbed off v Everton around 1979...Think he was returning from injury but might be wrong.
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Post by gledholt terrier on Aug 15, 2024 9:07:06 GMT 1
Remember getting Bob Latchfords autograph when he was subbed off v Everton around 1979...Think he was returning from injury but might be wrong. Hope it wasn’t too minor an injury. You should’ve stabbed him with your pen. |
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Post by detox on Aug 15, 2024 9:15:28 GMT 1
went to loads of Central League games back in the 60's, they played at home every other Saturday when the 1st XI were away...The opposing teams nearly always had some star players in, coming back from injury or whatever. The match day programme was a single sheet of paper.. Some of the attendances were pretty decent... Think it was 3d to get in, maybe 1d for the 'programme' ..
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