WE’VE asked some of The Anfield Wrap’s regular contributors to crawl around the loft and look under the bed to dig out some of their most treasured ticket stubs and tell us the tales behind them. First with his favourite five is MIKE NEVIN.
FA CUP FINAL 1974: LIVERPOOL v NEWCASTLE
What a massive glory-hunter I was at the age of 6! This was my first game — two stand tickets for me and my dad, courtesy of a well connected Evertonian uncle. See, they weren’t all bitter morons back in the day. Cheers Tommy, I’m drinking your Guinness these days. RIP.
So, not for me the gentle intro of the reserve matches or a League Cup tie, testimonial or friendly in front of a half-filled Anfield. Instead, a lifetime of guilt at denying some deserving poor soul of his well-earned ticket for the cup final. At least I can remember it though.
The stand-out recollections are of Brendan Foster, Britain’s foremost distance runner of the era, winning an exhibition race on the Wembley perimeter track pre-match. Weird things stick in the heads of kids.
As for the match itself, I remember being heartbroken at my hero Alec Lindsay’s spectacular disallowed goal. Alec and I had a left foot in common; and just like our gallivanting full back I wore a simple red shirt with a number 3 lovingly sewn onto its back; though I would never grow his moustache.
Strangely, what I remember about the goals – “Keegan two, Heighway one, Liverpool three, Newcastle none” is that the fella in front, addled by drink, missed at least two, if not all three on his frequent trips to the bog. That’ll be me at Wembley this May.
Oh, and I can say I watched Liverpool under Shankly; which makes me sound older than I am. Like really old.
EUROPEAN CUP 1981: LIVERPOOL v OULUN PALLOSEURA
Growing up as a Red in the 1970s, you were just aware of Shankly. Like you were aware of Lennon and the Beatles. I remember the shock on my dad’s face, and him calling his mate to tell him Lennon had been shot dead in New York. That was in 1980. One of Liverpool’s icons wiped out in the blink of an eye.
One year on, and it happens again. This time it’s Shankly, taken suddenly, albeit at a more advanced age and in less tragic circumstances. But he’s immortal. This can’t be happening. Shankly dead? No f***ing way, I’m not having it.
The next night at Anfield when Oulun Palloseura of Finland are the visitors, the hush confirms it in your mind. Forget your stage-managed minute silences that are 10-a-penny these days (Hillsborough apart) with the faux grief of players linking arms and bell-end customers holding up camera phones. This was real grief from fans who idolised this man, and players who knew and loved him. He was gone.
The Kop sang an incredible lament. Shank-ly, Shank-ly to Amazing Grace – one of his favourite songs. It breaks your heart.
I started out as a match-goer in his last competitive game. Now, I’m 13 and watching this tribute from the Main Stand from the eeriest Anfield I can remember pre-1989. Liverpool won 7-0 and it barely raised a cheer.
DIVISION ONE 1983: STOKE CITY v LIVERPOOL
My first league away game, aged 15. I don’t remember loads about it except being behind the goal in the stand above the terracing. I wanted to be down there but it’s a great view from the higher vantage point of the “Stoke End Stand” (which bizarrely is at the Liverpool end).
Liverpool are in the yellow that we’re wearing this season, which is still a novelty in the early 80s when our traditional away colours are white-black-white. I’m campaigning for the permanent return of traditional away colours for all clubs; Newcastle in yellow-green stripes, The Ev in blue and yellow, City in black & red stripes. I’m coming at you aggressively on this in the none too distant….. Watch out if you’re wearing shite away kits.
Pre-pyjamas, and bad-pun Lawro puts Liverpool one-up. Stoke equalise through Mickey Thomas, a dodgy ex-Man U Welshman, who ends up in clink for forging banknotes, but not before a rasping goal down our end to ruin my big day.
We still win the League though; we always do.
FA CUP 5TH ROUND 1988: EVERTON v LIVERPOOL
John Barnes did the City of Liverpool and Liverpool supporters proud. It’s fair to say that Britain in the 1970s and 1980s was, at times, a terribly racist place. Black footballers were subject to the most abhorrent abuse, and Anfield was no exception. We joined in. Like thick f***ing sheep, we joined in.
John Barnes educated us. He used his supreme natural gifts; his football — the one thing that unites — and his eloquence off the pitch to change attitudes once and for all. I’ve never heard a racist chant at Anfield since Barnesy arrived, but I’d heard plenty before.
This was the game of the iconic image of Barnes back-heeling a banana into touch. He’s almost literally flicking racism into the bin.
Later, his artistry creates a goal for Ray Houghton; an arcing cross delivered perfectly onto the bonce of the in-rushing diminutive little Celt. The old wooden Park End Stand behind the goal — and half of the rest of Goodison — was in raptures. 20,000 Reds going ape shit in a crowd of 50,000. Liverpool win 1-0.
It was a beautiful team that class of 1987/88 and it featured the greatest player I ever saw: John Barnes.
FA CUP 4TH ROUND 1989: MILLWALL v LIVERPOOL
At the age of 21, we all like to think we’re a bit of a lad, don’t we? I’d braved the terrors of the early Stamford Bridge in 86 (I’m talking the cup game not the league here) but I don’t mind admitting I was shitting bricks at the prospect of Millwall away.
Their reputation went before them. “No one likes us, We don’t care” was their signature tune. The Old Den was an ugly football “stadium” — all twisted concrete and steel with enough alleyways in the surrounds to accommodate a thousand murders. A terrifying place inhabited by the looniest fans in the country back in 1989.
We had about 4,000 tickets — terracing to one side and a bit of the stand to the other. I’m in the stand. The atmosphere is poisonous outside but we manage to get in unscathed. In the seats we’re just across the divide from Millwall nutters. What I hadn’t reckoned on was that Liverpool’s top boys are all out for this one. They’re all around me. The faces.
Liverpool score through Rush and it goes off. Punches traded, good looks being put on the line as Millwall come over the divide. Adrenaline. Liverpool stand and Millwall back off. I might have thrown a punch or two, or I might not. It doesn’t last long but it is sheer adrenaline and all part of growing up. Liverpool score again through Aldridge and that’s more or less it. A facile 2-0 win, on and off the pitch.
I’m 47 now and the notion of fighting is ridiculous. Most of the crowd are the same age as me. I’m not condoning crowd violence but the modern crowd demographic is one of the reasons footy has gone a bit shit.
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Ticket office pic: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda
Love the bit at the final whistle of the Cup final where you can see Paisley smoking on the bench …
I remember the Oulun Palloseura game well: Sammy Lee scored a hat-trick for God’s sake! But back then I didn’t know what the name meant. It means something ‘the ball society of Oulu’ or Oulu ball fraternity.
Interesting that Mike. I’ve heard you talk about games in the 70’s before and thought you must be a lot older than you look. Seems you just started young. I was at both the home games against Oulen Pal (that Finish team) but I didn’t realise Shankly had died the day before. I’ve got no recollection of Shankly at all and didn’t even notice the subdued crowd. Without being disrespectful all I noticed was shit loads of goals and how good it was. I remember all the European games from 81-84 as I went to them all. For some reason my dad used to take a minibus of psychiatric patients up to all the European games. I’m guessing there was less demand and it was something the club did but no idea how it came about. I can still remember the journey over. These were old style geriatric patients from the days before Thatcher kicked them all into the community. They’d all be sitting there slobbering in their red and white scarves and occasionally having aggressive outbursts. I still remember the smoke too. Jesus, I used to stink of it by the time I got home.
I’ve often tried to remember when my first Liverpool game was and the only clue I have is that my first football match was March 1980 when Chester beat Oxford 1-0. Ian Rush got the winner and I was right behind it and can still remember it to this day. I remember my mum asking my dad if I enjoyed it and he said, ‘he spent the whole game watching the fighting’. Then I definitely have a memory of going to a Liverpool game in a car with my dads mate and a Spanish guy. I went with them for years but on one occasion I absolutely remember Going Underground coming on the radio and Stan saying to Mannie ‘good that innit, it’s gone straight in at number 1. So I’d guess my first game was March /early April 1980. I’ve still got all the programs and ticket stubs from 80-85.
I always remember in about 1983 I was in Chester’s town and the police had over 100 Millwall fans contained in the alley next to the Odeon. I was captivated. You could feel the tension in the air. Right or wrong, I’ve got fond memories of those early 80’s and the trouble. I wasn’t involved at that time but used to sit on a beam at the back of the cowshed and watch. My first personal experience of it was when Coventry kicked the gates off and escaped after the game. Me and my mates from school were walking up the road and legged it. They saw us run and gave chase down the alleys of Victorian terraces. I remember the sound of boots coming round the corner and they were there, 10 foot away from us. When they saw our age they said ‘where’s your brothers then’ and left us. I make no apologies though, football and society’s changed for the better and we’re all aware of the catalyst but they were great times. Back then I was more interested in the tribal aspect but now I’m only interested in the football they play.
Sorry mate, going on one there and deviating away from the article, but that’s nothing new. They’re the memories provoked from reading the article though. Enjoyed it mate!
There were 2 oulan games tho. A 10 1 and the 7 0 the year later. Had to look it up as I only remember the 10 1 so maybe others getting them mixed up 2.
Hi Robin
i note that you said you have all the ticket stubs and programmes from 1980 -85.
As there were a number of generic tickets are you able to confirm which tickets were for which european match?
There were a number of these matches including bayern munich , AZ67 Alkmaar , dundalk , Helsinki ,Bilbao , Bucharest , Benfica & Panathinaikos.
Any help would be appreciated , thanks Mark
Ah…Going Underground. Bought it the day it came out, went next door to see a mate and played it again and again and again. Great record, The Jam were on fire then. Not great times, though.
Depends how you look at it mate. I didn’t have to work throughout the 80’s so I remember it fondly. Really exciting times. I’m sure everyone remembers their teenage years as being brilliant but looking at the lives of my kids I wouldn’t swap places even though society has improved massively. Too sanitised.
Fabulous article. I look forward to the next instalments and tallying up how many I attended too. For the record I went to Milwall and Everton away in your list of 5 Mike. Great stuff lads.
Reading this nostalgic stuff makes me really aggrieved. I was born 15 years too late..
I went to Millwall 88 but drove down and parked by the railway viaducts
Must admit this and Middlesboro are the worse grounds I’ve seen Liverpool at