the robson years

Undersoil heating enabled this rescheduled match (Arsenal were due to meet Swindon Town in the League Cup final on Saturday 15 March) to go ahead on a bitterly cold evening. Town were inspired by a Ray Crawford goal - his 17th of the season and, as it turned out, his last for the club - and a brilliant second from John O`Rourke, who launched himself in front of Peter Simpson to head Chris Barnard`s cross past Bob Wilson. Arsenal had already kept twelve clean sheets at Highbury that season and had eyes on the title. Town moved up to twelfth, and a happy Bobby Robson was grinning from ear to ear as he left the ground - it was also his 36th birthday! More

Town agreed to bring this game forward from Easter Monday. Charlie Woods replaced the injured Frank Brogan and the fit-again Colin Viljoen was named as substitute. Referee Jim Finney had to call for a red ball during a second half blizzard. Bobby Robson`s first defeat, and Leeds took over at the top of the table. More

The gates were locked well before kick off with a record crowd inside the ground, topping the 30,649 for the 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Good Friday 1962, and thousands more outside. Mick McNeil deputised for Jefferson, sent off against Chelsea on Boxing Day. George Best was fortunate to remain on the pitch after landing a punch on Billy Baxter during a stormy second period. Just as it seemed the game would end goalless, Tony Dunne lobbed an innocuous looking Crawford through ball into his own net. Robson and his team received a deserved standing ovation at the end of the game and Town moved up to 16th place - one above United. More