Can the ‘underdogs’ upset the odds again?
SOUTHAMPTON will be clear underdogs when they face Manchester United’s all-star team in today’s EFL Cup Final – but nothing like the no-hopers they were 41 years ago.
An FA Cup Final victory for Second Division Saints against Tommy Docherty’s vibrant young United was deemed about as likely as a reserve goalkeeper munching a pie during a match!
But, inspired by old heads such as Scotland midfielder Jim McCalliog and skipper Peter Rodrigues, Lawrie McMenemy’s team produced one of the great Wembley upsets.
Welshman Rodriques, then 32 and a free transfer from Sheffield Wednesday, will be there this afternoon and doesn’t rule out a repeat.
“Southampton are underdogs again but not like we were,” he recalls. “They are decent side and if they buzz they’re a match for anyone.
“They certainly won’t be 6-1 in a two-horse race. Mick Channon was our racing man in ’76 and he reckoned those odds were ridiculous.
“We watched the TV interviews at the team hotel and United looked nervous. We all passed comment about it.
“When I did the coin toss with Martin Buchan I could see his legs shaking and I knew we had a chance.
“I collected the Cup from The Queen – the last time she’s presented it, so it was very special.
“Our chairman kept shaking my elbow, trying to get my attention as I walked along the balcony. I didn’t realise that it was because I was still chewing gum.
“As a boy I remember seeing a picture of Bishop Auckland lifting the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley and their skipper on the shoulders of his team. It stuck in my mind.
“On the pitch a couple of the boys hoisted me up and I held the trophy high, thinking this is the ultimate picture.
“I’m told I’m one of 146 skippers to have lifted the cup and I’m proud to be in that exclusive club.”
McCalliog, who now runs a B&B in Ayrshire, had been a cup-final loser at 19 when his Sheffield Wednesday team was beaten by Everton after being 2-0 up. But a Wembley winner a year later in 1967 as Scotland beat World Champions England 3-2 on his debut.
“We weren’t afraid of United,” he recalls. “They were a young up-andcoming side but we had a lot of internationals who’d had good careers.
“Losing that final at 19 had been my biggest ever disappointment. I had tears in my eyes afterwards and I told myself I had to go back and put it right. “It took me 10 years. “On the way into Wembley our team bus hit a spectator. We all heard the bang. The police moved us on but we were worried when we got into the dressing room.
“Then Lawrie came in and told us that the fan was OK, so we could focus on the game.
“I gave Bobby Stokes the pass for his winning goal. I heard him calling for it and lifted the ball over their defenders. Bobby took it down, hit it early and surprised Alex Stepney.
“In those days there were no agents, so we had a players’ pool to share out the commercial benefits.
“One of the deals was with a garage who gave us a Ford Cortina to share between us.
“We all decided Bobby should have it because he won us the cup and didn’t have a car. He couldn’t even drive at the time.”