No. 33 – The 1986 FA Cup Final
On 10th May, 1986, Liverpool faced Everton in an all Merseyside FA Cup Final in Wembley in front of over 98,000 spectators. TIA Columnist Ste Speed recently reminisced over one of his favourite football matches of all time – The 1986 FA Cup Final…..
“This is my favourite football match of all time. It was a massive game in which Liverpool where going for their first ever ‘˜double’ and Everton were looking for revenge for the league. Anybody who lived in Liverpool at the time will know just how truly massive this game really was. I remember the day before at school, the day was devoted to the game and we all wore Liverpool or Everton colours.
We had a special assembly were we sung ‘˜Abide With Me’ and then we had a Liverpool V Everton game of our own on the school field in the afternoon. The day of the game there were many areas that had ‘˜street parties’ including where my family lived in Bootle. Decorating tables were laid out along the street and filled with buffet food and there were streamers and flags hanging from the lampposts and people had posters and flags in their windows. An absolutely brilliant day and something I think could only ever of happened in Liverpool.
I still think that was the best FA Cup Final ever and I don’t even think the 2006 final can better it. Apart from the fact it was Liverpool v Everton when both teams were the best in England it really was a tremendously exciting game played at a great tempo. It had plenty of goals and memorable moments such as the Bruce Grobbelaar save from Sharp’s header and the little row he had with Jim Beglin. Gary Lineker put Everton into a first half lead and by half time the Blues had the game well under control. Liverpool scored three times through Ian Rush with two and Craig Johnston.
The second half was a totally different story. Jan Molby put in a career best performance as he dominated midfield. He ran the second half setting up the first and second goals and then having an important hand in the third goal too with a sublime blind pass to Ronnie Whelan who chipped it over the defence to Ian Rush. He almost scored himself when he went one on one with the Everton keeper Bobby Mimms, but unfortunately he hit his shot straight at Mimms.
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Liverpool took home the trophy that day but the entire city of Merseyside were winners that day. It still excites me when I watch that game and reminisce about the days before bitterness took over and spoilt the atmosphere of the derby.”
Liverpools Team : Bruce Grobbelaar, Mark Lawrenson, Jim Beglin, Steve Nicol, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish, Craig Johnston, Ian Rush, Jan Mølby, Kevin MacDonald.
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