On Monday 12 January, 1970, Coventry City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, fifty-one thousand, two hundred and sixty-one folk came, too. Fifty-one thousand, two hundred and sixty-one folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Coventry City in the Third Round replay of the FA Cup. And in the thirty-ninth minute of the Third Round replay of the FA Cup, Ross scored. In the fifty-fourth minute, Thompson scored. In the seventy-second minute, Graham scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City three — nil in the Third Round replay of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield. And Liverpool Football Club were in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.
On Saturday 24 January, 1970, Wrexham Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-four thousand and ninety-six folk came, too. Fifty-four thousand and ninety-six folk to watch Liverpool Football Club of the First Division play Wrexham Football Club of the Fourth Division in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. In the twenty-fourth minute, Smith of Wrexham Football Club of the Fourth Division scored. And at half-time in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, Liverpool Football Club of the First Division were losing one — nil to Wrexham Football Club of the Fourth Division. But in the fifty-first minute, Bobby Graham scored. And in the fifty-ninth minute, Ian St John scored. And in the seventy-third minute, Graham scored again. And Liverpool Football Club of the First Division beat Wrexham Football Club of the Fourth Division three — one in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfild. And Liverpool Football Club were in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.
On Saturday 7 February, 1970, Leicester City Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-three thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five folk came, too. Fifty-three thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five folk to watch Leicester City play Liverpool Football Club in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. Last season, Leicester City had reached the final of the FA Cup. But Leicester City had lost the final one — nil to Manchester City. And Leicester City had also been relegated. Leicester City were now in the Second Division. On Saturday 7 February, 1970, Leicester City of the Second Division did not score. And Liverpool Football Club of the First Division did not score. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with Leicester City in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup –
Four days afterwards, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Filbert Street, Leicester, to play Leicester City in the Fifth Round replay of the FA Cup. This was the seventh meeting and the third replay between Liverpool Football Club and Leicester City in the FA Cup since 1963. In nine hours of cup football, there had been only three goals. But on the last three occasions, the winner had gone on to Wembley, on to the final. After this replay, the winner would face Watford Football Club of the Second Division in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. People were saying this could be Liverpool Football Club’s season. People were saying this could be Liverpool Football Club’s chance. For redemption,
for salvation. Their best chance, their only chance. On a frozen pitch, in inches of sand. In the twenty-first minute, Peter Thompson was tackled. Hard. Thompson fell, Thompson hurt. Hard. And on the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. Thompson did not get back up. And Evans came on for Thompson. And on the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. Liverpool Football Club were all fingers and thumbs. Error after error, mistake after mistake. On the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. In the fifty-third minute, Lochhead put Glover through. And Glover shot. But the shot hit the bar. And on the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. In the sixty-fourth minute, Tommy Smith passed to Bobby Graham. Graham passed to Ian Callaghan. Callaghan crossed for Chris Lawler. Lawler flicked on the cross. And Alun Evans turned the flick past Shilton. On the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. The ball in the goal, the ball in the net. The Leicester City goal, the Leicester City net. But on the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. Liverpool Football Club were still all fingers and thumbs. Still error after error, still mistake after mistake. And on the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. In the eightieth minute, Farrington had only Lawrence to beat. To beat and to score. To score and to equalise. But on the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. Lawrence dived at the feet of Farrington. And Farrington did not beat Lawrence. He did not score, he did not equalise. Lawrence saved at the feet of Farrington. And on the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. In the ninetieth minute, Ian St John passed to Graham. Graham passed to Evans. And Evans shot and Evans scored. And on the frozen pitch, in the inches of sand. All fingers and all thumbs. Error after error. Mistake after mistake. Liverpool Football Club beat Leicester City Football Club two — nil in the Fifth Round replay of the FA Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. And Liverpool Football Club of the First Division would now play Watford Football Club of the Second Division in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. And inside Filbert Street, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang, Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup! We’re going to win the Cup. Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup!
On Saturday 21 February, 1970, Liverpool Football Club came to Vicarage Road, Watford, to play Watford Football Club in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. That afternoon, thirty-four thousand and forty-seven folk came, too. Thirty-four thousand and forty-seven folk to watch Liverpool Football Club of the First Division play Watford Football Club of the Second Division. Watford Football Club of the bottom of the Second Division. And before the whistle, the first whistle. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club inside Vicarage Road sang Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup! We’re going to win the Cup! Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup! Over and over. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang, Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup! We’re going to win the Cup! Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup! Again and again. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang, Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup! We’re going to win the Cup. Ee-aye-addio,
we’re going to win the Cup!
But on Saturday 21 February, 1970, the players of Watford Football Club were quicker off the mark. The players of Watford Football Club were harder in the tackle. They were more assured on the ball, they were more certain in possession. More steady in defence and more penetrative in attack. And Lugg of Watford Football Club moved effortlessly up and down the right wing. Time and time again. Lugg of Watford Football Club effortlessly beat Liverpool player after Liverpool player. Time and time again. Yeats not assured, Yeats not certain. And his uncertainty was contagious. From Liverpool player to Liverpool player. Uncertainty spread. From Yeats to Lawrence, Lawrence to Lawler, Lawler to Wall, Wall to Strong, Strong to Hughes, Hughes to Callaghan, Callaghan to Ross, Ross to Evans, Evans to St John and from St John to Graham. Their every touch uncertain, their every pass uncertain. And in the sixty-third minute of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, again Lugg effortlessly moved up the right wing. And again Lugg effortlessly beat Liverpool player after Liverpool player. And Lugg effortlessly crossed. And Endean effortlessly rose over Lawler. And Endean effortlessly beat Lawler to the cross. And Endean effortlessly headed the ball past Lawrence into the goal. And into the net. The Liverpool goal, the Liverpool net. But for the next thirty minutes of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, for the last thirty minutes of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang and they sang. They roared and they roared. They screamed and they screamed. And for the next thirty minutes of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, for the last thirty minutes of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, the bench of Liverpool Football Club shouted and they shouted. They roared and they roared. They screamed and they screamed. But in the ninetieth minute of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, the referee looked at his watch. In the ninetieth minute of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, the referee raised his whistle towards his mouth. In the ninetieth minute of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, the referee put the whistle to his lips. In the ninetieth minute of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, the referee breathed in. In the ninetieth minute of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, the referee breathed out. And in the ninetieth minute of the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, the referee blew his whistle –