25 years since our 84 heroes

[Armin]

Once more, hi to everyone here at Est1892.

LFC's Official site are celebrating the achivements of the 84 treble winning side all this week. You may have read this superb Brian Reade article yesterday for instance:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/features/expert_opinion/FX14735090601-0852.htm

We're looking for your memories of the team and it's triumphs. If you'd like to post them in this thread we'll select the best and most original ones and put them in an article later on in the week.

Thanks in advance

Matt

[wiw]

Thanks Matt

I was -2 at the time sadly. Hopefully zimbo does one (post, not actually do one)

[zimbo]

Is that because I'm one of the few old gimmers that can remember so far back? Apart from Neil, but we know his memory isn't what it used to be.

Actually I had a season ticket at the time, so I'll see if I can dredge up any self-indulgent reminiscences later. Not a vintage season in the league, but Rush's phenomenal form ensured that we were never seriously in danger. Europe was interesting though, more for the away games than anything else.

I'll have a think.

[Tee]

I can vaguely remember the game - not that it is hugely relevant but can anyone confirm that there was a solar eclipse that evening in 1984? I am fairly certain there was and remember rushing out in the back garden to see it just before (or during) the game. The game itself was not great IIRC and I distinctly remember the penalty shoot out - I think it was the first time I had ever seen one lol.

[zimbo]

Right then. Random memories of the treble-winning season:

Although clearly the best team by some distance the league campaign was often quite uninspiring, as if we’d grown a bit tired of winning the title and needed the occasional prod to spark us into life. In fact, a quick check confirms that we failed to beat Leicester, Stoke, Ipswich, Wolves and Sunderland that year and contrived to lose home games to the latter two.

There was an equivalent sense of apathy on the terraces, with the average home crowd reaching just 32,000 and attendances exceeding 40,000 in only two league games. As I recall, a certain level of complacency had kicked in and the atmosphere inside the ground suffered as a result (although the economic hardships caused by vicious, grasping Thatcherism should not be ignored when looking to explain falling attendance figures).

On the pitch, Souness was dominant, Hansen and Lawrenson were majestic and Ian Rush enjoyed the greatest single season I’ve ever seen from someone in a Liverpool shirt. To say he was lethal would be akin to labelling Jose Mourinho as modest or Alex Ferguson as sober. You didn’t go into a game hoping or expecting that Rush would score. You knew he would score. And on those rare occasions when fate or dumb luck conspired against him and he somehow failed to register, it felt as if everything we believed in became just a little bit less certain and the world became an uglier place.

One of the most vivid Rush memories from that season came when Luton came to Anfield and were casually brushed aside 6-0. Rush had already notched two before 5 minutes had been played, both typical poacher’s efforts from close range. The hat-trick came from a flying header executed with all the grace, precision and ruthlessness of a moustachioed Ninja. The fourth, a stunning volley on the run to despatch a dropping 40 yard Rubble through ball, was the stuff of dreams. The fifth merely confirmed that we were in the presence of a unique talent. Unfortunately the game wasn’t covered by television, so no footage exists (that I’m aware of). But whenever I hear people arguing over the greatest striker this country has produced, I think back to that day and know that they are only arguing over second place.

A few more brief recollections:

- Dalglish suffering a broken cheekbone in a cowardly assault by Kevin Moran. And Souness having to be restrained from taking justice into his own bear-like hands.
- A wall collapsing at the front of the terrace at Walsall in the League Cup Semi Final, and the game having to be stopped for some time. Scary and depressingly prescient.
- Getting a double decker bus, filled with Red and Blue alike, to the League Cup Final replay at Maine Road, and narrowly avoiding injury as the window in front of me failed to repel a brick that was playfully lobbed by some affable Moss Side pranksters
- Winning the league in a yawnsome 0-0 draw at Notts. County. Although I chose instead to stay in Liverpool for a ‘Day’s Worth of Happenings’ in the form of Echo and the Bunnymen’s Crystal Day. If anything the end of the league season was a bit of an anti-climax. Although, I did bump into Jools Holland on a Mersey ferry in the midst of a monumental banana fight, so that was consolation of sorts.
- Rome. The consummate professional performance. Souness’ last stand and his finest hour. Not since Spartacus had one man left so many Romans defeated and anguished. On that night Souness prevailed, I think that’s the best way to describe it. And he also hit the finest penalty I’ve ever seen. Look at it again - the exact definition of unstoppable.

There are other memories of that year, but at the risk of being here all night I’ll stop there. As Michael Stipe once sagely commented, “I’ve said too much. I haven’t said enough.” But then he also said, “You've got sauce, but you don't have knees” so what does he know?

[Tee]

Great post Zimbo. So right about Rushie.

[Joe King]

Good post zimbo

[wiw]

That's why! Cracking post. Please, post more memories?

[nebbers]

Of course, that means that next year is 25 years post Heysel. Is there anything planned?

A Champions leage final (win) vs Juve would be nice.

[Armin]

Zimbo that's a cracking post. I really enjoyed it.

I've passed it along to one of the journalists at LFC.TV and I'll try to pop back with a link to the article once it's up.

Many thanks to all here at Est and especially Zimbo.

Matt

[MrMichael]

Zimbo that's a cracking post. I really enjoyed it.

I've passed it along to one of the journalists at LFC.TV and I'll try to pop back with a link to the article once it's up.

Many thanks to all here at Est and especially Zimbo.

Matt

Nice one dude, and thanks for that Zimbo, great read as ever.

I was only about 6 at the time so can't really make a useful contribution, the only thing I really remember about LFC at the time is as Zimbo already said, not hoping or even expecting Rushie to score but simply knowing he would. Pre '86 all my other memories are just vague and childish unfortunately.

My prized possession as a kid back in Belfast though was a programme from the '84 European Cup final that I bought at a random jumble sale for £5 (that was a month's pocket money) a few years later, so many of my "memories" of that team are really from having read that one thing cover to cover probably a thousand times. So I'll be well up for reading this full article when its done, do let us know.

[Armin]

As promised, here's the link to the article and at least some of Zimbo's superb post will get the exposure it deserves:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N164653090605-1151.htm

[Tee]

As promised, here's the link to the article and at least some of Zimbo's superb post will get the exposure it deserves:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N164653090605-1151.htm