Football was better in the past: 1974-75

Dave Mackay, and not Brian Clough as many wrongly believe, guided Derby County to their second league title in the space of four years. Can you imagine in modern times a provincial team like Derby overcoming strong competition from Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Everton, Stoke City, Manchester City, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough in a title race going right down to the wire? It really seems like an age away, doesn’t it?

Everton lost just eight games during the season, which made them the least losing of any side in the league that season, indeed Billy Bingham’s men were considered favourites to take the title for the first time since 1970, but a dismal end of season run-in cost the toffees league glory. There was also disappointment over at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United’s season of promise ended without even a UEFA Cup berth (this would be as good as it got for the Blades until the early ‘90s, as within a few seasons they were down in the Fourth Division (now league 2)).

There was fairytale stuff, at least briefly, for Carlisle United, who were in the First Division for the first time and who topped the league three games into the season. They were unable to keep up their winning ways, however, and were relegated in bottom place. Joining the Cumbrians in the drop zone were Luton Town and Chelsea. Other excitement was happening in Yorkshire, when Brian Clough of all people was named as Don Revie’s successor at Leeds United, but he left after just 44 days in charge, replaced by Jimmy Armfield.

Down in the second division (now the championship), Manchester United had kept faith in manager Tommy Docherty after their relegation from the top flight the previous season, and he rewarded them with the Second Division championship to return them to the top flight at the first time of asking. Docherty had built a young team containing players like Jim Holton, Stuart Pearson and Steve Coppell. Meanwhile, FIFA lifted George Best’s worldwide ban from football, although Docherty wasn’t prepared to give him another chance at Old Trafford, so he joined Stockport County on a free transfer. They were joined in the top flight by Aston Villa (who also won the League Cup) and Norwich City.

Millwall, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday were the three unlucky clubs who were unable to avoid the drop from the Second Division. In the space of a few years, Sheffield Wednesday, having been a strong First Division side in the 1960s, had slumped to the lower divisions, as would the city rivals Sheffield United

In the Third Division (now League 1), Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Charlton Athletic took the three promotion places. Going the other way were Bournemouth, Tranmere Rovers, Watford and Huddersfield Town. This relegation meant that Huddersfield would be playing Fourth Division football for the first time in their history, also becoming the first former English championship winners to do so. Only a few seasons earlier they had been comfortably in the First Division and 50 years earlier they had been one of the strongest sides in England, indeed they were the first team to win a hat-trick of titles.

The Fourth Division (now League 2) saw Mansfield Town, Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United and Chester City gain the four promotion spots. For Chester it was the dream come true: They had finally managed promotion after 44 years of league membership, narrowly outdoing Lincoln on the old system of goal average. Scunthorpe United, who had narrowly missed out on top flight football during the 1960s, were not having such luck in the mid-seventies, finding themselves bottom of the league, although they retained their league status after being re-elected.

An exciting year for the FA Cup culminated in an all-London final. John Lyall began his management career in some style, guiding West Ham to cup glory over Fulham. A key player in West Ham’s victory was the 19-year-old goalkeeper Mervyn Day, who went on to earn the PFA Young Player of the Year award for his achievements. On the losing side was the former West Ham legend Bobby Moore, who at 34 was making his swansong in English football, going on to finish his illustrious career in the USA.

Ron Saunders’ Aston Villa tasted League Cup success against Norwich in the same season that they won promotion to the First Division, a renaissance after seasons of suffering that had seen them slide in to the Third Division. Despite Villa’s triumph, the League Cup campaign is best remembered for the remarkable exploits of Fourth Division Chester, who reached the semi-finals after toppling giants Leeds United and Newcastle United. They only lost their enthralling semi-final to Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate in a remarkable lineup of semi-finalists, none of which were in the top division. Besides Chester’s superb achievements, Manchester United were in their solitary post-war season outside the top flight, a division they shared with their conquerors Norwich City and Aston Villa. Perhaps even more extraordinarily, all four of these clubs won promotion at the end of the season.

In European football Leeds United’s curse continued. Their 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich left a bitter taste in the mouth, largely down to refereeing controversy. When Peter Lorimer’s goal against Bayern Munich was disallowed (with the score 0-0), Leeds United fans ran riot in the Parc des Princes in Paris, leaving a trail of destruction behind them. The incident saw Leeds United banned from European competition for three years just as their golden era was coming to an inglorious end.

Colin Todd won the PFA Player of the Year award to add to the league championship medal he collected with Derby County. Cup final hero Mervyn Day collected the PFA Young Player of the Year award along with an FA Cup winner’s medal with West Ham. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s experienced midfielder Ian Callaghan was voted FWA Player of the Year, despite failing to win any major honours with his club.

It was the kind of season we can only dream about these days. Dave Mackay had helped Derby County win the league championship in his first full season as manager. Bobby Robson continued to raise standards at Ipswich, almost guiding them to the league championship. Elsewhere, John Lyall had an excellent first season as West Ham manager, guiding them to FA Cup glory. Ron Saunders guided Aston Villa to promotion and League Cup success, while Tommy Docherty helped Manchester United reestablish their First Division status at the first time of asking.