The Play-Offs (Part Two): 1987-1992
The play-offs were re-introduced to the Football League almost a century after the ‘test matches’ of the 1890s. The measure was agreed at a League meeting in December 1985 as part of a package of compromise measures to prevent a ‘Super League’ breakaway of the First Division clubs. Initially the play-offs were proposed to run…
The Netherlands: Foreign Players in the Football League – Part Four
Another look at Dutch players in the Football League during the 1980s, with the expert help of Jan Roskott: Johannes Franciscus ‘Hans’ van Breukelen – Nottingham Forest 1982-84 He was an up and coming keepers talent, very outspoken and Mr Positivo as he was called. He started his career at FC Utrecht where he was…
The Netherlands: Foreign Players in the Football League – Part Three
Jan Roskott continues a series looking in-depth at the Dutch players in the Football League during the 1980s. Franciscus Johannes ‘Frans’ Thijssen – Ipswich Town 1979-83 / Nottingham Forest 1983 Thijssen was a Gordon Strachan or Xavi type playmaker. Silent Frans, they called him. He talked with his feet. A very gifted passer of the…
The Netherlands: Foreign Players in the Football League – Part Two
Continuing an in-depth look at the Dutch players in the Football League between 1978 and 1992, with the help of Jan Roskott: Fransiscus Leonardus Albertus ‘Frans’ Koenen – Newcastle United (1980-81) All I know is that he moved to Newcastle from NEC Nijmegen on a two-year deal. He was a winger (currently football coach in amateurs)…
The Netherlands: Foreign Players in the Football League – Part One
The Netherlands supplied more players to the Football League between 1978 and the start of the Premier League in 1992 than any other country outside Britain and Ireland. From international stars to fleeting lower-division stays, a steady stream of Dutchmen tried their luck in England. Twice beaten World Cup finalists in the 1970s, the gifted…
Yugoslavs in the Football League 1978-92 – Appendix
A brief overview of the Yugoslav footballers who played in the Football League between 1978 and 1992. Radomir ‘Raddy’ Antić Born: 22.11.1948 Žitište (d. 06.04.2020) Signed from: Real Zaragoza (Spain), July 1980 [£50,000] Football League Career: Luton Town 1980-83 – 94 appearances, 9 goals Football League Debut: West Ham v Luton, Second Division 16 August…
Yugoslavia: Foreign Players in the Football League
Yugoslavia provided a surprising number of imports to English football in the wave that followed the summer of 1978. While Ardiles and Villa, Mühren and Thijssen took the headlines, apart from the Netherlands no overseas country provided more players to the Football League in the immediate post-1978 period than Yugoslavia. 14 players moved to England…
Argentina: Foreign Players in the Football League
Argentina provided the impetus for the first wave of foreign imports to the Football League from 1978. Though the PFA’s secretary Cliff Lloyd had warned, “I don’t think we would stand for a big influx of Argentinians to this country”, there was indeed a short-lived trend of English clubs tapping Argentine talent. Before the end…
South Americans in the Football League 1978-92 – Appendix
A brief overview of the South American footballers who played in the Football League between 1978 and 1992. * Osvaldo ‘Ossie’ Ardiles Born: 03.08.1952 Córdoba, Argentina Signed from: Huracán (Argentina), July 1978 [£325,000] Football League Career: Tottenham Hotspur 1978-87 – 221 appearance (16 sub), 16 goals; Blackburn (loan) 1987-88 – 5 apps; QPR 1988-89 –…
South America: Foreign Players in the Football League
South America reinforced its credentials as the strongest footballing continent when Argentina lifted the World Cup for the first time on 25 June 1978 at the Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires. By beating the Netherlands 3-1 to win the tournament they had hosted, Argentina joined neighbours Brazil (three times winners) and Uruguay (twice) as World Champions…
Recent Comments