Highlights of the FA Cup fifth round tie between Luton Town and Arsenal from February 1986. Taken from ITV's The Big Match (don't have full episode sorry).
I was at this game, we drew 0-0 at Highbury in the replay before winning the tie 3-0 on the second replay at Kenilworth Road. The era saw one of the finest Luton sides of all time.
Of course, Steve Williams went on to play for us (Luton) but never really pulled up any trees. He did go on to be a successful property Investor. Unfortunately, Marc North died very young, if I recall, he was also a good goalkeeper which was a useful asset in those days with just one or two subs permitted.
The replay was one of the worst games I ever saw. The pitch was frozen and the players could hardly stay on their feet. I left after 90 mins. Didn’t bother with extra time.
Football had a charm and a more down to earth atmosphere feel to the games in this era....now everything is so money obsessed and corporate.....miss those times
@paul smith Now it's the players that are the thugs! a lot of cheating, diving & overpaid prima donna's in the modern game today. the modern game is a gentrified pile of fucking rubbish!
100% correct, it's a totally alien game to what it was like many years ago,... It was more organic and rough round the edges , which I loved,.....now it's a money obsessed monster,....that bites anyone who loved all the old long forgotten grassroots traditions of football.
paul smith I agree violence was a problem and although still present it was getting a bit better by 1985 but I think the football itself was better no falling over every time an opposing player came within three feet and then rolling around like they've been shot and very little arguing with the ref. Also whilst there was a hooligan element at football matches at that time in retrospect it was a small minority, the vast majority were proper fans with a real interest in the game not like today were much of the ground is filled with people on corporate jolly who leave at half time and have no interest in the game at all. Last time I went to Arsenal for a game, which was an evening game about nine years ago as I now live in France I would say about a third of the stadium was empty by half way through the second half.
Proper football. And the last season that Luton had that seated stand that ran the length of the pitch before they changed it for those silly executive boxes.
The pitch gave Luton a bit of an advantage for sure. Luton would allow the away team to train on the pitch a day or two before the match then as soon as they were gone the ground staff would start watering the pitch which would completely change the way it played on the match day ).
@@philnewstead5388 something like that yes . Miss those days i remember us as in Sheffield Wednesday playing Everton 1988 went to a 3rd replay we was 5-0 down at half time 🙄
Disasters, deaths, crumbling stadiums, hooliganism rife, our clubs banned from Europe. I'm not sure these endless 'football was better back then' comments really stack up when you take all that into account.
I was at this game, we drew 0-0 at Highbury in the replay before winning the tie 3-0 on the second replay at Kenilworth Road. The era saw one of the finest Luton sides of all time.
Of course, Steve Williams went on to play for us (Luton) but never really pulled up any trees. He did go on to be a successful property Investor. Unfortunately, Marc North died very young, if I recall, he was also a good goalkeeper which was a useful asset in those days with just one or two subs permitted.
... replay was a different game, backs to the wall and Town did well to get them back to The Kenny again. Great days.
... my feet were freezing at Highbury. Snowy Clock End.
The replay was one of the worst games I ever saw. The pitch was frozen and the players could hardly stay on their feet. I left after 90 mins. Didn’t bother with extra time.
Football had a charm and a more down to earth atmosphere feel to the games in this era....now everything is so money obsessed and corporate.....miss those times
Chris Evans well said. I won’t watch the modern game you can’t tackle for one, the crowd sit there nice and quietly what crap.
@paul smith Now it's the players that are the thugs! a lot of cheating, diving & overpaid prima donna's in the modern game today.
the modern game is a gentrified pile of fucking rubbish!
100% correct, it's a totally alien game to what it was like many years ago,... It was more organic and rough round the edges , which I loved,.....now it's a money obsessed monster,....that bites anyone who loved all the old long forgotten grassroots traditions of football.
paul smith I agree violence was a problem and although still present it was getting a bit better by 1985 but I think the football itself was better no falling over every time an opposing player came within three feet and then rolling around like they've been shot and very little arguing with the ref. Also whilst there was a hooligan element at football matches at that time in retrospect it was a small minority, the vast majority were proper fans with a real interest in the game not like today were much of the ground is filled with people on corporate jolly who leave at half time and have no interest in the game at all. Last time I went to Arsenal for a game, which was an evening game about nine years ago as I now live in France I would say about a third of the stadium was empty by half way through the second half.
@Athelstan Edwardsson I know!! 😂😂
Proper football. And the last season that Luton had that seated stand that ran the length of the pitch before they changed it for those silly executive boxes.
Mr Kipling and still no one has been jailed for those embarrassing hideous plots in things.
Amazing to see Martin Keown, an invincible in 2004, playing here.
The pitch gave Luton a bit of an advantage for sure. Luton would allow the away team to train on the pitch a day or two before the match then as soon as they were gone the ground staff would start watering the pitch which would completely change the way it played on the match day ).
Yeah, could be very sandy and "grippy". First game of the season, vs Forest, it like a beach. Once watered it was a skid pan.
My first away game . One of the few games on because of the snow. Rare all ticket game then.
I was in the Oak rd end that day. Great atmosphere . Then went to Highbury for the replay and back in the Oak rd for the 3-0 2nd replay.
Love it. Was in the Oak Road that day. But look at the shorts.
Kenny Dalglish really liked these pitches.
I played on Preston north end pitch as s teenager omg it was horrible how the ball wud Bounce cos of the turf.....
Replay Tuesday night those where the days no waiting around like today no international breaks cup games could have 2/ 3 replays back in the day.
Lord Loxley I remember Arsenal having I think seven replays against Sheffield Wednesday.
@@philnewstead5388 something like that yes . Miss those days i remember us as in Sheffield Wednesday playing Everton 1988 went to a 3rd replay we was 5-0 down at half time 🙄
Disasters, deaths, crumbling stadiums, hooliganism rife, our clubs banned from Europe. I'm not sure these endless 'football was better back then' comments really stack up when you take all that into account.
Those artificial pitches should never have been allowed. Good game, mind.
Their shorts are too short... disturbing to watch
You cant see their genitalia, whats the problem
Luton town = littlewoods cup loollll
Astroturf ftl.
How were these plastic pitches ever allowed?
No way that pitch should have been allowed
Why?