Post by markf on Jan 23, 2015 19:44:19 GMT
45 years ago tomorrow, Sutton hosted the biggest match in the club's history. Forget Coventry, entertaining Leeds United of the 1970 brand was THE giant of FA Cup ties.
Just six days before, I had joined the queue that snaked out of the car park into GGL, past West Sutton Station and all the way up Norman Road. I guess we (mum, sis & me) joined it half way up Norman Road. By the time we got into what is now known as the Players Bar under the stand, I was just hoping they still had some left.
That they did, and as my mum handed over the dosh to then Hon Treasurer, the late, great Don Hayden, he reciprocated with the tickets that were without doubt the most exciting purchase I had experienced in my 8 years and 4 months on planet earth. I think mine cost about 10 shillings (I can't be bothered to check them as this juncture). That's 50p in today's money but back then it was a years worth of penny chews.
The week at school dragged after that excitement but the big day came. We entered via the Collingwood entrance at about 1.30 and the ground was already packed. We managed to get a position on the fence just along from the shoe box.
Tbh, I remember little of the match other than beginning to bawl my eyes out as Leeds, Mighty Leeds as they were labelled back then, scored goal after goal to end my naive but very real belief that Sutton would win. This was just my fourth Sutton match and we had won all the others, progressing in the Amateur Cup, winning a Christmas local derby and then that fantastic Monday night when Hillingdon was humbled.
I think I managed to stay awake for the highlights on MoTD with David Coleman commentating that night. I still have a small mountain of paper cuttings about the match (leading up to it and then after) and they bring back some incredible memories for an 8 year old boy captivated by his local football club and 45 years on, still is.
The romance of the FA Cup, you gotta love it.
Just six days before, I had joined the queue that snaked out of the car park into GGL, past West Sutton Station and all the way up Norman Road. I guess we (mum, sis & me) joined it half way up Norman Road. By the time we got into what is now known as the Players Bar under the stand, I was just hoping they still had some left.
That they did, and as my mum handed over the dosh to then Hon Treasurer, the late, great Don Hayden, he reciprocated with the tickets that were without doubt the most exciting purchase I had experienced in my 8 years and 4 months on planet earth. I think mine cost about 10 shillings (I can't be bothered to check them as this juncture). That's 50p in today's money but back then it was a years worth of penny chews.
The week at school dragged after that excitement but the big day came. We entered via the Collingwood entrance at about 1.30 and the ground was already packed. We managed to get a position on the fence just along from the shoe box.
Tbh, I remember little of the match other than beginning to bawl my eyes out as Leeds, Mighty Leeds as they were labelled back then, scored goal after goal to end my naive but very real belief that Sutton would win. This was just my fourth Sutton match and we had won all the others, progressing in the Amateur Cup, winning a Christmas local derby and then that fantastic Monday night when Hillingdon was humbled.
I think I managed to stay awake for the highlights on MoTD with David Coleman commentating that night. I still have a small mountain of paper cuttings about the match (leading up to it and then after) and they bring back some incredible memories for an 8 year old boy captivated by his local football club and 45 years on, still is.
The romance of the FA Cup, you gotta love it.