MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 20.5.1978

Frank Worthington is one of the cover stars, as Shoot looks forward to the British Championship, while looking back at he 1977-1978 season.

Shoot did a double page spread previewing all six games in the British Championship, accompanied by facts and figures of all the teams.

England, who didn’t qualify for that year’s World Cup, took the title, winning all three of their games.

In adverts, there was a full page advert for the following week’s edition, which had a free World Cup wallchart.

Ray Clemence uses his column to state that England are desperate to beat Wales, having suffered their first ever Wembley defeat to them in 1977.

England beat Wales 3-1 at Ninian Park in their opening game of the competition.

In news, a thousand fans signed a petition to the IFA for the lifetime bans from international football imposed on Bobby Campbell and Bertie McMinn, for an off-field incident at an underage tournament in 1975.

Bobby Campbell was a non appearing squad member at the 1982 World Cup, so obviously, the petition was successful.

17 year old Craig Johnston has broke into the Middlesbrough team, after borrowing £632 from his dad in order to get to England.

Coventry City are in danger of being known as “The Curly Kids”, with seven players all having perms.

Elton John got a full page feature. Yes, the nephew of 1959 FA Cup Final goalscorer Roy Dwight. In 1979, he was the chairman of Watford, just promoted from Division 4. As ever, he wanted a Number 1 – Watford to be in Division 1.

He was full of praise for the management team of Graham Taylor and Bertie Mee, and stated he was nervous watching games, even more than when he is on stage.

Elton had big plans for Watford, wanting to build a 30-40,000 capacity stadium, and a pitch with synthetic turf.

Elton was looking to other clubs for inspiration “I would like us to achieve the professionalism of Liverpool, the facilities of Aston Villa, and the organisation of Coventry”

There is a further double page spread on the Home Internationals, with a player from each side giving their thoughts ahead of the games.

Andy Gray uses his column to express his disappointment at only being a stand-by player for the World Cup, but he was hoping to make up for it by helping Scotland to a third successive Home Nations title.

Shoot does a double page spread on Birmingham’s two clubs, with new City manager Jim Smith hoping to wake up what he describes as “A sleeping giant”, while Ron Saunders blames injuries for Aston Villa’s failure to build on their 4th place finish and League Cup win in 1977.

There is a poster of John Greig’s Testimonial, where Rangers beat a Scotland XI 5-0.

Trevor Francis poses in an NFL uniform, as he is about to head off on a short-term loan to Detroit Express during the pre-season.

Little did he know it then, Francis would make English football history less than a year later with his next move.

In world news, Sepp Maier has signed an Amnesty International petition for the release of political prisoners in Argentina. Talking of Argentina, Alberto Tarantini is being paid by his country’s FA as he is without a club. That year, he signed for Birmingham City. Spain defender Jose Camacho was ruled out of the World cup through injury, while priests in West Germany have been sent a schedule of World Cup games, in order to avoid clashing services with matches.

Daniel Passarella gets a double page interview ahead of the World Cup. When asked about Peru, he said he wasn’t impressed with them. That didn’t come back to bite them, as Argentina beat Peru 6-0 in the 2nd Round group stage.

In adverts, you could get four World Cup posters (of the four groups) in Wimpy. All you had to do was buy a burger and milkshake.

Martin Peters gets a profile, where he states his favourite band is Bread, and he would most like to meet Miss Piggy.

Shoot dedicates a page to a new trend in football – perms, with a photo collage of footballers who have perms. Meanwhile, John Greig says fans have been telling that Rangers should replace Scotland in the World Cup, after they beat a Scotland XI 5-0 in his Testimonial.

Gordon Hill uses his column to state that, following his departure from Manchester United, if he didn’t rejoin his former United boss Tommy Docherty at Derby County, he would have gone to America to play.

To finish, getting people in the mood for the World Cup, is a double page spread on the club form of Scotland’s squad, as the tournament in Argentina approaches.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 9.11.1985

Bryan Robson is the cover star of this week’s edition of Shoot, as he aims to lead Manchester United to their first title in 19 years.

As you open the magazine, there is a double page feature on the decline of Ipswich Town, who have gone from title challengers to fighting against relegation, with stars deserting over the previous three years since Bobby Robson left to become England manager.

In news, Frank McAvennie suggests that John Robertson and/or Gordon Durie could be the next Scottish strikers to move to an English club. One player not moving from Scotland to England is Richard Gough, after Dundee United rejected a bid from Aston Villa to sign him.

Norman Whiteside won Young Player Of The Month, while Manchester United offered new contracts to Arthur Albiston and Remi Moses.

Meanwhile, Trevor Francis hits back at Malcolm MacDonald, who criticised his continued selection for the England team.

Shoot’s editorial pleads for English fans to behave whenever they are abroad, after England had been allowed to enter the qualifiers for Euro 88.

Gary Lineker gets a double page photo story of his recent hat-trick against Turkey, the 34th hat-trick by and England player since World War II.

Another young player doing well is Alan Dickens, who is hoping to break free from the shadows of Trevor Brooking.

You wouldn’t have seen any of Lineker or Dickens goals due to a TV blackout caused by a dispute between the governing body and boradcasters, so Shoot does a double page photo collage of the best goals in that time.

Mickey Thomas hits back at his critics, having just signed for West Brom, and hoping to keep them in Division One.

Argentina’s preparations for the World Cup in Mexico have been rocked by a dispute between manager Carlos Bilardo and players Daniel Passarella and Ubaldo Filol, after Bilardo declared the only player guaranteed a place in the squad was Diego Maradona.

Terry Venables criticises Andoni Goicochea of Athletic Bilbao, after his playacting got a Barcelona player sent-off in a recent game between the sides.

Meanwhile, Michael Laudrup urges his club Juventus to sign his 16 year old brother Brian, who he describes as being better than him.

Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson, hoping to lead the club to a 3rd successive title, states that any team wanting to win the title can’t afford to lose more than four games.

Celtic won the league with six defeats that season with Aberdeen finishing 4th, with Ferguson leaving Aberdeen soon afterwards.

Meanwhile, Watford defender Nigel Callaghan concedes he won’t be going to the World Cup, but wants to be an England player beyond 1986.

Shoot interviews a player from each division to see what life as a footballer is really like, with Frank Lampard of 4th division Southend revealing that the club are considering flying to their away match at Wrexham.

In Scotland, 21 year old Andy Goram has caused a sensation by getting his first international call-up and keeping a clean sheet in the friendly against East Germany, as he provides competition for regular choice Jim Leighton.

Based in the North-West of England, Goram was contacted by Arthur Albiston of Manchester United to offer him a lift to the squad.

Talking of Scottish footballers, Charlie Nicholas uses his column to state that he won’t be signing for Liverpool.

Staying in Scotland, St Mirren get a full page profile.

Jimmy Greaves Star Letter came from Jeremy Butler from Southampton, who complains that teams like Canada devalues the World Cup, but Jimmy disagrees with him.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 11.8.1979

Match action from Nottingham Forest v Liverpool is on the cover as the 1979-1980 season is close to kicking off. It was an appropriate choice for cover, as both sides had won League and European Cups in both 1978 and 1979.

In news, West Bromwich Albion met Real Madrid in a pre-season tournament in Spain, a chance for Albion players to say hello to former team-mate Lawrie Cunningham, who left The Hawthorns for The Bernebeu.

Meanwhile, Manchester United midfielder Mickey Thomas has announced his engagement to a beauty queen from Rhyl, Debbie Dean, who is the regining Miss Skol Lager.

Linfield’s signing of Lindsay McKeown, Steve McKee and Peter Dornan also feature in Shoot’s news section.

Liverpool made the most of their postponed game away to Wolves (Molineux was getting redeveloped, the ground not yet ready to host fixtures) to play a League Of Ireland XI at Dalymount Park.

Manchester United held their first ever Open Day, where supporters get to see a training session, having been entertained by a Police Dog Training Display and an Army Gymnastic Display. Supporters were charged one pound, and the proceeds went to the Variety Club Of Great Britain.

Gordon McQueen, in his column, says he’ll enjoy “Going to prison for a week”

He was speaking metaphorically, referring to United’s pre-season tour of Denmark and West Germany.

Meanwhile, Trevor Brooking speaks that West Ham might be recruiting continental players, specifically Dutch players, as British players “Cost too much”

Bristol City manager Alan Dicks is bemoaning the loss of several key players over the summer. He was proved right, City were relegated from the top flight, where they have never been back since, and almost went out of business a few years later.

In Ads, Puma were offering fans the chance to purchase a poster of their favourite Puma endorsing star for just 75p, including players such as Joe Jordan, Mario Kempes, Sammy McIlroy and Hans Krankl.

Clive Thomas, Football League referee was having his autobiography serialised in Shoot. In this week’s feature, he declares that referees should not fear the increase in analysis from TV coverage on Match Of The Day or The Big Match.

Andy Gray, in his column, is upset at the idea of the traditional England v Scotland game being cancelled due to crowd violence. The game in May 1979 had 400 arrests. Gray says it’s up to the fans to behave to ensure the fixture continues.

Gray also comments on the progress of his former club, Dundee United. United had a golden era in the 80s, winning the league in 1983, and reaching the UEFA Cup Final in 1987.

He is also glad that the League Cup Final now has live TV coverage. Who scored the winning goal in the 1980 League Cup Final? Andy Gray. How prophetic.

In letters, a reader writes warning Liverpool of the threat of Soviet champions Dinamo Tblisi in their forthcoming European Cup tie, and so it proved, with Tblisi winning 4-2 on aggregate. The following year, they won the European Cup Winners Cup.

A Manchester United supporter writes in to complain about United possibly signing Ray Wilkins from Chelsea, not rating him and saying the fee was too much, especially as United turned down Argentina World Cup duo Daniel Passarella and Ubaldo Fillol.

There is also a full page profile of AC Milan and a team poster.

Staying abroad, there is a full page feature on Real Madrid’s new major signing …….. England’s Lawrie Cunningham.