Gordon Hill and the Boys of 1977

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6 жыл бұрын

In 1977 Manchester United secured a famous win against Liverpool at Wembley in the FA Cup Final. Weeks later, manager Tommy Docherty was sacked, and when Dave Sexton was hired, it is commonly agreed amongst most football fans that the United team never fulfilled its great potential.
In an exclusive UnitedInFocus.com documentary, star of that team Gordon Hill recalls that time, his career at Old Trafford and shares memories of his wonderful team-mates.
Hill, who now coaches in North America, also shares some of his memories about his career after leaving Manchester.
Asking the questions to “Merlin” was Chris Culkin for United In Focus. ( / culkinchris )
Motion Graphics, Cameraman & Editor : Neil McHugh ( / qecameraman )
Gordon Hill’s autobiography “Merlin” can be bought online here www.amazon.co.uk/Merlin-Autob...
Executive Producer: Dave Murphy

Пікірлер: 151

@vashna3799 4 жыл бұрын

Gordon Hill epitomised the Docherty era at Utd. Free flowing, carefree, enjoyable. Shame he only lasted less than 3 years.

@carlmason4153 Жыл бұрын

I have to say Im Gobsmacked by this interview. I thought Gordon Hill was gonna be a bit of a jack the lad, How wrong am I. this in my opinion is by far the best one i have seen. Thanks Gordon. Loved you as a player in the 70's, thought you was mint, I remember you going from Man Utd to Derby Not knowing the reason why. Loved your honesty all the way through this interview. You look really well as well may I say & I bet you could still turn out for a charity game or two & still deliver. Thanks again Gordon for a lovely lovely interview. All the very best. (A Sheffield Lad)

@peterdavenport5882 4 жыл бұрын

What a guy, Merlyn the Magician! I’ve Watched United for over 50 years and that late 70’s team played some of the best football I’ve seen. Thank you so much!

@livelifeliveponies9623 3 жыл бұрын

Totally agree👍

@nigelthompson1058 3 жыл бұрын

Same here, great days

@tonyrowe4701 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic memories .... football, supporters and stadiums as it ought to be

@thomasoflaherty3520 3 жыл бұрын

"Gordon Hill's King of all Cockneys!" is what I and thousands of United supporters used to chant. Great times.

@cameronsweeney3668 3 жыл бұрын

Was able to see united for the first time this season and it was fantastic watching hill and coppel on the wing and my hero Pearson fantastic memories I'll take to my grave

@fredfox1764 4 жыл бұрын

gordon hill king of all cockneys ,i was at shefifeld for that semi final ,what a goal from hilly nearly in tears watching it ,44 years ago my word

@markgriffiths7462 Жыл бұрын

Fred you are so lucky to have been there. Bet you enjoy the modern dross!!

@melvyndolby8625 4 жыл бұрын

No one ever mentions the best player in that team, Gerry Daly. Can't ever remember him having a bad game for Utd

@kevwoodward648 4 жыл бұрын

Que Sera Sera.... with Gerry and Super Sam....we're going to Amsterdam....Que Sera Sera

@kevinmassey7675 2 жыл бұрын

I think it was Eric Morecambe who said he thought Gerry daly was German newspaper 😆 🤣

@turksrds Жыл бұрын

The chant wet 5ft 8 under weight Gerry Daly’s fucking great

@mrmods7912 Жыл бұрын

Penalty taking maestro!!

@erniescullion8452 Жыл бұрын

Sammy McIlroy and at least 4 more was a better than Gerry Daly.

@mrmods7912 Жыл бұрын

Merlin was my hero growing up! I always pretended to be him when playing football at school... This was also the era of the best United kits of all time!

@redflag8970 6 жыл бұрын

still in love with docs utd n hill was my fave player. cried in 76 final but tears of joy 77.

@mankydave67 5 жыл бұрын

What an amazing & exciting team they had. They’d have won the league if they’d kept the Doc and all these players together.

@chrisevans5259 4 жыл бұрын

We didn't win a lot during the 70s,...but boy did we play some bloody exciting stuff during this decade,...never a dull moment,.....the highlight obviously stopping the scousers do ing the treble in 77,.....great times

@edmundpower1250 3 жыл бұрын

@@mankydave67 win the league? 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

@mrnobodyz 3 жыл бұрын

Nearly 14. I cried. My only fa cup final and maybe the worst performance from that team I’d seen that year!

@mrwilliecowie 3 жыл бұрын

@@mrnobodyz Was 16 at the time my gaffer got me a ticket for the 76 cup final from Bert Millichip when he was the West Brom Chairman I think Utd froze on the day.

@peterdrury8859 4 жыл бұрын

Great player I remember listening on the radio when I was a kid when he scored those 2 goals in the semi final.

@Juizhaigou 10 ай бұрын

It was insane to sell Gordon Hill when he was the top scorer. I can still feel the pain.

@gadaboutunited 3 жыл бұрын

First time I've seen the '77 Cup Final footage with Brian Moore's ITV commentary. Great to see Merlin speak, at United far too short a time

@KryptonitetoallBS 4 жыл бұрын

I never tire of watching Pearson cracking the ball into the Scouser's net and watching Wembley go absolutely mental with Doc's massive red and white army!!!

@edmundpower1250 3 жыл бұрын

Naw... Bobby Stokes goal was better

@capri2673 Жыл бұрын

Except that you were really lucky that day.

@KryptonitetoallBS Жыл бұрын

@@edmundpower1250 The off side one you mean? 🤣

@edmundpower1250 Жыл бұрын

@@KryptonitetoallBS And greenhoff fisting the winning goal off his chest into the net robbing us of a replay

@KryptonitetoallBS Жыл бұрын

@@edmundpower1250 Only if it had been off side would it have been sweeter 😂 Destroyed your Treble dreams anyhow 😂

@PaulSmith-mh2yq Жыл бұрын

I've been United fan since the 60s. So many think that United only came into being under SAF. While the early 70s were dire, there's only ever been United for me.

@jamesmason9925 5 жыл бұрын

One of my heroes for attacking play! ... Gordon Hill's the king of all cockneys! :)

@mrkipling2201 5 жыл бұрын

Merlin !!! That team was brilliant, some of the football was unbelievable. I always wonder what we would have done if the doc hadn’t been sacked.

@mankydave67 5 жыл бұрын

I always wonder the same & absolutely convinced they’d have won the league & more trophies. They TERRORISED teams. ... Hill, Daly, Coppell, Mcllroy, Macari, Buchan, Albiston and so on & so forth. Ridiculous talent.

@edmundpower1250 3 жыл бұрын

@@mankydave67 won the league?! 😂😂😂😂😂

@chrislofkin3066 2 жыл бұрын

The Doc would have won the league for United the following season

@joekavanagh7171 Жыл бұрын

Docherty would never have won the league. He actually got us relegated. He was an abrasive personality who rubbed people the wrong way, and fell out with many, including loyal servants like Willie Morgan and Gerry Daly. He could have won the league at Chelsea, but dropped several players after a night out in Blackpool. He said afterwards "It probably cost us the league, but I didn't care. I had made my point." He didn't have the shrewdness to be a league-winning manager.

@reubensweetapple1593 5 жыл бұрын

@ldanzamariastile3536 4 жыл бұрын

sexton was poor! we can only immagine what the docherty team would have achieved if he wsn't sacked which today wouldn't mean a thing just look at what giggs did and john terry and to think the doc is still with that woman today

@wildbill8635 3 жыл бұрын

Sexton dismantled the Doc's team as most new managers do. And he brought Wilkins who became boring stifling every attack by passing sideways. In Chelsea he wasnt like that. Sexton was good at Chelsea in a different era but afterwards he stifled Clubs. A bit morose. The complete opposite to The Doc yet both managed Chelsea. The Doc took a disintegrated Man U of yesterday's men including Best and got rid because they were never going to go voluntarily but kept Stepney and initially Kidd Morgan. McIlroy had just broke thru and kept. Law's back heel was ironic & everyone in football felt for him. Good manager if only he had zipped up!

@mancunited3845 2 жыл бұрын

The best days of my life, thank you to all the boys of 77 Docs Red Army

@geoffsimpson2884 3 жыл бұрын

A great bloke is Gordon - I use to give him a good run around at tennis at Tytherington in the 1990's a really humble person and quite shy, Great interview.

@sandykenuk 5 жыл бұрын

I'm a blue, but I have to admit, like best I loved watching hill play football, he was always exciting.

@robicenco1 4 жыл бұрын

Great video. Hill was one of the best wingers United have ever had IMO, and they've had some great ones.

@Steviej148 3 жыл бұрын

Thoroughly enjoyable and candid interview from Gordon Hill Our Cockney Red. A top player in a top team ,an absolute joy to watch and to this day iam convinced if Tommy Doc hadn`t been fired we would`ve won the league , But unfortunately fate decreed otherwise and we had to wait. But in the end it was well worth waiting for. MUMUFMUFC OK .

@keithfowler2013 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the amazing memories Gordon. ❤️

@GLK-London 3 жыл бұрын

I am so glad I got to follow that team all over the country and witness the football they played. Wonderful memories.

@philiptownsend8348 3 жыл бұрын

Fabulous side back then and merlin was my favourite at the time

@murchuan8782 Жыл бұрын

lovely interview... very insightful too... comes across as very grateful and respectful to all the players and matches he played for and against

@Mrbimdrummer 2 жыл бұрын

I met Gordon many years ago. Such a nice guy. Along with Coppell such great players.

@mutangpadan5311 Жыл бұрын

Ya, Hill on the left wing and Coppell on the right. Both hard-runners and great crossers of the ball.

@bluehorizon9613 2 жыл бұрын

Hill was SOME Player ! Mega-Skilled !

@johntruth3713 3 жыл бұрын

i cryed that day

@robicenco1 4 жыл бұрын

39 goals in 101 league games from the wing!

@kevwoodward648 4 жыл бұрын

Gordon Hill..."King Of All Cockneys" Great times. Home and away with yer best mates through thick and thin!

@rickyred001 6 жыл бұрын

Great video, from the start of my United supporting career

@Uknow2much1 6 жыл бұрын

Great corner taker and fantastic volleyer of the ball, use to love watching Gordon 👍👍

@GriefTourist 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent viewing. As a City fan I saw Docherty's United quite a few times and the early days of Sexton and have to admit they were a great team and it's a shame it broke up.

@mikethemanc9077 2 жыл бұрын

Still my hero

@kangle4897 5 жыл бұрын

wow I met this guy in person and he talked to me about some really great things

@perrynnlynch1883 4 жыл бұрын

Great comment. Too young to remember him playing in the 1970,s I've seen much old footage though, Top player on his day. Could make the difference.

@MarkAntony 5 жыл бұрын

Interesting that, in '77, United finished 6th in the league. Same as today. Yet there was nothing like the media furore of today, insisting United must do better than this. The perameters have indeed been altered! Great memories though, of the late 70's era with this club.

@HandleGF 5 жыл бұрын

They would have finished higher but for throwing some matches in the run-up to the Cup Final.

@robicenco1 4 жыл бұрын

They were in the second division two years earlier! United had a great first season back in 75-76 but I don't think there was an expectation/demand that they would win the league straight away.

@redflag8970 4 жыл бұрын

utd got picked on constantly from the late 70s about the gap from last title. i remember media saying 10 11 12 yrs an so on since 67.

@shipton51 2 жыл бұрын

@@HandleGF ...and if Martin Buchan hadn't been injured from October to mid-December 1976. They were top of Division One when he got injured and 15th when he returned after not winning any of the seven League games in that period (drawing three and losing four).

@HandleGF 2 жыл бұрын

@@shipton51 That's very true. I remember it well.

@jeffcoleman6444 2 жыл бұрын

My. Childhood and life friend . Always ‘champ’ to me.

@alifazio4764 6 жыл бұрын

gordon hill is my soccer coach now at rsa elite in washington state

@gottee1 5 жыл бұрын

Tell merlin , thank you for the memories fantastic player

@krol4186 5 жыл бұрын

I’m practicing with him every Sunday in Snoqualmie Washington state

@MartinGonzalez-qm8mw 5 жыл бұрын

@@krol4186 Has he still got it?

@user-zy5he7ng7k 10 ай бұрын

Absolutely brilliant was Merlin and so was that team from the mid 70’s this was my team growing up such a shame they never stayed together as I think we would have won the league if the DOC stayed. But Gordon I loved him

@erniescullion8452 Жыл бұрын

Fair play to Gordon Hill.manners respect to Others

@33324673l 4 жыл бұрын

My childhood hero

@pappamojovchero9797 4 жыл бұрын

You didn't aim high then !

@lakmeister 4 жыл бұрын

Great player with amazing talent...crosses,volleys and free kicks....rushed back to soon..as always...ruined him...and going to Derby of course!!!

@Marlondurran 5 жыл бұрын

Good lad our Gordon..

@Scrutii 3 жыл бұрын

A player who made a massive impression on me - I was a regular supporter at the Old Trafford ground and was 16yrs when he arrived at MUFC used to be in Paddock standing area under main stand and hence was infatuated with wingers - cause he was a Southerner I did not like him when he first arrived due to my youthful naive sentiments - I was narrow minded and under the impression Northerners were the best !!! - he rapidly won me over with his attractive confidence and football he was some player and oozed with confidence and I realised this cocky young cockney was not too bad after all !!! to the point I used to enjoy watching him above all the others - he became my renewed Bestie !!! Gordon Hill was vitally instrumental for the majority of the successful Tommy Doherty era !!!

@maddman2900 Жыл бұрын

I remember walking out of Wembley when we lost the FA cup to Southampton (offside goal) feeling totally dejected. And a random fan said out loud, don’t worry boys we’ll be back next year and we will win. And so we did. Great days!

@RebelRob34 5 жыл бұрын

I remember him in KC playing for the Comets indoor team.

@stephenwalker8299 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant side the docs side should have won the league and European Cup The board made sure we didn't sacking the doc still winds up today

@mickcolton6147 4 жыл бұрын

Great winger

@Marlondurran 4 жыл бұрын

Top lad that Gordon..

@HandleGF 5 жыл бұрын

The most exciting player in the First Division

@markgriffiths7462 Жыл бұрын

When Hilly got the ball the crowd were on their tiptoes cos they knew something special was going to happen. New players should be forced to watch these videos before they sign uo and told this is the standard we expect. Not the modern trash.

@paulmann9154 20 күн бұрын

I remember as a lad watching those 2 FA cup finals, and in the pre match interview in his cup final suite, Gordon did an impersonation of Norman Wisdom. Am I remembering correctly?

@capri2673 Жыл бұрын

Liverpool fan but I can just remember the swashbuckling United teams of the 70s. Great interview and I'm sure Gordon is amazed at how bad United have become.

@markgiles9449 4 жыл бұрын

Millwall legend

@jamesvickers5998 3 жыл бұрын

Not sure how Norman Hunter threatened to break his legs in the semi final against Leeds as he was playing for Bristol City at the time.

@charlesbeltington-smythe9229 Жыл бұрын

How romantic ❤️ 😍 💕

@tonyrowe4701 3 жыл бұрын

6:17 Loved watching this chat, great memories ... but Merlin, it was only 1-0 at home to Stoke & I'm still convinced that late goal was offside (Bloor ? ) !! Then just Leicester (A) Southampton (Cup F) and City (H) ... would have won the flippin Double if we'd won that one. 9:22 Love ya Gord, but Sammy Mc got the Second against City :)

@aazo999 Жыл бұрын

Jimmy Greanoff what a player

@stephenbainbridge9542 3 жыл бұрын

TOP BLOKE GORDON

@staceygrove5976 4 жыл бұрын

36:57 Was something edited out there?

@WarmasAsunnedcat 2 жыл бұрын

When football was a joy

@erniescullion8452 Жыл бұрын

Gordon respectful to Liverpool.

@mohdzakibuang6766 2 жыл бұрын

This is my All-Time Man Utd Line-Up: Goalkeepers: Alex Stepney Right Back: Jimmy Nicholl Left Back: Stewart Houston Defender: Martin Buchan ( Captain ) Defender: Brian Greenhoff Midfielder: Sammy Mclroy Midfielder: Gerry Daly Left Winger: Gordon Hill Right Winger: Steve Coppell Striker: Pancho Pearson Striker: Jimmy Greenhoff

@shipton51 2 жыл бұрын

No Lou Macari? (who IMHO was United's best midfielder during the mid/late 70s).

@joekavanagh7171 Жыл бұрын

All-time? Apart from Buchan, none of them would have made a United all-time XI

@shaka7594 7 ай бұрын

Schmeichel Irwin Stam Vidic Buchan Scholes Robson Edwards Best Rooney Charlton

@michaelgaskell2031 2 жыл бұрын

How could we sack the doc. Shocking

@pauljones8218 2 жыл бұрын

if the doc didnt have a affair with a member of staffs wife would of won a shit load with the doc

@joekavanagh7171 Жыл бұрын

Docherty was never that good. One cup win to show for his entire career.

@yippyialeftside8351 6 жыл бұрын

that 1977 semi looks and sounds like brian moore was not at the stadium

@robicenco1 4 жыл бұрын

There are plenty of matches that had commentary added on after the event (years after sometimes). Not sure whether that's the case with this clip but it's common enough.

@tonyrowe4701 3 жыл бұрын

ITV and BBC did deals on big matches when one had the cameras there and the other didn't .. then they added their own commentary (for the goals) .. seem to remember Tony Gubba got quite few of those

@lookandlisten5740 2 жыл бұрын

"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the world...but I'm in the top One"..Brian Clough, When football had "real" personalities.

@markgriffiths7462 Жыл бұрын

imagine if we had Cloughie at OT? I think he was too big for the directors at the time. I don't think Cloughie was a fan of massaging the egos of the chairmen and directors etc

@joekavanagh7171 Жыл бұрын

The biggest mistake in United's history was not going for Clough when Busby retired. We would have dominated the seventies and eighties instead of Liverpool.

@jonathankennedy1715 Жыл бұрын

Privilege to play for the famous Manchester United once-in-a-lifetime treble winners and in footsteps of Roger Byrne, Duncan Edwards, Nobby Stiles, Harry Gregg, Bill Foulkes, Denis Violett, Paddy Crerand, Alex Stepney, Best, Law, Charlton, Buchan, Gordon Hill, Coppull, Gary Bailey, Macari, McIlroy, Stapleton, Whiteside, Strachan, McClaire, Kanchelskis, Hughes, Irwin, Ince, Bruce, Pallister, Schmeichel, Robson, Cantona, Keane, Carrick, Butt, Edwin vSar, Evra, Vidic, Japp Stam, Ferdinand, Neville's, Ji-Sung-Park, Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, vNistelrooy, Yorke, Cole, Sheringham and-Solskjaer-has-won-it, vPersie, Rooney, Ronaldo, DeGea.

@MisAnnThorpe 5 жыл бұрын

Anybody know the story behind the slap round the head Hill received from Martin Buchan?

@gillianbrowne3492 4 жыл бұрын

Yes - I was there. It was because he wasn't tracking back and was being lazy

@rickadkinson6539 4 жыл бұрын

I was at that game, Boro if I recall correctly

@tonyrowe4701 3 жыл бұрын

@@rickadkinson6539 Coventry ?

@shipton51 2 жыл бұрын

@@tonyrowe4701 Correct (in a 2-0 win at OT on 15 January 1977)

@staceygrove5976 4 жыл бұрын

47:05 LOL!

@andrewparker8806 6 жыл бұрын

How could he be playing against Yeovil in the league cup when Yeovil weren’t even in the league in 1974?

@martinspencer6455 6 жыл бұрын

Merlin one of my all time heroes of the greatest team i have ever seen and that includes the double/treble winners. Just waiting for matchday, and then a riot of red and white home and away watching the original punk football. Glorious days that will live with me forever, btw Melin stoke somehow beat us 0-1 not 1-3, Thanks for the memories-#The BoysOf77 Theres only one U-NI-TED..

@davidlythgoe3764 5 жыл бұрын

Yeovil vs Millwall - F. A. Cup First Round. 😉

@HandleGF 5 жыл бұрын

The Stoke result was 0-1, not 1-3

@alancassell8282 3 жыл бұрын

MERLIN... MERLIN.. MERLIN

@chrisbrader7720 2 жыл бұрын

The Best of Times! 👍Unlike The last 10 yrs,The Worst of Times and getting Worse. A Shambles from Top to Bottom.👎🏻💩

@paulomendes4892 Жыл бұрын

they took a 4-0 beating by porto

@kevinmassey7675 2 жыл бұрын

He was the star that all the kids wanted to be , but was he ever capped internationally? a time when England seemed to have an abundance of talent, but were terrible ?

@matthewhill1120 2 жыл бұрын

Was capped for England x2 according to my family records check your facts ... If you doubt Me IL ask him personally he is only a phone call away . Check the name the guys my uncle and yes he is a legend on and off the field

@kevinmassey7675 2 жыл бұрын

@@matthewhill1120 I haven't got any facts , I was just asking the question.......I have seen him since my original comment in an England team . I think it was vs. Italy in a tournament in USA in ' 76 ....if I remember right

@matthewhill1120 2 жыл бұрын

I believe it was give me a day .. and will find out more... Stand by for an up date

@kevinmassey7675 2 жыл бұрын

@@matthewhill1120 Just re watching his boys of 77 doc now 👍

@matthewhill1120 2 жыл бұрын

@@kevinmassey7675 my nan still had some off his old shirts and boots from back in the day no pun intended on the fact comments. Just enjoy all the memories I say

@rogerlundgren6130 Жыл бұрын

Gordon Hill.Is my favorite player in man,united ever.But i think zlatan was better.Roger Lundgren.Skellefteå Sweden.Man,utd Forever.

@yippyialeftside8351 6 жыл бұрын

yeah fair enough from hill about sexton, but ask ozgood, Hudson, cook at Chelsea and bowles at QPR about the quality football they played there,for the fans of those clubs i know they rave about those sides , also sextons coaching with young England players was second to none , i think he still got man u out of all the managers apart from Fergie closest to the title since Busbie

@Martin63 6 жыл бұрын

Sexton was a very fine manager

@martinspencer6455 6 жыл бұрын

Under Sexton we saw brilliant performances v liverpool in 77,79,80,81, St Etienne away and in Plymouth, Porto home, City home 78,80 away in 79, Everton 6-2 boxing day (should have been 10). Why didn't he let the team play the way they could, and as for breaking up Docs side...

@mrkipling2201 5 жыл бұрын

I think it was the fact that we went from the flamboyant exciting football under the doc to the more subdued football of sexton

@keithwilliams2077 4 жыл бұрын

True But it was boring and tactical.maybe cos it was after docs exciting team

@redflag8970 3 жыл бұрын

@@keithwilliams2077 ye defo doc was cut short an at a high moment had he faded it might not of been that much of a contrast

@garyrandall8217 5 жыл бұрын

From 11.11mins Merlin + Pancho with another goal of much beauty kzfaq.info/get/bejne/sLZjapqJy5y9YJs.html

@edmundpower1250 Жыл бұрын

That winning goal went off Greenhoff's arm not his chest. It should never have stood. It cheated Liverpool out of the treble.

@samstainer7455 2 жыл бұрын

The bloody Edwards family, a bunch of hypocrites, sacked a fantastic manager and wrecked a superb team that would have challenged Liverpool for at least the next five years.

@pauljones8218 2 жыл бұрын

sad when the doc was sacked your right would of won a shit load of silver ware sack him over having a affair with a member of the staffs wife went on to stay together so they had to sack him over it pity uniteds loss would of end up as champs had to wait for sir alex the rest is history viva ronaldo

@thevillaaston7811 Жыл бұрын

'we had to wait and beat a good team' What arrogance.

@steveheckle8847 2 жыл бұрын

And still never won fuck all

@knocksmartin5111 Жыл бұрын

What a bloody great period for me watching some fine players at that time considering we were relegated a few years earlier. ,Gerry daly,hill,Coppel,buchan,sammy mac.etc. Superb