A living legend, Denis Smith
Intervju med Denis Smith del 2
Vår intressanta intervju med Stoke legend Denis Smith fortsätter
The golden age of Stoke City was undoubtedly between 1971 - ´75. There were some truly great games. However I personally can never forget the first FA cup semi-final against Arsenal at Hillsborough, when Arsenal equalized (penalty) in the final seconds. Just how was the dressing room after? Should Stoke have been awarded a free kick from the corner that resulted in the penalty?
We should have had a free kick before the corner when Gordon caught a free kick and was fouled by George Graham. After the game everyone in the dressing room thought we had been robbed and were very upset.
The replay must have been awful, (Arsenal won 2-0) almost impossible to build yourselves up again, after being so close just 4 days earlier.
Yes we never got going in the replay.
The following season was even more eventful, (1971- ´72) Stoke won the league cup after the 4 epic semi-final matches against West Ham. What do you remember about these games against West ham?
The 2 main points were Gordon's save from Geoff Hurst at Upton Park and Bobbie Moore going in goal at Old Trafford.
The final obviously must have been fantastic, can you remember much about the game or is it a blur?
You remember walking out and seeing all the red and white and certain important things like the goals and Micky Bernard's back pass.
How did you celebrate after and what was the reception like on returning to the potteries?
There was a banquet after the game at the hotel in London but I only had 1/2 pint of beer and went to bed early where I had a pint of milk. The reception we got when we returned was a never to be forgotten experience.
Not content with winning the one-cup, Stoke went on to the semi-final in the FA cup the same season and again met Arsenal and again lost after a replay. Was it someway a little easier to take this time after the League Cup success?
No, definitely not. It's more frustrating because we wanted to go back to Wembley.
Is Arsenal the team you “hate” most, as with many Stokies?
My wife Kate still regards Arsenal as a swear word.
Our European venue only lasted 2 games against West German opponents Kaiserslautern, were we too inexperienced?
We played very well the 2nd. season against Ajax and we were unlucky to lose on an away goal. We were by far the better side when we drew 0-0 in Amsterdam. In the 1st.year we were very naive in the 2nd. leg.
Mike Bernard was the first to leave from the cup winning side going to Everton; I always felt that he regretted leaving Stoke, would you agree?
Bernie was a great loss to the team as he was or only defensive midfield player.
The following season saw Gordon Banks involved in a car accident resulting in his retirement, obviously a great shock for players, John Farmer was his replacement, was it difficult to work with a new keeper? (Obviously not easy to replace “Banksy”)
No Goalkeeper was ever going to be good enough to replace Gordon.
The 1973-74 season saw Stoke go from a middle of the table team to suddenly a top team. A lot of the players were at their peak, plus Stoke signed the most gifted player I have seen, Alan Hudson, were you surprised that he chose Stoke?
Stoke was the right team for Hudson, it allowed him to express himself fully.
Hudson came from the swinging Kings Road to working class Stoke, how was he accepted by the rest of team, was he well- liked? (Everybody has heard the Pejic stories)
Players don't have to like everyone they play alongside, they are just work colleagues. You will accept anyone who will improve the team and Hudson did.
I personally think that the spring of 1974 was the best football I have seen Stoke City play and of course the match against Leeds United (23 Feb.) will never be forgotten. As you got the winner could you tell something about the game and its importance? (NB! Leeds were unbeaten in the league up until their visit to the Potteries!)
I realise now how big the game was world wide when I recieve photos to be signed from all corners of the world.
Were you aware as a player that a lot of these games were shown live on Swedish/Danish/Norwegian TV, therefore the huge interest in Stoke City here in Scandinavia?
Players did realise the games were shown live in Scandinavia.
With Jackie Charlton, Brian Labone coming to the end of their careers, England needed new central defenders; did you think you were close to an international call?
I was called into 2 England squads and Alf Ramsey called me a few times but unfortunately I was injured too often.
As the season 1973-´74 ended, did the players think that that the next season 1974- 75 could be something special? Didn’t Stoke travel on a luxury yacht pre-season in The Mediterranean? How did that come about? (Recall seeing Terry Conroy on the news smothered in sun cream) My father thought he looked like a greasy chip)
We thought we would continue to improve in the 74-75 season. We played pre-season in the South of France playing Marseille, Nice and Monaco. One of our sponsors had a perfume factory there and also a yacht that we went to Monaco on. Terry Conroy never took too kindly to the sun.
Vi tackar Denis för hans svar och hoppas att han kan fortsätta (om han har tid) med åren ´74 - ´82.
/Nick Pugh and Håkan Hoffert.
