Back to the 10th of February 1974 and Crewe Alexandra played their first ever league fixture away from home on a Sunday against Mansfield Town.
In front of 2690 spectators the Alex lined up –
Parker,Lowry, Stephens,Peat,Nicholas,Lugg, Kelley, Kinsey, Rowlands, Riley and Duffey. Substitute Purdie.
Mansfield were defending an unbeaten home record but goals from Hughen Riley and Chris Duffey sealed a 2-1 victory which was our first victory at Field Mill since the 1936-37 season.
The Yom Kippur war between Israel and the Arab nations of late 1973 led to the Arab members of OPEC suspending deliveries of oil to western nations who had supported Israel. As attendances declined in part driven by the energy crisis the Football association approved the trial of Sunday football for the first time. In February 1974 the use of floodlights was banned and the majority of workers were on a three day week.
The stumbling block to Sunday football was the Sunday observance act which means that it was technically illegal to sell match tickets. Clubs therefore made admission free but charged for a programme or team sheet at the turnstile.
This particular team sheet is very rare and on most collector’s lists. The picture is of Tommy Lowry going for a header with goalscorer Hughen Riley watching on. This is taken from the end where the away support will be housed on Saturday.
