Matt Eastley - From Ricky Villa to Dave Beasant: When the FA Cup Really Mattered, Volume 3--The 1980s

First published by Pitch Publishing, 2015

Pitch Publishing

A2 Yeoman Gate

Yeoman Way

Durrington

BN13 3QZ

www.pitchpublishing.co.uk

Matthew Eastley, 2015

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Print ISBN 978 1 78531 023 2

eBook ISBN: 978-1-78531-081-2

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Arsenal v West Ham United
Saturday 10 May

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday 9 May and Thursday 14 May 1981

Queens Park Rangers v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday 22 May and Thursday 27 May 1982

Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United
Saturday 21 May and Thursday 26 May 1983

Everton v Watford
Saturday 19 May 1984

Everton v Manchester United
Saturday 18 May 1985

Everton v Liverpool
Saturday 10 May 1986

Coventry City v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday 16 May 1987

Liverpool v Wimbledon
Saturday 14 May 1988

Everton v Liverpool
Saturday 20 May 1989

O VER the years, hundreds of football fans have been kind enough to share their FA Cup memories with me for, not just this book, but also its predecessors, From Barry Stobart to Neil Young and From Ronnie Radford to Roger Osborne. I am extremely grateful to them all. The following people have either shared their memories with me, or have helped me find people to do so. They are:

Gary Lawrence; Peter Hamersley; Terry Roper; Grant Leslie; Alan Budgen; Gary Humphrey; Richard Davis; Stephen Smith; Alan Budgen; John Wardle; Emilio Zorlakki; Roger Haigh; Jeremy Poynton; Raymond Ashton; Alex Channon; Charles Webster; Daphne Edwards; Ian Robertson; Martin Cloake; Lee Burman; Chris Andrews; Keith Palmer; Chris Guy; Cornelius Hanrahan; Gareth Evans; Pat Harrison; John Dean; Simon Muir; Austin Penn; Ron Lewis; Clive Whittingham; Bob Scott; Tony Sparks; Jim Duggan; Wayne Richardson; Deb Exley; Julie Ryan; Sean Fourniss; Robin Forman; Paul Waghorn; Bruce Lindfield; Nick Catt; Paul Woodrow; Neale Phillips; Robin Miller; Simon Todd; Ray Harrington; Jack Hammond; Chris Summers; David Charlesworth; Jonathan Cawthra; David Goodwin; Russ Bravo; Chris Bolsover; Mike Boult; David Trenner; Nick Archer; Tim Carder; Sarah Watts; John Kirkland; Richard Travers; John Clay; Tony Ryan; John Lunn; Nigel Astell; Ian Brunton; Matt Traynor; Chris Wood; Paul Griffin; Denny Gill; Dave Walsh; Joe Baker; Peter Beigan; Ray Roche; Tony Holding; John Hands; Jim Weedon; Fran Hickey; Keith Horan; Jerry Ladell; Peter Morgan; Richard Walker; Maureen Rickett; Steve Scott; Chris Collins; Darren Simpson; Brendan Parkinson; Steven Langley; Peter Hargreaves; Rick Welch; Stephen Blank; Andrew Burton; Jim Smith; Peter Darby; Michael Hoban; Ron Schofield; Matthew Selby; Colin Barden; Julie Kelley; Dean Nelson; Steve Phelps; Harry Bragginton; Ray Armfield; Ivor Heller; Stephen Crabtree; Simon Bath; Philip Watkin; Chris Slavin; Ian Johnston; Dave Bandell.

I would like to say a special thanks to Steve Gordos who has been of immeasurable help. His expert sub-editing skills and deep footballing knowledge have been indispensable.

Likewise, Liverpool fan Chris Wood, who saw his first FA Cup Final in 1971, provided a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Big thanks to Chris.

Thanks also to Jane and Paul at Pitch Publishing for running with this project and the lovely people at BBC Radio Kent, John Warnett, Maggie Doyle and Matt Davison for their frequent invitations on to their breakfast show, giving me a chance to talk about my favourite subject the FA Cup!

Finally, thanks to Lisa and Alice for bearing with me while this labour of love was accomplished.

Dave Beasant, former Wimbledon captain and goalkeeper, and FA Cup winner in 1988

L IKE thousands of youngsters in this country, I spent a lot of my childhood dreaming that I would become a professional footballer. If I achieved that ambition, the one thing I wanted to win above all others was the FA Cup.

As a young lad growing up in Willesden which is not too far from Wembley FA Cup Final day was absolutely huge. I remember in the late 1960s, when most people still had black and white televisions, going across the road to watch the match in someones house because they had a colour set. It was the 1969 FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Leicester and I remember Man City playing in that black and white striped away kit.

The Cup Final was so special. Not only was the day of the game really exciting, the whole build-up was incredible as well. It would start almost as soon as the semi-finals were over and the week leading up to the match was amazing. It seemed the talk was of only one thing and everyone wanted to watch it.

The classic 1970 FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Leeds was a really big one for me. When I was young, I used to watch Chelsea one week and QPR the next. So to see all those great Chelsea like Peter Osgood, Charlie Cooke and Peter Bonetti playing at Wembley was very special.

Years later, when I was lucky enough to play in the FA Cup Final myself with Wimbledon, it was incredible to experience that build-up and excitement first-hand.

My second son, Sam, was born on 8 April 1988, just before our semi-final match against Luton. I was in hospital until 4am on Friday morning. I remember Bobby Gould changed the training until the afternoon and then we went straight to our hotel to prepare for the game.

As soon as we beat Luton, the anticipation started. It felt like a massive achievement to be going to Wembley. Unfortunately, it was such a big thing that our league form fell away and we struggled to win another game because our minds were so focused on this huge match.

It definitely took the edge off us a bit because in those days the FA Cup Final was the biggest game of the lot.

I remember Wimbledon played Manchester United on the Monday night before the Final and, I can honestly say, it was the first time we let ourselves be physically intimidated by another team because the United players were saying: So you want to play in the FA Cup Final do you? Well, I wouldnt go in too hard then. We ended up losing 2-1 because clearly the focus was elsewhere.

Before the final we did practise penalties. John Fashanu took them and I would ask him to take them as John Aldridge would and Id try and move at the last second rather than anticipate.

It was an amazing honour to be captain of that Wimbledon side. Like everyone else, Id watch the Cup Final year in, year out and see the winning captain climb up those steps to lift the trophy. Having the privilege of then doing it myself was a tremendous thing.

I received the trophy from Princess Diana which was another very special moment. She was the royal that many of us could relate to because she was nearer our age. Because shes no longer here you do look back and think how special and poignant that was.