United fans saluted beaten Kop kings with You’ll Never Walk Alone and meant it!
IT was the day when Manchester United ended Liverpool’s Treble bid – and their fans serenaded their Scouse rivals with a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
May 21, 1977 – when Jimmy Greenhoff ’s lucky winning goal took the FA Cup back to Old Trafford and left the league champions to concentrate on the European Cup Final four days later.
Liverpool did indeed clinch the first of their six European crowns, beating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 in Rome.
But 22 years later, it was United who became the first English club to complete a clean sweep of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
United fans of a certain vintage still treasure that sunny Wembley day, when Tommy Docherty’s exciting young team took the cup back to Old Trafford for the first time in 14 years.
What they might prefer to forget is how the Red Army foot soldiers paid generous tribute to today’s arch-enemy.
United v Liverpool is now hailed as the most vitriolic rivalry in English football.
But as Bob Paisley’s beaten team came down the steps from the Royal Box with their losers’ medals, a familiar chant broke out.
Only this time, it was the United’s fans standing on the terrace of Wembley’s West Stand who were singing You’ll Never Walk Alone.
That prompted Liverpool skipper Emlyn Hughes to lead his team-mates on a lap of honour – first of all accepting the generous applause of the United fans, before taking their leave in front of their own supporters packed into the Tunnel End.
In the years since, though some grudging respect has survived, there have been times when the enmity between
FLARE PLAYER Young fan hails the United stars after Cup Final win United and Liverpool has spilled over into something sinister.
You’ll Never Walk Alone was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1945 hit musical Carousel.
It was adopted as an anthem by Liverpool in 1963 when Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers gave Kop legend Bill Shankly a copy of their cover version.
And while fans of clubs all over the country liked to copy the chant on the terraces for the next 25 years, it is now synonymous with Liverpool.
United had lost the 1976 cup final to Second Division underdogs Southampton.
When they returned to Wembley 12 months later – in the year of the Silver Jubilee, the Sex Pistols and an Ashes series won by England – they were rank outsiders against a crack Liverpool team that had just retained the league title.
But United were able to deliver on Docherty’s
JUSt FaNtaStIC Manchester United supporters on song promise to return to Old Trafford with the silverware. The game was decided by three goals in four minutes.
United took the lead when striker Stuart Pearson fired a fierce shot between Ray Clemence and his near post in the 51st minute.
But Liverpool – in white shirts and black shorts – were level soon after, thanks to Jimmy Case’s sensational volley.
When the winner came from United’s next attack, it was a typical stroke of FA Cup luck.
Lou Macari’s swipe at the ball was sailing wide until it struck Greenhoff on the chest and sailed over the stranded Clemence.
Macari believed the goal belonged to him, but Greenhoff was summoned for an interview and returned with a trophy presented every year to the winning scorer.