It’s the day Ray can never forget
RAY WILKINS does not need much prompting to trip off his memories of the 1983 FA Cup final.
A rare goal, his first and only major medal in English football, Jimmy Melia’s white shoes, Brighton’s helicopter ride to Wembley and the unforgettable “Smith must score” moment which meant it went to a replay.
When Manchester United take on Brighton in the quarter-finals tomorrow it will all come flooding back for Wilkins, now 61.
“I remember the build-up was dominated by Steve Foster being banned from the final and Brighton’s appeals to the FA to allow him to play,” said the former United and England midfielder.
“Brighton flew to Wembley in a Chinook helicopter and their manager, dear old Jimmy Melia, wore white slip-ons!
“We were clear favourites because Brighton had just been relegated but the first game was very tense. They had Jimmy Case and Tony Grealish in their midfield and we went behind early on to a Gordon Smith goal. Frank Stapleton got us level and then I put us in front.
“If Arnold Muhren had not been on the ball I probably would not have made the run and saved my energy. But he had such a wonderful left foot that he picked me out from about 50 yards.
“The full-back [Graham Pearce] should really have shown me down the outside because I wasn’t blessed with a lot of pace. But I managed to come inside him on my left foot and thought, ‘I’m shattered anyway so I’m going to have a blast’. Thankfully it went into the top corner.
“I thought it might be a winner but Gary Stevens equalised a few minutes from the end. Then Smith had that great opportunity late in extra time. Everybody always says he missed the chance but I thought Gary Bailey made a fantastic save with his legs to earn us a replay.”
If the first game had been nip and tuck and full of drama, the replay was one-sided. United won 4-0 with Bryan Robson scoring twice but passing up a hat-trick chance from a penalty with a gesture Wilkins said was “the mark of the man”.
Wilkins said. “He handed the ball to Arnold saying, ‘You’ve taken them all season so you take it’. Arnie scored it but Robbo’s gesture really stood out for me.
“Winning the FA Cup was a cherished memory of my time at United. Every now and again I take the medal out and look.”
Despite United’s shock midweek Champions League exit, Wilkins tips them to be winners tomorrow. He said: “Chris Hughton’s done a remarkable job at Brighton. “They have some good footballers, play a nice standard – but you have to go for United playing at Old Trafford.”