Remember..March 1981.PAUL POWER!

I was there in the Holte end when Power's screamer went in, what a moment! Ipswich had a great side then and were hot favourites but once Gerry Gow took out Murhen they didn't fancy the battle.
I went to both finals, i was convinced our name was on the cup that year, but sadly it was not to be. At 1-0 up in the first game McKenzie i think it was went around their keeper and hit the post. That was the game right there. Hoddle fluked that free kick and the rest is history.
 
Parhelic Triangle o=0 said:
I

I was 11 and went to most of the away games on that cup run. The semi final at Villa Park as we hitch hiked down me,Kev and his dad John. I'll always remember coming out of the ground and John saying to us right you 2 stay there 'I'll be back in 10 mins. He arrived in a car and off we went back to Manchester. Back then it never even entered my head he had nicked the car lol.
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More of a TWOC.....;)
 
Didsbury Dave said:
That's brought a memory back. I used to count the lighters in the Kippax every game. When I got home I used to draw it. That Everton game we went on a coach from junior school and sat together in the Platt Lane. We spent the week before the game practicising the songs because we had some stupid idea that we could start songs at the game. When it came of course we got totaly ignored, a bunch of lads who's balls hadn't dropped. All I really remember about the game is that I thought it was 3-0 until I got home.
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Brilliant.
 
The Lightbowne Cowboy said:
Without looking online,it could of been Eastoe. You're right on the scousers in the north stand, I watched the highlights not long back and a few hundred at least were in there down towards the bottom,but I do believe we had 100s all over their ground too. And it did seem a lot easier than the first game. A magical time to be a blue,I thought it was always going to be this way.
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You ve got me thinking now....about their being 100s Blues in the home end.. notwithstanding the allocated away tickets as described by an earlier poster.....I do now remember a different commentary on this match,same person ..David Coleman...but I'm sure I heard him say the
immortal words..
" ...And it's Bedlam on the pitch,and Bedlam all around the ground"
Maybe there is another bit of footage knocking about...somewhere,or did I just dream it?

Anyhow,this City match at Goodison was always buzzing round my brain Every time I went to Everton with City from 87 Onwards...I sometimes think I wish I'd have been there,as a teenager part of that atmosphere......not just listening to the 2nd half on my radio,in my bedroom...
But then again the stories of violence from that day .... probably a good thing I was not there
Maybe..; )
 
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I think the 81 cup run was the best days of me being a City supporter. I know we lost the final but being a kid back in 81 it just felt wonderful.I was 8 when I first went to Maine Rd in 1978. Went to the odd games but it was 1980 I properly fell in love with City. My old man was an Oldham Athletic season ticket holder.It was our next door neighbour John and his son Kevin who got me into City. I cried myself to sleep after the replay.Images of Ricky Villa dancing into the box and Tommy on his arse. Even worse was me dear old mum gave me a clip on the ear for calling Spurs a bunch of cunts. Please lord relegate them!
 
Parhelic Triangle o=0 said:
I think the 81 cup run was the best days of me being a City supporter. I know we lost the final but being a kid back in 81 it just felt wonderful.I was 8 when I first went to Maine Rd in 1978. Went to the odd games but it was 1980 I properly fell in love with City. My old man was an Oldham Athletic season ticket holder.It was our next door neighbour John and his son Kevin who got me into City. I cried myself to sleep after the replay.Images of Ricky Villa dancing into the box and Tommy on his arse. Even worse was me dear old mum gave me a clip on the ear for calling Spurs a bunch of cunts. Please lord relegate them
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I agree.Dear Lord,send Tottenham Down.
 
Parhelic Triangle o=0 said:
I think the 81 cup run was the best days of me being a City supporter. I know we lost the final but being a kid back in 81 it just felt wonderful.I was 8 when I first went to Maine Rd in 1978. Went to the odd games but it was 1980 I properly fell in love with City. My old man was an Oldham Athletic season ticket holder.It was our next door neighbour John and his son Kevin who got me into City. I cried myself to sleep after the replay.Images of Ricky Villa dancing into the box and Tommy on his arse. Even worse was me dear old mum gave me a clip on the ear for calling Spurs a bunch of cunts. Please lord relegate them!
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It was a magical season and this 7 year old blue soon became absolutely obsessed with this great old club. I sobbed like a baby all the way home from that replay. I've hated them since. Whilst your dear mam was in the right to clip you when you used the C word in front her, you were a trillion % correct!
 
The Lightbowne Cowboy said:
It was a magical season and this 7 year old blue soon became absolutely obsessed with this great old club. I sobbed like a baby all the way home from that replay. I've hated them since. Whilst your dear mam was in the right to clip you when you used the C word in front her, you were a trillion % correct!
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I have to say,your words resonate with me,I was already a Blue,from 1976..
But that 1981 cup run definitely turned me absolutely obsessed with City
So frustrating watching and reading from afar.....no other City fans around me to talk to
That John Bond team for me was magic, absolutely brilliant..id always liked Tommy hutch at Coventry knew he started at Alloa in Scotland,I had the old footy cards ,oh yes,I knew he was an exciting winger...when John Bond signed him I thought oh Wow!!

And then Gerry Gow!! Even as a teenager I just knew he was the hard man of Bristol Citys centre Midfield....I just knew he would be ace at City.....I didn't know much about Bobby Mac,but look how that turned out
I really do feel that short John Bond league cup and fa cup run were one of the best days in our history
.Great memories!!
 
Heartofoakes64 said:
I was behind the goal & e could see the ball coming towards us in slow motion, went mental, I think we beat them at Maine road. There was loads of mither on way back to coaches, also Everton fans to our right were trying to intimidate us throughout the game. It felt really nasty, was it Ipswich in the semi, Paul Power free kick I think.
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You were lucky to get that birds eye view of the goal,being in the home end...and watching it back on the clip the ball sits in the air .. for a long time,making it's mind up....
I've watched that clip back countless times and I can't even work out if it was a Bailey Everton defender deflection or Power really did get that last touch....it matters not ,the players celebrating
going mental .....right in front of you !!
Twas a Great day.
 
Eaststander1 said:
Your nerve wracking experience jjust reminded me of one of my mates ordeals after a match at Everton .... he's a rag and for some reason had decided to try to get a train back to Lime Street from a little station somewhere near Goodison ... he's stood on the platform and half a dozen Everton fans turn up and, spotting his United scarf, surround him and ask him .. what's black and blue and found on the ground ??

He says i don't know, to which they replied it's YOU mate, just before they they battered him to the floor, and put him in a Merseyside hospital for the next four days!!
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I think I've been to that little known station a couple of times,no idea what it's called but older wiser away day Blues suggested going to to this little station rather then walking the Gauntlet back to Lime Street in police escort,....reading your post gave me a shiver,cos I can remember how desolate that station was...back of beyond.... your utd mate must have gone thru a nightmare that night.4 days in hospital fucking hell fire.....not good.
 
SatOnTheWall said:
Down at the bottom of the Kippax towards the North Stand end, he was often referred to by some as “Spider” or “Gladys”.

I thought this all very strange because I liked him. He was one of our better players and he never ever hid, unlike some.
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Never felt like City fans appreciated Power. I was one of them. I was working in Liverpool the season he won the title with Everton. Their fans loved him and was their player of the year.
I was at the this match behind the goal. Like a few have said the ball seemed to be in the air forever for the equaliser. We danced out of the ground celebrating and I got the worst kicking i ever got at an away game. It was a long walk back to Lime Street.
 
Gingers Dad said:
Never felt like City fans appreciated Power. I was one of them. I was working in Liverpool the season he won the title with Everton. Their fans loved him and was their player of the year.
I was at the this match behind the goal. Like a few have said the ball seemed to be in the air forever for the equaliser. We danced out of the ground celebrating and I got the worst kicking i ever got at an away game. It was a long walk back to Lime Street.
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His goal in the 2-2 in Milan was superb.
 
dennishasdoneit said:
I think I've been to that little known station a couple of times,no idea what it's called but older wiser away day Blues suggested going to to this little station rather then walking the Gauntlet back to Lime Street in police escort,....reading your post gave me a shiver,cos I can remember how desolate that station was...back of beyond.... your utd mate must have gone thru a nightmare that night.4 days in hospital fucking hell fire.....not good.
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I think the station we’re talking about is Sandhills. The name couldn’t be any less appropriate - sounds like a pleasant and picturesque seaside location rather than a nasty spot in a shady part of Merseyside!
 
dennishasdoneit said:


The anniversary slipped by unnoticed...
What a game,what an Atmosphere,and Caton Bennett and Power stood up to Everton on their own ground,Gerry Gow helped out too,not forgetting Kevin Reeves adroit header assist
I wasn't there.....but still remember listening to Radio 2 second half commentary back home in Carlton notts....one of the best days of my life.....had to do my paper round straight after final whistle....
Buzzing.on a Chopper bike,big beaming smile on my face...delivering football post to Carlton and St Anne's.....

Happy Days.; )
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A little bit before my time but I am pretty sure I had him on a Merlin sticker book in the early 90s as a coach or something on the City page. The more I think about it, I think each team used to have a couple of "classic players" for the sticker book.

I know I definitely had Paul Power as a sticker but I cannot think where from as I do not remember him as a player.
 
What a run in the Cup that was
I can still see Paul's Free kick going round their wall
Only to be denied By the post in the Final second Half then that deflection by Tommy H
 
I’ve watched the highlights of that villa park semi so many times despite me not even being born. My dad was the lad in the white on the pitch in the players arms after Power scored. He was called Wayne O’Dea from Moston and I’m sure some people on here would have known him. He would’ve been about 15 at the time. I was born 3 years later in 84. He passed away nearly 2 years ago now. I love seeing the footage of this cup run and imagining what a buzz it would’ve been. Needless to say I’ve carried on the love for city and go everywhere myself.
 
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