ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Revenge for 77

13 April 1977, a week before my 13th birthday. John Nelson, one of me dad's mates from across the road, had got me a ticket for the second League Cup Final replay at Old Trafford. He'd taken me to a few Goodison games in the past and knew I'd love this. Gordon West was the goalie for the first game I saw with John. He called him Dracula coz he was afraid of crosses. Always made me laugh, that one.

Anyhoo, off we drove down the East Lancs. I was so full of excitement, this was gonna be the best birthday present ever. I remember being really impressed with Old Trafford but my mind was totally focused on the blues. Big Mick Lyons and Superlatch scored but in the dying seconds Brian Little broke my heart. I couldn't believe it, it was my birthday next week but the Villa had robbed me blind of any joy. How dare they! They did it again, the other month, stealing the gurgles of celebration before they were even out of my throat.

So, me fleet footed warriors, for me and John, who's sadly no longer with us, and every other bluenose past, present and future, please stuff 'em next week and end 30-odd years of me belly-aching. Good luck lads, you've been bringing me tears of joy with your recent play.
Peter Webster, Bristol Posted 09/02/2009 at 13:23:59

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Jason Lam
1 Posted 10/02/2009 at 07:27:40

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Still waiting for us to score 6 past them for humiliating Neville Southall! You just have to let it go..

Peter Webster
2 Posted 10/02/2009 at 08:08:49

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I can't, mate. It taxes me like Ahab and his white whale.

Shaun Sparke
3 Posted 10/02/2009 at 08:38:42

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I am with you on this one Peter, the trouble is none of our current players were born and few if any of our staff would have been at the club in that far off distant 1977 League Cup Final. I remember the hurt as if it was yesterday. It may have been a Mickey Mouse Cup to everybody else but to this 12-year-old it felt like the World Cup Final.

Let's do them this weekend, we owe them one.

Tom Hughes
4 Posted 10/02/2009 at 09:57:49

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I remember that disappointment well too. Coincidentally, I was also only a few months off 13, and know what it meant to us at the time..... that era, though not successful in terms of trophies, has always been full of great memories for me. Got my first season ticket that year (think it was £20 in the Gwladys Street terrace, approximately the cost of a pair of samba maybe 1 or 2 years later), and we had some great players too, and semi-circles behind the goals.

All that said, didn?t we get some revenge in the Milk Cup semi, just 7 years later? What a great day that was when we swamped Villa park and upset little Stevie Mac..... our previous Judas! Hope I haven?t got my history mixed up! haha

COYB, we still owe them!