Under the Radar

‘Under the Radar’

A review of ‘Trailing Clouds of Glory’ by Nick Burnell: – Welsh Football’s Forgotten Heroes of 1976.

It seems apt that I finished reading this well researched book in my car – as I sat there, almost under the radar – a lot like the achievement this engaging book points out.

Let’s state this right here, right now (in my best Uncle Bryn accent) in 1976 Wales reached the Quarter-Finals of a major football tournament.

The thing is, this fact never gets acknowledged by anyone in the football world, unless you watched this team and read this superb book.

The author, Nick Burnell initially details the playing career of the English amateur, Mike Smith, who became Welsh manager in 1974, as successor to Dave Bowen.

Smith created such a strong feeling within the Welsh squad that no-one, no matter if he played in the 4th Division –  like Wrexham’s Aaron Griffiths or in the First Division, like Terry Yorath at high flying Leeds for example, the player always wanted to turn-up and be part of the squad, for the crack, camaraderie and chuckles, as well as a couple of beers of course! They were to a man, loath to miss being with their mates and devastated not to be actually picked to play for their country.

This, along with the individual quality of the players which was harnessed by Smith, is at the very core of why this particular squad was successful and achieved an un-matched feat of winning five qualifiers on the trot, which has yet to be surpassed almost 50 years later.

Wales narrowly lost away in Austria, then subsequently beat Luxembourg twice and also got a creditable victory in Budapest, as they beat Hungary home and away. Qualification for the Euro Quarter-finals all came down to the final game, against Austria, at the teams favoured Racecourse venue.  

A draw was needed to qualify but Wales commendably ‘went for it’ and won, 1-0, thanks to a strike by local boy, Griffiths.  

It meant that Wales, now I can’t state this anymore transparently, qualified for the Quarter-Finals of a major tournament.

It was an achievement shared by the likes of goalie Dai Davies – who had come into the team midway through the campaign, for Gary Sprake. Dave Roberts and Mal Page in defence as well as the silky – smooth Leighton Phillips of Aston Villa at centre-half. In the middle was the classy John Mahoney of a successful Stoke City team. On the wing Leighton James terrorised and up front was the powerful John Toshack who also experienced success on the domestic and European front with Liverpool.

Wales though lost the first leg of their quarter – final tie, in Yugoslavia, despite Smith stressing the need before-hand not to concede early! Despite this set-back, Wales carried out a damage limitation job and lost 2-0.

As the book announces through captain, Terry Yorath, the tie could still be won in the return-leg.

A packed Nubian Park was the venue for the second leg but even before the game started, things did not bode well for Wales, as Burnell explains that the East German ref Glockner, was upset that a West German flag was hoisted before hand – as Burnell  suggests  – this may have had an influential bearing on subsequent decisions.

Wales fell behind to an early harshly awarded penalty. This meant the aggregate score was 3-0 to the Yugoslavs, who were a very skillful team; it meant that Wales had an Alp like peak mountain to climb, to have any chance of going through to the semi-finals.

As Burnell explains, Wales, their spirit un-daunted, gave it their best shot and gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Ian Evans scored to make it 1-1 (1-3).

Despite several near misses the turning point came though when Yorath’s weakly struck a spot-kick was saved. This all but extinguished Wales chances.

Fans came onto the pitch – as the author explains though this was the norm at the ground in those days (even I did, in 1982/83 when Cardiff won promotion back to Division 2).  UEFA though took a dim view and banned Wales from hosting further European games at the venue for two years.

It was a sad end to an otherwise excellent qualifying campaign – something which the author points out, that Welsh football fans were to become all-too familiar with over the next 40 years.

The book highlights a time when I myself was growing-up and has a nostalgic feel, making it not just a book about football.

I highly recommend it and have already suggested to the author, through Facebook, that he considers writing another one, on Wales qualification quest in the 1980’s.

Perhaps Burnell could write a contemporary book about the Welsh Euro 2020 successful campaign – with the players of 1976, giving their views on the modern achievements, under Ryan Giggs. 

Let’s hope that the 1976 teams’ feats, thanks to this informative, interesting, un-putdownable book, are no longer kept under the radar.

4/2/2020. A. Phillips 844