1982:83.
David McLurg, Colin Ross, Heine Otto, Ray Hankin, Steve Tupling, Scots international: John Brownlie. Middle: Mick Baxter, Tony Mowbray, Paul Ward, Gary McDonald, Irving Nattress, David Currie, Darren Wood, Mike Angus, Joe Bolton and Kevin Beattie. Front: Lew Clayton, Terry Cochrane, Stephen Bell, Kel O'Hanlon, Big Mal, Platt, Mick Kennedy, David Shearer and Cyril Knowles.
David McLurg, Colin Ross, Heine Otto, Ray Hankin, Steve Tupling, Scots international: John Brownlie. Middle: Mick Baxter, Tony Mowbray, Paul Ward, Gary McDonald, Irving Nattress, David Currie, Darren Wood, Mike Angus, Joe Bolton and Kevin Beattie. Front: Lew Clayton, Terry Cochrane, Stephen Bell, Kel O'Hanlon, Big Mal, Platt, Mick Kennedy, David Shearer and Cyril Knowles.
I remember the mid 1980's and the stadium needed a coat of paint, inside and out, but its character and charm still came through. Later, the years in the top league meant a paint job all over Ayresome Park and I remember thinking that Cinderella had just been transformed and invited to the ball!
Main entrance to the North Stand on Warwick St.
The gates now stand outside the Riverside Stadium.
5th June 1995.
David Dixon: "Nothing beats walking through those terraced streets." "Great memories of a sell out crowd and huge queues waiting behind the south stand to get in." "Really miss the old place- (nostalgia probably clouds how rubbish it really was mind)."
Paula Matthews: "Grew up on this road." "Amazing atmosphere on match days!" "And supporters staring through our Windows after match to see final scores on telly!" "Haha!"
On 12 January 1980, a portion of Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park collapsed, killing two people. It was the start of a terrible trend in football for the coming decade. Boro season-ticket holders Irene and Norman Roxby were exiting the ground (pictured) by the South East corner after a 1-1 draw with Manchester United when a brick pillar crumbled, bringing two gates down with it. The Roxbys were crushed by the debris. Some witnesses to the event blamed it on a group of visiting Manchester United supporters, saying they rushed the gates after the match, triggering the collapse. In their defense, however, the United supporters claimed that the rush was sparked by efforts to get away from an over-excited police horse. Subsequent reports revealed that Middlesborough's safety certificates for the stadium had not been kept up-to-date, though the club claimed that any violation was merely technical and that all safety requirements were either met or exceeded at the time of the incident. The deaths of the Roxbys were soon dwarfed by larger football-related disasters, including massive losses of life at Moscow's Lenin Stadium in 1982, Bradford City's Valley Parade ground in 1985, Belgium's Heysel Stadium in 1985, and Hillsborough in 1989. The Taylor Report followed the latter in August 1989, recommending the elimination of standing areas in favor of all-seater grounds. That requirement ultimately doomed Ayresome Park, which made way in 1995 for Middlesbrough's new Riverside Stadium.
Some stadiums add to a club's popularity and this part dies when it goes. Chelsea's was a dump; City now play at an updated Maine Road; Arsenal fans were only ever interested in results and the fact that they came from that part of North London, so I wonder why clubs like West Ham and, possibly Everton, want to destroy one half of what stands them out from the rest!
Ray did originally turn down the move to "Boro", but he made a u-turn on this decision within 24 hours! The deal was worth nearly 200, 000 dollars to the Whitecaps and they lost their top scorer for the 1982 season!
Ray made a great contribution towards "Boro's" real threat of relegation in the season 1982-83!
My stand out memory was Ray Hankin's goal against Shrewsbury from the 1982-83 season. It was a wonderfully chipped goal on 75 minutes and it contributed towards "Boro's" eventual survival, by just three points.
Debut versus Grimsby Town at home, Sept' 22nd 1982- in a 4-1 defeat where both Ray and Mick Kennedy were sent off. Later that night, manager Bobby Murdoch was sacked.
First goal: Oct 26th, League Cup 2/2nd leg, against Burnley: 1-0 home win and Ray scored in the 7th minute.
Second goal: Jan 29th, F.A. Cup fourth Round: 2-0 home win against Notts County with goals from Ray, 44, Beattie penalty, 65.
Final goal: March 8th, 2-1 home win against Shrewsbury with goals from Ray, 75, kennedy,34.
27 games; two as unused sub and two goals.
January 8th, 1983; Boro verus Bishop Stortford, F.A. Cup 3rd round. Stortford's striker, Lyndon Lynch: "Playing at Middlesbrough was something else. It was a big stadium and we were up against good players like Irving Nattrass and they had an international in goal in Jim Platt [Northern Ireland]."“When we came out Malcolm Allison looked at us and stared at us. " "That did not put me off.”
Big Mal.
Big Mal managed Ray at "Boro" before selling him to Peterborough for the 83/84 season for 10,000.
Ray's complete "Boro" record: Debut versus Grimsby Town at home, Sept' 22nd 1982- in a 4-1 defeat where both Ray and Mick Kennedy were sent off. Later that night, manager Bobby Murdoch was sacked.
Oct 2nd, 1-1 home draw with Oldham; Oct 5th, League Cup 2/1 leg: 3-2 away defeat to Burnley; Oct 9th, 2-2 away to Shrewsbury; Oct 26th, League Cup 2/2nd leg, against Burnley: 1-1 home draw and Ray scored in the 7th minute; Oct 30th, 2-2 away to Rotherham; Nov 6th, 2-0 home win against Barnsley; Nov 13th, 3-2 away win against Charlton; Nov 20th, 0-0 away to leeds; Nov 27th, 5-1 home defeat to Blackburn; Dec 4th, 4-0 away defeat to Wolves; Dec 11th, 3-1 home win against Chelsea; Dec 17th, 2-0 away defeat to Cambridge; Dec 27th, 1-1 home draw against Leicester; Dec 28th, 3-1 away win against Carlisle; Jan 8th: F.A. Cup third Round, 2-2 home draw with Bishop Stortford; Jan 11th, 2-1 away win at Stortford but Ray was an unused sub; Jan 15th, 1-1 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday and Ray came on in the 67th minute; Jan 22nd, 1-0 away defeat to Fulham; Jan 29th, F.A. Cup fourth Round: 2-0 home win against Notts County with goals from Ray, 44, Beattie penalty, 65; Feb 5th, 1-1 away draw to Newcastle; Feb 12th, 3-0 away defeat to Oldham; Feb 19th, F.A. Cup Fifth Round: 1-1 home draw against Arsenal; Feb 28th, Replay against Arsenal: 3-2 defeat; March 5th, 6-1 away defeat against Q.P.R; March 8th, 2-1 home win against Shrewsbury with goals from Ray, 75, kennedy,34; March 12th, 1-1 away to Rotherham; April 2nd, 1-0 home win against Carlise where Ray was an unused sub; April 5th, 1-0 away defeat to Leicester and Ray came on in the 73rd minute.
Q.P.R. versus Middlesbrough from 1983. Big Mal had just taken over and he watched from the stands as "Boro" lost 6-1 to the home side: http://www.qpr.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=179744
Ray's complete "Boro" record: Debut versus Grimsby Town at home, Sept' 22nd 1982- in a 4-1 defeat where both Ray and Mick Kennedy were sent off. Later that night, manager Bobby Murdoch was sacked.
Oct 2nd, 1-1 home draw with Oldham; Oct 5th, League Cup 2/1 leg: 3-2 away defeat to Burnley; Oct 9th, 2-2 away to Shrewsbury; Oct 26th, League Cup 2/2nd leg, against Burnley: 1-1 home draw and Ray scored in the 7th minute; Oct 30th, 2-2 away to Rotherham; Nov 6th, 2-0 home win against Barnsley; Nov 13th, 3-2 away win against Charlton; Nov 20th, 0-0 away to leeds; Nov 27th, 5-1 home defeat to Blackburn; Dec 4th, 4-0 away defeat to Wolves; Dec 11th, 3-1 home win against Chelsea; Dec 17th, 2-0 away defeat to Cambridge; Dec 27th, 1-1 home draw against Leicester; Dec 28th, 3-1 away win against Carlisle; Jan 8th: F.A. Cup third Round, 2-2 home draw with Bishop Stortford; Jan 11th, 2-1 away win at Stortford but Ray was an unused sub; Jan 15th, 1-1 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday and Ray came on in the 67th minute; Jan 22nd, 1-0 away defeat to Fulham; Jan 29th, F.A. Cup fourth Round: 2-0 home win against Notts County with goals from Ray, 44, Beattie penalty, 65; Feb 5th, 1-1 away draw to Newcastle; Feb 12th, 3-0 away defeat to Oldham; Feb 19th, F.A. Cup Fifth Round: 1-1 home draw against Arsenal; Feb 28th, Replay against Arsenal: 3-2 defeat; March 5th, 6-1 away defeat against Q.P.R; March 8th, 2-1 home win against Shrewsbury with goals from Ray, 75, kennedy,34; March 12th, 1-1 away to Rotherham; April 2nd, 1-0 home win against Carlise where Ray was an unused sub; April 5th, 1-0 away defeat to Leicester and Ray came on in the 73rd minute.
Q.P.R. versus Middlesbrough from 1983. Big Mal had just taken over and he watched from the stands as "Boro" lost 6-1 to the home side: http://www.qpr.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=179744
Ray's debut versus Grimsby Town at home, Sept' 22nd 1982- in a 4-1 defeat where both Ray and Mick Kennedy were sent off. Later that night, manager Bobby Murdoch was sacked.
Mick Kennedy was sent off on 25 minutes after handling the ball in a reflex action in the penalty box!
ray was sent off 12 minutes from the end. Boro finished with nine men!
Top: 10 minutes in, Dave Shearer takes a through pass from Ray, races forward and holds off a couple of strong challenges before sending a strong drive past Batch in the Grimsby goal!
Middle: Shearer strikes a shot towards goal, but Batch saves. Cochrane watches on.
Bottom: Otto had cut in from the right and tyies a left foot shot, but it came to nothing.
March 8th: Boro 2 Shrews 1; att: 7,406. "The Goal That Kept Boro Up!"
“When I came back to play in England, I seemed to lose a bit of interest. Having been there and played with great players, my time was sort of coming to an end.
BR: Gary Hamilton, Steve Tupling, Paul Sugrue, Stephen Bell, Terry Cochrane, Gary Gill. Centre: Ray Hankin, David Currie, Kelham O' Hanlon, Tony Mowbray, Jim Platt, Heine Otto, Mick Baxter. FR: Paul Ward, Darren Wood, Garry MacDonald, Malcolm Allison, George Armstrong, Irving Nattrass, Alan Roberts, Mick Kennedy.
Bobby Murdoch.
Bobby Murdoch-Lisbon Lion-signed Ray Hankin from Vancouver Whitecaps in 1982, but left the club on his debut in a 4-1 defeat away to Grimsby. He died in 2001 aged only 56, 17 August 1944 — 15 May 2001.
Bobby Murdoch
paid £85,000 for him to Vancouver Whitecaps in September 1982, but he
was sent-off on his debut against Grimsby (along with Mick Kennedy) as
Boro crashed to their third 4-1 defeat in their first three home games
and Murdoch was sacked that night.
Ray scored his only "Boro" league goal in a 2-1 win against Shrewsbury at Ayresome park on 8th March 1983. This goal was a chip and a real beauty! He played 21 games, in total, between 1982-83. His last game was away to Leicester: 0-1.
After this game he joined a Peterborough, where he was shown the door after three red cards in month.
Bobby Murdoch
paid £85,000 for him to Vancouver Whitecaps in September 1982, but he
was sent-off on his debut against Grimsby (along with Mick Kennedy) as
Boro crashed to their third 4-1 defeat in their first three home games
and Murdoch was sacked that night.
Ray scored his only "Boro" league goal in a 2-1 win against Shrewsbury at Ayresome park on 8th March 1983. This goal was a chip and a real beauty! He played 21 games, in total, between 1982-83. His last game was away to Leicester: 0-1.
After this game he joined a Peterborough, where he was shown the door after three red cards in month.
Memories from Wendy Browne: " Ray used to lodge in Great Ayton while at Boro and used to come into the news agency that I worked in!
Ray, shown wearing the number 7 shirt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apkACCaORSU
Boro players limber up for the F.A. Cup tie with Bishop Stortford!
League Cup.
Boro had so much of the play and created more chances, but were held to a 1-1 draw and lost 4-3 on aggregate!
F.A. CUP.
Kindly donated by John: Jan 8th: F.A. Cup third Round, 2-2 home draw with Bishop Stortford; Jan 11th, 2-1 away win at Stortford but Ray was an unused sub.
THIRTY years have passed but the stirring FA Cup memories are still strong for former Blues striker Lyndon Lynch.
Lynch was an integral part of the 1982-83 team that hit the national headlines.
The softly-spoken 60-year-old, who lives in Barking, has fond recollections of that time although it was not all plain sailing.
Lynch, then 30, scored two goals in an FA Cup tie against close rivals Harlow Town but was surprisingly left out of Trevor Harvey’s side to play Reading, then in the third tier of the Football League. This was in the first round proper in November.
Reading – who included striker Kerry Dixon, later to find fame with Chelsea and England – surprisingly lost 2-1 to Stortford in a big upset at Elm Park.
Lynch said: “I was disappointed not to play at Reading, but I did not let that anger get to me.
“Trevor liked to play three up front, but for that game he decided he needed two and it worked.”
The pendulum then swung in Lynch’s favour as he scored a hat-trick when Stortford won 4-1 at Slough Town in the second round.
Lynch admits he had a poor first half against Slough.
“He [Harvey] was calm. I was not playing well and Radders [John Radford] wanted me off, but he kept me on and I scored a hat-trick,” he said.
The media interest exploded as they latched onto Lynch’s similarity in looks to boxer Marvin Hagler, then the World Middleweight Champion.
Hagler was due to fight British middleweight champion Tony Sibson for the World title in February 1983.
A mock up was arranged between Sibson and Lynch and sadly for the former he was knocked out by Hagler and his world dream died.
Lynch recalled: “It was at the time of the Sibson and Hagler fight. I was black and bald [like Hagler].
“I was surprised Sibson was so small, but he was very good to me. It was good publicity for the club.”
It could easily have got too much for Lynch who was then a full-time lecturer in PE at Kingsway Further Education College, London.
He was grateful for the support of ex-Arsenal striker and Stortford coach Radford in terms of dealing with the media and helping him as a player.
Lynch said: “John Radford was so good for me. He helped me when there was all the press interest around and arranged things for me. It was not easy as I was teaching.
“He worked on me holding [the ball]. He was so good at that himself.”
The third-round draw brought a tie against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park.
The team were then in division two (now the Championship) and were managed by the flamboyant figure of cigar-chomping showman Malcolm Allison.
Stortford were 2-0 down but incredibly fought back with two goals from Richard Bradford to draw 2-2 in front of more than 20,000.
Lynch scored in the replay at a packed Rhodes Avenue and, although Stortford lost 2-1, he is happy with the memories.
He added: “We were meant to have an early night the night before the game, but we heard laughter in our hotel and went to see [stand-up comedian] Chubby Brown perform. That relaxed us and made us happy.
“It was great to score the goal in the replay. I was going to celebrate with children that I taught in the crowd, but forgot about that when it happened and ran off elsewhere. Middlesbrough’s fitness told in the end.”
Since then, Stortford have reached the first round proper six times including earlier this season, but no further, and that Cup run is still special for Blues fans.
Lynch had been signed by Harvey from Woking in the 1981-82 season and scored in his first game.
“It was to cover somebody else who was ill and he never recovered. Somebody had recommended me from when I was at Woking,” Lynch explained.
“I scored in the first game and got the fans on my side.”
Although he settled quickly at Stortford the 1981-82 season brought disappointment when Blues, the FA Trophy holders, were knocked out in the semi-final by Altrincham.
He said: “The club had been to Wembley the year before [and beat Sutton United 1-0 in the FA Trophy final] and it was very disappointing when we lost to Altrincham. It was so disappointing.”
Lynch left Stortford in the 1983-84 campaign to join Walthamstow Avenue before rejoining the Blues.He said: “When I went to Walthamstow Avenue I realised how everything was so professional at Stortford.”
Wales-born Lynch had hopes of making it as a professional, but was thwarted after unsuccessful trials with Bristol City when he was 16.
After studying for a PE degree at Cardiff University, Lynch came to London to embark on a teaching career.
He even played rugby as a wing in London before choosing football and played for a number of non-League clubs.
Aside from his spell at Woking, he also played for Leyton before his switch to Rhodes Avenue.
Lynch also has good memories on the coaching and management side of non-League football.
He enjoyed his time being assistant to Craig Edwards at Chelmsford City and Grays Athletic about 10 years ago.
Lynch said: “I just hit it off with Craig and we clicked.”
Lynch was also assistant manager at Woodford Town when they lost 1-0 to Leyton Orient in the first round proper of the FA Cup in 1986-87.
“It was great when we played Orient in the FA Cup. There were 7,000 people in the ground and there was only one goal in it at the end.”
Lynch has remained lean and looks 50 not 60.
For Lynch though, Bishop’s Stortford FC was a highlight of his non-League playing days.
“When I looked at the players in the dressing room I saw some good ones,” he said.
“I always believed we were going to win. Keith Elley is the best player I have played with. He was strong and a leader. He could head the ball.”
Today, Lynch manages the GB Cerebral Palsy seven-a side football team. He took them to the Beijing 2008 Paralympics and then to the 2012 London Paralympics.
They finished seventh each time, but Lynch hopes he can help them to win a medal in Rio at the 2016 Olympics.
Previously, Lynch was the manager of the England Learning Difficulties team that won the 2002 Learning Disabilities World Cup in Japan.
He said: “It was great to manage this team and to win, and also to win in that stadium [Yokohama Stadium] in front of a big crowd.”
He now works for the FA.
Lynch was an integral part of the 1982-83 team that hit the national headlines.
The softly-spoken 60-year-old, who lives in Barking, has fond recollections of that time although it was not all plain sailing.
Lynch, then 30, scored two goals in an FA Cup tie against close rivals Harlow Town but was surprisingly left out of Trevor Harvey’s side to play Reading, then in the third tier of the Football League. This was in the first round proper in November.
Reading – who included striker Kerry Dixon, later to find fame with Chelsea and England – surprisingly lost 2-1 to Stortford in a big upset at Elm Park.
Lynch said: “I was disappointed not to play at Reading, but I did not let that anger get to me.
“Trevor liked to play three up front, but for that game he decided he needed two and it worked.”
The pendulum then swung in Lynch’s favour as he scored a hat-trick when Stortford won 4-1 at Slough Town in the second round.
Lynch admits he had a poor first half against Slough.
“He [Harvey] was calm. I was not playing well and Radders [John Radford] wanted me off, but he kept me on and I scored a hat-trick,” he said.
The media interest exploded as they latched onto Lynch’s similarity in looks to boxer Marvin Hagler, then the World Middleweight Champion.
Hagler was due to fight British middleweight champion Tony Sibson for the World title in February 1983.
A mock up was arranged between Sibson and Lynch and sadly for the former he was knocked out by Hagler and his world dream died.
Lynch recalled: “It was at the time of the Sibson and Hagler fight. I was black and bald [like Hagler].
“I was surprised Sibson was so small, but he was very good to me. It was good publicity for the club.”
It could easily have got too much for Lynch who was then a full-time lecturer in PE at Kingsway Further Education College, London.
He was grateful for the support of ex-Arsenal striker and Stortford coach Radford in terms of dealing with the media and helping him as a player.
Lynch said: “John Radford was so good for me. He helped me when there was all the press interest around and arranged things for me. It was not easy as I was teaching.
“He worked on me holding [the ball]. He was so good at that himself.”
The third-round draw brought a tie against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park.
The team were then in division two (now the Championship) and were managed by the flamboyant figure of cigar-chomping showman Malcolm Allison.
Stortford were 2-0 down but incredibly fought back with two goals from Richard Bradford to draw 2-2 in front of more than 20,000.
Lynch scored in the replay at a packed Rhodes Avenue and, although Stortford lost 2-1, he is happy with the memories.
He added: “We were meant to have an early night the night before the game, but we heard laughter in our hotel and went to see [stand-up comedian] Chubby Brown perform. That relaxed us and made us happy.
“It was great to score the goal in the replay. I was going to celebrate with children that I taught in the crowd, but forgot about that when it happened and ran off elsewhere. Middlesbrough’s fitness told in the end.”
Since then, Stortford have reached the first round proper six times including earlier this season, but no further, and that Cup run is still special for Blues fans.
Lynch had been signed by Harvey from Woking in the 1981-82 season and scored in his first game.
“It was to cover somebody else who was ill and he never recovered. Somebody had recommended me from when I was at Woking,” Lynch explained.
“I scored in the first game and got the fans on my side.”
Although he settled quickly at Stortford the 1981-82 season brought disappointment when Blues, the FA Trophy holders, were knocked out in the semi-final by Altrincham.
He said: “The club had been to Wembley the year before [and beat Sutton United 1-0 in the FA Trophy final] and it was very disappointing when we lost to Altrincham. It was so disappointing.”
Lynch left Stortford in the 1983-84 campaign to join Walthamstow Avenue before rejoining the Blues.He said: “When I went to Walthamstow Avenue I realised how everything was so professional at Stortford.”
Wales-born Lynch had hopes of making it as a professional, but was thwarted after unsuccessful trials with Bristol City when he was 16.
After studying for a PE degree at Cardiff University, Lynch came to London to embark on a teaching career.
He even played rugby as a wing in London before choosing football and played for a number of non-League clubs.
Aside from his spell at Woking, he also played for Leyton before his switch to Rhodes Avenue.
Lynch also has good memories on the coaching and management side of non-League football.
He enjoyed his time being assistant to Craig Edwards at Chelmsford City and Grays Athletic about 10 years ago.
Lynch said: “I just hit it off with Craig and we clicked.”
Lynch was also assistant manager at Woodford Town when they lost 1-0 to Leyton Orient in the first round proper of the FA Cup in 1986-87.
“It was great when we played Orient in the FA Cup. There were 7,000 people in the ground and there was only one goal in it at the end.”
Lynch has remained lean and looks 50 not 60.
For Lynch though, Bishop’s Stortford FC was a highlight of his non-League playing days.
“When I looked at the players in the dressing room I saw some good ones,” he said.
“I always believed we were going to win. Keith Elley is the best player I have played with. He was strong and a leader. He could head the ball.”
Today, Lynch manages the GB Cerebral Palsy seven-a side football team. He took them to the Beijing 2008 Paralympics and then to the 2012 London Paralympics.
They finished seventh each time, but Lynch hopes he can help them to win a medal in Rio at the 2016 Olympics.
Previously, Lynch was the manager of the England Learning Difficulties team that won the 2002 Learning Disabilities World Cup in Japan.
He said: “It was great to manage this team and to win, and also to win in that stadium [Yokohama Stadium] in front of a big crowd.”
He now works for the FA.
Middlesbrough versus Arsenal; F.A. Cup 5th round.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV9ijAd3hEw
By HARRY MILLER: Arsenal 3, Mlddlesbro 2; By HARRY MILLER: "Boro" deserved to be still in the Cup.
28-02-1983. By HARRY MILLER: Arsenal 3, Mlddlesbro 2 .
MALCOLM ALLISON'S luck ran out last night as Arsenal advanced to the FA Cup quarter-finals under a cloud of controversy. Most of his young Middlesbrough side will always believe they were dealt one of the fifth-round's cruellest blows in this replay. On a chilly evening of fast and furious football, Arsenal had scored twice in the first 13 minutes, but were hanging on desperately at 2—1 when the 61st minute arrived; Then Alan Sunderland put the ball into Boro's net, only to find the referee David Richardson had already blown for a foul on Paul Davis. Brian Talbot didn't waste a second. The ball was put down 20 yards out and he stepped forward to curl it wide of keeper Kel O'Hanlon.
"Boro" deserved to still be in the Cup! Arsenal's third goal was the killer. Most of Allison's young Middlesbrough side will always believe they were dealt one of the fifth-round's cruellest blows in this replay. The linesman had already flagged for offside, then the ref gave a free-kick outside the penalty box. "He said to my players: 'Hold it." But Talbot took the kick. That's what the players were arguing with him about." Middlesbrough surrounded referee David Richardson in a storm of protest that produced a Booking for Ray Hankin. Whatever had happened before, and for all that happened later that goal was the KO blow. Allison was remarkably restrained as he said later: "My players are disappointed and very annoyed. I feel we still deserve to be in the cup!"
The second division club's fans left no doubt of their feelings. They marched away from Highbury chanting: "It's a fix!" Arsenal manager Terry Nelll declined to comment, but Talbot said: "I didn't take the kick until the ref said, 'OK, go.' Then I got the shot over the wall. Their lack of height helped me."
Arsenal now go on to a home sixth-round tie with Aston Villa knowing Cup fortune has again favoured them this season. Yet Middlesbrough should have been buried beyond revival early in the game. Tony Woodcock headed Arsenal in front in the eighth minute from Graham Rix's perfectly-placed cross. Five minutes later, Sunderland pulled the ball back for Davis to drive in fiercely from 25 yards. But, with twenty eight minutes gone , the industrious Paul Segrue back-headed for David Shearer to make it 2-1. And even after Talbot's goal , "Boro" bounced back to give Arsenal some scares before Shearer scored again. Arsenal again left out Vladimir Petrovic.
The above newspaper article: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/incoming/article3883.ece/BINARY/Burnley+1-0+Crystal+Palace
MALCOLM ALLISON'S luck ran out last night as Arsenal advanced to the FA Cup quarter-finals under a cloud of controversy. Most of his young Middlesbrough side will always believe they were dealt one of the fifth-round's cruellest blows in this replay. On a chilly evening of fast and furious football, Arsenal had scored twice in the first 13 minutes, but were hanging on desperately at 2—1 when the 61st minute arrived; Then Alan Sunderland put the ball into Boro's net, only to find the referee David Richardson had already blown for a foul on Paul Davis. Brian Talbot didn't waste a second. The ball was put down 20 yards out and he stepped forward to curl it wide of keeper Kel O'Hanlon.
"Boro" deserved to still be in the Cup! Arsenal's third goal was the killer. Most of Allison's young Middlesbrough side will always believe they were dealt one of the fifth-round's cruellest blows in this replay. The linesman had already flagged for offside, then the ref gave a free-kick outside the penalty box. "He said to my players: 'Hold it." But Talbot took the kick. That's what the players were arguing with him about." Middlesbrough surrounded referee David Richardson in a storm of protest that produced a Booking for Ray Hankin. Whatever had happened before, and for all that happened later that goal was the KO blow. Allison was remarkably restrained as he said later: "My players are disappointed and very annoyed. I feel we still deserve to be in the cup!"
The second division club's fans left no doubt of their feelings. They marched away from Highbury chanting: "It's a fix!" Arsenal manager Terry Nelll declined to comment, but Talbot said: "I didn't take the kick until the ref said, 'OK, go.' Then I got the shot over the wall. Their lack of height helped me."
Arsenal now go on to a home sixth-round tie with Aston Villa knowing Cup fortune has again favoured them this season. Yet Middlesbrough should have been buried beyond revival early in the game. Tony Woodcock headed Arsenal in front in the eighth minute from Graham Rix's perfectly-placed cross. Five minutes later, Sunderland pulled the ball back for Davis to drive in fiercely from 25 yards. But, with twenty eight minutes gone , the industrious Paul Segrue back-headed for David Shearer to make it 2-1. And even after Talbot's goal , "Boro" bounced back to give Arsenal some scares before Shearer scored again. Arsenal again left out Vladimir Petrovic.
The above newspaper article: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/incoming/article3883.ece/BINARY/Burnley+1-0+Crystal+Palace