Memories of a Plymouth Match

With the match with Plymouth due tomorrow takes me back many years to a 1st round cup match in the old league cup at Ninian Park. As the username of Whistler suggests I am an ex-referee, and back in the day, a Welsh League referees we were covering the 4th official duties on local professional clubs, I was appointed to the Cardiff v Plymouth match and what a match it was.

Frank Burrows was manager at the time and I remember looking looking across to see those long legs of his almost stretch from the dugout to the touchline. as the 4th official I was told to sit on the bench outside the home dugout alongside the City subs, one Alan Curtis was sat next to me and what a great guy he is!

Anyway the first half kicks off and Plymouth absolutely batter City, half time approaches and its 4 - 0 to Plymouth and Burrows then leans forward and yells at me " You are the only one of you four not having a nightmare" to which point Curts and I are giggling our heads off.

The second half starts and 5 minutes into the half, Burrows tells Curts you are going on. and go on he did. He managed to totally turn the game on its head and city ran out winners with a score of 5 - 4 what a match and I witnessed it from the best seat in the house

Just a note there were a few expletive's in Burrows address to me

With the match with Plymouth due tomorrow takes me back many years to a 1st round cup match in the old league cup at Ninian Park. As the username of Whistler suggests I am an ex-referee, and back in the day, a Welsh League referees we were covering the 4th official duties on local professional clubs, I was appointed to the Cardiff v Plymouth match and what a match it was.

Frank Burrows was manager at the time and I remember looking looking across to see those long legs of his almost stretch from the dugout to the touchline. as the 4th official I was told to sit on the bench outside the home dugout alongside the City subs, one Alan Curtis was sat next to me and what a great guy he is!

Anyway the first half kicks off and Plymouth absolutely batter City, half time approaches and its 4 - 0 to Plymouth and Burrows then leans forward and yells at me " You are the only one of you four not having a nightmare" to which point Curts and I are giggling our heads off.

The second half starts and 5 minutes into the half, Burrows tells Curts you are going on. and go on he did. He managed to totally turn the game on its head and city ran out winners with a score of 5 - 4 what a match and I witnessed it from the best seat in the house

I remember that game as well, it was August/September 1986 i think, though i thought we were 4-1 down but I may be wrong. I had to be up very early the next day to catch a train to Coventry so with about 20 mins left and at 4-1 down i decided to get the early train back to Barry and went down the steps to leave the ground. It was that early the gates were still closed so I went to look for a steward to let me out. As I got back into the stand we scored our second so i stayed and was lucky to witness the best ever comeback i can remember.

I remember that game well,the wind was horrendous and I believe all 9 goals were scored at the same end.

Yes it was 1-4 at half time. I remember a cracking curler from Nigel Vaughen ( I think) into the top corner

Yep gale force wind during that game

I remember players shooting from 40 yards on numerous occasions

Probably would have been abandoned these days!!