I’ve selected two games this week – my first two visits to the old Wembley stadium, which were actually made 14 months apart.
The first was on March 2, 1974 and Man City were playing Wolves in the final of the League Cup.
A few of us decided to go down on the morning of the match by car and although a non-driver myself it was an exhausting trip for the two lads who shared the time behind the wheel.
I remember walking along Wembley Way for the first time and getting my first view inside the stadium. It all seemed much bigger than it had looked on television.
Eight years previously England had won the World Cup there and memories were still fresh in the mind.
We had pretty decent seats, too but I can’t recall how we had got the tickets.
The City side included Mike Summerbee,Colin Bell, Francis Lee, Denis Law and Rodney Marsh – some talent there.
But in truth they didn’t really perform as we hoped in the first-half and it was Wolves who led 1-0 at the break.
That goal had come a minute before half time and there was an element of good fortune about it. Kenny Hibbitt, to all intent and purposes seemed to have mis-hit his shot but it somehow looped up and over City keeper Keith Macrae into the net.
I’m afraid it was all doom and gloom at half time but the second half was much better from City and once they levelled it looked as though they would go on and win it.
Colin Bell, still one of the best players I have seen live, started and finished the move with aplomb.
Marsh and Bell both went close to a winner but it didn’t arrive and there was even word that any replay would be played at Stoke.
However five minutes from the end a low cross into the City box hit a defender’s heel and rebounded to John Richards who thumped home the winner.
We didn’t hang about but swiftly made our way back to the car and home to west Cumbria.
On May 3, 1975 I was back at the Twin Towers for the FA Cup final between West Ham and Fulham.
It was, in fact, a trip organised by the Reds Supporters Club – one or two of whom were delighted that the Hammers were in the final.
This time the view wasn’t as good – at the back behind the goals – and to be honest I can’t remember much about the game.
Apart from the fact that West Ham won 2-0 and their former captain and hero Bobby Moore was in the Fulham line-up.
Two second-half goals from Alan Taylor – at the opposite end to where we were watching – took the trophy to Upton Park.
Taylor hadn’t been at West Ham very long after playing beforehand for Rochdale where he caught the attention of the Upton Park club.
It was a fairytale affair for young Taylor who had proved his worth in the two earlier rounds with two goals in each.
