Watt’s mates were set for half-time strike at Anfield
Stockport County have the chance for a bit of FA Cup giant- killing when they host West Ham tomorrow night.
It’s such a shame the National League side won’t have any fans roaring them on at Edgeley Park.
Back in January, 1965, the Hatters battled their way to a 1- 1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield in the fourth round of the Cup.
It was an incredible feat for a team that were bottom of the old Fourth Division.
They had already beaten Wigan Athletic, Grimsby Town and Bristol Rovers before being drawn against the League champions.
Scottish winger Johnny Watt played a big part in Stockport taking the lead against Bill Shankly’s side.
What the jubilant travelling supporters didn’t know was that a row over bonuses was taking place as they celebrated being 1- 0 up at half-time.
There was even a threat that County wouldn’t come out for the second half!
Johnny recalled: “There had been a big build- up to the FA Cup game. We were invited to spend a few days training in Morecambe before going to Anfield.
“We went ahead when Tommy Lawrence couldn’t hold my shot, and it went straight on to Len White’s head and into the net.
“We had a 1-0 lead which nobody had expected. “At half- time, there was talk about bonus money. Some teams got extra payment if the crowd was over 10,000.
“There were more than 50,000 at Anfield, but
we were told there was nothing coming our way.
“That led to one of the players saying we’d just not bother going out for the second- half – and people started taking off their shirts.
“The directors came to the dressing room, and it was agreed that we would get £25-a-man.
“I don’t know if we would have refused to play if they’d stood their ground.
“Gordon Milne equalised for Liverpool with a shot that ricocheted off several players before ending up in the back of the net. There was no power in it.”
Nobody thought there was a chance of Stockport taking the tie to a replay. Indeed, Bill Shankly was so confident of winning that he was in West Germany spying on European Cup opponents, Cologne.
Flamboyant Stockport chairman, Vic
Bernard, had so much confidence in his team, he had already printed 4,000 tickets for Liverpool to sell.
Home fans camped out overnight, and 24,000 were packed in for the second game.
Johnny said: “We lost 2- 0, but we put up a good fight. There was an incredible atmosphere that night.
“There were fans spilling on to the pitch when one of the fences broke.
“The money Stockport earned from that Cup run really helped the club, and they were promoted two years later.”
Liverpool won the FA Cup for the first time in 1965. They only team to take the lead against them was Stockport.
Johnny had joined the club from Blackpool two years previously.
Born in Kilmarnock, he went to Bloomfield Road after starting out with Saxone Youth Club.
He played on the right wing – a position occupied by Stanley Matthews at the Seasiders.
“I used to sit and watch him perform in floodlight games,” said Johnny.
“He was a great player, but he didn’t like being tackled and he’d tell you to watch your step.
“He’d come to the training ground at Squires Gate, and not bother to strip if the ground looked rough. Nobody could argue with him.
“I got a few games for Blackpool when he left to go back to Stoke City.”
After leaving Stockport County, Johnny signed for fellow Fourth Division side, Southport.
There was another meeting with Liverpool, and this time it was a 3- 0 victory in the semifinal of the Lancashire Senior Cup.
Johnny returned to Ayrshire and junior football after his spell with the Sandgrounders.
He spent many years working for an engineering firm in Kilmarnock.