Radio Days

Browsing through twitter last week and I came across the brilliant account ‘Football Back Then’ which had a great picture of the BBC Radio2 commentators Bryon Butler and Peter Jones. Immediately I was taken back to some great memories following the reds. Of course you could add Alan Green, Alan Parry, George Hamilton, Mike Ingham to that illustrious duo. I know I have probably missed one or two more in there, apologies if so.

Countless Saturday afternoons listening to the second half commentary, hoping we would be the game picked for it, as thanks to the football league rules you did not know a day in advance.  Thankfully our success meant we were on more often than not and also praying that the reception was ok and would hold out for the afternoon.

The midweek games – Well midweek games at Anfield would normally kick off at 7.30pm, with BBC Radio Two coverage starting at 8pm, a full 30 minutes after KO. Unless you had Ceefax on your BBC or Oracle for ITV and that was posh, you were in total limbo for what was happening at Anfield or further afield.  So we might have Renton Laidlaw presenting in the studio and his role was so important, as with 30 minutes gone already, usually something happened in the game. He would utter the immortal words, “and already we have had some action” let’s go over to Anfield/Munich/Goodison and the first words uttered by Peter Jones, Bryan Butler or Alan Green would be so important. If they mentioned a redman, well happy days, we were on our way to scoring a goal.

A few games always stand out, memories that will never leave. The 1981 European Cup Semi-Final second leg in Munich. Just 9 years old, but aware of the task facing us, after the first leg ending scoreless. An away goal in those days was celebrated with real gusto, they were so rare. So standing in a small kitchen with a radio held tight against the ear, making sure I heard it right, Ray Kennedy had put us ahead, he had! And the last few minutes of agony after the Germans equalised. I had to make sure, I knew we had won but Sportsnight would confirm for sure later, usually keeping us waiting, well the Greyhound racing from Wimbledon had to get a good audience as well. Late night with Harry Carpenter – another legend.

And so the love affair with Radio 2 continued, the defeat to Lodz in 83, a bitter pill in Bobs last season alongside the cup defeat to Brighton. Thankfully we experienced more joy than despair on the field, the double season brought some great games, the 3-2 win at Goodison, as we raced into a 3-0 lead. What made it better was that my best friend, then as now, was a Blueshite. Being near neighbours, every Saturday was spent kicking a ball, but was interrupted for the Radio 2 commentary. The derby matches were a huge deal, as they should be, and when Peter Jones exclaimed “Ratcliffe, from 40 yards” at Anfield in Feb  1986 I thought that was it, Lineker made it two soon afterwards, we were then 8 points behind. Looking at the game later, Peter was being very generous to Kevin Ratcliffe and his yardage from goal.

The game was up, so some of us thought, the victory at Spurs the following week on TV was vital, another late late show from Ian Rush. Slowly we ate into the lead in the league as both teams had also progressed in the FA Cup. Our semi-final game V Southampton not being the commentary game made it more nerve wrecking with the words, there’s been a goal at White Hart Lane, should never doubt Ian Rush on the double in more ways than one.

The defining week, we traveled to Leicester with Everton going to the Manor Ground in Oxford, with the blues being the commentary game. We both decamped to the living room, a Everton victory and you would think that was that, with two home games left for them and us with just Chelsea. One of the great nights as a red, made better to be in the presence of a blue. We raced into a 2-0 lead at Leicester and were comfortable. It was all down to Oxford and Peter Jones took us to Oxford, I remember clearly Billy Hamilton skimming the bar with a header, and having another cleared of the line. Soon to be reds Aldridge and Houghton playing a major part for Oxford who also needed a win, and then with two minutes to go a goal for Oxford, too late for the Everton to peg it back and no Kevin Brock in the Oxford team to help them out as in 1984!  We were home and dry. The rest is history, Irish TV had the Chelsea game live on the Saturday, albeit a few minutes late due to a horse race. Another title and finally a Cup victory I could remember one week later, TV taking over for the day naturally.

April 15^th 1989 – Again the game was live on Irish TV  – and sadly I soon had to tune into the radio for what exactly was happening at Hillsborough, Alan Green and Peter Jones were there and kept us up to date with the horrific events. The closing comments of Peter Jones on Sports Report are something I listen too even now, especially around the anniversary.

I could go on and on, the double act of Alan Green and Denis Law was a joy to behold, the untimely death of Peter Jones at the boat race in 1990 at the age of just 60 was such a loss to the airwaves. I would encourage anyone who would be unfamiliar with these Radio giants to google or youtube clips of men like Jones and Bryon Butler do there work, listen to them describe some of the most iconic Liverpool and indeed international games whilst on BBC duty.

Thankfully Alan Green and Mike Ingham continued the trend of great commentators throughout the 90s as Radio 2 handed over to BBC 5LIVE in 1994 as football exploded with the advent of the Premier League. I recall one Manchester United friend attending a local Supporters Club meeting and being told by the ‘knowledgeable’ people at the top table that there was now games on the Radio every Saturday on the BBC, as if it had just come to pass,  as a listener for years, he promptly left the meeting.

Thankfully the BBC continue to give us top class coverage, Alan Green still remains top of the class and is ably supported now by John Murray, Conor McNamara and Ian Dennis. I’ve just listened again to Ian Dennis and Alan Shearer commentating on the 4-0 demolition of Barcelona, thankfully I was there that night but the commentary is well worth a listen. Goosebumps! The summariser’s deserve a mention, some great insight, Denis Law we mentioned earlier was a great character. Jimmy Armfield and Graham Taylor were excellent and sadly no longer with us, David Pleat and Mark Lawrenson share their great knowledge. The newbies, Pat Nevin is very good as is Alan Shearer, Chris Waddle and Chris Sutton. I can do without the dramatics of Robbie Savage and Danny Mills, no need for the crazy outbursts, leave that to Talksport which is nowhere near the level of 5Live.

I do chuckle when asked did you see the game at the weekend, if I answer I actually listened to it, I’m looked at as if I am from another planet. I can understand it totally as some of the TV coverage is also outstanding, and of course I watch also. But I grew up in an era when radio was the only outlet for the majority of games and the reds were top of the tree and I’ll happily continue that as the reds go marching on.

Pilgrimage to Madrid

Like every other red, the planning for Madrid started the day after the night before as in that night V Barca. Nursing the injuries suffered from the plastic seats on the Kop, it was well worth it of course, and the search for flights began. I think as soon as the final whistle went another whistle was being blown across the airline HQ of Europe to put their prices up as quickly as possible as the reds were on the march again. God forbid someone getting some value for their money. It was pure madness and it soon became apparent that any flights were not going to be near Madrid as the prices were just too expensive. So Santiago airport in the northern half of Spain was the chosen destination. At this stage we had four travelers, two were guaranteed a ticket with the home and away games sorted that season, the other two had a nervous wait for the ballot. But it was a gamble worth taking.

Come ballot day and sadly no luck for the second year in a row, we had a few irons in the fire however and as we were three weeks away yet, there is always hope. The time ticked onwards and again the prices of tickets were way out of our league as they were for thousands of ticketless Liverpool supporters. Then, good fortune for one of our party, a miracle ticket arrived thanks to a good friend who couldn’t travel, leaving us with one to find.

Come departure day and off we went to Santiago, around 20 reds on a plane full of pilgrims who were undertaking their own adventure, the Camino walk, which for some can be a 500 mile trek.

We were on our own adventure and we headed towards Valladolid, a mere four hour’s drive away across some breath-taking countryside. A wrong turn seen us mount the pavement in the city centre and we found ourselves driving towards some slightly worried looking locals sipping on their beers. We were lucky perhaps none of the local police were around as it may have turned a bit nasty in this day and age. We quickly gathered ourselves for some much needed liquid refreshment, not too much as we were away early for the two hour journey to Madrid the next day. Not too many, well enough, as the Karaoke belted out and there is always one who will do the needful, not so sure that the Bananarama version of Venus was the best song choice. However it was a good end for what was now European Cup Final day.

I’m sure the day itself has been well covered in these pages, the scenes were magnificent, and the city was also perfect in welcoming us all. That’s what you get when you treat adults like adults, everyone having a drink and in good mood, not being herded here there and everywhere like second class citizens. Sadly no ticket materialised so it was just the three of us that got into the stadium, the train journey out was bouncing, I’m surprised the train stayed on the tracks, the mood was of confidence, and it was like that all day to be fair and why not.

Gaining entry to the ground was an ordeal, it was never going to be easy, but we were there in good time and we were in. The usual pre match shite ensued – who were these people. I had a seat, not in the Liverpool end as such but close enough and pretty close to the TV boxes. Game on and of course we didn’t have to wait long to get one hand on the cup, bedlam, I looked up and good old Jose was standing a few yards behind watching the game protected by bodyguards, have a good look Jose as it’s coming home.

Again, we all know the outcome, we had won our 6th European Cup, only relaxing when Divock does what Divock does, and soon we were bouncing around the ground, not wanting

to leave, and we didn’t for near 90 minutes. So much going on, so much joy. By the time we did make it out, we were too exhausted to even celebrate properly, and also mindful of the six hour drive the next day to Santiago for the flight back home.

A nice journey it was, waking up to the news, the countless videos etc, stopping off at a remote café where a Diego Costa look-a-like served up a great meal to send us on our merry way back to Dublin and then another three hours onwards to the North West and home to Donegal. A pit stop at the John McKenna plaque was a must, we cannot forget the founding fathers of our great club, we wouldn’t be what we are today without them.

A few weeks on, and all is still fresh in the memory, it doesnt take too long for next season to enter the mind, fixtures out, trips planned, waiting on TV companies to sort themselves, it all starts again. Anyone booked next year yet?