A lifetime ago I got to see the great Bobby Moore play at Wembley.
Terry from Brookside was on the pitch too, as was talkshow host David Frost. George Best was set to play, but he didn’t turn up. Would’ve been one hell of a five-a-side team.
Looking back it seems amazing to have actually witnessed Bobby Moore stroke the ball around Wembley. And the fact the icon was happy to pull his boots on against lesser mortals like comedian Jasper Carrott.
I was there as England’s iconic number six graced the Empire Stadium grass – the place where he won the World Cup 22-years-earlier.
He even cleared the ball off the line. From a lobbed shot by Eastenders heartthrob Nick Berry.
But as a 14-year-old I barely noticed Moore at all on that baking hot day in May 1988.
All I was interested in was watching John Barnes, Peter Beardsley and John Aldridge in the main event – the FA Cup Final.
I was convinced my heroes would beat ‘The Wombles’ of Wimbledon by a cricket score.
It was my first trip to Wembley and it was inevitable Kenny’s Army would be victorious.
Moore appeared in the pre-match showpiece – the star-studded Kaliber Challenge trophy.
The match featured TV and entertainment luminaries including Jimmy Tarbuck, Rod Stewart, and snooker ace Steve Davis.
The Liverpool fans were non-plussed by the celebrity kickabout: “Bring on the champions…” we sang, and “Are you watching Manchester?”
We’d took up our position in the LFC end extremely early. I was just agog at the scale of the place. Wembley seemed absolutely enormous.
Back then it held 100000 with both ends all-standing epic terraces.
The stadium itself was a bit of a dump. Especially in the concourses with hopelessly cramped toilets and limited facilities.
But once in position on the top level of terracing the view was excellent. Wimbledon had a relatively small support so the ‘home of football’ was a mass of red.
We’d won the league at a canter. So the 1988 final wasn’t just about winning the cup. It was about doing the double.
It was set up for a dream day. But we lost. The biggest shock in FA Cup final history.
Thirty-four years on I occasionally have nightmares about John Aldridge’s penalty miss. And I still curse referee Brian Hill for ruling out a perfectly legitimate Peter Beardsley goal.
It was somewhat ironic that almost exactly 20 years after that fateful match I found myself working for Keep Britain Tidy. We needed a ‘celebrity’ to promote our latest anti-litter campaign.
I had to run a PR stunt with – who else? – the Wombles of Wimbledon.
I’ve got so many clear memories of that 1988 visit to the twin towers – because it was my first.
There would be many other trips to ‘Anfield South’ in subsequent decades – wins and defeats.
But you can never forget your first Liverpool final.
This Sunday’s League Cup Final v Chelsea will be my 12-year-old son’s first time watching The Reds at Wembley.
The last English final we attended together was Marine AFC V Scarborough at Farsley in Yorkshire for 2016’s Doodson Sports Cup.
There was no ballot for tickets that night. That evening there were 900 in attendance. Sunday will see 90000.
Just like in 1988, we’ll be in the ground ridiculously early to soak up the atmosphere. Though I suspect the days of celebrity matches on the hallowed turf before the main event are a thing of the past.
I only hope Liverpool get a win against the Londoners to make his first time the best it can be.
Us attending a major final together watching Liverpool is something I never expected to happen.
I had a season ticket for a quarter of a century but gave it up in 2012 in my much-publicised spat against the ills of modern Premier League football.
We left Merseyside for Cumbria in 2016. We get our regular football fix travelling up to Glasgow to watch Celtic and down to Wigan in League One.
We have season tickets at both Celtic Park and the DW stadium.
People think we’re mad. But I say to them ‘We just love football’.
Me and Frankie kept our hand in at Anfield and are both members at LFC. While it’s nigh impossible to get tickets for league or European games, we’ve focussed efforts on the League Cup.
For several years we’ve been in something called the “Auto-Cup-Scheme’ which means we are guaranteed seats for matches at Anfield in that competition.
In the last few seasons we’ve seen some amazing games (the 5-5 V Arsenal in 2019 and the 3-3 v Leicester this term).
The League Cup is a competition I have always loved. Big away allocations, great atmospheres, cheaper tickets.
Three weeks ago we were stunned to be successful in Liverpool FC’s League Cup Final ticket ballot.
And I don’t think we’ve been able to sleep properly ever since. He’s excited beyond words, as am I. My last Liverpool final was in Athens – 15 years ago.
I’ve been fortunate to see The Reds in several League Cup Finals. My first in 1995 V Bolton.
The picture on top of this article is a photo I took of my mates celebrating the Steve McManaman inspired 2-1 win from our vantage point on the back row of Wembley that afternoon.
A few of the lads in the photo will be at Wembley again this Sunday.
There’ll be a huge sense of history, nostalgia and love when we meet again down Wembley Way.
We’ll share a few pints. We’ll remember the old days and focus on the here and now.
The main mission will then turn to supporting Liverpool to the hilt as they take on Chelsea. To give The Reds amazing vocal backing and cheer them on to victory. We’re here to win.
Pictured above and below – down in a tube station at midnight – Martin and Daren after winning the League Cup 1995 – and Roy Evans’ team with the trophy.
A similar result against Chelsea on Sunday would be perfect. Me and my mates crave a Liverpool win.
And a 12-year-old lad, making his Wembley debut, dreams of seeing Mo Salah running round Wembley with the cup…