David Gwilliam
Well-Known Member
I have just watched a DVD of the 1963 Cup Final in which Man U defeated Leicester 3-1, Hopefully my comments will bring back memories and provoke reaction from those who were there. To declare my position right from the start I was a football fan in 1963 but did not become a Leicester supporter until the 1968-69 season. I arrived and we were relegated. I wanted to watch it in order to see the Matt Gillies team - players I had only heard of and players I had only seen as shadows of their former selves. I had earlier watched the 1959 cup final in which Bolton beat man U 2-0.
The better team won. Kenneth Wolstenholme said that the Leicester attack had been ineffective and the Leicester defence had been cut to ribbons.
Certainly Wolstenholme was correct about the Leicester attack. Keyworth was very tame until he scored an excellent goal. When I began supporting Leicester in 1969 I noticed how the crowd forgave Gibson and Stringfellow poor performances . I had hoped to see them at their best on the DVD but they both had a poor game. I was surprised to see Graham Cross as an inside forward since I remembered him as a fine centre back.
I thought Wolstenholme was unfair to the Leicester defence. They faced two world class players in Charlton and Law and any defence would have struggled. Two defenders I had only heard of Ian King and Ritchie Norman looked good. At one point a Leicester defender did a superb tackle and I thought “Wow. John Sjoberg has just dispossessed Bobby Charlton".
Watching the 1958 cup final as well gave me the chance to compare two great goalkeepers. With hindsight as a Leicester fan I have always been slightly embarrassed that until 1966 I thought Alf Ramsey was picking the wrong goalkeeper and that Eddie Hopkinson should never have been replaced by Gordon Banks. I now accept that Banks was one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Yet anyone looking at just the two cup finals looking at the twoCup finals would have said Hopkinson was the better. His performance was faultless and included two brilliant saves. They would have pointed out that Banks made a dreadful error for Man Us third goal
A few odd points. In 1958 the Man U trainer came onto the pitch in a suit and tie. By 1963 things were that bit more informal and the same trainer came on in a tracksuit. In the 1958 cup final a Bolton winger was described as being in the RAF and you realise that footballers did National Service. The excellent Bolton side included seven “local lads†and not one of the team had cost Bolton a transfer fee.
One last thought at the beginning of the 1958 final Nat Lofthouse (a centre forward who made Steve Howard look like Health & Safety Inpector) smashes into the Manchester United goalkeeper with no regard for his own or the other players safety. Kenneth Wolstenholme complains because Harry Gregg momentarily lost control of the ball. Later of course Lofthouse will knock Harry Gregg unconscious into the back of the net and the goal will be given. Kasper and Weale you do not know how lucky you are.
The better team won. Kenneth Wolstenholme said that the Leicester attack had been ineffective and the Leicester defence had been cut to ribbons.
Certainly Wolstenholme was correct about the Leicester attack. Keyworth was very tame until he scored an excellent goal. When I began supporting Leicester in 1969 I noticed how the crowd forgave Gibson and Stringfellow poor performances . I had hoped to see them at their best on the DVD but they both had a poor game. I was surprised to see Graham Cross as an inside forward since I remembered him as a fine centre back.
I thought Wolstenholme was unfair to the Leicester defence. They faced two world class players in Charlton and Law and any defence would have struggled. Two defenders I had only heard of Ian King and Ritchie Norman looked good. At one point a Leicester defender did a superb tackle and I thought “Wow. John Sjoberg has just dispossessed Bobby Charlton".
Watching the 1958 cup final as well gave me the chance to compare two great goalkeepers. With hindsight as a Leicester fan I have always been slightly embarrassed that until 1966 I thought Alf Ramsey was picking the wrong goalkeeper and that Eddie Hopkinson should never have been replaced by Gordon Banks. I now accept that Banks was one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Yet anyone looking at just the two cup finals looking at the twoCup finals would have said Hopkinson was the better. His performance was faultless and included two brilliant saves. They would have pointed out that Banks made a dreadful error for Man Us third goal
A few odd points. In 1958 the Man U trainer came onto the pitch in a suit and tie. By 1963 things were that bit more informal and the same trainer came on in a tracksuit. In the 1958 cup final a Bolton winger was described as being in the RAF and you realise that footballers did National Service. The excellent Bolton side included seven “local lads†and not one of the team had cost Bolton a transfer fee.
One last thought at the beginning of the 1958 final Nat Lofthouse (a centre forward who made Steve Howard look like Health & Safety Inpector) smashes into the Manchester United goalkeeper with no regard for his own or the other players safety. Kenneth Wolstenholme complains because Harry Gregg momentarily lost control of the ball. Later of course Lofthouse will knock Harry Gregg unconscious into the back of the net and the goal will be given. Kasper and Weale you do not know how lucky you are.
