The Varadi Derby in 81.. what a game. We had such a terrible team then as Gordon Lee’s classy teams of 78/79 were falling apart, but somehow the likes of little Eamon O’Keeffe and Peter Eastoe took on the RS with real passion and commitment. Goodison certainly rocked. Even better than the Andy King Derby of 78.

I was at that game in 1981 and ran on the pitch at the end of the game.The joy on the face of Mike Lyons was fantastic. Varadi should have had 2 or 3 that day! Great day!

This is a great subject Paul and thank you. As a little older it did get me thinking about some of my earlier memories as well as ( the not so frequent) later ones. Here are 8 which I will try and summarise succinctly;

- Wolves fourth round replay 1967.
Was my first season as a season ticket holder with my Dad and this was my first pulsating night game. 66,000 attendance, Alan Ball was at the height of his powers and he had formed a superb relationship with Alex Young. They won 3.0
and you could see the potential with Harvey, Wright and Harvey already established, for the title winning team three years later. The draw had already been made and if we won was Liverpool next!!

- Two weeks later! The infamous game that was also shown on the big screen at Anfield. I was in the Goodison Road stand and can still remember Ball’s winner, almost pilouetting on one leg as he scored from an impossible angle. The first game that I discernibly remember looking at my watch and time never moved!

- Tranmere fifth round 1968. Standard 2.0 win but had tested my loyalties prior. Was one of the Friday night group that went to Prenton. Tranmere had beaten first division Coventry in a 4th round replay. Was pleased my true colours never wavered but just didn’t want Tranmere hammered

- Colchester 6th round 1971. Probably the last hurrah of that great team. Colchester had beaten the good Leeds side previous round but we hammered them 5.0. Jimmy Husband was brilliant but Pananthinaikos, who we played the following Wed in European Cup quarter final, were there watching, and crocked Husband in the first five mins. He was never the same again.

- Ipswich 6th round 1980. The good Gordon Lee side of late 70’s were unravelling, but against a very good Ipswich side goals from Kidd and a typically efficient Latchford header got us to the semis ( beaten by Lampard senior 119th min goal and my mate and I waited in the rain at Morley station for two hours before arriving back at Lime Street at 4.00am😔)

- Liverpool 4th round 1981. Enough already been said. Liverpool at the height of their Dalglish powers which made the win even more delicious. Vaguely remember winning the next round at home to Soton with the winner from little Eamon O’keefe

- Ipswich 6th round 1985. The double Sheedy free kick game. Down 1.2 with 5 mins to go and Psycho appears in the right wing position and Mountfield equalises. The resilience of that mid 80’s side was amazing. Never knew when beaten. Proved it again of course in the semi vs Luton

- Luton 6th round replay 1986. Inchy had scored a late equaliser in the first game. Not a great game but I do remember Linekers goal where he gave Steve Foster a five yard start to a ball over the top, caught him in three nodded it forward and volleyed it in from edge of area. That remains our most frustrating season as, in my view, we handed the double to Liverpool😡

Memories always stay with you the younger you are don’t they. Post ‘86, I of course remember the two Derby encounters in 1991, a big Dunc inspired thrashing of Norwich on way to Wembley in ‘95 and the Gosling late winner in 2008 ( by now was living in South Africa so we did not have the coverage interrupted by an ad🤷🏻‍♂️

These are what come to mind. I’m sure missed loads. What I am sure about is that nothing will ever beat the atmosphere of an exciting raucous night at the Old Lady. I hope and pray BMD can get close and there are are lots more to experience.
COYB

Like you Paul, I went to both the Millwall and West Brom games with my dad. We were in the St End for both. Against Millwall, I can remember strechers being used, carrying injured fans down the Bullens touch line. I believe it was reported that 13 fans had been stabbed, amongst other injuries. He was very worried about what was going on and kept a strong grip on my duffel coat hood. The Sunday game against West Brom was the biggest crowd I’ve been in at Goodison Park. I might be wrong, but I think it was 58,000. Absolutely jam packed, you literally couldn’t move and if you lost your shoe it was gone forever. All you could smell was beer, cigarettes and piss! I also think it was a morning kickoff at 11?
I don’t want to talk about Clive Thomas or any of the other referees who’ve cheated us over the years. And don’t get me started on the linesman on Saturday 😤.

Great memories there, Paul. I was also at the brutal and joyous Varadi Derby with my late Dad. I feel close to him whenever I get to Goodison, so watching Saturday's game hit me emotionally too.
Other big FA Cup memories for me were two 2-0 victories over Arsenal and Spurs in the early 80s - '80 and '83 maybe?
Thanks for the article and here's to a bright cup future in our new home!

Thanks for the comments everyone. The 1981 Cup run is a story all on its own. I can't believe I forgot the Ipswich game with the Sheedy double free kick!