Gerald Sindstadt

Liverpool 6 SV Hamburg 0 – 1977 UEFA Super Cup 2nd Leg – Anfield, 6th December 1977

Posted on by Stephen Clark (@clarkyboy72)

Kevin Keegan had a dream return to Anfield with his SV Hamburg side for the second leg of the UEFA Super Cup but unfortunately it was the sort of dream one wakes up screaming from. His former employers showed absolutlely no sentiment to the Kop’s former hero, brushing his German club aside to become the first English winners of UEFA’s newest competition.

On a cold wintry night at Anfield, Liverpool put on a show for the hardy souls who had ventured out, dismantling the reigning Cup Winners Cup champions. There is a chance that a combination of the weather and the fact that ITV were showing highlights of the game later that evening may have contributed to a smaller crowd than might have been expected, with just over 34000 in attendance, those who decided to stay at home and watch it on the box would have had Gerald Sindstadt describe the action to them.

Liverpool made a couple of changes from the side that had drawn the first leg in Hamburg a fortnight earlier. Tommy Smith came into the side in place of Joey Jones and Terry McDermott replaced Ian Callaghan. Hamburg made five changes but all anyone was really bothered about was seeing how former number 7 Keegan would go in competition with the new darling of the Kop, Kenny Dalglish.

It was one of the changes to the Liverpool side who would make the biggest impression on the game and Terry McDermott had the first chance of the game in the second minute, screwing an effort wide from the edge of the box after a good move down the right.

Liverpool had certainly started on the front foot and should have been ahead a minute later when David Fariclough again made inroads on the right hand side, crossing to Steve Heighway who unfortunately got his header all wrong, allowing Hamburg to sweep the ball clear. The respite was brief, McDermott finding himself with time and space on the edge of the box a monent later, but his shot was well saved by Rudi Karcus in the Hamburg goal.

Hamburg looked to Keegan to spark a response and he was proving an early livewire up front for the German side, working Ray Clemence in the 8th minute with a snap shot from the edge of the area. It must have been difficult for any of the Hamburg players to move with any quickness, burdened as they were by possibly the largest collar ever to be seen on a football shirt, proving more adept at covering the nipples on a bitterly cold night than functioning as fashion accessory.

Liverpool continued to probe down their right hand side and Fairclough again forced the keeper into making a save in the 20th minute, driving an effort from the edge of the box which saw Karcus get down well to save. Respite was brief though and Liverpool finally went in front a minute later. A corner from the left hand side picked out Phil Thompson who saw his initial effort blocked but reacted well to smash the dropping ball into the net at the far post.

Hamburg’s midfield were being overrun and Liverpool poured through the centre of the field four minutes later, Jimmy Case with a barnstorming run and pass to Ray Kennedy whose effort was well held by Karcus. Mcdermott was the next to test the Hamburg keeper with a 35 yard effort 10 minutes before half time which was straight at Karcus, the keeper reaching above his head to clasp the ball. McDermott though capped a superb first half performance six minutes before the interval when he doubled Liverpool’s lead. Ray Kennedy was the provider, spotting the run of his midfield partner and chipping the ball to the former Newcastle man who controlled the ball on his chest and smashed the ball without breaking stride past the keeper from 12 yards out.

The Liverpool fans were loving this and chanted “Keegan Keegan, what’s the score” as the interval beckoned with his old side a class apart from his Hamburg team.

Liverpool made a change at half time, David Johnson coming on to replace Heighway, but though the personnel had changed, the pattern of play did not. On 53 minutes the home side swept from one end of the pitch to the other, Tommy Smith charging forward with the ball, playing a one-two with Dalglish and despite the return ball forcing him a little wide, the veteran managed to fire an effort into the side netting, just the wrong side of the post.

The game was over 2 minutes later though when McDermott got his second and Liverpool’s third and it was a beautiful goal. McDermott was again given too much space and latched onto a knockdown from Johnson to hit a screamer from 20 yards out into the top corner.

A minute later and McDermott completed one of the best hat-tricks you could ever wish to see with perhaps the best goal of the night. The move was started by Phil Neal turning under pressure on the edge of his own box and feeding Kennedy. The former Arsenal man strode through the midfield before threading a great ball through to McDermott to fire home from the left hand corner of the box.

Liverpool were rampant and Hamburg were hapless. On 64 minutes they needlessly gave away a corner and were almost punished again by Thompson who was left free at the back post only to be denied by a scrambling save by the impressive Karcus. The Hamburg keeper was putting on something of a show and denied Liverpool again three minutes later, punching a Kennedy free kick into the air allowing his defence to scramble the ball clear. Next it was Dalglish’s turn to test the keeper, moments after a delicate chip from the edge of the box had just cleared the crossbar, the new Liverpool number seven was played in by Case and forced the keeper into an instinctive block.

Still the red waves crashed forward, Kennedy given the freedom of Anfield to stride forward and test the keeper, another challenge Karcus was more than equal to. Those two were now having their own private battle, and a minute later they met again with the Liverpool number five hitting a shot that was too hot for the keeper to handle, the ball falling for Dalglish who somehow turned the follow up wide.

The only way the German side could stop Liverpool was by kicking them and they managed to leave both Smith and McDermott writhing on the turf at the same time after leaving the foot in on consecutive tackles. The break in play allowed the Liverpool fans to show appreciation for Number Sevens old and new with chants of “Kevin Keegan” greeted with a response of “Dalglish” echoing back and forth across the Kop.

Liverpool would add icing to the cake with five minutes to go when Fairclough made it 5-0, adding to his goal from the first leg with an unchallenged header from eight yards out. All that was left was for Dalglish to confirm the changing of the guard at Anfield as he added a sixth with a couple of minutes to go, poaching a rebound after Fairclough’s initial volley was superbly saved low to his right by Karcus, only for the new King of the Kop on hand to tap home.

Keegan left Anfield convinced the future looked bright for Liverpool – He was quoted after the game as saying “I’d heard Liverpool hadn’t been doing too well but from where I was stood watching there didn’t seem to be much wrong with them, there were no cracks and they look as strong, if not stronger, than they ever were.” His words had a ring of truth in them, a run of three consecutive losses had handed the initiative in the title race to Brian Clough and his upstart Nottingham Forest team, but in European terms, Liverpool would continue to challenge for the top prize, the European Cup. For Keegan his European dreams were over and Hamburg would only go on to finish 10th in the Bundesliga. But for both Keegan and Hamburg, the best was yet to come.

1974 World Cup – Second Phase Game 1 – Holland Set Down a Marker

Posted on by Stephen Clark (@clarkyboy72)

The second phase of the 1974 World Cup took the form of two round robin groups of four teams, with the winners of groups 1 & 3 (East Germany & Holland) meeting the runners up of Groups 2 & 4 (Brazil & Argentina) in Group A and vice versa in Group B (West Germany, Sweden, Yugoslavia and Poland).

The first set of matches took place on Wednesday 26th June with West Germany opening proceedings in the afternoon by taking on Yugoslavia. The match took place in Dusseldorf and was the first in a double header of matches on ITV, Gerald Sindstadt getting the opportunity to provide the commentary. The host nation were in need of an impressive performance following their shock reversal to East Germany last time out.

As it was in the first round of matches, Paul Brietner got the West Germans underway with a superb strike on 39 minutes, cutting in from the left hand side and unleashing a tremendous shot into the top corner of the net.

Gerd Muller sealed the win for the Germans with a trademark goal eight minutes from time. Wolfgang Overrath played a quick free kick down the right for Uli Hoeness who made his way to the byeline before pulling the ball back to Muller on the six yard line. The Bayern Munich striker seemed to have missed his opportunity but whilst on his backside stretched out a leg to poke the ball past the keeper for his second goal of the tournament.

Gerd Muller – Der Bomber

The other match in Group B took place later that evening in Stuttgart. Poland, from being shock qualifiers when they knocked England out the previous October, were now favourites to make the final after winning all three of their opening games. They took on the obdurate Swedes, who had progressed from Group 3 without conceding a goal.

That run was ended just before half time when Grzegorz Lato notched his fifth goal of the tournament, bundling the ball into the net from close range to give Poland the lead. A deep cross from the left was met at the back post and headed across the goal for the bustling striker to force into the net.

Sweden were a tough nut to crack and they should have equalised midway through the second half when Jerzy Gorgon was adjudged to have brought down Conny Torstensson. However the “clown” Jan Tomaszewski produced a stunning save, diving full length to push away Staffan Tapper’s spot kick and preserve Poland’s 100% record.

Lato heads home from close range to give Poland victory – Picture from Bleacher Report

In Group A, the shock winners of Group 1, East Germany took on the reigning champions Brazil. The BBC selected this for live coverage, hoping that Brazil would come out of the defensive shell which had seen them squeeze past Scotland on goal difference and provide some sparkling entertainment as they had four years earlier in Mexico.

David Coleman, on commentary duty, will have been as disappointed as the viewing public at home as Brazil produced another deathly dull performance, the only minute of class handing them a narrow win. A free kick on the hour from 20 yards out allowed Rivelino to produce his party piece, firing his shot through a minute gap which had been left by the clever movement of one of his team mates in the wall, the ball arrowing through the pin-point gap left as a Brazillian dived on the floor out of the way.

Rivelino’s free kick finds it way through the “Berlin Wall” – Courtesy of The Guardian

The real class was to be left to the Dutch who confirmed their tag as favourites with a dismantling of Argentina in the other match in Group A. ITV had selected this match for live coverage and Hugh Johns was able to describe a Johan Cruyff masterclass.

The Dutch master put the Oranje in front with a classic goal, collecting Van Hannegam’s chipped pass into the area, controlling and then rounding the keeper to tuck into the net from a tight angle. Holland dominated affairs, having two efforts cleared off the line and having a goal disallowed before they doubled the lead.

It was Ruud Krol who fired home the second, shooting through a crowd of players as Argentina failed to clear a corner, the ball falling to the defender 20 yards out who fired unerringly home.

The second half was played in completely different conditions to the first as Gelsenkirchen was hit by the latest of the torrential downpours which had marred the tournament so far. The wet and sticky conditions failed to deter the Dutch from their Total Football and it was another classic goal which put them 3-0 up.

Cruyff was once again the architect, crossing from the left hand side, picking out Jonny Rep who stooped to head past Daniel Carnevali at his near post. The best though was saved until last as Cruyff got his second and the Dutch’s fourth in the final minute.

Van Hannegam was the driving force behind the goal, bursting into the Argentine box and being denied a goal by a fine save from Carnevali. The ball looped off the keepers block towards Cruyff who was lurking on the left hand side of the area. Without flinching, Cruyff struck the ball back towards the goal on the volley, defying the impossibly tight angle to nestle the ball in the back of the net, sealing a very impressive win which emphasised the favourites tag that Holland had been dubbed with.

Cruyff rounds the keeper to put Holland 1-0 up.

 

 

LIVERPOOL 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 FA Cup Final Wembley Stadium 4th May 1974

Posted on by Stephen Clark (@clarkyboy72)

Liverpool entered the FA Cup Final at Wembley knowing that it was their last chance to win a trophy that season. The previous season’s champions and UEFA Cup winners had chased Leeds United hard all season, almost overcoming the Yorkshire sides record breaking start to the season before finishing as runners up in the League.

The omens did not look good for Liverpool with their opponents, Newcastle United, never having lost a Wembley Cup Final, triumphing on their four previous visits. A side in stripes had also never lost a final since the war, and that run had been continued against all the odds the previous season with Sunderland’s shock win over Leeds.

Coverage of the game was as usual shared between BBC & ITV, with both channels beginning their broadcasts around the 11am mark. BBC had Don Revie alongside David Coleman in the commentary box, as well as Jimmy Hill who had returned to the BBC after his spell at LWT. It is the BBC coverage that I have, recorded from a Cup Kings show on LFC TV, the clubs own satellite channel.

The game saw two stars of Liverpool’s future in the Newcastle line up, with Terry McDermott at the heart of the Magpies midfield, and a 19 year old Alan Kennedy at left back.

Liverpool took control of the game from the very outset with almost constant pressure on the Newcastle goal, but without any opportunities created. Newcastle were finding it difficult to get Malcolm Macdonald involved in the game, as Liverpool watched him closely after he had bragged about how the Cup Final was his stage to show the world how good he was. The Newcastle number 9 would barely get a kick the entire game.

However Newcastle did start to find their feet, with McDermott in particular impressing in the midfield. The game started to flow from end to end in a series of quick breaks, leading Coleman to exclaim that “both teams getting a little bit flurried.” Despite the frenetic pace there were no shots in the opening half hour.

When the first effort did come, it was more of a cross cum shot, and it was no surprise that it came from the Reds. Kevin Keegan found himself in a little bit of space on the left hand side of the area and he drove the ball across goal. The shot was well held by Iam McFaul in the Newcastle goal, Coleman commenting that “his handling was perfection.”

Newcastle then had their first effort; the shot coming from an unlikely source, as future Nottingham Forest manager, Frank Clark linked up well with the attack from his right back slot, but hit a weak effort straight at Ray Clemence in the Liverpool goal.

The half ended with Liverpool by far the better side, a fact confirmed by Leeds United boss Don Revie who summed up the half as the players left the field; “I feel that Liverpool have absolutely dominated this game apart from 10 minutes.”

The teams were greeted for the second half by a rousing, yet deep voiced, rendition of the Liverpool anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” It seemed to inspire the Reds who started very much on the front foot, with Keegan flashing a shot across the face of goal. “Good ball he says and good ball it was” lip-read Coleman.

Liverpool continued to drive forward, the attackers coming from all over the field. Alec Lindsay, the left back, started to come to the fore, hitting a volley from the left hand corner of the penalty area straight at McFaul.

Moments later, Lindsay was involved again, breaking forward. With Keegan free in the middle of the field, Coleman implored Lindsay to pass the ball, but he delayed too long before delivering the ball. By now Keegan was closely marked, and he attempted to leave the ball to try to confuse the Newcastle defender. The ball ricocheted off the legs of Keegan’s marker, back into the path of Lindsay who, without breaking stride lashed the ball past McFaul at his near post: “That was different class” said Coleman, before advising the viewers “and offside is given”. Controversially the goal was disallowed with the linesman deeming Lindsay to have been offside when he received the ball, even though it had come off the opposing player.

One feature of the coverage of the game was the lack of replays, something we have perhaps become over reliant on in this day and age. With the incident not being shown again, it was barely spoken about, although Coleman did inform the watching millions of the nuances of being played onside. He did find time to console Lindsay, saying “What a pity it didn’t stand, because that would have been a Cup Final goal to remember.”

Minutes later, his comments would enter Cup Final folklore, as Liverpool finally took the lead. “Shanks’ army, this Liverpool side really swarming forward now” he said, almost in anticipation of the impending events. A cross came in from the right hand side, and as Brian Hall missed with his attempted diving header, the ball was controlled by the chest of Keegan before he fired home a right foot volley, leading Coleman to utter the most cryptic line of Cup Final commentary ever: “Goals pay the rent and Keegan does his share” before coming back to earth “Keegan found himself with the sort of time and space a striker of his calibre will never waste.”

“Goals pay the rent” – Picture Courtesy The Guardian

From that moment on, the Cup was effectively won as Liverpool took control of the game completely. Emlyn Hughes went close with a strike from the edge of the box, and Newcastle began to lose their composure. Frank Clark unnecessarily gave a free kick away on the left hand side, having a kick at Steve Heighway. His disgust at the decision was picked up beautifully by the pitch side microphones: “Oh fuck off … He’s that far away (holding his hands up to indicate) from the fucking ball” before screaming “well that’s obstruction!” Coleman summing up the exchange “the frustrations showing, the protests pointless.”

With “You’ll Never Walk Alone” ringing around the stadium again, Liverpool’s relentless attacking continued. A half protest for a penalty, one that would be given every time now, was dismissed as “accidental… a fair decision.” Liverpool were playing with a swagger, moving the ball from one end of the pitch to the other at will, a sweeping move ending with Heighway hitting a shot just wide from 20 yards out.

With 17 minutes left, Newcastle managed to force their first corner of the game, but it was plucked out of the air by Clemence. Moments later, Newcastle’s chances were over as Liverpool doubled their lead with a goal of pure simplicity. A long ball down the field was flicked on by Toshack for Heighway, the number 9 taking the ball on to the edge of the box before hitting an angled shot across the keeper and in at the far post.

Newcastle knew the game was up, and Malcolm Macdonald who had a poor game endured further misery by spurning the first half chance that came his way. Finding himself in a little bit of space on the left hand side of the box, he attempted to strike goal wards first time, horribly scuffing the shot well wide of the post. “Supermac missed his kick completely” said Coleman.

Liverpool’s Tommy Smith had been in the side which had beaten Leeds 9 years earlier and was about to come to the fore in the build up to the Red’s third goal. Liverpool’s hard man, who Coleman said “doesn’t look like he was born, he looks like he was quarried” would quickly show finesse, drive and quality in quick succession. The ball was moved across the field by Liverpool in a succession of sweeping passes. From right to left and back again, they probed for a gap in Newcastle’s defence. Keegan switched the ball from the left flank, finding Smith who delicately flicked the ball with the outside of his foot to Brian Hall. He received the ball back, driving forward and played a one two with Heighway. He was now in behind the Magpies defence and fired the ball low and hard across the six yard box, where Keegan had drifted into space and stretched to tap the ball into the empty net.

“Keegan’s second and Newcastle were undressed, they were stripped totally naked” observed Coleman before launching into a wonderful rhyming couplet “Keegan two, Heighway One, Liverpool Three, Newcastle None.”

Moments later the final whistle blew, not only on the Cup Final, but incredibly on Bill Shankly’s career. The Liverpool fans loved him, singing his name for long periods of the second half, and clamouring for him to acknowledge them at the final whistle. Never before had a manager been so loved by his supporters, but his resignation over the summer was a massive shock. His final words were to Gerald Sindstadt after the game: “This team won the league last season, they’ve won the cup this season and they’ll win the league next season emulating the side of 64, 65 & 66. I didn’t say that we would beat Newcastle, I never said that at all. I said we were the best team in England and that it’s possible for us to beat anyone in England and possibly in the world…Liverpool’s cohesion, fitness, spirit was fantastic. We’ve got everything here; they should win something every season.” He was almost right, as under Bob Paisley Liverpool were about to begin their dominance, not only of English, but European football as well.