An ode to Goodison Park, the beautiful sporting arena where my greatest FA Cup memory was played out
Memories of Everton away, 28 years to the day since that unforgettable afternoon
Sunday 7 January 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Walsall – Saturday 13 January, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Notts County – Saturday 20 January, 3pm
NOTTS COUNTY COACHES:
Bredbury Con Club: 10.30am – £20 – bookings can be made in the Con Club County Coaches group on Facebook
Crofter: 11am – £20 (adults) and £16 (under-14s) – text Steve on 07983 580582 or message Crofter Coaches on Facebook
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Where were you 28 years ago today? You don’t actually need to tell me, because for a huge percentage of you, I already know the answer. Your answer is the same as my answer. Along with me, and 5,000 other County fans, you were in the Bullens Road Stand at Goodison Park witnessing one of our greatest ever FA Cup performances.
That game is easily cemented in my top five County games of all time; that ground is firmly placed in my top five grounds in this country. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks writing about the game and the ground, a love letter to both. The first half of today’s The Scarf My Father Wore takes us back to Sunday 7 January 1996, when County were an inch away from knocking out the FA Cup holders on their own turf. The second half acts as an ode to Goodison Park, a truly wonderful place to watch football in this country, and a ground I felt a strong urge to visit one final time with County (probably) when our youth team played there last month.
A huge thank you to Tom Bennett and Mike Flynn for sharing some of their Goodison memories with me, Phil Brennan for a couple of the images, and Marcus Heap for digging out some fantastic newspaper clippings, as County’s heroics made headlines locally and nationally.
I hope both County and Everton fans enjoy the 2,477 words I’ve crafted for today’s main feature. (Although if John Ebbrell’s reading this, you can sod off for breaking my 11-year-old heart in the replay.) Before I share my own words with you, however, allow me to use a few from Jonathan Baker, aka Geordie Hatter, who signed up as a paid subscriber recently.
“It’s going to be a brilliant 2024 for this place,” said the man who produces the only radio show you’ll ever need on a County away day. Today’s Everton feature is a prime example of what I’m trying to do with The Scarf My Father Wore this year. This article has taken me a long time to put together, but this is what I love to do, and I’d like to produce more content like this. I really need your help to do so, however. If you enjoy this feature today, and you’d like to see more stuff like this on a daily basis, please consider signing up as a paid subscriber. It’s only a fiver a month, and you’ll continue to receive a lovingly-created edition of The Scarf My Father Wore every single day of the week.
Today’s edition is sponsored by Victor Publishing. A big thank you to Merv, who’s given us the code “scarf” which you can use at checkout to enjoy 15% off any order. On the website you’ll find Stewart Taylor’s story of County’s return to the Football League, Phil Brennan’s book on the players to make 100 appearances for County, and Chris Davies’ tales of taking Cheadle Town to football stadiums across the world.
Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.
Total distance so far: 46.68 miles
Total steps so far: 83,302
Total raised so far: £1,037
Total completed streets so far: 24 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)
Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.
Des Junior
Arsenal. Aston Villa. Chelsea. Liverpool. Manchester Citeh. Manchester United. Newcastle United. Seven of the biggest clubs in the country. Seven clubs who my lot, Stockport County, have never played in the FA Cup during my lifetime. I’m 40 this year.
I say, played. We have actually drawn three of those teams, just without the reward of actually going toe-to-toe with them.
In January 1994, a home tie with Bristol City or Liverpool in round four was the reward for Danny Bergara’s heroes after they came from behind to dump Premier League side Queens Park Rangers out of the competition on third round day. Kevin Francis cancelled out Simon Barker’s opener, before Andy Preece scored one of County’s most iconic goals of all time, smashing a left-foot volley into the Railway End net with 15 minutes to go.
Liverpool drew at Ashton Gate. Surely they’d beat their second tier opponents in an Anfield replay? The Stockport public certainly thought so, with palpable excitement at the prospect of Ian Rush and John Barnes coming to town. Unfortunately, Brian Tinnion had other ideas, curling the winner past Bruce Grobbelaar in front of a stunned Kop. The Robins won 4-0 at Edgeley Park two weeks later, Wayne Allison netting a hat-trick.
In December 2008, after a 0-0 draw with Gillingham in the second round at Priestfield, the 3,329 crowd at Edgeley Park for the Tuesday night replay knew the winners would be hosting Aston Villa in round three. County took an early lead through Stephen Gleeson but went on to lose 2-1 against their opponents from the division below. Forget moon landings and 9/11, to this day there’s conspiracy theorists in Stockport who still believe County manager Jim Gannon had a hand in that particular result due to a contract dispute.
Most recently, in January 2021, the juiciest apple of all fell from the tree: Manchester United (or Liverpool) away. That was the draw for round five, even though County had yet to play their third round tie. It was during that bizarre Covid season. Before County’s Monday night clash with West Ham, live on the telly, the draws for round four and five were made at the same time. County would have had to beat David Moyes’ Hammers in round three, and then get past Doncaster, before earning a trip to Stretford (United beat Liverpool in round four) in the last 16. Jim Gannon’s National League side valiantly competed with the Londoners for 83 minutes before Craig Dawson headed a late winner. Not that it mattered too much, as no County fans would have been allowed to visit Old Trafford anyway. We’d have had to watch the game from our armchairs, just like most United fans do every season, global pandemic or not.
During my four decades on the planet, County have only played seven Premier League teams in the FA Cup. We’ve discussed QPR and West Ham. Unfortunately, there’s not a great deal to get excited about from most of the others. Sheffield Wednesday beat us 2-0, whilst Tottenham, Bolton and Watford all stuck four past us. (There was a rather special moment at Watford to be fair, as David Poole gave us the lead in front of nearly 3,000 travelling Hatters, but we absolutely fell apart defensively in the second half.)
I’m sure you’d agree that’s a pretty abysmal record when it comes to drawing the big boys in the FA Cup. But during the 1995-96 season – my final year at primary school – after comfortably seeing off Lincoln City and Blyth Spartans, County landed a plum tie in round three. Everton. The holders. At Goodison Park. To this day, the biggest FA Cup draw in my lifetime.
232 days after beating Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley, Everton’s FA Cup defence would begin on a Sunday afternoon in L4 against a County side managed by Dave Jones, who made 103 appearances for the Toffees in the 70s. (It would have been 231 days but Liverpool were also drawn at home in round three and played on the Saturday, beating Rochdale 7-0 at Anfield.)
The draw was the talk of the town in Stockport, with over 5,000 County fans snapping up tickets for the Hatters’ first trip to Goodison since 1921. The game was obviously an exciting prospect for the players, too.
“For me it was great to get a big draw at Everton,” remembers Tom Bennett, who partnered Jeff Eckhardt in midfield that day. “I always liked testing myself against the better players. I also remember really looking forward to the game as I knew we had a decent team that season.”
Bennett’s not wrong. County had already caused an upset earlier in the season, beating First Division Ipswich Town over two legs in the second round of the League Cup. Then, in round three, County held Aston Villa – the eventual winners – for almost an hour at Villa Park before goals from Ugo Ehiogu and Dwight Yorke took the Premier League side through.
Mike Flynn, County’s captain at Goodison, was also excited by the FA Cup draw: “Seeing little old County drawn away to Everton was fantastic, and a great opportunity for 5,000 of our supporters to cheer us on at such an iconic stadium.”
As I’ve already mentioned, Rochdale lost 7-0 at Liverpool the previous day, even though they’d managed to keep a clean sheet for the opening 20 minutes. County, on the other hand, were a goal down with just seven minutes on the clock, Graham Stuart smashing a volley past Neil Edwards after Lee Todd failed to deal with a long punt from Neville Southall. At that moment, Everton fans, football pundits, and if we’re honest, even a few Hatters, must have been anticipating another Merseyside goal-fest.
However, County weren’t in Liverpool simply to make up the numbers, as the 28,921 crowd were about to find out.
The opening goal had been a poor one to concede, but County were still full of confidence, as they had been upon arriving at Goodison. Flynn remembers the pre-match message from Dave Jones: “The gaffer told us to go out there and give it our best shot. He knew where it could potentially take us, as a platform for County, as well as an opportunity for the players to move up to a higher level one day. Dave Jones knew we were good people, and he wanted us to show how good we were as a team.”
County displayed their talents with a fine equaliser in the 31st minute. After neat build-up play from John Jeffers and Alun Armstrong down the left, the ball was played to Tom Bennett. The midfielder played a lovely ball to Ian Helliwell, who headed it back across goal. Chris Beaumont’s header forced a superb save from Southall, but the ball fell to Armstrong, silencing the Everton fans with a left-foot volley into the Gwladys Street End net.
Future County manager Gary Ablett gave Everton the lead just before half-time, but in the 61st minute, Dave Jones’ men equalised for a second time, with a goal even better than the first. I’d like to think I’m an OK writer, but do you know what, we don’t need my words to describe this moment. We need the words of the late (and bloody great!) Richard Harnwell.
“Well read by Lee Todd… oh what a great ball by Todd… and County with three up… Chris Beaumont… first time cross… ohhhhhhhhhh… what a beauty… what an absolute beauty… that was tremendous… the ball from Todd… the first time cross from Chris Beaumont… and the diving header from Ian Helliwell… brilliant!”
Ah, tears and goosebumps for breakfast on this Sunday morning. Beats toast and grapefruit, I suppose.
I can still vividly remember the utter pandemonium in the away end when Helliwell’s header found the back of the net. I’ve watched the video dozens of times; I’ll watch it dozens more. I can’t even begin to comprehend the scenes that would have unfolded had County won the game late on, which we almost did. Beaumont beat Southall with a right-foot effort across goal, but the ball bounced agonisingly the wrong side of the post. 2-2 the final score. Back to Stockport for the replay ten days later.
For Bennett, his Everton experience came to an end at Goodison, taken off late on with a broken foot. “I’d been having issues with my foot for about three weeks beforehand but not enough to miss the game,” he recalls. “I remember going into a tackle in the second half and feeling a pop in my foot, which was my metatarsal snapping. Still a fantastic afternoon, though. The atmosphere from the County fans was incredible, and we gave a good account of ourselves on an immaculate pitch which suited us.”
Flynn did play in the replay, launching one of his trademark long throws which led to County taking a first-half lead through Matty Bound, although Everton went on to win 3-2 just seconds after Edgeley Park had erupted when Armstrong equalised in front of the Cheadle End. “I was gutted when Ebbrell scored in the last minute,” he says. “We’d outplayed Everton for long spells in both games and deserved to go through. It was a cruel way to lose the replay, although I did enjoy getting Duncan Ferguson’s shirt after the game. I was stood in the tunnel and he came up to me and said, ‘There you go son, man of the match in both games for me.’”
Flynn adds: “Doing what we did against Everton, in both games, is testament to what we had at County back then, which was undoubtedly our golden era. The Everton games felt like the springboard to what we achieved the following season, beating Sheffield United, Blackburn, West Ham, Southampton and Middlesbrough in the League Cup.”
The Coca-Cola Cup glory wasn’t the only success County enjoyed in 1996-97, with Dave Jones leading the Hatters into Division One. Six of County’s players who featured at Goodison – Connelly, Todd, Bennett, Flynn, Armstrong and Dinning – also played at Chesterfield, on that incredible Monday night when automatic promotion was secured. But… that’s a story for another day!
Fast forward to December 2023 and County are back at Goodison Park (I’ve not forgotten our 2003 appearance – that’s further down) with our young Hatters taking on Everton in the FA Youth Cup. It’s a cold Tuesday night in the run-up to Christmas, but I’ve got an overwhelming desire to head to Liverpool to watch a County side play at Goodison for (probably) the final time. One last look around a wonderful ground, where my 11-year-old self had cried tears of joy in 1996.
Three days before my latest trip to Everton, I’d travelled to Morecambe to watch County’s game in League Two. It was a day when the weather and the trains caused havoc for County fans trying to get home, with many having to resort to taxis and buses from various places like Preston, Wigan and Crewe. My 40-minute train journey this afternoon passes without incident but when I arrive at Liverpool Lime Street, a power surge has caused the escalators to stop working. This country is starting to feel more and more dystopian each day, especially with the image of hundreds of commuters struggling up dozens of stationary escalator steps. Once we reach the top, a Merseyrail employee is stood completely straight-faced asking passengers if they need a bottle of water, seemingly concerned with the amount of coughing and spluttering going on from a sizeable amount of people making their ascent. As a group, we’re as fucked as the escalators.
There’s more chaos on the concourse. Trains to Blackpool North and Warrington Central are showing as cancelled, with many other delayed destinations on the board. I leave the disgruntled passengers to it, cross the road outside, and I’m soon experiencing some festive cheer. “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward is playing full blast from the speakers at Rudolph’s Rest Bar & Grill, one of the many temporary structures erected as part of Liverpool’s temporary Christmas Market. I’m tempted to nip back to Lime Street to invite some of those disgruntled passengers to join me but I fear the food prices would infuriate them further. It’s £8 for burgers and bratwursts, £10 for a tray of Scouse, £12 for turkey and Yorkshire pudding – in fact the prices seem to escalate the deeper into the market I go.
A stone’s throw from the mince pies and mulled wine, at Queen Square bus station, it’s just £2 (or a bite of a bratwurst in market money) for a single to Goodison Park on the number 19 bus. I’m there in no time at all. And there she is, in all her glory. I know I view Goodison Park through rose-tinted glasses, after that epic afternoon in 1996, but even so, this is a stunning place to watch football. My heart sinks when the likes of York and Shrewsbury and Chesterfield leave Bootham Crescent, Gay Meadow and Saltergate for out-of-town Lego stadiums. Everton’s new home looks mightily impressive, to be fair, but it won’t be nestled directly next to a row of terraced houses, with a chippy on the corner. That’s why I feel I have to be here tonight, for one last taste of the traditional Toffees.
As I walk round to Bullens Road, there’s overflowing bins and a discarded fridge-freezer on the pavement. Again, things you won’t see at Everton’s new place. But it’s little things like this that bring character to cities and stadiums, making every away day experience a different one. Such as the old bloke on the turnstile who gives me a stereotypically warm Scouse welcome as he takes my three pound coins (no cards, it’s cash only here this evening). They don’t make blokes or turnstiles like this anymore.
The Z Cars theme plays through the tannoy as the young players appear. I’m experiencing a nostalgia overload at this point, and I’m loving every second of it. It seems County’s young striker Kylan Depieaza has read the script for tonight as well, following in the footsteps of Alun Armstrong, with a first-half equaliser at the Gwladys Street End.
Everton go on to win 4-1 in the second half, but just like their predecessors in 1996, County’s players have done the club and the town proud, and thoroughly deserve their applause from at least 200 or so travelling fans at the end of the game.
“It’s a grand old team to play for,” crackles through the tannoy as we leave. And Goodison Park is a grand old place to watch football. Sadly, this iconic sporting arena will only be here for another season and a half, but those memories created by Armstrong, Helliwell and Co in 1996 will forever remain.
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Photo of the day
Goodison Park, Liverpool
Since that memorable FA Cup tie, County have only returned to Goodison Park on one occasion. No such jubilation this time, as Everton won 3-0 in the second round of the League Cup, with goals from Duncan Ferguson (2) and Nick Chadwick. A young Wayne Rooney played for the Toffees that evening, coming off the bench in the second half.
Today in SK
🍽 Food and drink
Two Sunday Roasts for £20 at The Red Bull (SK1). 12pm - 6pm.
Located next to the lovely canal walk in Romiley, The Spread Eagle (SK6) is the perfect spot to rest those weary legs over a refreshing drink and a delicious carvery. 12pm - 8pm.
Simply Sunday at TRUNK (SK7). Sunday brunch including face painting and colouring competitions. Call 0161 222 9260 to book a table, and mention “The Scarf My Father Wore” to receive a 15% discount off the normal tapas menu.
Sunday dinner at The Flying Coach (SK7). Chicken or steak, served with honey roasted parsnips, mash, roast potatoes, veg, Yorkshires and red wine gravy. Served from 5pm.
🎶 Free jukebox
The Nelson Tavern (SK1). 3pm - 6pm.
The Scarf My Father Wore works closely with venues on a daily basis to bring you the most comprehensive guide to all of the best offers and events taking place across the whole SK region. Click on the links below for full details of everything taking place in your area over the next few weeks.
SK1 / SK2 / SK3 / SK4 / SK5 / SK6 / SK7 / SK8 / SK9 / SK10 / SK11 / SK12 / SK13 / SK14 / SK15 / SK16 / SK17 / SK22 / SK23
Random County fan of the day #7 – Dave Thompson!
One final thing before you go… if you’re looking to learn to drive in January, or lose a few pounds after Christmas, or even get some work done at home, please contact our fantastic advertisers!
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One big memory of the Z Cars stadium was North Korea going 3-0 up against Portugal in the 1966 World Cup QF. Portugal with Eusebio starring came back to win 5-3!
Watched it on the telly but Dad took me to Old Trafford to see Portugal in a group came v Chile.