Great article I was also there as a 17 year old and at every other Wembley game plus Cardiff. My dad passed away 2 years ago and was desperate to see us win something before he left this life sadly now I hope I can live his dream 🙏
Well written Martin, all to familiar to me as well. My dad and friends had to call in all sorts of favours to get us both, and my mate Richie, a ticket. They came from all sorts of weird and wonderful places too, my ticket had "Shrewsbury Town FC - not for resale" - stamped on the back. Yet all sorts of people were there who had no allegiance to football, never mind NUFC or Liverpool: we stood next to two Australian girls who didn't have a clue what was going on.
What struck me about Wembley was how far the pitch was away from me - I was at the back of the Newcastle end. So when Bruce ran out, I hadn't a clue who that tiny figure was (the Newcastle chants were so loud the PA may as well not have bothered).
I really thought that we would win that day. It was in the stars. Supermac would continue to score in every round. Terry Hibbitt would emulate his brother Kenny, who had won the League Cup with Wolves. And it was our turn, wasn't it?
The match is now a blur, I've never watched it on tv or YouTube, never will. It was just like Matthew Philpotts said, we didn't turn up. I remember the fans though. They didn't let them down.
Some memories for me also Martin, I organised a bus trip from Low Fell, it was a cracking weekend except the match as usual let us down. The West Brom away game in the cup run was something else, it felt like we had 3 sides of the ground. I'm old enough to have been at the Inter cities Fairs cup games. just hoping to see another trophy in my lifetime 🤞
I was there aged 14. Never believed I would still be waiting after all these years. I especially remember the homecoming and the Chronicle headline “We lost, what if we’d won?” emblazoned above a photo of thousands and thousands of fans around the Civic Centre, gathering for the open top bus procession to St James. The Geordie Nation!!
Good article Martin. Evoked some memories. I only watched the game at home but I recall in those days you could get the match programme posted to you, ready for cup final day. I had one for the previous year's final too, as my Granda was a Sunderland supporter and came to ours for the final as we had a colour TV.
Wow it all coming back to me now too, I got a ticket and my dad didn’t so we ended up ‘passing ‘ rhe ticket to my uncle Jim, so he went and the rest of us watched the final on uncle Jim’s colour tv as we still had black and white only at the time
Excellent stuff, Martin. Thanks for sharing those amazing memories. No wonder we lost that final… having to put up with the so-called pre-match “entertainment” of Bruce Forsyth.
Toon could use 74 as reverse psychology . The young glory hunter liverpool fans of today would probably not believe Toon went into that game as favourites the Liverpool dynasty had not yet been established. It was a win for the underdogs
Great article I was also there as a 17 year old and at every other Wembley game plus Cardiff. My dad passed away 2 years ago and was desperate to see us win something before he left this life sadly now I hope I can live his dream 🙏
Great piece Martin which prompted a sigh and bad memories. I'm older than you and even more desperate.
GERRIN TO THEM
Well written Martin, all to familiar to me as well. My dad and friends had to call in all sorts of favours to get us both, and my mate Richie, a ticket. They came from all sorts of weird and wonderful places too, my ticket had "Shrewsbury Town FC - not for resale" - stamped on the back. Yet all sorts of people were there who had no allegiance to football, never mind NUFC or Liverpool: we stood next to two Australian girls who didn't have a clue what was going on.
What struck me about Wembley was how far the pitch was away from me - I was at the back of the Newcastle end. So when Bruce ran out, I hadn't a clue who that tiny figure was (the Newcastle chants were so loud the PA may as well not have bothered).
I really thought that we would win that day. It was in the stars. Supermac would continue to score in every round. Terry Hibbitt would emulate his brother Kenny, who had won the League Cup with Wolves. And it was our turn, wasn't it?
The match is now a blur, I've never watched it on tv or YouTube, never will. It was just like Matthew Philpotts said, we didn't turn up. I remember the fans though. They didn't let them down.
Come on lads let's do them proper this time, eh?
Howay the LAds!
Some memories for me also Martin, I organised a bus trip from Low Fell, it was a cracking weekend except the match as usual let us down. The West Brom away game in the cup run was something else, it felt like we had 3 sides of the ground. I'm old enough to have been at the Inter cities Fairs cup games. just hoping to see another trophy in my lifetime 🤞
I was there aged 14. Never believed I would still be waiting after all these years. I especially remember the homecoming and the Chronicle headline “We lost, what if we’d won?” emblazoned above a photo of thousands and thousands of fans around the Civic Centre, gathering for the open top bus procession to St James. The Geordie Nation!!
Good article Martin. Evoked some memories. I only watched the game at home but I recall in those days you could get the match programme posted to you, ready for cup final day. I had one for the previous year's final too, as my Granda was a Sunderland supporter and came to ours for the final as we had a colour TV.
Wow it all coming back to me now too, I got a ticket and my dad didn’t so we ended up ‘passing ‘ rhe ticket to my uncle Jim, so he went and the rest of us watched the final on uncle Jim’s colour tv as we still had black and white only at the time
Bruce Forsyth - now that WOULD be a signing.
Great article I’m in the same boat as you mate. Only one I missed was 2023 so I’m only losing 15-2!!!! HWTL🖤🤍🖤🤍
Excellent stuff, Martin. Thanks for sharing those amazing memories. No wonder we lost that final… having to put up with the so-called pre-match “entertainment” of Bruce Forsyth.
Divvent diss Brucie Man
Toon could use 74 as reverse psychology . The young glory hunter liverpool fans of today would probably not believe Toon went into that game as favourites the Liverpool dynasty had not yet been established. It was a win for the underdogs