FA Cup Memories with Pompey

By Chris Owens

The greatest cup competition in the world is the FA Cup, magical hot days, set against all the tradition, and the giant-killing, just go to make the event the greatest.

I still remember, ‘It’s a Cup Final Knock Out’, Quizball and travelling on the team bus with the players, or in the case of Jimmy Melia’s Brighton, a helicopter.

We tend to forget the rounds in the depth of the British winter, and fondly remember those sweltering days at Wembley in May.

Before I go on though, could someone tell me why they played with an orange ball in 1973 was snow predicted? Anyway I digress, but it has always intrigued me why the late Ian Porterfield tamed the Leeds army with a non-white ball.

Let’s go back to the 1979-80 season and a bouncing, although very cold, Fratton Park.

In November we had seen off the might of Newport County with a goal from Terry Brisley, a game that drew a crowd of over 19,000, and featured a strike force of Tommy Tynan and John Aldridge for the boys from Somerton Park.

We then drew the not so ‘Crazy Gang’ from Plough Lane Wimbledon, which included that famous reply on Christmas Eve, which was not re-arranged for Sky! It ended in a 3-3 draw, the referee that night was none other than the legend Mr Clive Thomas. I miss Clive, in fact when you think of the referees in this era, Thomas, Gunn, Spencer, Shapter, Toseland and Challis, it was far better, Clive had his moments agreed, but he was in charge, he was consistent and he was fair, he hated everyone!

On the 5^th January, Wimbledon were disposed of at Plough Lane by the mighty Jeff Hemmerman, and I remember vividly that Steve Perrin became my hero, he had played so very well in that game alongside local hero Peter Ellis. And I think that Peter Mellor had been recalled in goal.

So four days later, who is coming to Fortress Fratton but Middlesborough, in those famous red shirts with the broad white band across the chest, not a good look for David Armstrong, then again neither was red and white stripes.

What an array of talent they had, really good footballers, including Jim Platt, Tony McAndrew, Terry Cochrane, who scored their goal, Mark Proctor and Bosco Jankovic.

What a night, it was cold, so cold, but nearly 32,000 witnessed the game, they go one up, I hated Cochrane but he was quite good at times, then up goes Steve Aizlewood , he heads down and Terry Brisley gets the equaliser. We then begin to be superb, and at the death, and I mean the death, the ground erupts as Hemmerman drifts past Craggs, seduces Ashcroft to the floor, and passes the ball beyond Platt to Brisley, who gleefully puts the ball in the net, only to see our joy cut short as referee Spencer, I hate referees, except for the afore mentioned list, anyway he was probably from Chandlers Ford, disallows the goal for offside, meaning we have to trek to sunny Teeside the following week for the delight that was Ayresome Park.

I remember being in the car with my wife and two others, and the journey taking forever, where on earth is Stockton-on-Tees?, then the smog over the ICI factory comes into sight, and the journey is half done, I never thought about the journey back in those days.

I remember it snowing for most of the journey, and when we got there, the First Division teams pitch was not a disgrace, it was worse, far worse.

We got a spanking to be honest, and bloody Cochrane ran the show, with Proctor and Armstrong, but even though we got home at a ridiculous time in the morning and then all went to work, I would not have missed it for the world!

After losing in the other competition, the League Cup, or rather lying down and letting our “sort of” rivals walk all over us!!, this showing, in my humble opinion, helped to install the fight which was to end in glory in May.

Performances like the ones at Plough Lane and Ayresome Park proved we had the steel and the fight, and shaped the future of the club, and began the “sleeping giant” myth that we all bought in to and believed for many, many years.

By the way, whatever happened to Clive and Mr Spencer?

Following Chris’ article we’ve asked you over Twitter and Facebook to share your best FA Cup memories, here are just a few of them…..

Tom Dearie: “Blackburn away drawing 3-3.. What a day out that was!!!”

Lee Robertson: “The cup run in ’92. The 4-2 win up at Boro,1-0 against Forest and both semi finals even though we lost replay. Standing in the Fratton End and hugging a complete stranger when macca scored after the Forest keeper dropped it in 1992.”

Matthew Whittle: “Spurs semi-final in 2010 or Everton away when we won 3-2. Er how could I forget scum away as well. Cracking day out.”

Matt Davies: “Richard Hughes’ goal vs Liverpool in our first Prem year.”

Jamie Cross: “When Gazza turned on the magic at Fratton Park. Didn’t mind getting beat to a genius like that …”

Tom Purnell: “Spurs at wembley, the 4-1 at Mary’s and winning at Leeds 3-2 with Matthias Svensson starring.”

Ash Sandell: “Old Trafford quarter-final on my birthday in 08, Muntari penalty.”

Mark H: “Matt Taylor’s sprint down the Anfield pitch after his equaliser. Gazza in 91. All the 92 cup run. St Marys Massacre in 2010.”

Susie: “Strangely playing Arsenal and then beating us 5-1. Was one of the beat atmospheres I’ve been to. It was amazing!”

The Three Marines: “going to Wembley on 11-4-10 and winning. 2 days after getting married at FP! His an hers shirts on. Amazing weekend.”

Matthew Wells: “Matt Taylor equalising away at Liverpool and Richard Hughes scoring the winner in the replay.”

Dan Everett: “2-0 win over Spurs, another one over ‘Arry. Job done!”

Kyle Whitworth: “The minutes after KPB’s penalty vs Spurs, pure passion and joy. Never enjoyed a moment of football so much.”

P M Ryder Esq: “Got to be surrounded by 6,000 scousers when Anderton put us one up in the FA Cup semi final. Made 120 pound tickets worth it.”

Joshua Wheatley: “Beating Leeds 3-2 at Elland Road to set up a QF at home to Chelsea in ’97. Bradbury and Mattias Svenson scored!”