The Class of 1972/73

[AlonzoDrake]

Sadly, the FA Cup ain't what it used to be! The media-hyped 2--2 draw yesterday at Spotland fades into insignificance when compared to the Rovers feats of 44 years ago, when anchored at the foot of D4 we outplayed Liverpool at Anfield in Round 3 of the FA Cup. We nearly caused one of the great upsets in FA Cup history that day. This photograph, published in the Football League Review in 1972, shows seven of the Rovers that graced Anfield on January 5, 1974 -- Book, Wignall, Irvine, Kitch, Elwiss, Uzelac and Brookes. Some good players here, even though this specific side surprisingly struggled in D4 in 72/73 -- and the following season they had to seek re-election despite their Anfield heroics. Kitch and Elwiss could have walked into any D2 side, and Rabjohn, Moore and Haselden had only recently played at that level. Brookes, Branfoot and Uzelac were uncompromising and effective defenders, and winger Usher had remarkable speed. Tireless midfielder Archie Irvine was one of my favorite players of the period, and I recall he had a blinder that day at Anfield. Around us Liverpool supporters were urging Shanks to sign him up! Happy memories.

[roversdude]

Great post Alonzo my first Rovers team

[Donnywolf]

Exactly AD ! The Kitch lob in the last Minute would have created (imo) the biggest Cup upset ever and one which would still be the yardstick to this day

92nd v 1st (and they played their "real" Team) - and all Goals scored by Donny Players (Keegan 2) and of course it was one of those "African Violet" Games as well

[roversdude]

Loved that kit

[Herbert Anchovy]

Nice write up Alonzo! Genuine question though; if the players were good enough, how come we were bottom of Div 4? Was the manager poor? Did we suffer from injuries that season? It’s a bit before my time and I’m not being a smart arse but it’s honestly a genuine question out of curiosity!

[Donnywolf]

Nice write up Alonzo! Genuine question though; if the players were good enough, how come we were bottom of Div 4? Was the manager poor? Did we suffer from injuries that season? It’s a bit before my time and I’m not being a smart arse but it’s honestly a genuine question out of curiosity!

I remember the game so well and of course we were 92nd - and I had not thought "ah why were we so crap" with such good Players ?

We won 10 at home and 7 draws and only 2 away and drew 4 I think for 35 Points and safety ! We had been in Div 4 for 2 Seasons (this was the third) and would stay another 7 or 8 till we went up in 81/2

Sorry Stattos - may not be dead right - and will await Alonzo as well as he is an open Rovers book !

[Herman Hessian]

...it was one of those "African Violet" Games as well

could really do with a colour pic of this fabled kit - anyone ?

or a clear black and white image that can be colourised ?

[Herman Hessian]

presumably this shows more of the players who took part...

[Donnywolf]

...it was one of those "African Violet" Games as well

could really do with a colour pic of this fabled kit - anyone ?

or a clear black and white image that can be colourised ?

I dont have anything but it was nothing too flash. Just African Violet Shirts and Black Shorts - in fact I dont even remember a Badge come to think of it

Even the smallest Player looked physically "big" in that shirt - and I have voted for some "homage" to it every Season when we vote for the Second Kit

Have seen a Photo or two on here usually when we discuss this game so will have a look

[Donnywolf]

Best I can do - but very poor

I think this was the Anfield game and not the Replay which of course was played in the afternoon to avoid using Floodlights !

[roversdude]

DW I always vote the same just in the hope !!!

[IDM]

I had the violet shirt design on the shortlist for the away kit last season, but only got 9% of the vote.. never mind..

[DN8ROVER]

Looks good

[Herman Hessian]

couple of good 'uns off the PopularStand blog site:





the white-shorted keegan must be from the replay - rovers playing in african violet and black again ????

[Herman Hessian]

keegan scoring at anfield:

[Donnywolf]

One thing I always remember about KK was after one of the goals at the Kop end he leapt high and I mean HIGH into the air and arched his body backwards

I dont know why it made such an impact but maybe it did on others too !

[BillyStubbsTears]

It is bizarre to think that a team that had Kitchen, Bren, Elwiss and Curran up front could have been 92nd in the football league.

At a guess, I’d say that we’ve never had 4 front players in the team at the same time who went on to careers as strong as those 4.

Edit:
According to Wikipedia, they were transferred for a combined sum of £190k. At a time when the British transfer record was £350k. In today’s terms that’d be like a team at the bottom of L2 having a front line worth £30million.

[idler]

They were all at the start of their career though Billy. They certainly realised their potential unlike some since that flattered to deceive.

[Campsall rover]

Looks good

That has to be one of the worst shirts in football history.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Fair point Idler.

A bit like the team containing Deane, Rankine, Brevett and Raven finishing bottom of Div 3 in 87/88.

[idler]

Yes Billy, you could tell those lads were good players but we just didn't have quite enough collectively to turn narrow losses into draws and draws into narrow wins.
We weren't outplayed, just out muscled or outfought by stronger more experienced players.
Even though we lost that final first leg to Arsenal heavily the football that our lads played was great to watch. Kevin Campbell was the big difference that night. That cup run was the one bright light that season.

[Tiddysdad]

in the first picture the team listing says Mike Kitchen.

[RoversDave]

in the first picture the team listing says Mike Kitchen.

Yes, I think he is Michael Peter Kitchen.