Classic Match

BARNES PARLANE

GRAHAM E GRAY FLYNN HARRIS

F GRAY HART CHERRY HIRD

LUKIC

Swansea City 5 In the spirit of LLL Leeds United 1 magazine, Jon Howe Football League Division One takes a retro look at Saturday August 29, 1981, 3pm some of our most Vetch Field memorable moments. Attendance 23,489 Goals Charles (5), Parlane (26), Latchford (46), Latchford (50), Latchford (55), Curtis (70) Referee S Bates (Bristol)

Swansea (4-4-2): Davies, Robinson, Hadziabdic, Rajkovic, Irwin, Mahoney, Curtis, James R, James L, Charles, Latchford.

Ah yes, the first day of the season... We started badly then? The packed ground  Frank Gray Sun, new signings and optimism? Well, was bouncing and we had to stay strong  Peter Barnes two out of three isn’t bad. It was a baking in those early exchanges, but we conceded  Carl Harris hot day, we had Allan Clarke’s record after five minutes. Curtis crossed from  Paul Hart signing Peter Barnes and the returning the left, Latchford dummied the ball and Frank Gray making their debuts, but the Jeremy Charles struck an untidy finish optimism lasted precisely five minutes, and passed the stumbling Lukic. The roof came by the end of the game was pretty much a off the place, but, to be fair, we responded dirty word. pretty well. How did the new signings do? Barnes was I’m told it could have been a different completely anonymous – he was played story? Yes, definitely. We built up some up front with Derek Parlane but barely had pressure, and on 26 minutes Hird fed Carl a touch. Frank Gray must be wondering Harris on the right and his deep cross was how “Sniffer” managed to persuade him met at the back post by the unmarked back to Elland Road. A year ago Gray Parlane, who buried a diving header had just won the European Cup with past Dai Davies. Five minutes later Harris Nottingham Forest, but today was a crossed again and Arthur Graham rose Tragic massive comedown from that and he was brilliantly and thundered a header against Number lead a merry dance by the effervescent the post with the keeper nowhere. If that , who reveled in embarrassing had gone in we could have been sat here Goals conceded to his former club. On this evidence it’s going sipping Veuve Clicquot and toasting a 3Latchford, points lost to be a tough season. possible assault on European qualification, under the new system. instead we’re drinking cold tea and facing up to the reality of a relegation battle. We didn’t start the second half well, either, presumably? You could say that. Chuffed with our response to going a goal down we seemed to be still self-congratulating while Swansea set about humiliating us with an awesome second half performance. Just 46 seconds had elapsed when a long ball from Robbie James wasn’t dealt with by Paul Hart and Bob Latchford hit a stunning left foot volley in to the top corner. Ten dizzying minutes later the burly striker fortunately, amid emotional exhaustion, had a hat-trick. On 50 minutes he stole in the game petered out in timid fashion. front of our dozing defence and slotted How were the Leeds fans? Packed into home at the near post from a Robinson the terracing behind the goal they were cross, then on 55 minutes he headed home understandably shell-shocked, but still unchallenged from Leighton James right vocal right to the sorry end. However, at 5-1 wing free-kick. a few decided to launch missiles at John That wasn’t the end of the torture, was Lukic in front of them, and it just about it? No. Alan Curtis had been a nuisance summed up the disenchantment of this all afternoon, and was clearly intent on trip into the Valleys. showing Allan Clarke what a mistake he Best Leeds player? You mean “least bad” had made in cutting his Leeds career short Leeds player, right? Carl Harris and Arthur less than a year ago. Under manager John Graham caused some problems, Eddie Gray Toshack, Curtis has rediscovered his top had some nice touches in an unfamiliar form and he was unplayable today. On 70 central midfield role, but Brian Flynn minutes he broke on the right and turned probably shaded it. He worked tirelessly inside out, before making to stem the tide in the second half, room and launching an unstoppable shot and without him it could have been past Lukic into the top corner for the fifth much worse. goal. Curtis leapt with joy, like a five-year- old on his birthday, and sparked a minor In a nutshell? Let’s start again next week, pitch invasion. With 20 minutes left to eh lads? play there was genuine concern as to what irreparable damage Swansea could inflict on our shattered confidence, but Follow Jon Howe on Twitter @jonhowe1971 68 69