FA Cup holders Albion took on the First Division Champions, Manchester City, in the FA Charity Shield game at Maine Road.
Albion goalkeeper John Osborne injured a finger during the game and had to be replaced by skipper Graham Williams between the posts, just as he had been in the fourth round cup tie at Southampton in Albion’s successful FA Cup run.
Things did not go quite so well on this occasion as Albion were thrashed 6-1 by Joe Mercer’s team. Dick Krzywicki scored the consolation goal for the travelling Baggies.