The Big Match Revisited 70s football vs today

[hstripes]

ITV4 6pm-7pm they're showing reruns of ITVs The Big Match from the 70s. Caught a few and the difference from today's top flight are massive.

First thing that strikes is the state of the pitches. Almost all muddy quagmires.

The quality of the football is far lower - lower than League 1 now. The best players stand out by a mile in a way they don't in today's top flight. Case in point: Alan Ball for Arsenal in a woefully low quality North London derby on mud - class, quality flicks and touches, every pass finding it's mark. Head and shoulders above the rest (though not in height).

Fitness levels are much poorer, yes only 1 sub and muddy pitches, but some of the players are out on their feet at the end of matches.

But (yes I know they're only highlights) the entertainment value for me is much higher. No slow-paced, dull, possession football. Harem, scarem, looking to get the ball forward, without being long ball, and trying to score at every opportunity.

And the crowd compared to today, louder, more raucous and intimidating. No replica tops and everyone seemingly dressed in brown.

[DonnyNoel]

I love watching some of these and no matter how many I've seen I always do a double take the first time a keeper picks up a back pass. The pitches must have made the game so much harder, even a 10 yard pass had to be played a few inches in the air.

You're right about the quality players standing out. Trevor Brooking featured in one the other day and he was playing the game years ahead of his time.

[Bentley Bullet]

The fitness levels are incomparable nowadays. The days of having a fag at halftime are long gone. I once saw a 70's picture of Goalkeeper John Osborne smoking a fag during a game!

It looks like walking football back then compared to now!

[SydneyRover]

I remember my first ever football match at Belle Vue, all my football normally consisted of was match of the day maybe and the FA cup. We were not a sporting family, to that point I was the first person ever to go to a match.

An evening match, very dark, I went with a friend of the family and his son, I'm guessing I must have been around 9 or 10. Flat caps as far as the eye could see, I don't remember anything of the game except the little yellow flashes in the crowd as people lit their fags.

[Axholme Lion]

Seventies football was great. The whole experience was streets ahead of the boring drivel it has now become. No need to buy tickets up front, standing up where you want, no busy body stewards, great atmospheres. Sky and the PL have killed our game.

[Herbert Anchovy]

I enjoy watching it too. I don’t think that it’s any better or worse though. Just different.

I tend to avoid generational comparisons though if I can help it as it’s easy to look back with rose tinted specs. After all, if I had a quid for every time I walked out of a dull game in the 70’s and 80’s I’d be a very rich man!