Great Games
Worthy earns hero status with double
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| Gordon Sharrock continues this week's series of past memorable matches between Wanderers and Manchester United ahead of Saturday's Reebok clash. Today he spotlights Wanderers' victory at Old Trafford in 1979 |
THERE have been better players and greater goalscorers but, to a certain generation of
Wanderers fans, Frank Worthington is the all-time folk hero.
He only made 93 appearances in just over two years for Ian Greaves' Super Whites. But in that time he became a legend.
One of the most flamboyant characters of the age, the former England international arrived from Leicester City, initially on loan, but he instantly became the talisman of the 1977-78 team that finally brought top flight football back to Burnden Park after a 14-year exile, clinching promotion after two near misses with a 1-0 win at Blackburn.
That Ewood Park match-winner in itself would have guaranteed Worthington a place in Bolton folklore, but it just got better and better for the Worthy fan club.
The following year he scored 24 goals in 42 Division One appearances, winning the golden boot and providing two contenders for the goal of the season - the fabulous ball-juggling feat against Ipswich at Burnden that was captured for all time by the ITV cameras, and his own personal favourite in a 3-1 win at QPR.
But it was the four goals he scored to earn Wanderers a league double over Manchester United that guaranteed him a place in the hearts of Bolton fans.
Worthy had already scored two - his partner Alan Gowling got the other - in a convincing 3-0 defeat of United at Burnden the previous December.
But it was his double in the return at Old Trafford that gave Wanderers one of their most important results of the season. They didn't appear to have a prayer when United led at half-time.
They had been overwhelmingly outplayed but, somehow, managed to restrict United to a single Martin Buchan goal.
Yet that team of Greaves's had the special qualities of spirit, resilience - and Worthington.
Nevertheless, even after flamboyant Frank had given Wanderers hope of a point with a 53rd minute equaliser, the match turned on a controversial incident on the hour when United were awarded a penalty for handball against Paul Jones.
Big Gordon McQueen duly beat Jim McDonagh from the spot, but with the Stretford End celebrating what they believed would be the match-winner, referee Pat Partridge ordered the kick to be re-taken and McQueen's second attempt hit the inside of the post and bounced to safety.
Wanderers made the most of the lucky break and, in the dramatic dying seconds, Brian Smith - one of the unsung heroes of that Bolton squad - broke from midfield and crossed for Worthington to turn the ball past a helpless Gary Bailey.
Wanderers took just two points from their final seven games, but, thanks to Worthington, they had done enough to secure a second season of Division One football.
8:09pm Monday 19th November 2007
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CommentPosted by: sparx, chorley on 8:53pm Mon 19 Nov 07
Frankie -a class act, but again that was almost 30 years ago, but things were much the same then as now. Yes we played out of our skins against the top clubs but struggled against anyone else. I dont remember any Bolton team apart from the promotion winning team when Bolton left Burnden, that you could almost guarantee a win every game. Thats another thing, we left our soul behind when we left Bolton & moved to Horwich
Frankie -a class act, but again that was almost 30 years ago, but things were much the same then as now. Yes we played out of our skins against the top clubs but struggled against anyone else. I dont remember any Bolton team apart from the promotion winning team when Bolton left Burnden, that you could almost guarantee a win every game. Thats another thing, we left our soul behind when we left Bolton & moved to Horwich
Posted by: sparx, chorley on 9:02pm Mon 19 Nov 07
Also, while we're going down memory lane, Bolton used to play Utd home on Christmas day then away on Boxing Day - saw it in an old programme -these lot are struggling with 2 games a week!
Also, while we're going down memory lane, Bolton used to play Utd home on Christmas day then away on Boxing Day - saw it in an old programme -these lot are struggling with 2 games a week!
Posted by: King Eric, . on 9:13am Tue 20 Nov 07
He was a great player.
Loved to have seen him at O.T.
He was a great player.
Loved to have seen him at O.T.
Posted by: bigsyd, clitheroe on 9:57am Tue 20 Nov 07
Simply the best! Forget the useless, overpaid prima donnas we put up with today. That guy oozed class and entertained - not bored the ar$e off you.
Simply the best! Forget the useless, overpaid prima donnas we put up with today. That guy oozed class and entertained - not bored the ar$e off you.
Posted by: Den, Leigh on 10:01am Tue 20 Nov 07
As far as i can remember this was my 2nd game watching the Wanderers! loved it....worthy will always be a hero....proper footballer! proper entertainer.......
As far as i can remember this was my 2nd game watching the Wanderers! loved it....worthy will always be a hero....proper footballer! proper entertainer.......
Posted by: bazz, westhoughton on 10:18am Tue 20 Nov 07
Good to see King Eric back on here, he's articulation personified - usually has some valid statements, and I for one enjoy reading his comments, which is more than can be said for some drivel posted on this site. Good lad!
Good to see King Eric back on here, he's articulation personified - usually has some valid statements, and I for one enjoy reading his comments, which is more than can be said for some drivel posted on this site. Good lad!
Posted by: notlob on 10:32am Tue 20 Nov 07
Eric he was at Old Trafford sticking two past your boys and a great night was had by all.
Eric he was at Old Trafford sticking two past your boys and a great night was had by all.
Posted by: mick I, bolton on 11:01am Tue 20 Nov 07
[quote][bold]notlob[/bold] wrote:
Eric he was at Old Trafford sticking two past your boys and a great night was had by all.[/quote] Also the fun in seeing Gordon Mcqueen missing a retaken penalty! Worthy was different class and will always be a Wanderers folk hero!
notlob wrote:
Eric he was at Old Trafford sticking two past your boys and a great night was had by all.
Also the fun in seeing Gordon Mcqueen missing a retaken penalty! Worthy was different class and will always be a Wanderers folk hero!
Posted by: King Eric, . on 11:39am Tue 20 Nov 07
Bolton battered United that night as they did at Burnden.
Bolton battered United that night as they did at Burnden.
Posted by: notlob on 12:16pm Tue 20 Nov 07
Eric look at the paper and the results stats we did the double.
Eric look at the paper and the results stats we did the double.
Posted by: superjohn, bolton on 12:41pm Tue 20 Nov 07
My first game was his debut (I think) against Stoke City at home, Garth Crooks scored for them and Worthy scored the equalizer (again, I think).
Great player, probably only usurped by Mcginlay in the fan's affections, in my time at least.
My first game was his debut (I think) against Stoke City at home, Garth Crooks scored for them and Worthy scored the equalizer (again, I think).
Great player, probably only usurped by Mcginlay in the fan's affections, in my time at least.
Posted by: whatsgoingon, Bolton on 3:01pm Tue 20 Nov 07
Get on you tube and type his name in to see his goal against ipswich, if it had been a united player or a brazilian they would still be eulogising about it now - absolute class. The big difference is they played with a smile on their faces.
Ability like his is now being coached out of kids in favour of pro-zone stats.
Get on you tube and type his name in to see his goal against ipswich, if it had been a united player or a brazilian they would still be eulogising about it now - absolute class. The big difference is they played with a smile on their faces.
Ability like his is now being coached out of kids in favour of pro-zone stats.
Posted by: rob, horwich on 5:57pm Tue 20 Nov 07
I wasn't even born then, but from what i hear, he was a true great, c-mon you white men, let it be 1979 all over again and beat the reds ..
I wasn't even born then, but from what i hear, he was a true great, c-mon you white men, let it be 1979 all over again and beat the reds ..
Posted by: King Eric, . on 6:47pm Tue 20 Nov 07
Eric look at the paper and the results stats we did the double.
Yes I know, I went to both....don't remind me :-))
Did Tony Dunne play for Bolton in the Burnden game ?
Eric look at the paper and the results stats we did the double.
Yes I know, I went to both....don't remind me :-))
Did Tony Dunne play for Bolton in the Burnden game ?
Posted by: worthy, harwood on 7:44pm Tue 20 Nov 07
SIMPLY THE BEST................
......
SIMPLY THE BEST................
......
Posted by: King Eric, . on 7:47pm Tue 20 Nov 07
I love all the stories about him and his attitude towards football,life in general.
Mad frigger but so what ?Guys like him light up football and life.
I love all the stories about him and his attitude towards football,life in general.
Mad frigger but so what ?Guys like him light up football and life.
Posted by: philipbwfc, kent on 8:21pm Tue 20 Nov 07
I was at old trafford that night it was brilliant.Ron Atikinson was UTD manager and he made Gordon McQueen shake hands with Worthy at full time because it was the only time McQueen could find him that night. Worthy scored 24 goals for a side that came fourth from bottom and Kenny Dagliesh scored 23 for a side that won the championship but guess who got player of the year.If there has been a better player at Bolton it must of been pre 1964.He may not of lasted long but nothing I have seen has come close to touching him that year of 79
I was at old trafford that night it was brilliant.Ron Atikinson was UTD manager and he made Gordon McQueen shake hands with Worthy at full time because it was the only time McQueen could find him that night. Worthy scored 24 goals for a side that came fourth from bottom and Kenny Dagliesh scored 23 for a side that won the championship but guess who got player of the year.If there has been a better player at Bolton it must of been pre 1964.He may not of lasted long but nothing I have seen has come close to touching him that year of 79
Posted by: wanderersNo10fan, Bolton on 10:10pm Tue 20 Nov 07
Frank will always bemy number one hero. On the signed picture I have of him scoring the winner at Old Trafford, he wrote 'Easy'. A class act even when signing autographs.
Frank will always bemy number one hero. On the signed picture I have of him scoring the winner at Old Trafford, he wrote 'Easy'. A class act even when signing autographs.
Posted by: Wilma Fingadoo, Tinseltown on 2:10am Wed 21 Nov 07
I saw every game Frank played for us, and was right behind the net at QPR when he curled it around Phil Parkes from about 30 yards...England goalie rooted to the spot, theres a million stories about Frank, but heres a quick couple, I was on the carpark at Burnden he was having a photo shoot for The Daily Mirror, they had him in a great leather jacket astride a Harley Davidson, the headline read "Frankie the Fonz...he's Bolton's rock and goal king......when the camera stopped clicking Frank kicked up the bike and went missing for two days, eventually turning in the bike, but he could be seen around town in the jacket until he left for Birmingham,,, I was in a night club in Manchester, Frank was playing for Brum, I know he was still propping up the bar at 3.30am, he had to drive to Brum, get some sleep, and show up at the ground for 1pm.....he scored two great goals, and Jim Smith who was his boss at the time put it down to Frank having plenty rest as he had a little cutie from Hawaii staying with him and she was a good influence on him...!!!!
although he was no Johney Byrom, he certainly comes a close second
I saw every game Frank played for us, and was right behind the net at QPR when he curled it around Phil Parkes from about 30 yards...England goalie rooted to the spot, theres a million stories about Frank, but heres a quick couple, I was on the carpark at Burnden he was having a photo shoot for The Daily Mirror, they had him in a great leather jacket astride a Harley Davidson, the headline read "Frankie the Fonz...he's Bolton's rock and goal king......when the camera stopped clicking Frank kicked up the bike and went missing for two days, eventually turning in the bike, but he could be seen around town in the jacket until he left for Birmingham,,, I was in a night club in Manchester, Frank was playing for Brum, I know he was still propping up the bar at 3.30am, he had to drive to Brum, get some sleep, and show up at the ground for 1pm.....he scored two great goals, and Jim Smith who was his boss at the time put it down to Frank having plenty rest as he had a little cutie from Hawaii staying with him and she was a good influence on him...!!!!
although he was no Johney Byrom, he certainly comes a close second
Posted by: Savaaaaaaaaage!, Wrexham '88 on 3:11pm Wed 21 Nov 07
I know it's not about Franky Franky but it's about another Bolton legend....
[bold]Cracking article on Super-John McGinlay:[/bold]
http://www.officialp
layersites.com/playe
rs/mcginlay/article.
php?id=661
I know it's not about Franky Franky but it's about another Bolton legend....
Cracking article on Super-John McGinlay:
http://www.officialp
layersites.com/playe
rs/mcginlay/article.
php?id=661
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