The Cups. This was the season of surprises – and sure predictions going to the dust. Both finals looked easy to predict, because the opponents were surely unequal. No matter how good Luton Town was at the moment, Arsenal was much stronger and also rising team. No matter how tough and eager was Wimbledon, Liverpool was entirely different class. But in the League Cup final Luton scored 3 goals and Arsenal only 2…
Arsenal lost – and that after destroying Everton in the ½ finals! May be a note on the picture spells out why they did not lift the cup – Charlie Nicholas disappointed and the club get rid of him. Somehow, Arsenal was unable to make the right choice in recruiting and the result was a good, but not excellent team. Always something lacking, always something needed.
Hats down to Luton Town – they won the League Cup, a wonderful success for a club never winning anything.
Hats down to a modest club, having no star in the team, not even fairly recognizable player, but prevailing over strong Arsenal. That was the best ever season for Luton Town, a historic, a legendary season, and they should have been remembered better, but unfortunately there was another sensation, which overshadowed their success.
In the FA Cup final Liverpool met Wimbledon. Here the victory of dominant Liverpool was absolutely certain. Like the other cup, the finalists came with different stories: Liverpool eliminated Nottingham Forest in the ½ finals, much stronger opponent than Wimbledon’s – the Dons met Luton Town, a battle of team in good shape, fairly equal, but hardly strong as Nottingham. Liverpool was surely to win a double this year. But the only goal of the final was scored by someone named Sanchez and he was not a Liverpool player – and the winner was Wimbledon. A sensation bigger than the outcome of the League Cup final.
No double for Liverpool – perhaps a warning that one cannot win everything with players like John Aldridge. With all respect to Liverpool’s fans, it was nice to see the mighty team lose – even nicer to almost anonymous opponent.
Sensational winners and instant legends! Standing from left: Alan Cork, Andy Thorn, Alan Gillette – assistant coach, John Scales, Vince Jones, John Fashanu, Wally Downes.
First row, some standing: Dennis Wise, Dave Beasant, Terry Fhelan, Laurie Cunningham, Terry Gibson, Eric Young, Clive Goodyear.
This was fantastic victory of the underdog, instantly legendary, perhaps of Liverpool – people not only in England were getting tired of Liverpool’s dominance and were happy to see them lose. Which enlarged the status of the victors – even Wimbledon’s rugged and somewhat primitive style was liked. Even their brutality, even Vinnie Jones’ antics, which were not at all funny. Because of the instantly made legend today the squad does not look as anonymous as it was back then: what, anonymous? But they had Jones, Dennis Wise, Fashanu, Beasant! Laurie Cunnigham played for Real Madrid, for God’s sake! Well, he made only 6 appearances through the season and although he played at the historic final, it was only in the second half as a substitute. The others nobody knew at the time – they became well known because of this victory – and their anonymity is even better point: it was these unknowns beating Liverpool! And let not forget – Wimbledon was playing 4th Division football in 1982-83 and First Division was not even a dream. It was fantastic climb, very fast, but Wimbledon debuted in the top league in 1986-87 – a year later they were beating Liverpool and win the FA Cup! That was not a joke and a loud and clear testimony of the work of manager Bobby Gould. Don Howe was helping, an important help. The only question was how long such a team would last… for there were examples of such meteoric climbs ending quickly: Swansea City, Oxford United, Watford. But let leave the unknown future aside – Wimbledon produced a miracle to stay in memory.