SUBSTITUTE GOODS – the FA Cup Fifth Round of 1975-76 neilsambrook@btinternet.com March 4, 2026 0 Comments FA Cup Round Five 1975-76: John Richards comes off the bench for Wolves against Charlton to score a hat-trick and create history. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Derby County, John Bond, Malcolm Allison, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Stoke City, Sunderland, Wolves
CRYSTAL TOPS & ALLISON – the FA Cup Fourth Round of 1975-76 neilsambrook@btinternet.com February 11, 2026 0 Comments FA Cup Round Four 1975/76 – TAYLOR MADE: Peter inspires third division Crystal Palace to a shock Elland Road win over Leeds. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Liverpool, Malcolm Allison, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Stoke City
BELL OF THE BALL: Colin Bell 1946-2021 neilsambrook@btinternet.com January 6, 2021 There is no obvious latter-day equivalent of Colin Bell – whose mix of awareness and ability produced an unerring level of excellence. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Colin Bell, England, Joe Mercer, Malcolm Allison, Manchester City, Sir Alf Ramsey
THE TIMES THEY WERE AMAZING – England v Scotland 1967-1970…….. neilsambrook@btinternet.com August 13, 2020 ENGLAND v SCOTLAND 1967-70: A landmark victory apiece, dazzling passages of play and arguably the greatest save ever seen RANTS & REFLECTIONS Alan Ball, Billy Bremner, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Celtic, Denis Law, England, George Best, Gordon Banks, Jack Charlton, Jimmy Greaves, Malcolm Allison, Manchester United, Martin Peters, Scotland, Sir Alf Ramsey
POLE POSITION – England qualify for the 1974 World Cup……… neilsambrook@btinternet.com October 16, 2019 Beating Poland with a last-gasp winner forces headlines to be amended from ‘Pole-Axed’ to ‘Poles-Axed.’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bobby Moore, Don Revie, Elton John, England, John Bond, Leeds United, Liverpool FC, Malcolm Allison, Martin Chivers, Martin Peters, Norman Hunter, Peter Shilton, Roy and Shirley Sambrook, Scotland, Sir Alf Ramsey, Wembley Stadium
MOORE THAN A FEELING – ‘BOBBY’ documentary review: neilsambrook@btinternet.com August 25, 2018 Bobby Moore’s cold-shoulder treatment at the hands of The FA in the years after he finished playing was shameful. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bobby, Bobby Moore, Fulham, Harry Redknapp, John Bond, Jonathan Pearce, Malcolm Allison, Ron Greenwood, Sir Geoff Hurst, Tina Moore, West Ham United, World Cup 1966, World Cup 1970
ALF KNEW WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT England Expected – Ramsey Delivered neilsambrook@btinternet.com June 14, 2018 ‘For most of his reign Ramsey was a square peg/square hole man – the balance of the team taking care of itself with players in their right positions.’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Gordon Banks, John Bond, Malcolm Allison, Martin Peters, Ron Greenwood, Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Bobby Charlton
MY WORD IS MY (John) BOND neilsambrook@btinternet.com December 22, 2017 JOHN BOND – swayed opinion……… RANTS & REFLECTIONS Brian Clough, John Bond, Malcolm Allison, Ron Atkinson, Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce