Hi everyone!
In September 1967 Dad read an article in The Daily Telegraph that the European Cup Final
(think Champions League, but a knock out basis from the start) was coming to
Wembley on Wednesday 29th May 1968 - exactly 50 years ago today.
Dad rang the
Wembley Box Office & asked about tickets.
Amazingly, in those
pre-Internet days it was as simple as “We’ll
keep two tickets for you. Just send a cheque & a Stamped Addressed
Envelope.”
A decade after the
Munich Air Disaster – in which 23 of the 44 on board Flight 609 died, including
8 players, 3 coaching staff and 8 journalists - Manchester United managed by
the legendary Matt Busby were back in the competition.
Though Dad & I were
Spurs & Arsenal fans respectively, we took a keen interest in
United’s progress.
In September they
beat Hibernians 4 – 0 on aggregate in Round 1.
In Round 2 in
November they went through 2 – 1 against Sarjevo, then of Yugoslavia.
All seemed to be
going well ... until in early January 1968 the Timetable for my O Levels (Editor: GCSEs for
younger readers!) was published.
Disaster: an exam was to be held at 09.30
on Thursday 30th May, the morning immediately after the match at
Wembley.
My Latin O Level
Set Books: the Letters of Erasmus and the Poems of Catullus.
Mum & Dad had a
‘chat’ and a Deal was done.
If United got to the Final, I
could go to Wembley.
Otherwise, it would be an evening
of last minute revision and watching the game on the TV.
It was definitely a
case of “Come on You Reds!”
The Quarter Final
was against Górnik Zabrze of Poland, with United winning 2 – 1 on aggregate.
The Semi-Final opponents were the mighty Real Madrid.
United won their
home leg 1 – 0.
And in a pulsating
away leg in front of 125,000 at the Bernabéu Stadium they came back from 2 – 0
and then 3 – 1 to hang on to a 3 – 3 draw and win 4 – 3 on aggregate.
Dad & I were
going to Wembley: United v Benfica of Portugal!!
Dad picked me up
straight after school & we drove from Tunbridge Wells to London.
Was there time on
the journey for some Last Minute Revision?
#JustPerhaps !!
We parked in the
underground car park at the Marble Arch end of Park Lane and caught the Tube
out to Wembley & - together with tens of thousands of supporters - walked
down Wembley Way to the famous Twin Towers.
We bought a
programme:
And then took our seats high up close-ish to the half way line.
We saw the players
warming up.
For United: captain
Bobby Charlton (who had survived the Munich crash) & Nobby Stiles, both
World Cup winners for England in 1966.
And George Best; just
22 years old and already one of the most famous players in the world.
What did they say
about Bestie?
Maradona: Good
Pele: Better
George: Best
For Benfica: their
captain was Mário Coluna and the No. 10 Eusébio, one of the greatest players of
all time and the scorer of 733 goals in 745 matches.
Eusebio
In truth, the first
half was fairly quiet.
But the game really
came to life when Charlton scored in the 53rd minute.
Benfica drew level
in the 70th minute when Graça scored.
It remained 1 -1
after 90 minutes.
We saw Matt Busby
come on the pitch to urge his players on as the match went to Extra Time.
The following
morning the Papers reported Busby as saying:
"It was a very simple team talk. All I
said was 'Whenever possible, give
the ball to George!'"
Even though it was
well after 9 o'clock, it was a sweltering evening. Physical fitness played
its part, with Benfica looking exhausted.
Almost immediately,
picking up the ball 25 yards from goal, Best broke into the penalty area and
dribbled round the goalkeeper José Henrique and rolled the ball into an empty net.
A couple of minutes
later Brian Kidd scored United’s third, with Charlton wrapping up the win with
his second of the game.
United had won 4 –
1, the first English club to win the European Cup.
We saw Charlton and
the United players go up the steps to the Royal Box to and collect the Cup; and
their celebrations back on the pitch.
Back at Marble Arch, Dad & I headed to home across South London.
We took the
shortcut – as I always still do - via Brockley & Crofton Park, joining the
A21 by the Catford Greyhound stadium.
As we drove out along
the Bromley Road & passed Southlands Road, neither of us had any idea that
I was within a mile of Merryfield, where I would live contentedly for over 30
years.
The Sevenoaks
bypass had opened a couple of years before, but there was still three years
before the Tonbridge bypass opened, so it was on through Hildenborough and then
Tonbridge High Street.
Over Bidborough
Ridge & down the hill by Southborough cricket ground.
As the clock tic-tocced well past one in the morning and we approached the Weavers Restaurant, a policeman
flagged us down.
“Evening, sir. You’re out late?”
“We’ve been to the European Cup Final at
Wembley. United won 4 -1!”
I could sense that
- though he had absolutely no need to be - Dad was nervous.
But I wasn’t … …
For the policeman
was Charlie Morphie who lived in the one of the police houses in Dorset Road leading
up to the Hawkenbury cricket ground and who – shifts permitting – was an
opening bowler for the Saturday 1st XI.
The previous Sunday
Charlie and I had been in the Hawks Sunday XI against Lingfield. If memory
serves, with Young Ric at the non-striker’s end, Charlie had hit an enormous 6
high over midwicket to win the game off the last ball of the game.
“On your way, sir”, I heard Charlie say.
“And, Young Ric: Good luck with those Latin
Set Books in the morning!!”
PS
So,
dear reader, you’ll be wondering … … How did the Latin O Level go?
Well,
Skinners’ School Class 5A in School Year 1967/68 had several Bright Boys.
Three would go on to Oxford
(Editor: I didn’t know that there even was a University at Oxford!!!!)
(Editor: I didn’t know that there even was a University at Oxford!!!!)
And two would win Open
Scholarships to read Classics at Cambridge.
I hardly need tell you that my own ability was far, far below their league ...
However, very fortunately Young Ric had picked up something from Desiderius Erasmus:
# Tribuo Is A Ire
(Which
very roughly translates to: #GiveItAGo)
Come
& watch some Cricket with me & I’ll explain how the Zambian Elephant
came to my rescue in the Latin Set Books exam !!!!
After
all ….
Why read a Lord Ric Cricket Blog, when you can star in your own.
See you soon!!
Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace
Follow me on Twitter: LordRic52
