I had a lump in my throat yesterday. Not only because Everton were knocked out of the FA Cup, but also because it was the last FA Cup game at Goodison Park. For me, the end of a 52-year era.

Let’s go back to 1973. In those days The Cup was genuinely exciting, the proverbial leveller. The Final was the only game on live TV. It was big. Dad worked most Saturdays, so 16 months after my League debut, it was my first FA Cup game, against second division Millwall. The ‘easy’ game ended in a 2-0 defeat, Dad distracting me from the terrible crowd trouble unfurling below us.

A year later, a groundbreaking Sunday game was allowed only because no tannoy was allowed to disturb the church next door. A drab goalless draw against West Brom. 1975 saw me allowed to go with my mates, as long as we were in the ‘safe’ feral underworld known as the Boys’ Pen. I saw us scrape a draw against non-league Altrincham.

Then Dad had a Saturday off, and we were in the Main Stand against Fulham. The draw was opening up nicely. A decent-looking goal was controversially disallowed by the referee, Clive Thomas, who we were to meet again in the future. Fulham got a late winner. I’d never seen my Dad so disappointed – he was sure that year was the one where we’d see us win a cup together.

For a few years, the memorable cup games were away from Goodison. Until 1981, when we were drawn at home to Liverpool. Clive Thomas was announced as referee, to our horror after he had mysteriously disallowed our ‘winner’ against Liverpool in the 1977 semi-final. One of only two occasions I saw my Dad swear at the match.

A brutal match ensued, which we won 2-1. Imre Varadi scored our second goal, ran towards the crowd, didn’t realise it was the Liverpool end and was promptly struck by a flying pie. Goodison was shaking. That was my favourite Goodison cup-tie.

Two years later, I left Liverpool to start my degree in Portsmouth. Going to the match changed from the 92 bus to a train to Waterloo, the tube, then from Euston to Lime Street. It started a marvellous period when we actually won things, but most of the memorable FA Cup games were away from Goodison, so they’re for another story.

The last great FA Cup game I saw at Goodison was in 1991, when we drew 4-4 against Liverpool. A breathlessly exciting game, after which my Dad told me he wouldn’t go to the second replay, as he didn’t think he could stand another game like that. I stayed away too and saw us win it on the telly.

I still love the FA Cup. I’ve seen us play five finals, two that we won. It’s a shame that it seems to be an afterthought these days. Too many people seem to regard finishing a distant fourth in the league a bigger achievement than actually lifting a trophy. The excitement of watching the draw for each round, the one-off nature of the games, the drama that any club can enjoy makes it my favourite competition.

The early memories of The Cup, despite all the disappointments, are the ones that have really stuck with me. I’m looking forward to seeing us at our new stadium and I hope there are plenty of FA Cup memories in store for us. It’s got a huge, historical story to live up to.


Reader Responses

Selected thoughts from readers
Certain off-topic comments may be removed to keep the discussion on track

1  John Gall
09/02/2025    23:21:35

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.

2  David Currie
10/02/2025    01:32:02

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!

3  Dave Carruthers
10/02/2025    08:53:07

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

4  Jonathan Haddock
10/02/2025    08:58:13

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 😤.

5  Phil Grayston
10/02/2025    13:23:37

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!

6  Paul Tran
13/02/2025    18:14:58

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!

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