MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 19.5.1973

Action between Scotland and Northern Ireland is the cover image of this edition of Shoot, which is dominated by the Home Internationals.

Bobby Moore uses his column to state that England were out to avenge bad results to Northern Ireland (a 1-0 defeat at Wembley in the 1972 Tournament) and Wales (a 1-1 draw in a World Cup Qualifier at Wembley) in the previous year. Moore also stated that he is planning to write a tribute column in the next few weeks to the recently retired Bobby Charlton.

Scotland and Northern Ireland’s chances are put under the spotlight, with Northern Ireland Player/Manager Terry Neill believing his new look team can shock England, officially a home match for Northern Ireland but moved to Goodison Park due to Civil Unrest in Belfast.

There is a crosstalk feature between Mike England of Wales and Emlyn Hughes of England, with both players believing that the competition should not be scrapped.

Alan Ball uses his column to say that his 2nd place Arsenal side are as good as 1st place Liverpool, it was just that Liverpool got more points than them.

Archie Gemmill of Derby County is interviewed, declaring Johnny Giles of Leeds United to be “The master of midfield”

Frank Clark of Newcastle United takes questions from fans, revealing that Mike Summerbee is his toughest opponent.

Republic of Ireland are in World Cup action, facing a trip to the Soviet Union, hoping to keep alive their chances of reaching the finals in West Germany.

It isn’t all international football, as Leeds United’s European Cup Winners Cup Final against AC Milan, with Leeds hoping to keep the trophy in the UK for the 4th successive year after wins for Manchester City, Chelsea and Rangers.

The magazine ends with a poster of Pat Stanton of Hibs, but wearing a Scotland kit.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : WORLD SOCCER – JULY 1973

Action from a recent international between England and Scotland is the cover image of World Soccer during the summer of 1973.

The editorial focuses on discipline, with Alan Ball getting an indefinite ban from international football after a red card in Poland, debating if players in English club football should be allowed to appeal a red card.

England’s end of season tour gets reviews – a World Cup Qualifier in Poland (defeat) and friendlies in Soviet Union (win) and Italy (defeat), which have provided more questions than answers.

In Czechoslovakia, Spartak Trnava’s title bid as back on track after some disappointing results.

East Germany’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cuop in West Germany are now relying on their qualifier against Romania later in the year.

In Yugoslavia, Red Star Belgrade have stormed through to take the title.

Going back to Germany, this time to West Germany, it is reported that manager Helmut Schon faces a tough task to add the World Cup in 1974 to the European Championship, after a run of disappointing results.

Meanwhile in France, it is reported that the future of football in the country is described as “healthy”

Despite winning a third successive European Cup, all is not well at Ajax, with Spanish clubs eyeing up their stars. One of those clubs is Barcelona, who blew the title in the run-in, finishing second to Atletio Madrid.

Sunderland’s recent shock FA Cup win, beating the two previous winners en route, has instigated a debate if the difference in standard between England’s first and second tiers is as large as is made out.

In Wales, it is expected that their away game in Poland will decide if they have a chance of going to next year’s World Cup, while Cardiff City are hoping to arrange a special friendly to commemorate the opening of their £250,000 grandstand extension.

There is article on Dave Clements, who has recently emerged as Northern Ireland’s star player.

There is a tribute to John Connelly, a World Cup winner in 1966, who has just retired.

In Spain, clubs are now allowed to play two foreign players, with the writer describing it as a “black day” for Spanish football, as it will attract money grabbing mercenaries rather than improving the standard of Spanish football.

There is a review of the European Cup Final, which focuses more on Juventus poor performance than Ajax’s win.

Juventus were not involved in this season’s Anglo-Italian Cup, with Brian Glanville spending two pages writing about why the competition should be scrapped.

There is a review of the final weeks of the Irish League season, where Glentoran beat Linfield 3-2 in the Irish Cup Final, despite losing goalkeeper Alan Patterson to injury.

There is also a focus on World Cup Qualifying, with the big headline in Europe being the elimination of Hungary.

Scotland’s hopes of reaching West Germany will decided in their crunch encounter against Czechoslovakia in September.