‘Snap, crackle and pop’ was a catchphrase usually associated with an advertising slogan for Rice Crispies in the 1950s/60s and beyond.
However, there certainly was an abundance of ‘snap, crackle and pop’ in the days, weeks and months following the date of June 19, 1974.
That was the date which gave birth to a memorable football moment.
The venue was Dortmund as West Germany hosted the 1974 World Cup.
Holland met Sweden on that date and star man Johan Cruyff received the ball on the left wing.
He was closely marked by Swedish defender Jan Olsson and initially made tracks back facing his own half.
As Olsson got nearer, the ‘Cruyff Turn’ was born as the Dutchman quickly, brilliantly, manoeuvred the ball through his own legs and turned at the same time, leaving his opponent bamboozled and bewildered.
My ‘snap, crackle and pop’ reference is to all the knee tendons, cartilages and ligaments bursting over the following weeks as everyone with a ball in playgrounds and local parks was having a go emulating the great feat.
I know this to be especially true as, around a month later, I was enjoying pre-season training with local junior side Broughty Athletic.
In our end-of-training kick-about, I tried to master the great trick against one of my team-mates but only succeeded in injuring myself as something definitely gave way in my knee.
As you did in those days, I just rubbed it a little and tried to run it off. Looking back, I’m convinced that was the moment my football career — at any decent level — died.
I was reminded about all this with the recent news that Cruyff is currently suffering from lung cancer.
Like everyone in football all over the world, I’m sure BwB readers will join me in wishing him total recovery from this illness.
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