An unscrupulous intellect

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 29^th 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 30^th 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 53^rd minute.

Benfica drew level in the 70^th 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 1^st  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!!!!)

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