Topic: Wolves away - 4th May 1976

[Mottman]

Wolves away - a must win situation.

Wolverhampton Wanderers V The Tricky Reds 04 May 1976

How ironic that the first game of that season was QPR away, QPR were the darlings of the Southern based press and the BBC loved them. To be honest they had a cracking team and played some superb football at times.

Something like four soccer specials travelled from Lime Street that sunny Saturday morning, all hands and his dog wanted to watch the Reds. Once at Loftus Road we queued up along with the rest of the reds, only to be told “it’s a full house, you won’t get in”. We weren’t going to travel 200 odd miles to miss a game, so we queued up along South Africa Road and went in the QPR end.

QPR was an easy away game we always took thousands there, this time we took even more. We used to laugh to ourselves “How come very few of these ever went to West Ham or Chelsea etc” anyway once inside we were surprised how many reds had got in there as well. Loftus Road was jam packed to the rafters, the boy’s were back in town.

QPR beat us 2.0 that day and to be honest we were awful, I can’t even remember us having a single shot on target. The next day Bob Paisley had shrugged the defeat off saying “He would have some words with the lads” whilst the daily papers revealed in us getting beat and touted QPR as genuine Championship material. The season would indeed confirm QPR as genuine challengers for the title.

The run in went right to the wire, as the reds put together an impressive string of results to keep the pressure on QPR.

As the penultimate game of season 1975 – 76 approached, Queens Park Rangers topped Division One by one point, the Anfielders where second with all to play for.
QPR’s final game of that season ended in a 2.0 win for them. David Webb’s face was plastered all over the papers with a cigar in his mouth already celebrating QPR’s Championship victory. David Webb was never a favourite amongst the Liverpool hoards, his tenacity is stating QPR would be Champions grated on our minds.

Liverpool could only win the Championship, if we won or drew away at Wolves, because of the closeness of goal difference between us and QPR, we could only afford to draw 0.0 1.1 2.2 or 3.3 anything above that would hand QPR the Championship. On the other hand Wolves needed a win to stay in Division one, depending on how Sheffield United got on that night at Brammell Lane.

Our game was billed as the title decider, it was also the title / relegation clash to end all title / relegation clashes.

For some strange reason one of our Everton mates volunteered to drive us down, we sorted Dougie out with petrol money and off we went. His lime green Ford Anglia was jam packed with four reds, Doug and copious amounts of Ashe & Nephews finest beers.

Travelling down to Molineux bedecked in red and white rugby shirts, Wrangler jeans and Gola trainees the mood was full of anticipation as we soon polished of as many cans as possible. The M6 was chocka block full of reds on their way South to our destiny, coaches, vans, cars etc would pull up in the hard shoulder of the motorway as us greedy Scousers needed to empty our spleen’s, to make ready for another bellyful of ale.

We had been to Wolves a few times prior to this and we knew our way around, Wolves was one of my favourite away games, we always took thousands down with us and the “away” end “The South Bank” was superb, it was massive similar to our very own Kop.

Dougie had driven down with Everton before and he knew a quicker way to get to Molineux (A449 I think?). Anyway we got off the motorway and headed down this dual carriageway, we where not alone? Other reds aware of the potential traffic situation had also taken heed of the warnings and also choose to go the same way.

We soon parked up in a housing estate behind the North Bank (the Wolves end) we were all dying for a slash so we knocked on this bloke’s house and asked could we use his loo. We were meet by one of the most obnoxious people I have ever had the misfortune to meet “Fcuk off to Liverpool you Scouse Baskets” came the reply. Fair enough I could understand his reluctance to let us in his house, but there was no need for that. A few choice words were exchanged as we let him know what we thought of him.
“C’mon I have an idea” one of the lads say’s, so we leg it around the back of the houses and empty our swollen spleen’s all over the blokes car! Revenge is sweet?

Relieved and refreshed we walk towards the ground, reds and old gold everywhere without a hint of trouble. We get to the road on the side of the ground and look up towards our end, Jesus it was mayhem! Thousands and thousands of reds queuing up to get in and the gates hadn’t even opened yet. Police on horses compounded the issue further by trying to control the crowd that was generally under control, and well behaved.

It was only around 6.00 at night then this copper says “Take it easy and we’ll try and get as many of you in the ground as possible, but your all not gonna get in” what a stupid thing to say? As you can understand some people panicked and the crush to try and get in was very worrying. After some time, the main gates into the South Bank were broken down carefully we entered the ground and picked a spot to watch the game.

As you can imagine our end was teaming with Liverpool supporters, in time the rest of the stadium filled up. This was some show of strength, Liverpool supporters in every section of the ground, on the roofs, on the floodlight pylons – everywhere you looked. The official “estimated” attendance for this game was just under 50,000, in reality it was probably nearer 60,000 or more as thousands of us got in without paying.

Close to kick off time a few Wolves supporters ran onto the pitch up to our end and made some provocative gestures towards the thousands, unbeknown to them some of the lads in the paddock had jumped out and where behind them. It was no contest as the Wolves supporters experienced a little bit of Liverpool hospitality.

“You’ll Never Walk Alone” boomed out across the ground as both teams entered the pitch. The noise was incredible it was that loud you couldn’t hear what you were singing, god knows what the players made of this? It was that special.

Anyhow, the game kicked off this was it do or die. Liverpool started off a bit sluggish as Wolves dictated the early play, the pattern of the game was not what we wanted and at half time we were 1.0 down. Much had been said about Liverpool’s powers of recovery. This had been an exhaustingly long season for us, would Bob Paisley and the backroom staff be able to muster one last second half challenge?

Whatever Bob and the lads said at halftime or whatever they put in the orange juice we will never know but it worked a treat. The second half was a different kettle of fish, the redmen attacked the South Bank as we screamed ourselves horse willing an equalising goal. Time after time Wolves managed to defend their goal, bodies thrown in front of any goal bound effort, lucky deflections you name it! Could the reds make the breakthrough?

With around 15 minutes to go the Gods smiled upon us, as Kevin Keegan at last found the net, it was sheer pandemonium as we celebrated like only we could. The ground was in uproar, as the Wolves fans stood in silence contemplating their doom.
At that moment in time we knew and the Wolves supporters knew that it was going to be our night. The pretenders from West London (QPR players and directors) were also at Molineux that night to lay claim to the Championship if we couldn’t overcome Wolves, they left on mass once John Toshack had made it 2.1. The travelling Koppites mocked goodbye to the QPR contingent, as they waved goodbye to any Championship aspirations.

The crowd went ballistic, grown men cried and hugged total strangers like a long lost son’s, we were as one, we were Liverpool football Club. After a few minutes the Liverpool supporters left the field so that play could commence, the air was electric with so much excitement in the ground. Big Ray Kennedy sealed Wolves fate and ensured that our immortality was written with a third goal for the tricky reds minutes from the end. Another pitch invasion another reason to celebrate – what a night – probably one of the most enjoyable times to be a Liverpool supporter.

The journey home was one long celebration as the motorway’s ground to a standstill while fellow reds jigged and danced with glee. I’ll never forget the memory of Phil Thompson, Tommy Smith, Dave Fairclough, Ian Callaghan and co passing out bottles of Champaign from the team coach and joining in singing our anthems of appreciation.

Liverpool FC “You’ll Never Walk Alone”

[Kemlyn 28]

It was one of the best games/atmospheres ever Mottman,and will never be repeated due to all ticket games and stuff now.I actually got in the ground at about 5 o'clock,even my arl fell(God rest his soul),bunked in.Only time I've ever been on the pitch(3 times in fact),during a game,remember being stuck on the M6 for hours on the way home,but nobody cared,always wondered how peoples tempers would have been if we'd lost though!Not much dancing then I reckon.
    My mam never spoke to me or my dad for a few days after though as we'd both took the afternoon off work to go and she was convinced we'd both get sacked.Not that I'd have given a fuck then though!

[Forbsie]

12 going on 13 at the time and still remember it as if it was yesterday.

Seem to remember that Gerry Francis was in some TV studio watching the game but left before the end of the game (think it was after we equalised  )

Happy days and 3 points tomorrow will do nicely

[Mottman]

We need more arl arse's on here.

[WOOLTONIAN]

First game I can remember actually being on the pitch.
Never been to the new ground, I'll have to try next year
IF THEY STAY UP !

[Reeves]

We need more arl arse's on here.

More senile people?

[Murf]

Remember it well went in a transit from Thirlmere rd,broke down on the way down
and it was like the rolls royce on Jim'l'fixit as about 30 got out onthe motorway, we all made our own way any means wotsoever, i got a lift of a wagon driver.
Anyway what a sight to see the driver we was with originaly on the pitch,, never let go, so i could get home.
The next day Tony Wilson the Manc moaned cos he saw a mini gettig attacked and urinated all over.
HE SHOULD BE LUCKY NO ONE CLOCKED HIM

Memories

[WILKIE]

Anyone remember that c*nt Wilson getting legged down Wembley Way by a big mob of ours before the Charity Shield game?Only the bizzies saved him getting his head kicked in.That would have been a sight to behold on Granada Reports!

[Aidan_B]

Great to hear about the arl times.  Robbie, maybe if you just showed a few more of your mates how to turn the fancy typewriter on then there would be more arl arses on here.

 

[Tommo261]

4TH May 1976

Robbie woke up at 6 AM that morning, he knew it was a big day. His sister Tricia had got a new job at Boots'on the cosmetics counter, he knew she'd be up early but he was going to beat her to the lavvy. It was his day not hers.

He'd seen the looks she'd got and even knew his little mate fancied her. Quickie wash and get dressed, this was going to be IIIITTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!

A run through the Halton estate to the bus to school, dressed in red and white.

Everyone on the bus was dressed in school uniform, but not Robbie. He wasn't going to school that day. The trip to school was prety uneventful, except a few songs from Robbie.

He got off the bus knowing today was going to be one brilliant day. Walking up the hill to school seemed like fun, seeing that he wasn't going through those dreaded gates today.

Then he saw it, Tommos' Wrangler with LFC on the top and a Liverbird embroidered all across the back.

Got your “Note” asked Tommo ?

“No” says Robbie.

“Who cares I handed mine in yesterday” Smug looking.

“Let's Go”

Walking away from school teachers asking ”Where are you goung?”
These two just grinned at the teachers (they knew).

At the bottom of the hill these pair looked at each other and said ”Lets go.”

The bus didn't arrive for about 15 minutes, but that didn't mattter, they had 9hrs to make it.

The bus arrived and took them to Bank Quay Station, where they'd decided to make an about turn to Runcorn, to meet up with the scousers coming out of Liverpool.

On boarding the train there only looked like 1000 reds on the train, no problem it's still about 10.30am. Much joviality was had on the train, mostly reds songs but the lack of numbers looked a little worrying then.


WOLVERHAMPTON STATION

Oh no It's about 12.30 pm and theres about 3000 on the station.
“Put youre scarves away boys, we could be in trouble here”

Get off the train “nice and quite” to the sound of Liiiiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrppppppppppppppppppooooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll


WE WERE ALL REDS


“Now What?” Says Robbie.

“Follow Em” Says Tommo

Next thing this little Red knows, I'm running through the Streets of Wolverhampton. Bricks seem to apear from nowhere, as they are going through shop windows.

A few souveniers were liberated.

Wouldn't you know it coppers appear from nowhere, the old black mariars.
Instead of arresting the lot of us, someone says “Were's the ground?”

They say”Follow us”

(Now there was a very good reason for all this, QPR where top of the league and we needed 1 point to win it, a little strange, 0-0, 1-1 ,was OK but not 2-2)
(Wolves also needed 1 point to avoid relegation or Brum City would go down)

Back to the story of Robbie and Tommo,

Hearded to Molineux, we found ourselves at The South Bank. None other then the Wolves home end. Problem for the them was it was only about 3 pm, they were at work or school, not like us Scallies.

That place got full, then more full, little Tommo was going in, as was Robbie and everyone else.

There was shouting and more, open the gates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


The smart Wolves coppers opened the gates long before anyone got hurt just so we could walk in safely.

God Bless them cops

No-one paid to get in, in fact we ransacked the snack stall just before we invaded the pitch.

There where about 200 balls on the pitch so we had a quick game before the game kicked off.

It was going to be a long wait for 7.30.

Robbie and Tommo had long been seperarated before the game started.

No matter the game was on. Official capacity was 49800

He he he that was only the scousers.

Wolves had a little part of their away end.
Their were scousers on the roof.
If you were one of them, them you know who I mean DC.


Not much happening in the first few minutes, except Tommo had met a couple of Brum supporterts, who were naturally gagging for their result.
Then Robbie taps Tommo on the shoulder with a aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhttttttt mate.
Tommo hadn't seen him since the entry.


Then Wolves score, the game's still young, 1-0 down.

Second Half

We were battering them, surely they couldn't hold on.

15 minutes to go!!!!!!!!!!

The Dream may not come true. The Reds become OUR almighty REDS .

Keegan puts one in.

Title is ours “maybe”.

Toshack puts one in.

We can't loose the title.

Kennedy rounds it of with another.

Liverpool Champions

We got to invade the pitch again (I've still got a bit). Then we were escorted back to the train station in double file

On the train going home it was decorated big time

Picked up at the station in Runcorn and taken home!


Should have seen Robbie and Tommo's faces at school the next day


YNWA

[Roddysul]

Excellent.  Remember that day.  Was too young to go to the match myself but my brother went with my blue nosed dad -   Brother was on the roof and fell off through a hot dog stand  (to cheers from the travelling kop)  dad was on top of the wall pulling scousers up with his umbrella.   They came back with some great stories.

[Tommo261]

I'm sure I was one of the ones cheering youre brother.
Don't remember the umbrela fella though.

[Roddysul]

Old git pulling them up -  copper said to him "You should know better at your age"   

Was convinced he was going to get arrested when he saw a line of bizzies until he realised they all had their arms interlocked to try and stop more bunking in.

[Tommo261]

The bizzies were probably scallies who'd nicked the uniforms for a laugh to wind up youre bluenose dad.
I bet he wished or thought he was a red that night.

[Roddysul]

he always used to take either me or my bro to the match and cheer on the reds as well.  Same seat in the Kemlyn road for 3 years  - knew everyone around.

Then one year they score first in the derby -   he jumps up -  everyone around saying things like  "Well he kept that fucking quiet didn't he"   

[Redsnappa]

Great post. Great memories.

What a night that was. Me and our kid came up from London that afternoon to Wolverhampton; couldn't believe the amount of Reds at the station (about 5.30.) I remember the Midlands' commuters shocked silence and fear at the overwhelming and insistent 'The Liverpool Boys are in Town' and 'I'm a bow-legged chicken' chants. We made the decision straightaway to miss out on a pre-match pint, knew we had to get there to stand a chance of getting in. We streamed out of the station and (memory hazy here) masses of us just strolling across a huge dual carriageway, legging the barriers causing cars to stop and not a one DARING to honk or abuse the lads.
The queue at the away end turnstiles was already round the block, Scallies everywhere, loads of kids who'd bunked off school with no money, turnstiles being jumped, Sikh locals (very unusual sight them days) being catcalled (we were as ignorant as the Spanish last night but how many years ago was that?) Not a Wolves supporter in sight, the coppers friendly as fuck (think they had no choice with the numbers we had there.)
Got in at last (half six?) I've never known an atmosphere like it in any ground. It was as if the entire Kop, Anny and half the Gwladys was there - loads of Bluenoses turned up with their red mates for the craic. Everyone knew in their hearts that we were going to win. The rolling out of all of our great songs, the fellers on the roof, the lads up on the floodlights, the continuous stream of reds fans walking along the sides of the pitch to get in our end, the crowd continually surging back and forth... and then the players came out, having already been serenaded twice, in their suits and in their warm up.

Jeeeeeeeeeezzzzee, the phrase 'raised the roof' must have been coined for that night! Unforgettably, amongst the other songs bellowed out, I particularly remember the 'Toshack' chant echoed across the four corners of the ground, it sounded, eerily, like a continuous Toshack, Toshack for what seemed like ages... chants back and forth being started by reds on all corners of Molineux.

My memory of the game is somewhat hazy - being 5' 7" and having lost half a dozen good specs IN FRONT of a barrier with the continuous movement of a crowd crammed together and surging forward and sidewards to see corners and throw-ins and the like, half the time off me feet - well, just BEING THERE was as equally consuming as watching the game - as an aside - isn't that what we're missing these days, Hillsborough notwithstanding?

Old fellers being looked after by big fellers, scallies balancing on barriers with legs held by total strangers, wanting a fag but not being able to get your arms down to get to your pockets? And as for getting a drink at half-time, don't make me laugh! Programmes you'd carefully curved into your pocket for posterity crushed flat, trainees suspiciously wet and filthy, ears ringing as if you'd been up the front at a Purple or Sabbath gig? The particular sense of balance and awareness needed to sit on a barrier at half-time smoking, reading the programme with one hand on the feller's shoulders in front of you? Trying to stay close to fellers with radios, watching for the scoreboard man to put figures in the half-time scores boards where now we've just got advertising hoardings, then trying to unlock the alphabetical game code with yer programme? Continuous movement of lads looking for mates, shouting 'Biiiiiilllliiieee', 'Dobbbbboooo', 'Stan!' etc in yer ear, conversations going on amid the racket between fellers yards apart. All happened that night. Superb. The Spirit of Scouse.

I remember the slight anxiety coming through late in the second half, when we still hadn't equalised and QPR , I think were winning, but well, when the first goal went in - utter pandemonium. I couldn't see a thing, missed the goal, just got caught up in the delirium. We were wild with delight. 'Who scored? Who scored?' we were all asking. The news came up from the front 'Keegan'. The noise. 'Kevin Keegan, Keegan, Keegan, Keegan' bounced around the whole ground. Awesome.

We consciously threaded our way down to the front, weren't going to miss the next goal, a dead cert we all knew. Toshack!!! Once again, chaos. Where we were, we had no choice. Up went everyone around us over the wall onto the pitch, sheer delight, no malice intended, photographers swamped, Wolves players stunned, joy unbound!

Back over the wall, the biggest, loudest, sheer joyful and triumphant 'Liv-er-pool' chant I'd ever heard in my life.
Then came Kennedy. The goal took us by surprise, then off again, sideways, forwards, out on the pitch again, dancing, jumping, hugging, singing. No coppers or stewards could confine us.

That night, for sheer atmosphere and enjoyment was as good as any I can remember. Thanks for re-igniting a wonderful memory Tommo, you've made a happy man very old again! Now where's that programme? As I remember, Wolves had entered into the spirit of things and produced a Circus Billboard type cover, 'The Greatest Show on Earth' or something - anyone got a scan of it?

[BSBW]

What a great day/ night.  I along with thousands of others got stuck on the M6 for hours.  Got into the Molineux ale house at the back of the ground, the pool table and slot machines were all dismantled.  A few of my mates got in to the ground, I never.  We were on this big hill at the base of a block of flats watching the ball going up every now and again.  The atmosphere outside was great, there was a bit of scallying going on in the subway and surrounding area but never came to much, there was fucking thousands of us outside.  Happy days.

[sirKennyDaggers]

Great day,travelled on a double decker Merseybus,crawled down the M6,heart sank when we were dropped off by Molyneux,the queues were up the road,I swear 75% of the gate was red,managed to get in,great game.
Think Wolves needed to win to stay up.
Stevie Kindon,shit,great goal 1 - 0 down,then that never to be forgotten finale.
Ale house after the match YNWA never sounded so sweet,barmaids joined in,nice one girls.

[Badge Kisser]

What a great day/ night. I along with thousands of others got stuck on the M6 for hours.

Me to. 41 not out that season and stuck on the M6 around 6.30pm with no chance of getting in (I know what your thinking but it's a long story). Thousands of Cardiff fans going the other way to a lower division relegation battle that night. (Who against?) Got out the van about 7.20pm and legged it the ground. "All gates closed hours ago you've no chance of getting in" said the dejected Wolves and Liverpool fans making their way to the pubs around the ground.

Didn't they see the season ticket gate at the Wolves end still open. We did! No invitation required. The lads were in? Along with what seemed like hundreds of Reds in that end we were escorted to the away end and took our rightful place in the middle behind the goal.

After that the result seemed almost inevitable. And to complete the night was able to liberate the center flag on the halfway line at the end of the game. Whose got the other 5?

[Welshred]

Fantastic story tommo! Wish I was there that day, but unfortunately wasn't born then! 

[Mike 88]

me dad got on the pitch at the end

[Tommo261]

I've still got the program but it's in England and I'm in Australia.
Nice coments people, I never knew how many got locked out.
I do know the gate reciepts wouldn't have been much as so many didn't pay in.

[Roddysul]

and everyone pissed themselves when they announced the "official" attendance   

[Mottman]

Wolves away - a must win situation.

Wolverhampton Wanderers V The Tricky Reds 04 May 1976

How ironic that the first game of that season was QPR away, QPR were the darlings of the Southern based press and the BBC loved them. To be honest they had a cracking team and played some superb football at times.

Something like four soccer specials travelled from Lime Street that sunny Saturday morning, all hands and his dog wanted to watch the Reds. Once at Loftus Road we queued up along with the rest of the reds, only to be told “it’s a full house, you won’t get in”. We weren’t going to travel 200 odd miles to miss a game, so we queued up along South Africa Road and went in the QPR end.

QPR was an easy away game we always took thousands there, this time we took even more. We used to laugh to ourselves “How come very few of these ever went to West Ham or Chelsea etc” anyway once inside we were surprised how many reds had got in there as well. Loftus Road was jam packed to the rafters, the boy’s were back in town.

QPR beat us 2.0 that day and to be honest we were awful, I can’t even remember us having a single shot on target. The next day Bob Paisley had shrugged the defeat off saying “He would have some words with the lads” whilst the daily papers revealed in us getting beat and touted QPR as genuine Championship material. The season would indeed confirm QPR as genuine challengers for the title.

The run in went right to the wire, as the reds put together an impressive string of results to keep the pressure on QPR.

As the penultimate game of season 1975 – 76 approached, Queens Park Rangers topped Division One by one point, the Anfielders where second with all to play for.
QPR’s final game of that season ended in a 2.0 win for them. David Webb’s face was plastered all over the papers with a cigar in his mouth already celebrating QPR’s Championship victory. David Webb was never a favourite amongst the Liverpool hoards, his tenacity is stating QPR would be Champions grated on our minds.

Liverpool could only win the Championship, if we won or drew away at Wolves, because of the closeness of goal difference between us and QPR, we could only afford to draw 0.0 1.1 2.2 or 3.3 anything above that would hand QPR the Championship. On the other hand Wolves needed a win to stay in Division one, depending on how Sheffield United got on that night at Brammell Lane.

Our game was billed as the title decider, it was also the title / relegation clash to end all title / relegation clashes.

For some strange reason one of our Everton mates volunteered to drive us down, we sorted Dougie out with petrol money and off we went. His lime green Ford Anglia was jam packed with four reds, Doug and copious amounts of Ashe & Nephews finest beers.

Travelling down to Molineux bedecked in red and white rugby shirts, Wrangler jeans and Gola trainees the mood was full of anticipation as we soon polished of as many cans as possible. The M6 was chocka block full of reds on their way South to our destiny, coaches, vans, cars etc would pull up in the hard shoulder of the motorway as us greedy Scousers needed to empty our spleen’s, to make ready for another bellyful of ale.

We had been to Wolves a few times prior to this and we knew our way around, Wolves was one of my favourite away games, we always took thousands down with us and the “away” end “The South Bank” was superb, it was massive similar to our very own Kop.

Dougie had driven down with Everton before and he knew a quicker way to get to Molineux (A449 I think?). Anyway we got off the motorway and headed down this dual carriageway, we where not alone? Other reds aware of the potential traffic situation had also taken heed of the warnings and also choose to go the same way.

We soon parked up in a housing estate behind the North Bank (the Wolves end) we were all dying for a slash so we knocked on this bloke’s house and asked could we use his loo. We were meet by one of the most obnoxious people I have ever had the misfortune to meet “Fcuk off to Liverpool you Scouse Baskets” came the reply. Fair enough I could understand his reluctance to let us in his house, but there was no need for that. A few choice words were exchanged as we let him know what we thought of him.
“C’mon I have an idea” one of the lads say’s, so we leg it around the back of the houses and empty our swollen spleen’s all over the blokes car! Revenge is sweet?

Relieved and refreshed we walk towards the ground, reds and old gold everywhere without a hint of trouble. We get to the road on the side of the ground and look up towards our end, Jesus it was mayhem! Thousands and thousands of reds queuing up to get in and the gates hadn’t even opened yet. Police on horses compounded the issue further by trying to control the crowd that was generally under control, and well behaved.

It was only around 6.00 at night then this copper says “Take it easy and we’ll try and get as many of you in the ground as possible, but your all not gonna get in” what a stupid thing to say? As you can understand some people panicked and the crush to try and get in was very worrying. After some time, the main gates into the South Bank were broken down carefully we entered the ground and picked a spot to watch the game.

As you can imagine our end was teaming with Liverpool supporters, in time the rest of the stadium filled up. This was some show of strength, Liverpool supporters in every section of the ground, on the roofs, on the floodlight pylons – everywhere you looked. The official “estimated” attendance for this game was just under 50,000, in reality it was probably nearer 60,000 or more as thousands of us got in without paying.

Close to kick off time a few Wolves supporters ran onto the pitch up to our end and made some provocative gestures towards the thousands, unbeknown to them some of the lads in the paddock had jumped out and where behind them. It was no contest as the Wolves supporters experienced a little bit of Liverpool hospitality.

“You’ll Never Walk Alone” boomed out across the ground as both teams entered the pitch. The noise was incredible it was that loud you couldn’t hear what you were singing, god knows what the players made of this? It was that special.

Anyhow, the game kicked off this was it do or die. Liverpool started off a bit sluggish as Wolves dictated the early play, the pattern of the game was not what we wanted and at half time we were 1.0 down. Much had been said about Liverpool’s powers of recovery. This had been an exhaustingly long season for us, would Bob Paisley and the backroom staff be able to muster one last second half challenge?

Whatever Bob and the lads said at halftime or whatever they put in the orange juice we will never know but it worked a treat. The second half was a different kettle of fish, the redmen attacked the South Bank as we screamed ourselves horse willing an equalising goal. Time after time Wolves managed to defend their goal, bodies thrown in front of any goal bound effort, lucky deflections you name it! Could the reds make the breakthrough?

With around 15 minutes to go the Gods smiled upon us, as Kevin Keegan at last found the net, it was sheer pandemonium as we celebrated like only we could. The ground was in uproar, as the Wolves fans stood in silence contemplating their doom.
At that moment in time we knew and the Wolves supporters knew that it was going to be our night. The pretenders from West London (QPR players and directors) were also at Molineux that night to lay claim to the Championship if we couldn’t overcome Wolves, they left on mass once John Toshack had made it 2.1. The travelling Koppites mocked goodbye to the QPR contingent, as they waved goodbye to any Championship aspirations.

The crowd went ballistic, grown men cried and hugged total strangers like a long lost son’s, we were as one, we were Liverpool football Club. After a few minutes the Liverpool supporters left the field so that play could commence, the air was electric with so much excitement in the ground. Big Ray Kennedy sealed Wolves fate and ensured that our immortality was written with a third goal for the tricky reds minutes from the end. Another pitch invasion another reason to celebrate – what a night – probably one of the most enjoyable times to be a Liverpool supporter.

The journey home was one long celebration as the motorway’s ground to a standstill while fellow reds jigged and danced with glee. I’ll never forget the memory of Phil Thompson, Tommy Smith, Dave Fairclough, Ian Callaghan and co passing out bottles of Champaign from the team coach and joining in singing our anthems of appreciation.

[Tommo261]

Thank to everyone who replied to this, and some others who submitted theyre versions on other glory days and nights.
I knew I could relly on you Robbie to tell it better than me, though we were different ages and did it different ways we were all there.
That ball is on it's way to the UK to Wembley 78. I've given him some info on what to do but in the end it's going to be in his hands.
It is the 78 Euro winning squad, as KK is on it.
When it goes on sale I hope you can all do me proad by raising a lot for the HJC. It should appear in about 2 weeks.
 Tommo
 
 YNWA

[Tommo261]

My apologies to the people who've read this before, but it is a few tears since I put it up.
If you like it thanks and if you don't well?

4TH May 1976

Robbie woke up at 6 AM that morning, he knew it was a big day. His sister Tricia had got a new job at Boots'on the cosmetics counter, he knew she'd be up early but he was going to beat her to the lavvy. It was his day not hers.

He'd seen the looks she'd got and even knew his little mate fancied her. Quickie wash and get dressed, this was going to be IIIITTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!

A run through the Halton estate to the bus to school, dressed in red and white.

Everyone on the bus was dressed in school uniform, but not Robbie. He wasn't going to school that day. The trip to school was prety uneventful, except a few songs from Robbie.

He got off the bus knowing today was going to be one brilliant day. Walking up the hill to school seemed like fun, seeing that he wasn't going through those dreaded gates today.

Then he saw it, Tommos' Wrangler with LFC on the top and a Liverbird embroidered all across the back.

Got your “Note” asked Tommo ?

“No” says Robbie.

“Who cares I handed mine in yesterday” Smug looking.

“Let's Go”

Walking away from school teachers asking ”Where are you goung?”
These two just grinned at the teachers (they knew).

At the bottom of the hill these pair looked at each other and said ”Lets go.”

The bus didn't arrive for about 15 minutes, but that didn't mattter, they had 9hrs to make it.

The bus arrived and took them to Bank Quay Station, where they'd decided to make an about turn to Runcorn, to meet up with the scousers coming out of Liverpool.

On boarding the train there only looked like 1000 reds on the train, no problem it's still about 10.30am. Much joviality was had on the train, mostly reds songs but the lack of numbers looked a little worrying then.


WOLVERHAMPTON STATION

Oh no It's about 12.30 pm and theres about 3000 on the station.
“Put youre scarves away boys, we could be in trouble here”

Get off the train “nice and quite” to the sound of Liiiiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrppppppppppppppppppooooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll


WE WERE ALL REDS


“Now What?” Says Robbie.

“Follow Em” Says Tommo

Next thing this little Red knows, I'm running through the Streets of Wolverhampton. Bricks seem to apear from nowhere, as they are going through shop windows.

A few souveniers were liberated.

Wouldn't you know it coppers appear from nowhere, the old black mariars.
Instead of arresting the lot of us, someone says “Were's the ground?”

They say”Follow us”

(Now there was a very good reason for all this, QPR where top of the league and we needed 1 point to win it, a little strange, 0-0, 1-1 ,was OK but not 2-2)
(Wolves also needed 1 point to avoid relegation or Brum City would go down)

Back to the story of Robbie and Tommo,

Hearded to Molineux, we found ourselves at The South Bank. None other then the Wolves home end. Problem for the them was it was only about 3 pm, they were at work or school, not like us Scallies.

That place got full, then more full, little Tommo was going in, as was Robbie and everyone else.

There was shouting and more, open the gates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


The smart Wolves coppers opened the gates long before anyone got hurt just so we could walk in safely.

God Bless them cops

No-one paid to get in, in fact we ransacked the snack stall just before we invaded the pitch.

There where about 200 balls on the pitch so we had a quick game before the game kicked off.

It was going to be a long wait for 7.30.

Robbie and Tommo had long been seperarated before the game started.

No matter the game was on. Official capacity was 49800

He he he that was only the scousers.

Wolves had a little part of their away end.
Their were scousers on the roof.
If you were one of them, them you know who I mean DC.


Not much happening in the first few minutes, except Tommo had met a couple of Brum supporterts, who were naturally gagging for their result.
Then Robbie taps Tommo on the shoulder with a aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhttttttt mate.
Tommo hadn't seen him since the entry.


Then Wolves score, the game's still young, 1-0 down.

Second Half

We were battering them, surely they couldn't hold on.

15 minutes to go!!!!!!!!!!

The Dream may not come true. The Reds become OUR almighty REDS .

Keegan puts one in.

Title is ours “maybe”.

Toshack puts one in.

We can't loose the title.

Kennedy rounds it of with another.

Liverpool Champions

We got to invade the pitch again (I've still got a bit). Then we were escorted back to the train station in double file

On the train going home it was decorated big time

Picked up at the station in Runcorn and taken home!


Should have seen Robbie and Tommo's faces at school the next day


YNWA

[Emlyn18]

Happy days.

[Armless Joe Gambino]

Slightly too young for that one, thanks for account

[Tommo261]

I had to PC it a bit but it was a hell of a day. 

[londonscouse56]

I was at the game, climbed up a tree and over the wall, ended up with the Wolves fans down the side. Great atmosphere and still in my top five games of all time. I reckon that there was over 60,000 in the ground that night. The queue to get in was massive at 1.30, six hours before kick-off.

[The Red artist.]

That was an unbelievable day and night. We got in the ground very early and we were in their end. No trouble, probably caus there was more of us in their end. I didnt fancy stayin there especially when you saw the size of "OUR" end. It was huge, so i decided to run from behind the goal the full length of the pitch. When we got to "OUR" end, and i say we, because dozens and dozens of Reds followed, the bizzies just herded us in. There were Reds up the floodlights, on the roofs, it was amazin.

I remember the fella on the tannoy sayin that in a short while the floodlights would be switched on so for their own safety they should all get down. The next thing the lads who were up there all gave the V sign, was very funny to see.

I aslo remember a Wolves supporter comin on the pitch and towards our end. He got into the 18 yard box and started to give us the finger, an all that. When a couple of Reds came on from the paddock and ran towards the wolves fella. A couple of high kicks and then what looked like a bottle of wine fell from one of their pockets. It was pure theatre and great pre-match entertainment. That night is still in my top 3 of the greatest of them all.

Happy days.

                                              Y.N.W.A...............J.F.T.96.

[ScouserFreddy]

sure it was a happy day....

[kopkev]

remember being in wolverhampton at about 2 pm that day, got in their end ( our end), dont remember much of the game, just after the game being on the motorway for hours as the official coach passed by with emlyn at the front with the championship in hand, great memories.

[Socratease]

Superb post, Tommo! 

[Dewey Finn]

I was 14 at the time and had never been to an away game. However, regardless of what my Mam and Dad had to say that night I was going to Wolves away! LFC needed a win to win the league. Wolves needed a win to stay up.  Having bunked the bus home from school and got out the house before me Mam and Dad got back from work I proceeded with 5 like-minded mates to the nearest pub we knew with a coach going to the match.

The coach came and left at 5 (we got on it). Many got left behind, but having been, and known to have been, to all home games that season by the chief - who was fortunately also my brothers mate we got on and stayed on. I  remember some scallies (about 16-18 year old) trying to get on and telling the chief to throw us of cos we were kids - gave them my first moony as we pulled off (part-timers).

I hoped that we would have a good mob there - at least 5-10 thousand. Going down the motorway we passed more and more scousers as we approached Wolverhampton. By the time we got to the city outskirts it was clear that we wearn't going to get in, at least legitimately - which meant paying at the turnstile in those days.

Scousers were everywhere when we got to the ground, one big mass - particulary acute, at gates and turnstyles. The gates and turnstyles where opened on at least three occasions that I saw using a skeleton key - a mass of BIG BOOTS. One of me mates managed to get in as a result of being strategically placed when the gate collased . I got stuck at the back of the queue as a result of the fact that their were 20,000 bunking in and 19,900 were biger and better placed than me (the bizzies also played a part).

Many were still outside at kick-off time. All the blokes dissapeared to the pubs as the game passed on but I was determined to get in. Hovered around every gate and turnstyle, tried blagging anyone that looked like they might have access. We were standing at a big gate when it was still 1-1 and it opened. One fella began to walk out while the other began to close the gate "let us in". He did, couldn't believe it.

We ran up the steps of what resembled the back of the old Kop and couldn't see anything. So, went to the front and also couldn't see anything but then LFC scored and I ended up on the pitch with a few hundred others. As things were calming down we scored again so, back on the pitch. This time they couldn't get us all back onto the terraces so I sat with a few hundred others on and around about the touchline.

When the final whistle went that was it. The whole pitch got covered in scousers. Eventually got back home and got battered by My Mam - but it was well worth it.

LFC had the ground that night. Their END, both stands and 70% of the away end (a few Wolves were allowed to stay in for a laugh). My brother - 7 years older - claims that there were some QPR there when they got there - very early. QPR having thought they had won the league the previous Saturday. Be very interested to hear any old scallies recollections of this game.

[courty61]

My Dad went that game- it was 9 years before I was born- and he's said that he's met no-one who paid to get in that game!

[serenejim1]

Went to this game. Always remember the huge queue outside to get in. No all ticket games those days. First to arrive got in-last didn't. It was like one huge rugby scrum outside the ground. It was obvious to everyone that we not all going to get in and there was a lot of jostling for position aided by the fact that the local police weren't good at keeping the queue orderly. In no time at all I was lathered in sweat and this was hours before the kick off. The crowds kept surging around and I realised I was unlikely to get in if I stayed where I was in the queue. I then decided to use the rolling maul technique. As the crowds surged and broke up I would break away and push forward from the outside of the mob-a technique honed by many years experiece on the Kop. I was able to move forward a lot of yards each time until eventually I reached the front of the queue and got in . And what a great night. Place filled with reds. Steve Kindon? scored for Wolves. This was definitely not in the plot. Then we equalised and went on to score two more. Ecstasy!!

[Dewey Finn]

Anyone remember seeing a QPR supporter? I actually got into the TV box that night with previously mentioned mates. For some reason it got deserted quickly after the final whistle and we ran up the 'wooden ladder' (in the wooden stand and into the wooden TV box) saw noone was there and started playing with the cameras. They were all focused on the fans. I was a cult figure in school for about three days after that match.

[AndyM17]

One of the great nights that doesn't get mentioned too often. The numbers we had there was unbelievable. Up there with the best of my memories.

[Timbo's Goals]

Is right. Has any team's fans ever taken over the ground of another notable club so overwhelmingly as we did that night. I reckon there were 40,000 Reds in Wolverhamton that night, most of them - somehow - in the ground. Certainly the most incredible show of support at a league game that I know of. a night which cemented our uniqueness as a club and as fans.

My only regret of the occasion is that I had such a bad migraine after the game finished that I had to just sit in the corner in the ale house while everyone else danced on the tables.