Alan And David On 89 – Part 2
Nov 10th, 2017 by 'holic
Part one of Lucy Gooner’s review of a roundtable event with Alan Smith and David O’Leary got some very favourable responses, thank you all. Here is the rest of the story. Thanks Lucy.
A young Spider
The pair of them looked back at the team’s run in at the end of THAT season. We lost to Derby County and drew with Wimbledon, both home matches, before the final match at Anfield. Smudger recalled,
“I remember the Wimbledon game was the last home game of the season and we had done a lap of honour at the end and we’ve gone “sorry we tried our best, but it didn’t quite work out” and there was that kind of atmosphere about it all that game.”
Smudge was asked if he felt that that may have helped in the game at Anfield, and he agreed that the pressure was then off. A recurring theme at the time was nobody fancied us, including us!
“All the media stories. Graeme Souness did a piece in the Mirror “Men against Boys”, pin that up on the notice board but yes, nobody fancied us at all. So we went up there and I think that’s why we slept well in the afternoon. It was a shot to nothing really”
The club’s record appearance holder with 722 appearances for the Arsenal, David O’Leary had made his debut for the Gunners at Burnley sixteen years earlier. He reflected on the contribution of the legend sitting next to him.
“You know I’d seen a lot of them (new signings) come to the club and had got used to a lot of people failing. Good players who just couldn’t cope with the demands of the big club and gone away and been good, but I remember him (Smudger) being talked about big time at Leicester and he looked the part. I was delighted when he signed, but when he arrived I wondered, there was just something about the big clubs, can he cope with it? That night those players all came together, and I thought to myself that I was going out with a bunch of players who won’t be in awe of the occasion. They won’t freeze. They will relish it. They won’t be scared.”
He explained that going to Anfield was always hard as they had built up such a good side. Everybody would go negative. The Arsenal were always a team that would battle with them. Smudger picked up the the discussion about the actual game and when he thought they might actually be able to achieve the miracle.
“Well I think the first-half went well from George’s perspective because we kept a clean sheet and that was always his main thing. “Listen lads don’t worry about it, scoring two goals, make sure you keep a clean sheet because if they score a goal you have got to score three, and it isn’t going to happen” So we came in at half-time, I felt a little bit down as I hadn’t had a chance and there was only Bouldy’s header at the far post. We came in, the gaffer lifted us. “Lads chins up we are doing really well exactly according to plan. Clean sheet, let’s just push on a bit more now”. So, you know he has it a bit more in his mind, the general picture that he wanted, and it came off.”
Spider ventured that he really thought it was when Smudger scored. He was up against a couple of his Republic of Ireland international colleagues and observed that Liverpool weren’t really at it.
“I think I was marking John Aldridge up there and there was Ray Houghton who I knew from the Ireland days. I definitely thought something about them changed.”
Talking to them both they were visibly moved by the atmosphere in the ground before the game and that they had given the flowers to the crowd and how much it was appreciated. It was evident that George Graham had done so much to gee them up, and how good it was to see him and all their team mates again at the premiere of the film later on. The mix of the legends and the supporters added to the sense of occasion, and famous faces were happy to mix with those still in awe of them.
Both also agreed it was the best game they had ever played in. So much had gone on around it, but the entire world was captured by it and that everyone was talking about it 28 years later. They were both very effusive about what was one of the best moments in the history of the Arsenal. What a way for me to spend 15 minutes!
89 is available in OurScreen cinemas from 11th November & on DVD & Digital Download from 20th November. See the link to Amazon in the sidebar on the right.
19 Responses to “Alan And David On 89 – Part 2”
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They…won’t…be…scared
Excellent stuff Lucy. I well remember the evening and look forward to seeing the movie. If it’s half as good as it’s reported to be it’s going to be fun.
It is excellent bath. Take tissues.
I’ve done piece on Nutty Winterburn tonight. Remember the goal he scored against Wimbledon with his right foot! And the fact that as Mickey Thomas turns to celebrate he was running past him!
All this on a night when Livermore and Cork played for England and Wilshere didn’t. Southgate’s press conference yesterday was pathetic. He made no sense whatsoever.
Where is it published TTG? Would be happy to promote it on Twitter and Facebook for you.
Another fab article. From a fab fan. It shows, big time. x
I was watching that night in a bedsit in East Croydon, before heading out to a flat warming in Crystal Palace (which the organisers delayed cos of the game….)
When St Michael scored, I was sat on my bed, but I jumped up screaming, bounced and ricocheted off the walls, ceilings and floor like a proper cartoon character.
I wore those bruises as a mark of honour for weeks.
P.S. When I got to Crystal Palace village, all the off licences had sold out of champagne/sparkling wine so I had to buy Perry! (Number 1 is…) and also I recall that all the pubs were celebrating – even Palace supporters – cos Liverpool had been beaten.
A night I will never forget. EVER.
Fantastic stuff? Thanks again Lucy! ?
Cheers ‘holic! ?
Twas a time when men were real men, and they knew who and what they were “fighting for” – “each other”!
A time when football was “real football”; and God how I miss it! ?
I doubt that our kids and grandkids are ever gonna see the likes and the “purity” of it like we did?! It’s heartbreaking… ? Tissues definitely a-ready; and I’m not one bit embarrassed to admit it too…
UTAAD&AN! 89!!!
By the way, where’s TaBS (Take a Bow Son)? Haven’t seen him in the bar for yonkies, now that we’re reminiscing and feelin’ sentimental?! Hope all’s ‘lright with him?! ?
Thanks Lucy / GH
I remember it all well. The
Norwich game at home was the
last one I went to that season.
We whacked a fair Norwich team
5-0 from memory and afterwards
I remember thinking we’ve got
the league this season and was
very up. Then the real downers
against Derby and Wimbledon –
we did it the hard way.
I watched the game a couple of
miles down the road from Dublin
Gooner funnily enough. In a
shithole of a pub in Carshalton
which was inaptly named the
Cottage of Content. But they
had a big screen tv and the rest
was history. A scrum of Gooners
on the dirty pub floor screaming
our heads off 🙂
89’… Just when I was warming up to storm planet earth.
Good old days, I somewhat wish I witnessed those moments.
Good morning all, I missed you guys. Ran out of data subscription and sometimes, you know money plays the hide and seek game, taking comfort in the pockets of disguised politicians.
I fckn hate how Nigeria is operating.
Maybe you guys should start a donor group for me, £200 every month would be a good deal
Lol
Disgusting politicians, not disguised
Holic
That’s so kind but it’s a piece for the next Gooner celebrating 89.
Nigerian Gooner
You can’t afford to give me £200 a month. £ 100 will be fine ?
TTG
Hahaha. Which part of the world are you from?
I doubt it’s Europe.
But, how the fck do footballers earn in excess of £250k WEEKLY!
What do these guys do with such money!
A WEEK’S wage of these footballers can change the lives of more than 20 people over here in Nigeria
@16 – They pay someone to help them avoid paying their taxes, mostly. Apparently.
And finally, Amy, with the story behind the making of the film.
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