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Monday, October 28, 2024

The Soccernostalgia Interview-Part 99- A video Interview and blog presentation with Football fan Mr. David Sleight and Writer and former Football Journalist Mr. Gil Matthews, discussing Liverpool Champions Cup winning run in 1980/81 season)

 


For this interview, I look back at Liverpool’s Champions Cup winning run in 1980/81 season.

The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a presentation of the events.

The Interviewees are:

Football fan Mr. David Sleight

 

Mr. Sleight’s contact info:

Twitter: @CelticFoal

 

 

Writer and former Football Journalist Mr. Gil Matthews

 

Mr. Matthews’ contact info:

Twitter: @MatthewsGil

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gil.matthews.3

Business: ‘And Then Strum’ guitar tuition online

Instagram: Gilberticus3rd

 

 

My contact information:

on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

 

Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/46SPuQ8lZKSWtphrYhDXDR?si=m3yHe2nMSWuCjWkEHrypLw&nd=1&dlsi=60e200deac834d8b

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-soccernostalgia-interview-part-99-a-video/id1601074369?i=1000674791597









Liverpool FC in the Champions Cup 1980/81

 

When the 1980/81 season kicked off, Liverpool were to take part in the Champions Cup. Liverpool had just won the League title for the fourth time in five seasons.

They had won the Champions Cup in 1977 and 1978, however, their last two campaigns had been disappointing as Liverpool had crashed out in the first round each time (Nottingham Forest (78/79) and Dinamo Tbilisi (79/80).

 

They were still managed by Bob Paisley, the architect of all the recent successes of the club’s greatest era.

He still relied on a strong backbone of experienced players. The custodian in goal was the legendary Ray Clemence (in his final season for the club).

Skipper Phil Thompson led the defense, along with Phil Neal, Alan Kennedy, and the Scottish Alan Hansen, with the Israeli Avi Cohen just behind.

The midfield included the Scottish Graeme Souness, Terry McDermott, Sammy Lee, and Ray Kennedy, with the Irish veteran Steve Heighway still in the mix, along with Jimmy Case and an up-and-coming Irishman Ronnie Whelan.

The Scottish Kenny Dalglish led the frontline along with David Johnson plus a young Welshman named Ian Rush.

 

Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(Bob Paisley)



Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish)



Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(Terry McDermott and Graeme Souness)



Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(Sammy Lee and Alan Kennedy)



The transfer activity was minimal that season. Scottish striker Frank McGarvey had been unable to make an impact at Anfield, he returned to Scotland to join Celtic Glasgow.

The only arrival was that of little-known defender Richard Money from Fulham.

 

Liverpool started their Champions Cup adventure against Finnish side OPS Oulu.

The first leg was away at Oulu on September 17, 1980. Liverpool were surprisingly held to a (1-1) draw.

 

The Return leg at Anfield was on October 1st, 1980, and Liverpool displayed its dominance by winning with a (10-1) scoreline that included hat-tricks from Souness and McDermott and a double from Fairclough.

 

The Second Round appeared a much more challenging task, as Liverpool faced the new power from Scotland, Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen.

The first leg was at Aberdeen on October 22, 1980. Terry McDermott’s early goal was all the difference and Liverpool came back with a precious away win.

The second leg at Anfield took place on November 5th. Liverpool showed the gap between the sides by winning (4-0) against a quality side. Liverpool were through to the quarterfinals.





 

For the Quarterfinals in the Spring of 1981, Liverpool were paired with Bulgarian champions CSKA Sofia.

By this stage of the season, Liverpool were uncharacteristically struggling in the League. They had many injuries to key players at various stages that season and that affected their League form (eventually finishing in Fifth place).

They also crashed out of the FA Cup in January.

Ahead of the first leg, the Liverpool squad sequestered itself in a clear the air meeting.

This must have worked as Liverpool were in a rampant mood as they took the field on March 4th, 1981, to face CSKA in the first leg.

 

Liverpool defeated CSKA (5-1) with Graeme Souness scoring a hat-trick and Lee and McDermott providing the others.

The outcome of the tie was not in any doubt for the return leg at Sofia on March 18th. David Johnson’s early goal settled this match and Liverpool came back with a (1-0) away win.

 

Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(March 4, 1981, Champions Cup, Liverpool 5-CSKA Sofia 1)



Ahead of the semifinals, Liverpool were triumphant in the League Cup. This was a welcome boost ahead of the semifinals as well as salvaging a dismal domestic season.

For these semifinals, Liverpool faced its most difficult task by facing the West German powerhouse Bayern Munich led by Paul Breitner and the then current Ballon d’Or Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

For the first leg on April 8th, at Anfield, Liverpool were missing Souness and Johnson through injury. Paisley drafted in Jimmy Case and Ian Rush in their place.

In the second half, Liverpool legend Steve Heighway came in for his final European match for the club before departing for the United States (for Minnesota Kicks).

Liverpool piled on the pressure, but Bayern held firm. The West Germans came away with an advantageous scoreless tie.

Many in their camp later expressed that they thought they had done the hard part, and they felt a false sense of self confidence ahead of the return leg.

 

Photo From: Mondial, New series, issue 14, May 1981

(April 8, 1981, Champions Cup, Liverpool 0-Bayern Munich 0)



For the return leg, on April 22nd, at Munich, Liverpool were missing the injured defensive pair of Thompson and Kennedy. Paisley was forced to start with the inexperienced Colin Irwin and Richard Money in their place.

The odds were against Liverpool, but they held firm and near the end in the 82nd minute, Ray Kennedy gave them the lead.

Bayern had to score two goals in less than ten minutes and this was beyond them. Rummenigge pulled a goal back, but it was too little, too late. Liverpool advanced to the Final with the away goals rule.

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 18 (338), 29 April -May 5, 1981

(April 22, 1981, Champions Cup, Bayern Munich 1- Liverpool 1)



Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 21 (339), May 20-26, 1981

(April 22, 1981, Champions Cup, Bayern Munich 1- Liverpool 1)



Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(April 22, 1981, Champions Cup, Bayern Munich 1- Liverpool 1)



Liverpool were in the Final facing Spanish giants Real Madrid on May 27th, 1981, at Paris. The Spanish side included Spanish Internationals such as Camacho, Juanito, Santillana and Del Bosque as well as West German International Uli Stielike and English striker Laurie Cunningham.

But this was not the Real Madrid of the 50s and 60s, they had not won any European trophy in 15 years.

Liverpool were playing in their third Final in five years and were used to the occasion (In fact fifth in nine years if you include the UEFA Cup triumphs of 1973 and 1976).

 

In the end it was a dour and unexciting match to watch. It was decided in the 82nd minute through a moment of brilliance from Alan Kennedy.

He picked up Ray Kennedy’s throw-in on the left side and entered the box and shot from a narrow angle.

It was all that was required for Liverpool to win its third Champions Cup. This was England’s fifth straight triumph in the competition and Liverpool were not finished yet…..

 

Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(May 27, 1981, Champions Cup, Liverpool 1-Real Madrid 0)



Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(May 27, 1981, Champions Cup, Liverpool 1-Real Madrid 0)



Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(May 27, 1981, Champions Cup, Liverpool 1-Real Madrid 0)



Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(May 27, 1981, Champions Cup, Liverpool 1-Real Madrid 0)



 

Photo From: L’Année du Football 1981

(May 27, 1981, Champions Cup, Liverpool 1-Real Madrid 0)


 

Liverpool Football Club (1980/81 season):

Players who took part in these matches (on the field or on the bench):

Goalkeeper:

Ray Clemence (August 5, 1948-Skegness, Lincolnshire-November 15, 2020, Corby, Northamptonshire) (aged 32 years old at the time)

Steven Ogrizovic (September 12, 1957, Mansfield) (aged 22-23 years old at the time)

Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe) (October 6, 1957, Durban, South Africa) (aged 22-23 years old at the time) (arrived in March 1981)


Defenders:

Phil Neal (February 20, 1951, Irchester, Northamptonshire) (aged 29-30 years old at the time)

Alan Hansen (Scotland) (June 13, 1955, Sauchie, Clackmannashire, Scotland) (aged 25 years old at the time)

Alan Kennedy (August 31, 1954, Penshaw) (aged 26 years old at the time)

Phil Thompson (January 21, 1954, Kirby, Lancashire) (aged 26-27 years old at the time)

Avraham ‘Avi’ Cohen (Israel) (November 14, 1956, Cairo, Egypt-December 29, 2010, Tel Aviv, Israel) (aged 23-24 years old at the time)

Richard Money (October 13, 1955, Lowestoft) (aged 24-25 years old at the time)

Colin Irwin (February 9, 1957, Liverpool) (aged 23-24 years old at the time)


Midfielders:

Ray Kennedy (July 28, 1951, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland-November 30, 2021) (aged 29 years old at the time)

Graeme Souness (Scotland) (May 6, 1953, Edinburgh, Scotland) (aged 27-28 years old at the time)

Terry McDermott (December 8, 1951, Liverpool) (aged 28-29 years old at the time)

Sammy Lee (February 7, 1959, Liverpool) (aged 21-22 years old at the time)

Jimmy Case (May 18, 1954, Liverpool) (aged 26-27 years old at the time)

Ronnie Whelan (Republic of Ireland) (September 25, 1961, Dublin, Republic of Ireland) (aged 18-19 years old at the time)

Kevin Sheedy (Republic of Ireland) (October 21, 1959, Builth Wells, Wales) (aged 20-21 years old at the time)

Michael Halsall (July 28, 1961, Bootle) (aged 19 years old at the time)

Robert James Savage (January 8, 1960, Liverpool) (aged 20-21 years old at the time)

Steve Heighway (Republic of Ireland) (November 25, 1947, Dublin, Republic of Ireland) (aged 32-33 years old at the time) (left in April 1981)

 

Forwards:

Kenny Dalglish (Scotland) (March 4, 1951, Glasgow, Scotland) (aged 29-30 years old at the time)

David Johnson (October 23, 1951, Liverpool-November 23, 2022) (aged 28-29 years old at the time)

David Fairclough (January 5, 1957, Liverpool) (aged 23-24 years old at the time)

Howard Gayle (May 18, 1958, Toxteth, Liverpool) (aged 22-23 years old at the time)

Ian Rush (Wales) (October 20, 1961, St Asaph, Wales) (aged 18-19 years old at the time)

Colin Russell (January 21, 1961, Liverpool) (aged 19-20 years old at the time)


Coach: Bob Paisley (January 23, 1919, Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham-February 14, 1996, Liverpool) (aged 61-62 years old at the time)

Team Captain: Phil Thompson

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Shirt Sponsor: None (Hitachi but no sponsored shirts used in European matches)

 

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 65, May 1981

(Liverpool squad 1980/81)



Photo From: Onze, Issue 65, May 1981

(Liverpool squad 1980/81)



Photo From: Panini England 1980/81

(Liverpool squad 1980/81)



Transfer Activity:

 

Arrivals:

Richard Money (Fulham)

Bruce Grobbelaar (Crewe Alexandra) (arrived in March 1981)


Departures:

Frank McGarvey (Celtic Glasgow)

Steve Heighway (left in April 1981 to Minnesota Kicks)

 

 

References:

France Football, Issue 1822, March 10, 1981

France Football, Issue 1829, April 28, 1981

Mondial, New series, issue 14, May 1981

Mondial, new series, issue 16, July 1981

Onze, Issue 65, May 1981

Onze, Issue 66, June 1981

World Soccer, July 1981

L’Année du Football 1981


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