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A STEELMANS SLANT
Being in a major Cup Semi-Final has conjured up a lot of memories for Steelmen all over. Some will remember the halcyon days of the Fifties and early Sixties, some will remember the sheer joy of '91 and some of our younger fans will wonder what it is all about. By the time anybody reads this it'll most likely be all over ( I don't mean our Cup run, just the Semi !! ) and the joy or the heartbreak will have it's
re-quaintance with us, one and all. This being our first Hampden appearance in 12 years does not bode well, but hopefully it will be the start of a period where we can enjoy more occasions like this, and the more we knock on the door, the more likely the door will eventually open.
Having began to visit Fir Park in Season 1968/9 in the old Second Division, and being six-years old, chasing silverware was the last thing on my tiny mind. As I used to
watch in awe at the size of Peter McCloy, little did I know that chasing silverware would become my "Holy Grail", which we would all touch in 1991. After a marathon Cup-Tie against Morton in 1969/70 ( 1st Leg 0-3, 2nd Leg 3-0, AET ) we visited Ibrox for a play-off with the Greenock side, in which we nudged through to Hampden for my very first time. The opponents in Glasgow were a very good St. Johnstone team. Motherwell had just won the Title ( 2nd Div. ) and we really fancied our chances, but as things go, my memory of this occasion was of a poor MFC performance as I stood in the old School Boys Enclosure. Sure it was a chance missed, but at my tender age I really wasn't all that concerned.
The following season a new British Cup was introduced featuring teams from Scotland, England and Ireland who'd just failed to qualify for Europe. The fans of Fir Park enjoyed the Texaco Cup, and until the Semi-Final stages, the Cup seemed to enjoy us. Having beaten top notch Stoke and Tottenham, we drew our Jambo pals in the last four . A dour first Leg drew at Tynecastle seemed to set us up for a crack at Wolves in the final, but not for the first time a Motherwell team failed to push home an advantage and we slipped quietly out. Two seasons later, having beaten Coventry and Hearts we fell rather tamely to Norwich City in the semis once again. A pattern was beginning to emerge. In 3 1/2 years I'd seen Motherwell in 3 "semis" and they'd lost the lot, but I was only 11, no need to push any panic buttons yet.
In 1974/5 we began to have the makings of a decent Motherwell side, and for the first time they reached Hampden for a Scottish "Semi", for surely what would be a gimmee. Airdrieonians would be tough, but surely!!!. 10 minutes in, Pettigrew, 1-0, a cruise. 10 minutes from time, McLaren OG from nowhere, and it's back for a replay. An incredible decision by Rollo Kyle ( Ref ) to pull Stuart Rennie for taking too many steps allowed Jonquin to fire home a late Penalty Box Free Kick. If I thought that was sore, nothing could compare to the following season.
20 minutes from full time in the Semi and we where home and hosed. 2-0 up against the forces of darkness from Govan. We'd already beaten Celtic ( after giving them 2 goals of a start! ) and Hibs at Ibrox in a Second Replay, nothing but nothing could stop us lining up against the Hearts in the Final. Step forward, J. Gordon ( Newport-On-Tay ). With "Fatboy" Johnstone chasing a long through ball, and Rennie coming out in the opposite direction, they met each other 3 yards outside the box. Johnstone stumbled, took another 4 paces forward and sprawled onto the Hampden turf. We all laughed until the Ref pointed to the spot. I'm telling you young guys who think they've seen bad Referees this season, you should've seen this!!! Needless to say by
injury time we were 3-2 down, and screaming for a stonewall penalty after Pettigrew was savaged by Greig, but to no avail. This "holy grail" thing was getting to be a pain in the arse. It would be 9 years before we got back to this stage, and to be honest I think we needed the break. Gordon broke the heart of a Football Club that night. The Club went into a spiral which ended in Relegation 3 years later.
1985 saw the Steelmen back at Hampden in the Scottish Cup, this time as a First Div. Side, and taking on Celtic. A sensational start saw Gary McAllister puts us one up, only for Tommy Burns to lob Celtic into a replay, which they duly won. 8 "Semis", and no wins. 1986/7 saw the Steelmens' first League Cup Semi-Final in 17 years. The Rotten mob from the East End stood before us. Coming from two down, we heroically stormed back ( thanks be to Andy Walker ) to take the game to a penalty
shoot-out. It seemed this was our time, but Philliben missed and another dream died at Hampden. The following season saw us make tracks towards Mount Florida in the League Cup once again, this time against the Blue half of Glasgow. A superb strike by Paul Smith took us ahead of Rangers, but the cruellest of OGs' by Stevie Kirk got them back into the Tie, and really after that there was only going to be one winner. Four and a half years later Kirkies time would come!
1991 saw the Claret and Amber army take on a Celtic team, who it has to said were a bit punch drunk at the time with Rangers seemingly winning endless League flags. Motherwell were up against a typical Celtic whirlwind start, which they survived , and as the second half went on the feeling was "maybe, just maybe". Firstly, Arnott brought down by Whyte, a Stonewaller!! Not given. Next, 10 minutes to go. Free-Kick, 30 yards out. Ferguson strikes, Bonner beaten all ends up. 'Well fans opened mouthed. Our date with destiny had arrived surely. The ball strikes the woodwork and to safety. It was back to Hampden for a replay. ELEVEN SEMI FINALS AND NO WINS. The second game there is little point in going over, I'm sure you've all done it a million times in your head. That night I found my " Holy Grail ", long before Tom Boyd lifted that trophy on 18th of May. Some of you may just be starting out on your journey, and there will be times you think that you'll never get there, and see Motherwell lift some silverware. It might not happen this year, or next year, or even in the next twenty years, but if we can keep reaching the Semi-Finals of tournaments and banging on the front door of Cup Finals, then one day it'll open just far enough for us all to sneak in for another day in the Hampden Park sunshine.
Believe
Eddie Steelman.
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