West Brom legend pitches his message to Alex Ferguson and co
ALBION legend Tony Brown tells Chris Lepkowski why Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and David Moyes should consider themselves lucky.
Imagine horses running around on the Wembley pitch. Lots of them.
It was the 1970 League Cup Final between Albion and Manchester City. And it was about to be played just after the Horse of the Year show had been held at the national stadium.
What would Mssrs Moyes, Ferguson and Wenger make of it all?
For rival managers Alan Ashman and Joe Mercer there were no excuses. Private grumbles maybe. But there was no bleating to the media. Dignity remained paramount back then.
How bad was the pitch? TV pictures show a mud heap, with a famous photo of the FA Cup Final, held just a few weeks later, showing pigeons plucking the remaining bits of grass out of a mud beach while Leeds and Chelsea kick lumps out of each other in the background.
Albion legend Tony Brown admits the pitch in the League Cup Final was the worst he'd ever played on.
And he feels that FA Cup semi-finalist managers should count their blessings following their rather predictable complaints.
"I had to laugh when I heard their comments because last weekend was like a bowling green compared to what we had," said the 'Bomber', who remains Albion's all-time appearance and goalscorer.
"I don't remember games too easily but I do recall that match against City. We had rain and some bright spark had put the Horse of the Year Show on a few days before what was meant to be a showpiece football match.
"No one complained though - we just got on with it. The managers didn't moan, the players didn't moan. It was the same for both sides, as it would have been last weekend in the FA Cup semi-finals.
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