1976 - The 40th Anniversary Thread

This coming weekend marks the 40th Anniversary of the greatest day in our club's history and I think it would be a good idea to have a separate thread where people can post their memories of the day, stories of what they were doing, if they were there and what it meant to them.

I wonder if the MODS would consider "sticking" this thread for a week to 10 days.

The FA Cup Final, Saturday 1st May 1976, KO 3pm.
Manchester United v Southampton
Venue: Wembley Stadium

v

GK 1

please log in to view this image

Ian Turner
RB 2

please log in to view this image

Peter Rodrigues (c)
LB 3

please log in to view this image

David Peach
CM 4

please log in to view this image

Nick Holmes
CB 5

please log in to view this image

Mel Blyth
CB 6

please log in to view this image

Jim Steele
RM 7

please log in to view this image

Paul Gilchrist
CF 8

please log in to view this image

Mick Channon
CF 9

please log in to view this image

Peter Osgood
CM 10

please log in to view this image

Jim McCalliog
LM 11

please log in to view this image

Bobby Stokes
Substitute:
MF 12

please log in to view this image

Hugh Fisher

Manager:

please log in to view this image

Lawrie McMenemy





Result
Manchester United 0

Southampton 1 (Stokes, 83 min)

 

Here is our route to Wembley:

Round 3: Southampton 1–1 Aston Villa
Replay: Aston Villa 1–2 Southampton
Round 4: Southampton 3–1 Blackpool
Round 5: West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Southampton
Replay: Southampton 4–0 West Bromwich Albion
Round 6: Bradford City 0–1 Southampton
Semi-final: Southampton 2–0 Crystal Palace (Stamford Bridge)

 

I was there balling my Eyes out when Bobby scored. What a day out. Ian turner played a blinder in the first 30 minutes..........Great day to remember!!

 

I remember the first 10 minutes and the last 10 (or so) in particular. We should have been down about 3-0 in the first 10 minutes so I decided to help my Mum with some baking in the kitchen (she could never watch Wales in the 5 Nations or the FA Cup if any of the family supported one of the teams as she'd get too nervous). I think I lasted about 5 minutes then had to go back to watch.

I screamed when Stokes scored then cried until the final whistle when I burst into real tears Even my brother teasing the life out of me couldn't make me stop and I've got tears in my eyes typing this and remembering it now!

A wonderful, wonderful day and I can clearly remember being so chuffed for Jim McCalliog because Tommy Docherty had bad-mouthed him in the run-up to the final. Stuff you, Docherty!

 

I was 15, missed the semi vs Palace so didn't have the SF ticket stub required to get a ticket for the Final. Never mind, I though with the optimism of youth, I'll go next time.

My abiding memory watching the game on telly was that there seemed to be about 120 minutes between Bobby Stokes' goal and the final whistle.

The win was followed by the best summer in living memory, and in my mind the two have always been connected.

 

Sadly, I wasn't a Saints fan then, but even then I had too much pride to be a United fan, so was supporting the local side. Not the same as having your own team win though, so I missed the thrill About time we did it again.

 

I was 6 years old. I watched all the build up from about 9am when whatever the Saturday morning show was, though It's a Knockout and the other Cup final shows, up to the game. I remember clearly the teams coming out as I sat there in my yellow and blue strip (I loved that strip soooooo much) for about 10 minutes and then my mates asked me outside to play football. I was 6. I went outside to play. I am ashamed. I never missed a cup final match from 1977 for about the next 30 years or so, but I missed that game. My mate's mum shouted out the window when Bobby scored and we ran in to see the end.

 

Sadly I wasn't around to witness this great event.

 

So young, so foolish.

 

MODS!!!!!

Joking.... have you ever seen the game back? There is a YouTube video of the whole game, but I wasn't sure if it should be posted as it comes with a public showing warning.

 

I've watched highlights of it i.e. the goal and the lifting of the trophy.

 

I'd forgotten how the FA Cup coverage in the 70s used to start at about 9.00am on and go on right up til kick off. The Cup Final was such a big event back then, and apart from England Internationals, practically the only game of the season live on TV.

 

and not a lot has changed

 

Yeah, you're still foolish.

 

er... that's what I meant!

 

Sorry, still too early in the morning.

 

well if we're posting songs on this thread ....

 

I don't think I moved from the TV that day from 9am till the end of the coverage and was allowed to eat lunch in front of the TV - a real honour