Very hard to say in decades you never witnessed first hand.

But historically the 60s were a great period for English football. WC winners, United first English EC winners, Spurs first English winners in Europe, 7 different league winners, 8 different FA Cup winners.

Far more competitive, money didn't rule, great atmospheres.

Not unusual for a team to win the title in the 60's and early 70's and finish mid table the following season eg Man City and Everton. Arsenal won the Double in 71 after finishing mid table season before.

We had the best team in the entire world at one time - but that was the 50's, before my time. I wonder if in 60 years people will look back fondly on the greats of English football in this era?

What would the reminiscing look like?

We had the best team in the entire world at one time - but that was the 50's, before my time.
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Wolves had a great side, but id probably say the Mighty Magyars were the best team of the 50's, that Budapest Honved team was ridiculous

Wolves played them in what was billed as the 'Who's best in the World' game. Because of those games between the European greats - all played at night under floodlights and on national television - the powers that be were inspired to start the European Cup.

We beat Honved to restore national pride:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxoI4AjgokU

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Been watching Wolves since 1952 aged 4 and without doubt the greatest decade was the 70s.

Great skill, blood and guts football and a top division with , I think, 7 different winners in 10 years - plus standing ends at their greatest and noisiest.

Very interesting Manusince52 and nice to have a sensible item from a non-WBA fan to comment on.

I am slightly younger than you - 17 when we won the World Cup. I still argue with my mate about the 3rd goal which in all fairness to the Germans did not cross the line!
I would agree that the football in the 1960s seemed the best but I would argue that everything then seemed better - music, films, tv etc. It probably wasn't but after decades of war and instability people seemed to have more time and money to indulge in leisure activity.
Law, Best and Charlton were superlative players and am pleased to say I was at the game at the Hawthorns just before your first European Champions Cup win in 1968. We beat you I am pleased to say by 6-3 and it was only 2 late goals by Manchester in the last few minutes that spared your blushes.

What made football so special in those days for me was a lack of segregation of the fans and seats were only for the posh types. Hence there was over 50000 in the ground for the game I mentioned earlier. These days the atmosphere is sterile by comparison. When WBA were within 20 yards of your goal the noise was deafening. There was no rival fans chanting obscenities at each other. Barriers make the meekest types brave.

my mum and grandad are Wolves fans, their favourite player from the 60's and 70's was Dave Wagstaffe, they said it was criminal he never got an england cap

The 90's for me.

That was a great read OP.

80's.

Plenty of heartbreak in that period but also the rebirth of the club and a period when we won 6-3 every week (or that’s what it felt like).

Too young for the 70’s, the 90’s (for Wolves) were a lost decade and the 2000’s and 2010’s nah.

Late 60's early 70's was the best era for watching football. Nearly every team had a long haired, lamb-chopped-sideburned entrepreneur that didn't bother passing but dribbled like a new born whilst trying to beat 8 or 9 players. That era produced the likes of Best, Marsh, Marinello, Osgood, Worthington, Law, Baxter, Francis, Currie, Cooke, Morgan, Bowles, Hudson, Johnstone and loads of others.

comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 2 hours ago
Sorry Cyp re spelling.

No probs, mate. It's often misspelt, but never copied.

Football in the 60s was exciting. Relative success for MUFC and THFC in Europe and England. The same for GCFC in Europe and Scotland. Plus of course 1966 and all that. Football in this country was bound to feel exciting. I know it caught me in a fever.

By the 70s it (football) did start to get very defensive. This was partly down to better defensive coaching in the latter part of the 60s and the style of play of both the German and Italian league and national sides. Not pretty to watch, and the crowd situation was awful. Allied to my passing into adolescence (and it's hormonal baggage) and being distracted by Rock, Disco and Punk all made it a bad (unexciting) decade for football.

The 80s (indeed until 1992) continued in much the same vein, and it became in increasingly clear that something needed to be done about it. Both in England, Europe and in the international scene. The last competitive WC I have witnessed was in 1982, so they (the governing bodies) haven't really addressed that problem. They are not actually likely to be able to with club football now moving on in leaps and bounds.

They did, however, by the 90s sort out the league in England and the competitions in Europe. With changes that included the formation of the Premier League and the format changes in the European club competitions. This, plus a few other changes i.e.: the changes in the laws of the game that emphasised rewarding attacking play (unlike during the 70s and 80s resulting in the boringly negative style of LFC's league titles); the introduction of safer attendance at grounds and surrounding areas; greater TV coverage; 'gentrification' of the game and the '3 points for a win' decision, all made for more entertaining stuff. Thus, the 90s saw an explosion in interest in the game that really spread around the globe.

The 2000s saw much of the same in terms of league and club excitement - as this decade has done so far.

All in all, apart from the 70s and 80s which were very bad (in more than just footballing terms), football, to me, has remained exciting because some clubs maintained an exciting style of play throughout those 6 different decades that I experienced (at least, some) football.

Clubs such as MUFC, THFC, CFC and even WHFC, and NUFC maintained a style of football that was a joy to watch throughout my life. Other clubs (AFC and, more notably for a longer period, LFC) contrived to produce negative unexciting stuff which was not entirely their fault for reasons outlined above.

comment by Chelsea_since_summer_1969 ✪ (U1561)
posted 24 minutes ago
Late 60's early 70's was the best era for watching football. Nearly every team had a long haired, lamb-chopped-sideburned entrepreneur that didn't bother passing but dribbled like a new born whilst trying to beat 8 or 9 players. That era produced the likes of Best, Marsh, Marinello, Osgood, Worthington, Law, Baxter, Francis, Currie, Cooke, Morgan, Bowles, Hudson, Johnstone and loads of others.
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The 00's

because thats the only one i remember

UH

Even the Leeds team of the day which was ruthlessly efficient (and supposedly boring) had players like Lorimer and Eddie Gray, who once scored a goal against Burnley (which is on U Tube) where he beat about 7-8 men from the corner flag and scored. He also spit-roasted David Webb in the '70 Cup Final.

You look like a Wolves fan. I used to love the antics and haircuts of Derek Doogan but I would guess that your stylish boys would have been the likes of Peter Knowles or somewhat later Willie Carr?

Only saw Knowles play once, but many have told me he could have been our George Best.

Willie Carr was a schemer, but Steve Daley was my favourite midfielder - until Malcom Allison bought him for a record fee and played him out of position.

Ever since that era we have largely struggled to get, as well as keep, a strong midfield. We produce good keepers, mind.

If I could wish for anything from the 70s/80s in todays football it would be the atmosphere inside the ground instead of todays insipid, sanitised match day.

Fancy a prawn Brutus old chap?

whats your favourite decade Píssy Paul, the 20's or 30's?

Wasn't watching City get leathered every week up and down the country in the 80's & 90's that's for sure

comment by Paulpowersleftfoot (U1037)
posted 7 minutes ago
Fancy a prawn Brutus old chap?
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Only if you do that polish dance thingy

Places like Old Trafford, Highbury, Roker Park, Maine Road, Baseball Ground, Anfield, Elland Road - these were guaranteed ear-splitting places to visit. You would look forward to the atmosphere as much as anything else.

It's cleaner and safer (particularly fire regulations) but that has been at the expense of other things.

Germany seem to have made things safer whilst maintaing both standing room and not pricing out the working classes. When I see that huge bank of empty corporate seats opposite the main camera during big games, I am reminded of where it all went wrong.

It used to annoy me that the bloody Queen would get the best seat at Wembley, let alone a bunch of prawn munching suits who are there to just do business.

Part of me looks forward to it all imploding one day under the weight of its own greed and stupidity.