Keith MacRae

[Tbilisi]

I think there's a few people getting their Sheffield United games mixed up.
The coach crash, when Corrigan was injured, was during the 75-76 season, and resulted in a 2-2 draw.
However, the majority of MacRae's games were 73-74, the most notable being the Wembley defeat against Wolves.

Yes,I recall me and my Dad didnt get in the ground until after Tommy Booth had scored the opener in the 2 - 2 game....City fans singing "City,stick together" at the end in anticipation of the walk back to the train station always sticks in my mind.

"Keith,Keith,Keith McCrae" was his chant

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

Didn't Joe get sent to play Rugby to improve his game and toughen him up.

I'm not sure if this actually happened or whether it's just one of those urban myths. I'm sure my late father told me that tale anyway.

 

[JULES]

Useless info time.

He made his debut at Sheff Utd after the team had a bump in the coach and Big Joe wasn't fit to play. He was then fined for wearing black shorts and socks which didn't match our first strip.

(I may have mixed three separate incidents up there but I don't think so.)

my first ever city game was first match of the season 71 ? v leeds and I believed it was his debut, I could be wrong though, we lost 0-1

 

[trevorcitytilidie]

 

[trevorcitytilidie]

couple of question's and answers from an interview with Joe Corrigan in 2004 by Gary James

You remained first choice for most of the period up to the signing of Keith MacRae in October 1973, did his arrival feel like the end for you? ---------- Definitely! They paid an incredible amount, I think it was a world record fee for a ‘keeper, so you know that he has to be first choice. You don’t pay that and leave him in the reserves. Plus he was a great ‘keeper. No question. I was on my way out and this was a very difficult time. The Club was also going through a few managerial changes, so it wasn’t easy. Then in 1975 Keith was injured. shortly before the transfer deadline. I thought I’d get back in, but I bought the Evening News and saw photos and names of a whole host of ‘keepers City were supposed to be interested in. It seemed to me at the time anybody but Corrigan would do. It was a tormenting time. I couldn’t bear it. Every night it was the same. Fortunately for me transfer day came and went and no one was bought. I don’t know if time ran out or what, but I know I was relieved.

You got back into the side and retained your place when MacRae was fit. What was the turning point? ---------- l’d been working hard when I was in the Reserves. I’d tried to develop and I was determined not to lose whatever opportunity came my way. Having said that, we had mixed results and I was worried. Then we played at Wolves and they were all over us. I remember Derek Dougan and John Richards both came up for a cross and I was whacked. The ball ended up in the net and I felt awful. Then the ref blew for a foul on me and from that moment the luck was on my side. I truly believe a lot of football is about luck and opportunity and that day everything switched in my favour. We beat Chelsea and Burnley in the weeks that followed and I only missed one League game in the following five seasons.

 

[GeorgeHeslop'sTackle.]

Yes, I remember that game at Wolves.
Keith got injured beforehand, and I think it's true to say that I lot of us feared the worst when Joe was recalled, (as his confidence, and our confidence, as fans, in his ability, was at rock bottom during that period)

Wolves murdered us that day, but Joe arguably had his best ever game in a city shirt. We drew 0-0, Joe played an absolute blinder.

From that point on Joe's performances improved beyond measure and barring, injury, he was never dropped by City again, as far as I recall.

 

[warspite]

A ginger who excelled in the wind and rain

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

I recall the game away at Sheff U when City's coach had a crash and Joe was shaken up..... no idea how in the days without mobile phones but the club got hold of McRae and rushed him over to play. I think (but maybe wrong) the game was held up for 30 mins....

He was actually at the club for 7/8 years.

 

[xgorton]

my first ever city game was first match of the season 71 ? v leeds and I believed it was his debut, I could be wrong though, we lost 0-1

We did lose 1-0 I missed the game due to me being in the MRI with a blocked intestine and pneumonia,but I was fit for the next home match a 1-0 win v Liverpool Mellor scored.Also that was the one and only season we stood up on the new North Stand.Kipper Macraes first game for us was at Sheffield United 2-1 win October 73.

 

[Wiffill's waffle]

I remember the match that marked MacRae's unfortunate downfall and Corrigan's return to the 1st team. It was away at Leicester in 74/75. I think within the first 5 mins MacRae was about to take a goal kick, was walking backwards before moving forward to kick the ball, when he fell down the slope that was behind the goals at Filbert Street and tore some ligaments or something. He was taken off on a stretcher in some agony as I recall. In those days only one sub was available and was never a goalkeeper, so MIke Doyle went in goal, played an absolute blinder only to be beaten in the last few minutes which meant City lost 1-0. I remember being really angry at the injustice of it all. Anyway, Joe Corrigan got into the first team therafter and never looked back..............except he might have done at Filbert St to avoid any injury taking a goalkick.