Bob Latchford's 30

[alan ball]

I was fortunate to witness every one of Bob Latchford's 30 goals season 1977-78, can anybody else share this with me? The games at QPR and Leicester away stick out for me as they were both 5-1 thumpings. He always scored some great goals and that 30th against Chelsea when we beat em 6-0. Any young blue today viewing this would not believe that score against Chelsea

 

[Clint Planet]

This has the potential of a classic thread. Anyone who was at any of the games, please contribute your memories.

Me, I was a thirteen / fourteen year old in Winsford, not yet allowed to travel to the game on my own so I never witnessed a second of it other than in MotD highlights but I followed it as closely as I could (my dad took the Daily Express, the paper that offered the £10,000 reward for the 30 goals). And I still remember the 5-1s and the 6-0s and the mounting tension and the hope and the pessimism. Two goals needed in his last game - it was never going to happen. But it did. Big Bob made sure it did.

He is, and always will be, an Everton Titan to me, and a gentleman, too. As they tend to be.

 

[chrissyjack]

I was at that match with me dad. Lower Bullens , on the railings at the gap between Bullens and Park End. Crowd went mental at the 30 goal and I , along with a couple more kids, fell off.

 

[alan ball]

I remember a great goal he scored at Old Trafford as it was then called on Easter Monday in the Stretford end resulting in a 2-1 victory to us. that weekend we played Newcastle away on Good Friday, Leeds at home the following day and of course Man Utd away on Easter Monday. 3 games in 4 days, imagine that today! That game at Newcastle on Good Friday was bad in terms of violence on the terraces. the game was stopped and the players taken off the pitch because the fans spilled over onto it

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

I was in the GSE with my arl fella...If I remember we were 4-0 up at half time, and Fat Bob hadn't got a sniff at goal....His 30th our 6th If my memory serves me right was never a penalty in a million years..

Reckon the ref had a few quid on Bob doin it...

Wanted to invade the pitch...but my arl fella wouldn't let me

 

[Clint Planet]

I was at that match with me dad. Lower Bullens , on the railings at the gap between Bullens and Park End. Crowd went mental at the 30 goal and I , along with a couple more kids, fell off.

......

 

[Jamo Martinez]

I remember a great goal he scored at Old Trafford as it was then called on Easter Monday in the Stretford end resulting in a 2-1 victory to us. that weekend we played Newcastle away on Good Friday, Leeds at home the following day and of course Man Utd away on Easter Monday. 3 games in 4 days, imagine that today! That game at Newcastle on Good Friday was bad in terms of violence on the terraces. the game was stopped and the players taken off the pitch because the fans spilled over onto it

Mentioned that on another thread as it stuck in my mind. Also remember we won all three. He did get up well for that goal at OT, didn't he?
I went to the Leeds game on the Saturday. He scored one and set up the other for McKenzie. Now I remember the thread it was the ''Bar and in'' thread I think coz I remember McKenzie's screamer.
Was also at the Coventry (6-0) game when Bob scored a peach to round it off with a volley from another Dave Thomas cross.
And the equalizer against City at Goodison (my first and only time in the Main Stand)
That Chelsea game was special though.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

I was in the GSE with my arl fella...If I remember we were 4-0 up at half time, and Fat Bob hadn't got a sniff at goal....His 30th our 6th If my memory serves me right was never a penalty in a million years..

Reckon the ref had a few quid on Bob doin it...

Wanted to invade the pitch...but my arl fella wouldn't let me

Cried in aswell if I remember

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

I remember a great goal he scored at Old Trafford as it was then called on Easter Monday in the Stretford end resulting in a 2-1 victory to us.

Why ? what's it called now ?

Didn't see any of them myself as was only 9 so couldn't travel in to watch us, and my 'arl fella used to work every saturday.

I did see the majority of Linekers goals though in his season with us, as by then I was an apprentice with money to burn so didn't miss many games in that season ('arl fella was still working sats while I was hiking round the country and pishin' it up every night).

 

[The Latch]

I was sat in the Upper Gwladys with my dad, on the edge of my seat waiting for THAT moment. As a 13 year old, I knew Bob would do it as I had total faith in him. I remember laughing when Mick Lyons scored the 5th and was soundly boo'd by the crowd. Poor Mick, he looked around for Latchford, couldn't see him and stuck it in the net himself. Time was running out. Then. Penalty. There could only be one taker.

If I rembemer right, it was struck fiercely down the middle. The net bulged as it hit the back of the net. The crowd went wild. Bob ran to the Street End crowd. I cried.

I can still remember walking 10 feet tall away from the ground. MY favourite player from MY club had just done something really special. I couldn't wait for school on Monday.

 

[bluesb1970]

A mark of the man was that he shared the £10,000 winnings with all the team that helped him get the goals. Unfortunately for him he got lumbered with a tax bill for the whole lot!!! I was 7 that day and in the Upper G stand.

 

[dixie1928]

Went to all the home games that season and about half the away games. Dave Thomas on the wing was the answer to a striker's prayer! Martin Dobson in midfield wasn't too dusty either, and if memory serves me right, chipped in with a fair few goals himself.
I've got a feeling Latchford scored two in the final game. I do remember the crowd going absolutely mental.

Yeah. Just checked: Latchford 2 (1 pen) Dobson, Lyons, Wright, Robinson.

 

[Clint Planet]

I was sat in the Upper Gwladys with my dad, on the edge of my seat waiting for THAT moment. As a 13 year old, I knew Bob would do it as I had total faith in him. I remember laughing when Mick Lyons scored the 5th and was soundly boo'd by the crowd. Poor Mick, he looked around for Latchford, couldn't see him and stuck it in the net himself. Time was running out. Then. Penalty. There could only be one taker.

If I rembemer right, it was struck fiercely down the middle. The net bulged as it hit the back of the net. The crowd went wild. Bob ran to the Street End crowd. I cried.

I can still remember walking 10 feet tall away from the ground. MY favourite player from MY club had just done something really special. I couldn't wait for school on Monday.

Marvellous.

 

[mouser]

Yes remember it well,getting on the pitch and grabbing a lump of turf,wich me old nan grew from her kitchen flat window.One off my alltime everton memories.Kopites laugh when we talk about this but they dont get it.The reaction from Bob and the crowd reaction was unforgetable.Goodison rocked from the foundations ahhhhhhhhhhhh im there again.

 

[Piijt]

It pissed down on us in the open end of Loftus Road but what a great day out is was.
Leicester was a funny day, our coach arrived late and dropped us in the Leicester end. Coachload of us got escorted round the pitch.