Parliament had solemnly decreed a state of emergency. The crippling miner’s strike blighted by rancour and ill-feeling which led to an economically disastrous three-day working week was just coming to an end.
Power cuts necessitated homes being illuminated by candles; restricted television schedules and pubs being closed were all now mercifully becoming items of turbulent history.
Two bitterly-contested General Elections were fought on the premise of whether government or trade unions ran the country, while inflation soared and morale sagged.
Worst of all, the country faced IRA atrocities already perpetrated and horrifyingly destined to come notoriously and with devastating effect in Birmingham that same year.
Welcome to 1974 and a country divided and demonstrably ill at ease with itself.
Rock band Slade had just released their iconic hit, Merry Christmas Everybody, splendidly ironic given that the festivities had been virtually cancelled amid the crisis and gloom.
In America, President Nixon floundered haplessly over Watergate while Cher had filed for divorce from Sony Bono. Bob Latchford became Britain’s most expensive footballer moving from Birmingham to Everton for a sizable £350,000 and significantly, Wolves hadn’t won a meaningful trophy for 14 years.
