As Thomas Tuchel prepares to name his first England squad on Friday, Philip Barker looks back at Don Revie’s first game in charge in March 1975, a 2-0 win over West Germany at Wembley; in a very different era of coverage, there were just three TV channels and social media did not exist…
German Thomas Tuchel will be the latest to attempt to end England’s 60 years of hurt when he names his first squad this week. His every move will be subject to intense scrutiny.
Tuchel was only a baby when England beat West Germany this very week, half a century ago. England’s manager then was Don Revie.
Revie’s time in charge of England is now considered a dismal period because of failure to qualify for major tournaments, but in March 1975, an immensely satisfying victory over the new world champions seemed to herald a new era.
Hopes were high that he might emulate his predecessor, Sir Alf Ramsey, the only England manager to win the World Cup.
However in retrospect, that rainy March night is now regarded as the apogee of the Revie reign.
His achievements at Leeds made him a popular choice as England manager. FA secretary Ted Croker and international committee chairman Dick Wragg had announced the appointment in the Elland Road board room.
By the standards of the 1970s, this was a high-profile event but there was no giant England crest and certainly no sponsor board behind them as they faced the press and television.
“Of one thing I am sure, this is the start of a revolution in England’s approach to international soccer,” predicted Frank Taylor in the Daily Mirror.
This “revolution” extended to a new playing strip by Admiral, a Midlands-based sportswear firm.
“England kit scores for local factory,“ wrote Bob Hemingway of the Market Harborough Advertiser and Mail.
They milked the local angle for all it was worth by publishing a photograph of 11-year-old local schoolboy Andrew Breeze in the new strip.
“As the revolutionary kit was unveiled to the world, the Harborough Mail was on the streets with an exclusive preview.” It described the red and blue piping as “subtle combinations”.
It was a design which opened the floodgates for the lucrative new industry, each kit more strident than the last.
“I hope that we will play a significant role in Mr Revie’s England side. We expect a great deal of extra business in spinoff items for sale worldwide,” trilled Admiral director John Griffin.
Revie’s approach to media relations came in sharp contrast to Sir Alf. “I need the press to sell the England team,” he told Sportsworld magazine.
Revie held media conferences across the country and insisted: “I’ve always been available to talk on the phone. That’s how it was when I was at Leeds, it is exactly the same now.”
On the road, he was even said to have organised taxis for journalists when covering training. There were coaching clinics for youngsters. Revie even appeared on collector cards given away with Brooke Bond tea.
“Whilst I have little time for the almost sycophantic following he has acquired in some sections of the media, our team could not be in better hands,” conceded James Mossop in the Sunday Express in his preview.
England walked out to the stirring strains of “Land of Hope and Glory”. The match with West Germany had been announced months before. Although only a friendly, it sold out, even though some tickets cost £6, then quite a sum.
“English football has a chance to fling away the albatross around its neck,” thundered Mike Langley in the Sunday People.
The match was beamed live on close circuit television to cinemas across the country by a company called Viewsport.
“See it in armchair comfort,” promised the advertisement. Viewers at home had to wait for the highlights on ITV with commentary from Brian Moore and Sir Alf.
England recalled Alan Ball as captain. His opposite number Franz Beckenbauer was the only other survivor from that match in 1966.
The West Germans included five who had played in the 1974 World Cup final, but Colin Bell gave England a first-half lead and Malcolm Macdonald added number two midway through the second half.
“A night when England can be proud of what they achieved,” Moore said, as he signed off the broadcast.
The morning papers brought further praise. “Our Best Yet” screamed the headlines in the Daily Mirror. “England beat, outclassed and at times frightened the life out of the World Champions.”
The star performer was debutant Alan Hudson, previously banned by Sir Alf for refusing a call-up for an Under 23 tour.
“Alan Hudson gave England a dimension they have not had since Martin Peters was at his peak and before him, Johnny Haynes,” said David Miller in the Express.
Also watching was German star Gunter Netzer, who had almost single-handedly destroyed England on the same Wembley turf three years before.
“He is the best English player I have ever seen!” Netzer told James Lawton.
“I think he will be one of the great players, he has control and style and he can obviously affect a team.”
Lawton perceptively noted that “Netzer has a remarkable similarity to Hudson in the delicacy of his play and fierce independence of his spirit.” Netzer only made the briefest appearance as a substitute at the 1974 World Cup.
Hudson’s own England career lasted only one more match, a 5-0 win against Cyprus when Macdonald, another soon-to-be jettisoned, scored all five.
Of those who played against the Germans, only Ray Clemence, Dave Watson, Mick Channon and Kevin Keegan were still part of the England set-up by the end of the year.
“With the wisdom of hindsight, Revie’s policy carried one major flaw. He continually altered his line-up and amidst the “toing” and “froing”, team work suffered badly,” observed Martin Tyler, then an ITV commentator for Yorkshire Television.
Even so, Revie’s England were unbeaten for precisely 365 days before defeat to Czechoslovakia and dropped points against Portugal saw them fail to qualify for the European Championships quarter-finals.
Everything unravelled in the 1978 World Cup qualifiers where Italy were the only realistic rivals but goal difference seemed likely to be decisive.
By June 1977, the prospects were bleak and Revie discovered why the post would later become known as “The Impossible Job”.
FA chairman Sir Harold Thompson, previously nemesis to Sir Alf, had always been hostile to Revie. With some justification, Revie feared the sack was imminent.
News of his resignation came in the Daily Mail before his official letter arrived at the FA. It was reporter Jeff Powell who broke the story, as Revie took up a post in the United Arab Emirates.
It was the finest scoop of the year.
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