Eberechi Eze is back home in south London, following his summer move from west Londoners, Queens Park Rangers. A Liverpool v United final would have been another spectacular game.’”, READ: How Houghton and Lewington shaped football’s future in 1982. “What can sometimes knock you backwards is we were that close to winning it, and then Palace get a late goal. “In the afternoon, Oldham were playing Manchester United. I did alright, I think so. From that point of view, it was tough. Linesmen were Colin Seel (a League referee) and George Martin. There are “no pubs” and only slightly more jobs, so the people of Castlemilk - young or old - are left with a ball at their feet and little else. Absolutely. What if? A bit ironic that Colin was himself landed in the proverbial by linesman and fellow FL referee Gerald Redfern three years later during a semi final involving Everton. But the teams met again later in the season and Palace won an FA Cup semi-final, 4-3 after extra-time. 1977 Everton vs. Liverpool at Maine Road today. 8 April 2020 Eighty players “aged five to 65” charge across a colossal ash pitch in Castlemilk, Glasgow, as a 10-year-old Ray Houghton ducks and dances his way through a crash of football-obsessed legs. Alternatively, please email ifollow@efl.com - note that live chat is recommended for the quickest response on a matchday. It was playing football or that was it. They went to school together, St Margaret Mary’s.”. Re: 1990 FA Cup Semi Finals « Reply #11 on: Tue 21 Apr 2020 16:35 » The other games selected by Wright - the Everton v Wimbledon game in 1994 was refereed by Rob Hart of Darlington, and the penalty he gave which got Everton back into the game was a joke and would have been overruled as a 'dive' by present day VAR. The Lancashire club has been through the mill since, slipping down the divisions from the Premiership to League One and almost going bust a year ago. Even from a Reds perspective, Houghton still speaks with admiration 30 years later: “Palace dug in,” he says. Location: Somewhere between Poole & Budapest. Houghton elaborates modestly: “I’m delighted he [Puncheon] was even watching. READ NEXT: Gallery: Relive the seven-goal semi-final thriller. All credit. “We had players like Dean Gordon and others coming through, they keep you alive in footballing terms. “I knew quite a few players were going to leave: Chris Coleman, [Richard] Shawsy, Gareth Southgate, because there were some good players and good individuals and they were young enough to move on. Houghton's inside story on 'hell of a game' 1990 FA Cup semi-final. “Bear in mind we’d also brought in Julian Gray and Tommy Black, they’d come from Arsenal. On September 12, 1989, Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 9-0 at Anfield in the old First Division. Sorry Ken, the senior moments seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment, Hajrá Lilák. The former Liverpool man forms part of an illustrious list too long to write out, but alongside its more recent additions sits James McCarthy: a Scottish midfielder representing Ireland internationally, who moved to south London after a lengthy spell on Merseyside. But there’s a flipside to Houghton’s reflections, and the 58-year-old certainly isn’t remorseful or embittered at any stage throughout a lengthy interview. May 19, 2016 17:20 BST. What if he’d grown up away from Castlemilk, where jobs and other distractions might have culled the wealth of emerging Glaswegian footballers? Csak a Kispest. What if Houghton had gone into management and re-shaped his career? I’ve lost 6-0 to Liverpool myself and you are wounded and you’re hurt and you’re embarrassed and you say: ‘Right, lads, we’re at it today. Hajrá Magyarok! “Do I regret not going into management? The effect was clear: Castlemilk - a working-class district designed to accommodate emigrants from neighbouring former slums - proudly lays claim to a host of successful footballers, Houghton being one name amongst many. In order to use the live chat functionality you need to opt into live chat cookies. That season the BBC announced they would be showing not just both fixtures live but also on the same day one after the other, initially there … But thanks to an FA Cup shock over neighbours Manchester City to set up … “James McCarthy’s dad,” Houghton explains, “my oldest brother John would know him. James McCarthy: a Scottish midfielder representing Ireland internationally, Programme exclusive: McArthur on gritty Glasgow upbringing, How Houghton and Lewington shaped football’s future in 1982, Bruce Dyer, I remember Bruce when he came from Watford. Interestingly they swapped sides at half-time, although they kept the same diagonal. 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. “They’re the future and they’re the ones that have the energy. “My first three seasons at Liverpool,” he recalls: “season one, I won the league and lost the FA Cup final; season two, I won the FA Cup and lost the league on goal difference to Arsenal; season three, won the league and lost in the FA Cup semi-final to Crystal Palace. The chant paints a brief but vivid picture of matchdays at Selhurst Park - ‘Everyone was running, All the lads and... Britain’s boxing cruiserweight champion, Richard Riakporhe, talks through his upbringing on the Aylesbury Estate, being stabbed at 15-years-old and how now he is helping schoolchildren avoid the... For anyone who passed – or even entered - Selhurst Park in November last year, they may have found a slightly different stadium to the usual buzz of matchday preparations, lawnmowers and the chatter... Kevin Day, writer, broadcaster, comedian and Palace for Life Trustee, talks to Richard Foster about going to watch Palace away at Southampton in two memorable years. An FA Cup final and a legend amongst our ranks. Houghton’s mother carries a crate of 24 milk bottles filled with water, leaving them metres from her house for the hoard of aspiring footballers to refresh themselves with. We've got all you need to know on it below. For the replay between United and Oldham, Joe Worrall was again in the middle, assisted by G. Banwell of Eccleshall and B. J. Firmin of Luton. You look back and go: what if?”. “That’s all we had. Eighty players “aged five to 65” charge across a colossal ash pitch in Castlemilk, Glasgow, as a 10-year-old Ray Houghton ducks and dances his way through a crash of football-obsessed legs. Houghton faced his first spell outside the top flight in over 10 years and an exodus of his surrounding teammates, but neither troubled the Scotsman. ‘Everywhere was red and blue,’ proclaims Palace’s much appropriated Blaydon Races. They were used to different styles of things, they weren’t used to what comes with being a Championship player. Palace may have been the whipping boys that afternoon in 1989, but when they returned in 1990, the Eagles pulled off one of the FA Cup’s most memorable recoveries: beating Liverpool 4-3. The up-and-coming youngsters - George Ndah came through, Bruce Dyer, I remember Bruce when he came from Watford - they’re the lads that keep you going. In my opinion 2 of the best referees we have produced. The journey from Liverpool to Palace via Villa Park seems an apt one. Twice FA Cup semi-finalists and once down to the last two in the League Cup within the space of five years at the start of the 1990s, Oldham were everyone's favourite underdog. Soha ne add fel, Quote from: JohnCoyle on Sun 19 Apr 2020 13:04, Quote from: Acme Thunderer on Sun 19 Apr 2020 20:45, Quote from: Hendo on Mon 20 Apr 2020 08:31, Quote from: Acme Thunderer on Mon 20 Apr 2020 09:21, Create your own free forum at CreateAForum.com. What if Liverpool hadn’t procured the Scotsman’s services, and he hadn’t earned two league winner’s medals and two FA Cups? What if Liverpool won the Cup semi-final in 1990? Unfortunately the 4O is again not listed. They were shell-shocked.”. - Beardsley was out of the last seven matches of the season due to a stress fracture of the knee diagnosed following this astounding defeat to Palace who had been beaten 9-0 by Liverpool earlier in the campaign. Houghton’s mother carries a crate of 24 milk bottles filled with water, leaving them metres from her house for the hoard of … That was it for everyone.”. By burying the ghosts of their recent past, Palace secured a cup final berth against Manchester United in the most emphatic of fashions. 1977 - it was certainly disallowed by Clive Thomas for handball rather than offside although whether Colin Seel was flagging for offside as well, I don't know. Sun 8 Apr 1990 We’re going to give them one hell of a game,’ and Palace certainly did.”. How Crystal Palace stunned Liverpool to spring one of the Cup's greatest shocks. I think we’ve all got egos, we all think we can do it and I certainly think it’s an avenue I should have explored more. I actually got caught in a traffic jam on the M25 and I remember ringing Alan Smith saying: ‘Alan, I don’t know if I’m going to make the game - we can’t move, we’re just not moving.’ He made me laugh - because he was quite a funny character - he said: ‘Get a helicopter out!’, “I literally got to the stadium about quarter to three, I ran in and got changed, we went out and we won 1-0… The lads were out there and I was putting my kit on, trying to get instructions and calm myself down a little bit. We’re happy with the way things went. “They didn’t give up. Prior to 1990 FA Cup semi-finals usually took place on the same day and at the same time as every other top-flight league game in the country with the odd exception of a live match on terrestrial TV; but in the spring of 1990 that was all about to change for good. But, looking back, the Scotsman reflects on a working life of what-ifs. We could have done the double three seasons in a row and we didn’t win one. The League Managers Association’s panel has awarded Crystal Palace the LMA Performance of the Week Award for their 3-1 triumph against Manchester United. The move was huge, and would precede the most memorable and successful period of Houghton’s career. Though the midfielder was 33-years-old, he had scored one of Ireland’s greatest ever goals at the 1994 World Cup just a year before and was out of favour at Aston Villa, whom he joined after leaving Liverpool in ‘92. To watch the Video please enable "Targeting" in cookie settings. Villa Park | From the opposition perspective, Houghton recalls that Anfield-drubbing. I remember us being 3-2 up and then they got a late equaliser to go to 3-3 and then they obviously won it in extra time. FA Cup Semi-final Villa Park | Sun 8 Apr 1990 at 12:00 Liverpool Sound familiar? Lord Elleray had Alan Sheffield and a very young looking Phil Sharp on the lines for Chesterfield vs Middlesborough. Everything was in the gym. The footballer’s ability to recall scores and goalscorers is phenomenal - Houghton is spot on -  but sadly that West Ham victory would be Palace’s last of the 1994/95 season, and the club were relegated from the Premier League for the second time in three campaigns. “Every time we attacked we looked like we were going to score and Palace didn’t know what they were going to do next. I think we won 1-0 and Chrissy Armstrong scored it.”. So they’re really confident, their confidence has gone through the roof - a couple of minutes earlier they’re thinking they’re out of it and that’s how quickly things can change.