37 years without a trophy

[Gary James]

Law was substituted immediately afterwards (never to play professional football again)

Sorry, I have to correct you. It's widely believed Law never played professionally again but that's not true. It's a myth that's been generated to increase the impact of the story (occasionally you will read/hear that Law was 'too heartbroken to play again' but it's not factually correct).

Law did play again - for Scotland in the 1974 World Cup Finals (and was disappointed not to be picked for all their games) and he also played domestically for City in first team competitive football.

Law's last first team game was City V Oldham 10/8/74 when he was substituted for Barney Daniels at Maine Rd in the Texaco Cup. Three days later City signed Asa Hartford and Hartford was selected ahead of Law for City's 3 opening League games that season. Law then retired.

He retired on 26th August 1974. His last first team goal was V Sheff Utd on 6/8/74 in the Texaco Cup.

A few other points about that match....

There were 2 pitch invasions - the first after Law's goal (scored 8 mins from time) led to a 3 minute delay (players taken off the pitch by referee Smith). Then there was a fire on the Stretford End - reporters claimed this was hoping the smoke generated would force an abandonment.

Play resumed. Then the second pitch invasion with 4 mins remaining. Matt Busby appealed for calm (the view was that he was the only man Utd fans would listen to) but they didn't listen and ignored his pleas.

With 3 mins remaining the ref had no choice to abandon it. A few seconds before he took the decision to abandon the game he was told of the other relevant results. Those results meant Utd were already relegated and so he then abandoned the game. Would he have taken a different action if the result mattered? Who knows?

200 fans were ejected during the match. 33 arrested for disorderly conduct, assaulting the police, theft, and pick-pocketing. The MEN match report ended with: "If these be the loyal supporters of whom Tommy Docherty speaks so highly, few people will admire his choice."

 

[lloydie]

Law is a legend. Loved by reds and blues. A lovely bloke who will always be The King.

Not loved by me as much as the one and only "King", Colin Bell.