79: ON THE RADIO

by John Ludden

79: On the Radio…When first falling in love with your football team, there’s nothing written to say it has to be an enjoyable experience. You have to suffer, feel the pain and angst-go through every emotion, before finally you’re absolutely certain it’s the right one for you. A young lad coming to terms with not just his misfiring team, but life around him. An eleven-year-old whose obsession with Manchester United becomes all consuming. The first year of big school. The bullies, an irrational hatred of maths, geography and bloody cross country running. But, worst of all, Liverpool. Based around the 1978/79 season, where Dave Sexton’s United only really came alive in the FA Cup, we recalls this young lad’s turmoil dealing with shocking defeats, such as 5-1 at Birmingham, knocked out of the League Cup at home by Third Division Watford, and a Christmas ruined/cancelled with woeful defeats by Bolton (0-3), Liverpool 0-3) and West Brom 3-5. Come January, redemption arrives with the FA Cup, and this young lad goes on a journey with his new love that culminates, not at Wembley against Arsenal as you would expect, but on an unforgettable night at Goodison Park against Liverpool in an FA Cup semi-final Replay. Wednesday 4th April 1979. Sat at home going crazy, listening on a transistor radio, as BBC Radio’s 2 wonderful commentator Peter Jones describes Mickey Thomas’ low cross being met by Jimmy Greenhoff heading past Ray Clemence, causing the Park End behind that goal to erupt, as United fans danced from the rooftops! Of all the riches that came after, nothing has yet to compare for me. 79: On the Radio tells of a summer of dreams, a winter of discontent, and a time when that young lad, no guesses who it is, fell in love with Manchester United...@Johnludds

Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2020