bigfella

There's a nice little story about the '50s cup finals. My dad was in the RAF for all of the '50s, posted all over the world, was in Egypt during the Suez Crisis, on his way to live in India for a year. Anyway his two brothers were both Washington pitmen and went to all the home games. When we got to the final in '51 Uncle Arthur got a ticket and the next year, Alec was successful and went. When we got to the final in '55, they managed to get another ticket and gave it to my Dad.

I'm in a nice mellow mood after two bottles of red and an amazing match, so forgive me with my reminiscing, but that Leicester 5-4 was also memorable for me as being when my Dad made his return to St James's. His first game was the 13-0 rout of Newport County, still our biggest win to this day. Image breaking your duck with that?? He saw us lift the Cup in '55 and was at the home leg in the '69 Fairs Cup final. Took me to my first game in '74 (2-1 win against Stoke), but lost heart when we were rubbish in the late '70s, I think the last game he took me to was a 0-0 bore draw with Orient. Anyway, he retired in '89 and decided to just pick up where he'd left off and get his self back to Gallowgate. That Leicester game was the one he picked. I had no idea he'd gone to the match until I got in late that night. "Canny game" he said, "I might get myself there more often" The king of understatement. He ended up with a season ticket in the redeveloped Gallowgate and he reckoned Keegan's team that should have won the league, was the best team he'd ever seen in black and white. He'd have loved today, it was all about entertaining end to end football with him.

Do I know you??

I've just remembered, one of me mates missed McGhee's early opener as well as the three late goals, as we always used to get in late in those days (the beer in the Hodgson's was that good). I saw the first goal just as I got to the top of the scoreboard walkway, mate was behind me.

Wouldn't knaa. Left when it was 2-4 with ten minutes left. Was playing pool in the Hodgson's as lads came in - "well we gave it a good go 3-4" - "can't believe we got a draw!' - "YEESSSS what a win!"

Fucking fucking fucking hell!!!!!

VAMOOOOOS!!!!

Come on, that's inside.

Howay lads, there'll be a lot of time added on, we could still get something here

High scoring draw would be fair here

Well, we had to sub one on at half time....

Tremendous cross, mind you.

How. The. Fuck. Did. That. Not. Go. In?

This ref's so bad, I wouldn't be surprised if he gives us a soft pen or something late on, to even things up

FFS Bruno, hospital ball to Joelinton, Leeds break away and nearly score Edit: better one there!!

Draw would do me, the way the game's gone. And we'd go ahead of the makems.

Good subs, Sandro, apart from some incredible tracking back has been wank for weeks

Botman on thank fuck

That's never a pen, he was falling over FFS, how can you control your arms in that situation?

Thiaw's made more errors in one half of football than he's made in the previous thirty.

Gtfi! Barnes! Goodman's devastated

Didn't look like he touched him, keeper never had control of the ball

I know it's no use, but I still do my old shouts/chants/sayings sitting in my front room watching the match - "howay Howay HOWAY!!!" - when we're struggling in a game - "HOWAY NEWCASTLE, HOWAY THE LADS , COMMMME ONNN!!" - when the game's in the balance and "Howay Newcastle, Keep these bastards out" - when we're defending a corner etc. I work with a lad whose fifteen years younger than me, when he started at our place he recognised me as the bloke who " taught him loads of swear words when he sat a row in front of him and his dad at the match when he was a kid"

It's years since I've been to a match (first match '74, missed very few from 82-08), but that's the thing I notice on the TV - that "G'WAAANN!!" as we burst over the halfway line etc, I haven't heard that in years. Used to get you out of your seat.

Fuck me sideways, Willock.