100 Greatest Walsall moments

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By ANother Saddler (81.135.12.137) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 12:28 pm:

Something for us to do over the summer...

Can we come up with 100 great Saddlers moments?

My top three:
Millenium Stadium
Beating Wolves 2-1 and watching their fans demonstrate and demand a refund on their season tickets
Roger Boli's hatrick against Southend

There must be loads more, I'm sure Geoff has a few.. can we get 100?

By stevo (80.195.127.154) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 12:46 pm:

Bury away - winning promotion - but almost as memorable, the ball boy who got carried away and ran on the pitch to get the ball!

By Geoff Whiting (195.92.168.175) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 01:20 pm:

Maybe just let 'em out one at a time otherwise we'll be finished in no time.

One that comes instantly to mind is one of my earliest really vivid Saddlers memories. At the age of 11 I was just beginning to really take notice of what was going on at Fellows Park, previously I'd mainly just been taken there by my dad and/or brother but I'd not got involved very much. This game changed my life completely, and I really got into what being a Saddlers fan was all about.

It was the 4-3 win over Sunderland on 19 August 1961 - our first game in the old Division Two following promotion - Sunderland were giants in those days and in the lead-up to the game there was lots on the TV about this minnows vs giants clash. All the big money was on Sunderland to give us a good caning. But we tamed 'em. They had a "little-known striker" named Brian Clough making his debut up front for them after a big-money transfer from Middlesbrough. Tony Richards got a hat-trick, Tommy Wilson got our other - and Cloughie got one for Sunderland on his debut. We went ahead, then went behind, got back level, went behind again, came back level again and finally went ahead to win it. Fantastic match and a crowd of 18,420 - a bit of a crush as I recall - try fitting that into Bescot !

There's plenty more magic moments, but they'll wait a while. We've got until August.

By Nigel (82.37.152.81) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 05:35 pm:

Roger Boli's overhead kick......Best Goal Ever by a Saddla ?

By scotty (195.92.168.172) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 07:31 pm:

David Kellys hatrick in the play off final against Bristol City

Watford away in the FA cup 5th round (4-4)



By Dave M (195.92.194.11) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 08:16 pm:

Millenium Stadium
Liverpool away 2-2 in league cup semi
Winning 2-1 at the Dingles

By sedgers (62.31.219.127) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 08:31 pm:

juniors goal against preston,oldham 3-2,and mike ceceres last minute winner against crewe years ago(easy way of saying i cant remember year,anyone else remember the year?)

By Don Rogers (213.122.35.65) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 08:38 pm:

Only one at a time?
Beating Arsenal 2-1 at Highbury in 1983. No-one ever thought that we could repeat that fabled 1933 win - but we did! An unreal and amazing night.

By gray ellwood (81.135.59.100) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 09:05 pm:

Charlton away last year.

two quality jorge goals and a brilliant penalty save.what more do you want??

By gray ellwood (81.135.59.100) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 09:08 pm:

Charlton away last year.

two quality jorge goals and a brilliant penalty save.what more do you want??

By Dave Gittins (195.92.194.17) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 10:08 pm:

1. Leicester City in the FA Cup at Fellows Park circa 1977 or 1978. Leicester were First division to our division 3. Alun Evans with the last minute winner to make it 1-0.

2. Thrashing Birmingham 5 - 0 at Fellows Park back in 1989 in the old second division.



By Crewe Saddler (195.93.49.12) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 11:17 pm:

I went to a school full of V*ll* fans, so beating them 3-0 in front of 19,000+ at FP in the early 70's (I'd be about 12)was the best moment

Otherwise that 3-2 FA Cup replay win over Man Utd in 1975. The 2-2 draw with Liverpool's European champs at Anfield and the win at Highbury in the same season 1983/84(?)

By cat3 (219.76.96.9) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 11:47 pm:

Getting promotion from 2nd to 1st division is surely a remarkable result! I am quite grateful to see a guy like Don Goodman scoring at Millenium Stadium to get us here.

By freda g (195.93.49.12) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 03:14 am:

Crewe Saddlers post encapsulates all that being a Saddler has meant...........except perhaps for the icing on the cake of victory over Man U,when the manificent John Saunders shackled the gladiatorial Supermac,and George Andrews rose majestically to head home,from an exquisite cross from Roger Fry,and Newcastle were no more,a mere stepping stone to Wembley.And next,the Blues..................

By freda g (195.93.49.12) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 04:26 am:

.....as I walked hand in hand with the new love of my life Kate,the reverberations of "Blaydon Races" subsided,the Newcastle fans accepting their fate,as they trudged along Bescot Crescent to their coaches,and me and Kate to my Marina 1.8 Sports.Kate looked at me,and seeing the absolute joy on my face,lovingly squeezed my hand,and asked "Ain't Newcastle any good then?"






By Shifnalsaddler (213.1.45.2) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 09:52 am:

1. Mart O Connor falling off his stretcher.
2. Rod McDonald fighting against Bury in '93.
3. Gary Pendrey trying to attack an oppo player, circa '84, rather than treating the injured Mark Rees. He threw the bucket at the player, then had no water left to treat Reesy.

By Shifnalsaddler (213.1.45.2) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 09:54 am:

Alternative top three
1. Byfields goal at Cardiff
2. George Andrews against Newcastle
3. Sumerfields at Anfield

By Neil Ravenscroft (213.48.83.132) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 11:00 am:

I'll go for Stoke City v Walsall, FA Cup third round, 1966. Won 2 - 0, despite only having 10 fit men, after McMorran was injured winning the free kick that led to the opening goal. Alan Clarke got the second from the spot.

By Jorge14 (195.93.49.12) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 11:26 am:

1) Cardiff - Words can't describe the feeling can they?

2) Man Utd away in the FA Cup. Ok we lost 5-1 but I was 9 and it was the year that I started going to every home game and going to Old Trafford and seeing Walsall put up a good fight and Boli scoring at the Walsall end was Fantastic. It's also worth saying that we were the first team to score at Old Trafford for two months. Also, before the game when the coach arrived and seeing Big Fat Jan squeezed into front seat of the coach!

3) Boli's hatrick vs. Southend/Getting promotion first time around.
Roger Boli was just quality. It probably would have got more coverage but it was the weekend that Princess Diana died so I'll forgive Sky Sports for that. Oldham at home was just a brilliant party atmosphere. When Chris Marsh scored you just knew that we were up, Marshy just had to have the final say in it all.

By Sonic (195.93.49.12) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 11:27 am:

The entire 98/99 season climaxing with the Oldham match and the scenes on the pitch after, are you watcing Manchester?

By hullsaddler (213.249.172.23) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 01:07 pm:

Ron Greens last minute penalty save at Bramhall Lane that saved us & sent Sheff Utd down

By jonny baracuda (195.93.49.12) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 04:09 pm:

Bobby Charlton having three shots and all of them landing on the old tip,beyond the Laundry End and over the railway line.

The girl announcing over the tannoy that "Walsall are winning two two, I'm sorry that sould be, Walsall are losing two two.Funny at the time she was in my class at school.

And the famous night the main stand blew away.

happy days

jonny

By Slovaksaadler (213.40.3.66) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 05:04 pm:

Slightly left of field but ...

1.) Igor Stimac kicking the streaker against West Ham in the cup

2.) Rod McDonald butting someone and throwing his shirt at the bench after being sent off

3.) Train back to Reading after Cardiff, hilarious!

By Bonder (195.92.194.18) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 05:10 pm:

Rambos bullet header into the bottom corner of Stokes net.

By ANother Saddler (213.122.34.234) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 06:27 pm:

I spose I should add that I'm doing this as a feature for a mate's web-site, so I'll no doubt be using some of these.

Another of my faves... Trevor Wood's heroics against Leeds in the cup in 1995. Great guy.

By cal's a saddler (81.131.80.190) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 06:50 pm:

Wiping the smirk off Sjoke's faces in the play off semi finals when the announcer at their place informed the fans they would be playing first division football the next season!!

By Bathsaddler (195.92.67.71) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 08:05 pm:

Walsall v Luton 1996-7, when we beat them 3-2 [1-0 up,2-1 down,3-2 winners!]. John Hodge was absolutely awesome that day. I have never seen such a ferocious display of wing play in 25 years of supporting the Saddlers. Poor old Mitchell Thomas [Luton's fullback at the time I think] did not know what day it was! The gate of 5,415 [including a full away end]seemed big at the time...



By reading saddler (81.6.225.7) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 09:39 pm:

driving back to reading after cardiff with my banners out my window

blackburn walsall this season im sorry i was gripped

away at portsmouth this season absolutley gripped also.

definitley the home match against oldham where we clinched promotion

The song Banks's on our shirts by matt stackhouse the words remain laminated on my wall.

By 4two_TSFC (195.93.49.12) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 11:46 pm:

The 0-0 draw with Bury under Nicholl.

After 2 sucsessive relegations and a stint in the basement it was great for me to see my first ever promotion as a Saddlers Fan.



By Neil Ravenscroft (62.172.127.2) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 08:49 am:

Walsall 4 Bristol Rovers 3, 9 minutes into injury time. Priceless!

By different stu (213.86.175.69) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 09:05 am:

walsall 8 - 4 Torquay (and at 3-3, they hit the post, ball rolled along the line, hit the other post and came out....)

and the first leg was good. really long drive to watch the game played in thick fog, where you could hardly see the halfway line!

marshys stepovers!!!



By Stevo (80.195.152.9) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 09:15 am:

Also - 4-3 win over Bury - Wayne Clark hatrick, and their team wouldn't sign the match ball - sour grapes! Great game, came back from 3-1 down as I remember.

By Holbeach Saddler (193.113.48.9) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 09:34 am:

2-1 against Bury 1967. 1 down with 90 seconds left. Bennett and Middleton scored as I recall.

Man U 1974 3-2
Swindon 5-1 .. we only had 5 shots in the game
CARDIFF

great

By Neil Ravenscroft (62.172.127.2) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 09:45 am:

I remember that game! Bennett sliced a shot from close range into the far corner and the Star said "he took his chance like an accomplished centre forward"!

By Ecu (218.102.23.25) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 09:56 am:

Oh, the memories...

Saddlers Kings of Europe

Walsall 8 Valkeakosken Haka 0
Walsall 8 St Gallen 0
(Walsall 0 Spartak Moscow 5)

Bring on Real Madrid!

When was that again?

By Doktor (193.61.96.249) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 11:49 am:

Not a great moment, but one to remember - Martin O'Conner being dropped off the stretcher and having to limp off whilst the stretcher bearers walked behind.

By Doktor (193.61.96.249) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 11:54 am:

Just noticed that that one has already been posted, so how about the power cut!

By Salop Saddler (213.78.106.146) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 12:14 pm:

Too many to list, though as mention earlier the 1967 game with Bury does stick in the mind. I think it was top v second if memory serves.

The four games against Villa back in the third division.

Kettering Town holding us to a draw in the FA Cup at Fellows park, with Big Ron Atkinson playing a blinder.

Bernie Wrights rampaging goal in the cup against an unbeatable Bournemouth side. (we beat them)

Beating runaway leaders Reading 6-0 in the league (how unhappy did Trevor Senior look that day!?)

...and all of those mentioned already. Oh what fun we've had over the years!!! Long may it continue.

By Chris Owen (217.205.220.2) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:06 pm:

I still remember a superb goal by Gary Childs in an otherwise run of the mill league match - got the ball on the right wing, cut in towards the centre and walloped a 20 yard plus curler into the top left of the net. Saw Boli's overhead kick goal, but for me, this one by Childs was on a par.

Fensaddler

By Ulster Saddler (212.3.176.14) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:18 pm:

Heres some for starters:
1. Don Penns peno at Sheff Utd to keep us up and Ronnies save
2. Winning away at Arsenal 2-1 in Milk Cup and then Bob Wilsons face on football focus the following Saturday interviewing Alan Buckley
3. Buckleys goal vs Huddersfield 79/80
4. Beating Newcastle and Man Utd in FA Cup
5. Cardiff
6. Beating a then 1st division Coventry 3-0 after losing home leg 2-1 in 84/85.
7. Not football related - but being 11 at the time, I will always remember Wigan away 79/80.
8. Huddersfield away 79/80 for atmosphere and away support.
9. Buckley scoring his 20th goal for the 5th consecutive season vs Lincoln one tuesday night at Fellows park. At the time he was one of only 6 players ever to achieve this.
10. 2-2 at Anfield
11. Home to Swansea one Tuesday night - shot straight at the keeper hit a divot and bounced right over his head.
12. A fan ran the length of the pitch one game at Fellows Park after Hereford to get at the away fans. Chased by police,he lost his bearings and ran straight in to the back of the net and fell over.
13. Beating Wolves 1-0 away with a Nicky Cross goal in the league cup. Being at School full of Wolves fans this was superb.
14. Those Bristol Rovers fans who stood in the pouring rain the night we beat them 6-0 (Ron Green in goal)refusing to move under cover.

Theres plenty more to come!!

By Chester Saddler (195.107.47.212) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:23 pm:

Cardiff, of course.

Bury away when we were promoted to Second Div. We had been starved of success for a long time and that felt massive at the time.

Play offs in 88 when David Kelly scored the hat-trick.

Stoke at home 98-99. Not really the same as the others but it was the first time that I really felt that we had a good chance of getting promoted. And that header by Andy Rammell was just great.

I'm sure there are many others but they are the ones which jump out as really great days when I was there.



By Tojo (62.8.115.165) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:26 pm:

Nick Athey's testimonial against Leeds United when Terry Yorath tried to halt a rampaging Bernie Wright.Bernie promptly flattened him and then just ran over him from head to foot - priceless. Yorath's red mist was such that he was substituted shortly afterwards.

By Tim Wilkes (213.2.51.198) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:35 pm:

George Andrews black and white striped swimming trunks that gradually appeared out the back of his shorts during every game.

By 4two_TSFC (195.93.49.12) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:38 pm:

1) Barry Blower and the action group stopping moves to Wolves and Blues.

2) Paul Taylor leaving Walsall FC

3) Once being brought by a Multi Millionaire (Ramsden) who planned to build a 16,000 capacity stadium surrounded by shopping malls looking all american on the current Bescot site? (does that count ?)

By Gurrole Gilbert (195.137.49.246) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:45 pm:

Fans climbing into the roof supports at the Rotherham quarter-final. The atmosphere at that game was the best I've ever been to.

David Kelly's backheel goal at Notts County in the playoff semi.

By machew (195.224.86.71) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 03:07 pm:

Haven't read all of this thread, so in danger of posting a repeat, the streaker against West Ham in the cup - no one was bothered about his first streak at half time so he just ran about for ages...

By Codsall Saddler (80.1.22.141) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 05:53 pm:

There are so many...

Beating Vale 2-1 with 10 men at their place in the early 70s

Buckley goal vs Bury - volley from 25 yds

Cardiff

Bury 0-0 to get promotion

Bristol Rovers 4-3, bomb scare, etc

Oldham win to get promotion

The cup runs, esp 3-2 vs Manure

A late entry, Junior's 'Jesus lives in Walsall' T shirt

By Neil Ravenscroft (213.48.84.105) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 09:45 pm:

Buckley's goal v Huddersfield in the 4th Div promotion season - best ever Saddlers goal.

By Stu (195.92.67.65) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 10:27 pm:

1)David Kelly's hat-trick in the Play Off final replay at Fellows Park. Pure joy...

2)4-4 draw at Watford in the FAC, it was my first ever away game.

3)Lincoln away during Graydon's first season. That was the day that promotion became there for the taking and no longer do we have to go to places like Lincoln.

By 4two_TSFC (195.93.49.12) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 10:31 pm:

Machew, an update on that streaker.

he came on once.......got chucked out.

When the gates opened at the end.....he came back in again.

I remember reading sometime later that guy commited suicide.

By JPD (203.18.34.5) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 03:57 am:

Can someone check that Bury game in 1967 - I thought it was Colin Taylor with 2 late goals?

By Richard Hall (146.227.1.9) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 09:03 am:

1. Bristol City fan getting chucked out by our brave West Mids Police within seconds of entering the ground for chucking a warm-up ball into the away end in 95/96.

2. Mark Rees' superb volley against Northampton (home) in 79/80 - sorry Neil this was the best goal of that season!

3. Kyle Lightbourne's winner versus Scunny in the Nicholl promotion season - as DF knows, this was the most important goal of the 90s. (The second most important being Charlie Palmer's equaliser, and what a celebration!)

By Neil Ravenscroft (62.172.127.2) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 09:30 am:

Mark Rees getting sent off for a second yellow, when, that same season again, with us losing to Newport (who?) at home and the ball was sailing over his head for a throw, jumped up, caught it, put it down for the throw in and promptly got booked for deliberate hand ball. The ref should have been lynched, but still the stuff of legend!

By Chris Owen (217.205.220.2) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 10:00 am:

Almost everything Rees did is the stuff of legend. Its been mentioned on this board before about the time he came on as sub, clattered one of the opposition, and promptly got a straight red.

Fensaddler

By Cannock (213.48.83.74) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 11:08 am:

Bristol City away - play offs. Super Kelly and get your tits out - slapper.

Stockport away - Hurricane Edgeley - everyone there will never forget it. Tremendous