LIVERPOOL v STOCKPORT COUNTY – 1965

DES HINKS RECALLS AN UNFORGETTABLE COUNTY MOMENT

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A team rock bottom of the Football League, (with 12 points from 28 games), visited Anfield to face Liverpool, the reigning Champions of the Football League. At such a tender age a trip to Merseyside was never on the cards for me, but the radio kept me up to date with the proceedings. Len White hit the target after 18 minutes, and a Liverpool equaliser from Gordon Milne, in front of nearly 52,000, took things to a replay back at at Edgeley Park 4 days later.

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This time the prospect of the “11 plus”, (remember them!!), the following day led to a parental edict that meant I couldn’t go. Once gain the transistor kept me informed. We lost, but it was one of those times that are fondly remembered by those County followers of more mature years. These are the times that we can recall; that are part of our history and legacy, and those are memories that should never, ever, disappear.

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Des Hinks, longstanding County fan, recalls one of the great County memories. Many thanks to him for the account, and the photos .

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The common theme running through all our great moments in history is the County fans – it’s what makes our great club unique.

My Dad wouldn’t take me to Anfield – he was worried about the size of the crowd – and to appease me – I was so upset – he bought me a dinky estate car, the door at the back opened and there was a small plastic dog inside!! I locked myself in my bedroom sulking and I clearly remember Dad coming into my room to say Len White had scored and County were winning!! I remember it as though it was yesterday.

He knew I’d go really mad if he didn’t take me to the replay and he managed to get two tickets. We were in the ground at 5.30! and I was one of the 1,000 kids sat crossed legged around the pitch!!

I remember being distraught at the end of the game as I really thought County would win!! In reality Liverpool made no mistake and could easily have won by more but for Ken Mulhearn and some valiant defending. Here’s the tale as it unfolded:

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56 years ago today, 25,000 crammed into Edgeley Park to watch the second of the two epic FA Cup battles against Bill Shankly’s Liverpool, following County’s sensational 1-1 draw at Anfield just four days earlier.

Inspired by the quite phenomenal support from the County fans, Trevor Porteous’ young team almost pulled off the biggest upset in FA Cup history.

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Here’s the story …

Back in 1964, County, rooted to the bottom of Division 4, embarked on an FA Cup run that captured the hearts of the nation.

Victories over Wigan Athletic and Grimsby Town had seen the Hatters reach round three, where, against all the odds, they performed heroically to force a goalless draw at Third Division leaders, Bristol Rovers.

The replay, two days later, is regarded as the most emotional, action-packed game ever to be staged at Edgeley Park as County won 3-2, to set up a date against Bill Shankly’s Liverpool – the reigning Football League champions – in their own Anfield fortress.

County’s Cup exploits had jettisoned them onto a national stage, and they received an invitation from Morecambe Council to prepare for the big game in the Lancashire coastal resort.

Speaking at a Civic Reception held in County’s honour, Morecambe Mayor, Councillor John F McHale, said:

“Everyone has been willing to do whatever they can to help County beat Liverpool.”

Spare a thought for Mike Eckersall, though. Whilst his teammates were enjoying Morecambe’s local leisure facilities and training at the town’s football ground, Mike, a part-time professional, worked all week before making his own way to Liverpool on the day of the game!

The tremendous media attention was manor from heaven for new chairman, Vic Bernard. Asked by one reporter if he felt County would be overawed by playing in front of so many opposition fans, he replied:

“Don’t you worry about that, I think you’ll find that Kop full of Stockport folk!”

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Bernard wasn’t too far off the mark, either. There were indeed many ‘Stockport folk’ congregated in the sacred part of Anfield as an estimated 11,000 travelling fans had made their way to Merseyside. Three special trains, all hauled by steam locomotives, were backed up by almost 100 coaches, mainly provided by North Western, such prolific carriers of Hatters’ fans throughout the 1960s.

The 51,851 attendance, incidentally, was the biggest in round four and, remains to this day, the biggest to watch County in any competition.

Far from being overawed, County took the game to Liverpool right from the off and, midway through the half, the travelling hordes were rewarded when the Hatters took the lead. Len White played the ball out to Johnny Watt on the right, and, when the cross came in, got his head to the ball just before colliding with Liverpool ‘keeper Tommy Lawrence. White lay flat out concussed as his teammates celebrated the goal that gave the most unlikely half-time scoreline: Liverpool 0 Stockport County 1.

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That White, the Newcastle United legend, was wearing County colours is yet another strange twist of fate along this incredible Cup journey. Midfield general, Frank Beaumont, had picked up a three-game ban, one of which was the Anfield clash. Worried they would travel to Merseyside without their most experienced player, the Hatters paid Huddersfield Town £4,000 to bring the maestro across the Pennines; but for Beaumont’s suspension, one of the best-ever County players may never have arrived at Edgeley Park.

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When Gordon Milne fired the Reds level after the break Shankly’s men probably felt they’d go on to record a comfortable victory. It didn’t happen. Magnificent County were still asking all the questions and then, 13 minutes from time, Ian Sandiford burst clear and was brought down by Ron Yeats for a blatant penalty. But, just like the 1950 Cup-tie against Liverpool, it wasn’t given. Sandiford may have been guilty of getting up too quickly to get his shot away, which was blocked on the line. White and then Watt saw their follow-ups suffer the same outcome as desperate Liverpool hung on to deny County deserved victory.

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Reporting for the Stockport Advertiser, the inimitable Tom Turton wrote:

“This was not the day County forced a draw with Liverpool, rather did Liverpool force a draw with County.

“It was the day when the famous Kop, an amazing, swirling mass of 28,000 people had been stunned into silence, the day where the vociferous cry of ‘County, County, County’, first loyal, then defiant and finally dominant, had taken over.”

Post-match, Vic Bernard pulled off a PR masterstroke when he produced 4,000 tickets for the replay:

“I knew we wouldn’t lose” he told the Liverpool Directors!”

Home tickets were scheduled to go on sale on the Sunday morning. Fans camped out all night, and when the ticket office opened at 10am, Hardcastle Road was thronged with thousands of people. There was a three-hour wait to be served. Some 24,000 were lucky. Many others were not.

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By the time Wednesday night came around, all roads led to Edgeley Park. There were crowds and policemen everywhere. Even the BBC TV cameras turned up!

The pre-match atmosphere was perfectly captured in the Times report:

“What an exciting evening it was, misty and cold yet burning with the heat of combat. Long before the kick-off the ground was throbbing at the seams, the terraces were swaying, the banners were flying, and all Stockport was ringing with the rival chants. Fever was in the air – cup fever.”

County were then welcomed onto the pitch by, according to the Stockport Advertiser’s front-page report, “the biggest-ear splitting roar since Edgeley Park was built.”

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Wearing their now-famous all-red strip for the first time in a domestic game, Liverpool were the dominant force and, although the Hatters had their moments, Shankly’s men won 2-0 with goals from future England World Cup winner Roger Hunt, on 38 and 86 minutes.

Liverpool went on to win the FA Cup for the very first time that season; County, though, were the only side to take the lead against them during their history-making run.

Speaking after lifting the famous trophy Reds’ skipper Ron Yeats said:

“Stockport County was the toughest game we had. At one moment I said to myself, ‘my God’ they are going to beat us.”

And, years later, Shankly still remembered a night that will live long in the memory.

“We played much better in the replay,” he said. “And I remember there was a terrific atmosphere. Edgeley Park is a tight ground and the crowd was almost spilling on to the pitch all throughout the game.”

Strangely, the Hatters couldn’t repeat their Cup form in the League and, despite their best efforts, they couldn’t climb off the bottom of the table.

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But that couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm running through the town. Edgeley Park was alive again, and within months, Johnny Price and Len Allchurch arrived from First Division clubs to join the GO GO GO COUNTY revolution.

Others followed and, within two years, County swept all before them to lift the Fourth Division title.

It is without question, though, that without the phenomenal efforts of the 1964-65 Cup Warriors a glorious era in County history may never have been written.

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Des Hinks – 3rd February 2021