Clockwise from above
Pearson takes aim and
lashes United ahead;
Docherty celebrates after
finally ending his Wembley
hoodoo; United parade their
unexpected trophy; The
Liverpool players
acknowledge their fansImagesGetty ImagesMinutes later, United’s winner was as messy as Case’s goal was
brilliant. Macari darted into the box, the ball bounced around and he
took aim. “I screamed at Jimmy [Greenhoff] to get out the way. The
ball lofted over [Ray] Clemence and we were winning.”
Cue mayhem in the United end and the commentary box. “Macari
is it?” asked Motson, brilliantly - but unwittingly - summing up all of
the confusion. It had actually struck the chest of Greenhoff to take
it in and only eagle-eyed co-commentator Jimmy Hill had noticed.
“Jimmy nudged me and said Greenhoff, but the action replay was
from the same angle so it was hard to tell for a while,” says Motson.
Despite waves of Liverpool pressure, the Red Devils held firm and
the cup was won.
“For the remainder of the game, and as I went up
the steps to get my medal, I thought that I had scored the winner,”
laughs Macari. “Back then they gave a golden boot to the scorer of
the winning goal and even when I saw Jimmy with it in the tunnel
I didn’t realise. Eventually I was informed but it wasn’t important.
We’d won and that’s all that really mattered.”
That evening both sets of players ended up throwing things at each
other. United threw a banquet in a hotel off Park Lane and manager,
players and friends ended up on Hyde Park. “It was late at night and
we all went out and were tossing the cup between us,” says Macari.
“I think it ended up with quite a few dents in it.”
For Liverpool, the treble dream was now over. They had dejectedly
lapped the Wembley pitch amid cheers (and even some sporting
applause from United’s jubilant faithful) before setting off to catch
their train home.
Suddenly, Clemence stood up and declared that he was going to
get drunk, and just a few glasses of wine later, the team and their
wives were throwing sugar cubes at each other in scenes unbefitting
of the sombre situation. “That was Steve Heighway,” laughs Case.
“He went to university, had all the brains in the world, but no
common sense.”
Hours later, the train carriage a mess and their heads a little
bleary, the team were home with the defeat, like London, well
behind them. Paisley sat in his living room, poured himself a Scotch
and then wrote down the starting XI for the European Cup final.
This time Callaghan played from the start and this time the game
was won, Liverpool defeating Gladbach 3-1. Denied a treble but still
victorious, Paisley basked in the glory that was Rome.
Tommy Docherty took the cup he had promised back to
Manchester, but then just as his stock was highest, he was fired for
having an affair with the club physio’s wife Mary, to whom he is still
married. It was an unfortunate and perhaps harsh conclusion to an
incredibly entertaining tenure. “I’m the only manager ever to be
sacked for falling in love,” he later said. Lou Macari can only smile
upon hearing the line. “That’s typical of The Doc – never short of
something to say.”
FourFourTwo.com The Story of Man Utd 33