STICKY TIMES WITH MADRID
Over the 90 minutes, a Real Madrid side containing names such as England winger Laurie Cunningham, Vicente del Bosque and Uli Stielike could not stop Liverpool’s success in Europe with Alan Kennedy the late goal hero adding to their triumphs in 1977 and 1978.
Mcdermott had spent almost two years as a lodger at Kennedy’s parents’ home in the North East after joining Newcastle United from Bury.
“Alan was coming up through the junior ranks at Newcastle. I was only supposed to stay there for a few weeks. I ended up there for all the time I was at Newcastle before moving to Liverpool,” he said.
“His mum used to work in the local chip shop, so there was no shortage of fish and chips in the Kennedy household. We both tucked into fish and chips on a Friday night.
“Alan followed me into both the Newcastle and Liverpool sides, and in Paris he ended up the hero scoring our winning goal.
“It’s a wonder some of us didn’t fall into the huge dry moat which surrounded the playing area in the Parc des Princes as we celebrated that goal.”
Ironically, in the week of Liverpool’s latest attempt at European glory as they face the Spanish giants again, Mcdermott’s three European winning medals are being auctioned off at Sotheby’s, London.
“I’m doing it for my three kids,” he explained. “The money will be divided between them to help them get on the property ladder.
“I put them on display for years, loaning them to the club museum. Once they were returned they were placed in a bank for safekeeping. What’s the point of that? I still have the memories.”
On Tuesday, he will be attending the funeral of his mother-in-law Geraldine.
“Again this helps place football into perspective. She was a lovely, lovely person who will be sadly missed,” he added.
Hopefully for the Mcdermott family, a poignant week will end with Liverpool’s sixth European Cup success.
“The football they have been playing at times has been absolutely brilliant. I think they’ve got a great chance of beating Real Madrid,“he said.
“Liverpool’s front three will cause big problems because Real Madrid haven’t got any pace at the back.”
Mcdermott says there is a big connect between the older players like himself, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Ian Callaghan and Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“The old players who I still see at games are delighted with what’s happening now.
“When we beat Real Madrid in the 1981 final we had ended up in fifth place in the First Division, which was regarded at the time as a disaster.
“This side has finished fourth so hopefully that’s a good omen.”