Derby

[Bushey Boy]

So glad they went up.  2 reasons:-

Steve Howard - read a article on him on Sat, used to know how hard it was working and doesnt take it for granted. Use to work 12 hour days working on the roads, digging them up etc.  Take someone like penant and you see what I mean, have respect for him

Billy Davies - Ace manager, really impressed with him.  Liked the way he told sky to wait while he celebrated with his team and fans

Hope they stay up next year

[Crozzer]

What else is there in Derby to talk about, Cloughie used to manage them (great team to watch, exemplary 4:4:2), big enough club not to be crapped on by the FA.

West Brom, late chairman was Bert Milichip, if I remember correctly, who was instrumental in relegating Swindon Town two divisions, before that was modified by the Football League.  West Brom missing out on promotion is a just result.  I hope Scunthorpe do the double over them next season.

[Bushey Boy]

Never knew that Crozzer

[Matchworn Shirts]

Davies is a cocky little shite, but they have a good team

[Reg Smeeton]

What else is there in Derby to talk about, Cloughie used to manage them (great team to watch, exemplary 4:4:2), big enough club not to be crapped on by the FA.

West Brom, late chairman was Bert Milichip, if I remember correctly, who was instrumental in relegating Swindon Town two divisions, before that was modified by the Football League.  West Brom missing out on promotion is a just result.  I hope Scunthorpe do the double over them next season.

 You recall completely incorrectly.......do you want the details?

[flammableBen]

Do the details Reg. I want at least 2000 words.

[Reg Smeeton]

Do the details Reg. I want at least 2000 words.

   We were screwed over by a corporate lawyer....(I'm sure its a coincidence) called Arthur  Sandford, he'd been headhunted from his previous job as CEO of Notts CC by the Football League,  to try and head off  certain clubs who wanted to break up the traditional structure of English football and form their own league.

  It was felt that Sandford's attention to detail and noted rigidity in application of rules, could in his new role of Secretary of The Football League.....make the changes necessary to maintain the traditional status quo.

  When our case came to his attention he wanted to clearly demonstrate that the FL could be seen as an organisation which didn't tolerate, dodgy practices and could be vigorous in protecting the integrity of the organisation.

  We were thereby relegated 2 divs......Sir Bert and his FA boys were mainly on holiday, when our appeal came through to the higher authority, and so we were allowed to stay in Div 2 as a compromise.

[Crozzer]

Looks like you are correct as usual, but the F.A. should have been consistent in cleaning house, so no apology to Bert, and justice served to West Brom:

"Shortly before the last game of the season, another bombshell hits, when Hillier, Macari, captain Colin Calderwood and secretary Vince Farrar are all arrested and questioned by Inland Revenue officials over a tax fraud conspiracy. Calderwood is released without charge, and the others are given bail - on the pitch, the Town go on to defeat Blackburn over two legs to reach the final at Wembley, where they will play for only the second time in their history. In a match they completely dominate, Alan McLoughlin scores the only goal - a deflected effort - to defeat Sunderland and win promotion to the First Division. The joy is short-lived though, as just ten days later, the Football League decide to demote the Town two divisions, after they admit 36 breaches of League rules - 35 of which are related to illegal payments. The Swindon board immediately appeal, but High Court action is dropped due to lack of funding - and the fans protest, thousands signing a "1st not 3rd" petition. The FA Appeal Panel reduce the demotion to just one division, and Swindon are denied their first-ever taste of top flight football. Hillier was eventually jailed, whilst Farrar and former club secretary Dave King received suspended sentences."


At the time, I wrote to the F.A. and wanted to know why Peterborough and Swindon get relegated and why clubs like Spurs and Arsenal had been in the Sunday papers for years for allegedly dodgey practices particularly when signing young players.  In return I got a summary of the offenses with cash amounts blacked out, which probably added up to payments of about five hundred quid.  The F.A. didn't explain one rule for Swindon and Peterborough and another for bigger clubs.  When Jim Barron very credibly talked to Don Revies' alleged bribing practices at Leeds nothing was done, nor was anything done about Cloughie's alleged brown paper bags.  Nothing either seems to be happening with Bungs, which make Macari's alleged sins seem laughable.

[Fred Elliot]

Straw for the pitch