‘Bobby Moore tamed Pele in the World Cup but had his work cut out against big Sammy Morgan’
Vale made a West Ham side containing World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore fight all the way at Vale Park, writes PHIL SHERWIN in an article first printed in 2010
THE Vale had hit a bit of a sticky patch in the league, winning only one of their previous seven Third Division encounters. But a cup tie against West Ham was much anticipated. There was no resting of star players then, and the Hammers brought their full line-up to Vale Park, including Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking, Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson and Billy Bonds.
In front of their best crowd for nine years, Vale went on to the attack straight away and a header by Bill Summerscales was cleared off the line.
Frank Lampard, whose namesake son later played for Chelsea, was then forced to clear the ball over his own bar for a corner.
Colin Tartt took the flag kick and Northern Ireland international Sammy Morgan headed against the bar, but when Bob Mountford netted from the rebound the referee disallowed it for pushing.
Vale continued to give their all, going close on a number of occasions, but West Ham scored the winner in the 61st minute.
A long free-kick by Bobby Moore was hoisted up to the far post, where Clyde Best knocked it down for Pat Holland to drill the ball home with a half-volley.
The game produced record receipts for Vale at the time of £8,600.
However, the game was held before crowd segregation had been introduced, and three fans were stabbed on the Bycars End, with more than 30 being ejected.
After the game, Hammers manager Ron Greenwood said Vale were over-physical, kicked them off the park and that his players were lucky to come out of the game alive.
Vale manager Gordon Lee blew his top at this, claiming his players were just enthusiastic, and that full-back John Brodie had a sore leg afterwards from taking all the free-kicks given away by West Ham.
The Valiants finished sixth in the league that season, as did West Ham, whose cup exploits ended in the next round at Hull City.
Ian Clarke, a Vale fan for more than 40 years, from Sneyd Green, has chosen this week’s Memory Match. He says: “I was really looking forward to the game and seeing Bobby Moore play on our turf, but disappointed that Brian Horton was injured.
“At that time it was a case of if Horton played well, so did the Vale.
“It was billed as a contrast of styles, Vale’s being uncompromising against West Ham’s flowing football. In those days I used to stand in the Lorne Street paddock, but for this game I had a seat in the Railway Stand. I also had a lift from a mate instead of walking from Sneyd Green, and both of those were like luxuries in the 1970s.
“It was the first really big game I had been to and the sight of more than 20,000 fans on
the terraces still sticks in my mind. My hopes were raised when Mountford scored but soon dashed as the referee pointed for a free-kick instead.
“Bobby Moore may have tamed Pele in the World Cup three years before, but he had his work cut out against big Sammy Morgan.
“The real star of the game was Tommy Mclaren though, who gave the Hammers’ sub, Clive Charles, a real run-around after he came on for Lampard.
“The least Vale deserved was a replay, but Holland scored to scupper our hopes. After the game I had a lift back, but the traffic was so bad it might have been quicker to walk.
“Although they won, Ron Greenwood had a right go at Vale afterwards.
“I had a lot of respect for Gordon Lee, getting the team up from Division Four into the top six of Division Three on limited resources. It was a different era in those days. I often used to go to the Vale cafe for my lunch from school and the players were usually in there, having fry-ups and smoking.”
Bill Summerscales was the centre-half that afternoon. He says: “For a local lad such as myself, it was a great occasion to play against a team like West Ham in front of over 20,000 fans.
“I know what Ron Greenwood said afterwards, but all we did was to get stuck into them. We weren’t going to let them have their own way were we?
“We acquitted ourselves very well and were unlucky with the disallowed goal, given for pushing against me. Bob Mountford, sadly no longer with us, never did let me forget it. In those days we used to have two teams in five-a-sides in training, one in red that played it hard and always won, and the others in claret and blue who entertained but never won. That’s why the players really wanted West Ham in the cup draw. It wasn’t to be, but it wasn’t for lack of effort.”
Summerscales joined Vale for £400 from Leek Town in 1970 and went on to score six goals in 145 senior appearances before leaving in 1975 for Rochdale.
He also played for Stafford Rangers and Newcastle United – the one in Australia – and was an academy coach at Stoke.
Tony Lacey played at left-back. He says: “I think we murdered them. We put them under a lot of pressure.
“Bobby Moore was a tremendous professional, but that day he seemed to kick it out of the ground more than anybody.
“I can’t remember
Brooking playing, he was that quiet.
Unfortunately,
I gave the free-kick away that they scored from. A disappointing result, but I had a great time in my five years at the Vale.”
Lacey joined Vale on loan from
Stoke City in 1970 and then made the move permanent for £2,500.
He joined Rochdale in 1975 and also played for Stafford Rangers before becoming a coach.
Port Vale: Boswell, Brodie, Lacey, Summerscales, Cross, Mountford, Williams, Goodwin, Morgan, Tartt, Mclaren (Gough).
West Ham: Ferguson, Mcdowell, Lampard (Charles), Bonds, Taylor, Moore, Tyler, Best, Holland, Brooking, Robson.
Attendance: 20,619.