City v Ipswich 1981 FA Cup Semi

[come-on-barney]

Remember the excitement of getting to a cup semi-final. Blues everywhere, motorway was a procession with thumbs up to passing cars snd coaches. Absolute madness when we scored. The excitement of that day always remains with me. Who would have thought years later a cup semi-final would be the norm.

 

[standupifyouhatemanu]

Memories to follow tomorrow, but in the meantime, here are the highlights. Bedlam when we scored, but we were worthy winners in the end against much more fancied opponents:

I was in the Holte End but 2 things have drifted from my mind, I don't remember it going to extra time and I don't remember the free kick being rolled to Paul Power for the goal, I thought he had scored direct. 40 years on and 66 now so I'm exonerated :-)

 

[standupifyouhatemanu]

I know it was sold out. Tickets were like gold dust.

I was married to the Maine Road ticket office managers daughter at the time :-)

 

[manclad]

I was married to the Maine Road ticket office managers daughter at the time :-)

It's not what you know,it's who you know that is more important.

 

[bluebarry]

Was in the Hotel End. My memories are Power's great goal, how time went very slowly after the goal (I hadn't been to Wembley and was desperate to go there) and the crowd crush getting out.

 

[carlosthejackal]

Can still see the ball sailing into the net from my position on the Holt end and the wild celebrations, loved that small window of relative success under Bond .

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

What a day it was,their seemed to be city fans everywhere that day,lot more than Ipswich probably looked that way because how young I was,should of won the cup oh well it was worth the wait

 

[york away to this!]

This was my most prolific season, home and away. Hardly missed a match, though didn't get a ticket for this one....

 

[Winchester]

Excellent I was on his coach with my all Dave we got on at The Windmill

Ah the great Mr Potter
Went to the Final x 2 and quite a few seasons later on his coaches
I lived just behind The Windmill

 

[standupifyouhatemanu]

It's not what you know,it's who you know that is more important.

After the final, he had to collect the replay tickets (they were already printed). He travelled back North with them in cardboard boxes, the next day at the house he had them all laid out ready for going on sale the next day, 30+thousand tickets. Bizarre and how things have changed.