06/05/1978 Ipswich Town v Arsenal

[@marksims68]

Still brings a tear to my eye. For a small club to have such history, have given the world of football such players and managers I for one am very proud. Bobby Robson RIP, a giant amongst men.

[@junkybabes]

As desperately wanted them to win the lge in late 70's early 80's!!! They were my div1 team for a while...

[@junkybabes]

yes short time i know

[@redflag8970]

Fantastic team an era for Ipswich shame they lost title on more than one occasion

[@mjb4983]

so right

[@tommylee7755]

Coyb 💙

[@motormouthalmighty]

that was an absolutely brilliant match.that's the only live football match that I watched with my mother!what a game!what a memory!

[@stevehall5299]

Fantastic ,I went to Portman Road last week ,Sir Bobby's statue was there, I walked up to it and it just made me feel happiness

[@gary6514]

I have such fond memories of watching this final as it was the first FA Cup final I can remember watching. For that day I was an Ipswich fan. I can recall me and my dad jumping up in the living room when Osbourne scored that goal. Happy days...

[@chloesdad1000]

RIP Paul Mariner who was a year above me in school. Often saw him in Adlington years and years later wearing his dead tight shorts. Also RIP to the one and only Bobby Robson, the main protagonist during this Ipswich Town period. They gave my team Liverpool many a tough game around this time. I was 13 when I saw this match on telly, and of course Roger Osbourne and all that.

[@jj9749]

Was he born in Horwich?

[@stephenpettett3472]

They were unlucky to have those great Liverpool sides around at the same time or they might have won a title or two. Like you, I was 13 at the time of this match. Still bear the scars.

[@chloesdad1000]

@@jj9749 Think it was Adlington, so yes basically Horwich.

[@kailashpatel1706]

Mariner's movement and aerial ability was good, a typical deep lying forward but his finishing could be off...!

[@michaelneuschwander7065]

Greetings to Portman Road being back in the PL from a Spurs Fan. Admired your Team in the early 80s!

[@stephenpettett3472]

Watched this as 12-year old Arsenal fan (and hadn't watched again until just the other day). Probably one of the most tortuous experiences I´ve had as a football fan, but one of the finals I still remember more than most. The FA Cup in those days was so big and one of the few live games shown on TV in the year. This was Arsenal´s first final since ´72 when I was barely six, so this was my first time watching them in a final. I remember my dad warning me that Ipswich were a bit of a bogey side for Arsenal, so I went into this game feeling pretty nervous. As it happens, Ipswich were on Match of the Day the week before and although they lost I remember thinking they looked decent. I also remember lots of talk about possible Ipswich injuries in the days leading up to the game but everybody seemed to be fit in time for the match. I thought Arsenal started ok but then there was that Mariner effort just past the post within the first ten minutes and after that it was all Ipswich. Every time Arsenal cleared the ball, it went to an Ipswich player. Because of the size of our (b/w) tv screen the player receiving the cleared ball was just out of shot and there would be a split second before the screen caught up with the action to reveal an Ipswich player picking up the loose ball and starting yet another attack. Every time they hit the post the anxiety level rose another notch. When the goal finally came, I don´t know why, but I almost felt a sense of relief, like being put out of my misery, no need to continue clutching the armchair as if at a dentist.The worst was over. I don´t remember ever feeling that Arsenal would get back into it, even though it was only 1-0. Boy did Ipswich deserve it. Full credit to them. Anything else would, I have to acknowledge, have been an injustice. Funny the details one remembers and the ones you get wrong. That save from Burley´s header in the second half I remembered as a from a corner. MacDonald´s late effort actually wasn´t as lame as it seemed at the time. Great commentary from David Coleman. The "Osbourne, one-nil" moment is quintessential Coleman, followed by a long pause so you get to hear the crowd reaction, and then the customary type of comment Cup Finals are adorned with about Osbourne being one of 12 and his family hiring a special bus to get to Wembley. Classic stuff. .

[@BA-ho8qf]

Nice post. V balanced and genuine

[@jj9749]

Trevor Whymark was injured for Ipswich

[@micklumsden3956]

I think Whymark was replaced by Geddis - who seemed to do rather well! Good to hear the detailed memories

[@stephenpettett3472]

@@micklumsden3956 Yes, Whymark missed out. As you say, Geddis had a great game. Was he Man of the Match? In the days afterwadrds I rememeber hearing that several Arsenal players were playiing despite not being 100%. Not sure that we just a way of excusing such a disappointing performance, but seeemed ironic when all week the talk had been about Ipswich´s potential injury problems. My nephew is a diehard Ipswich fan and he´s taken me to Portman Road a couple of times and Ipswich have become a bit of a second club for me. Funny how things turn out.

[@cotswoldcuckoo775]

A mate has just reminded me of us being in Singapore in 1978 and watching this game, time delayed, "live" in the Lion Hotel, half pissed on Tiger beer. Wonderful memories, and some great players on both sides, plus Bobby Robson of course. Thanks for the post.

[@paulbradshaw303]

Bobby Robson was a great manager. Built a succession of good teams at Ipswich in the 70s and early 80s , competitive

[@RobCLynch]

The Wembley haze. Only those who went to the old Wembley will know that on a bright sunny day, if you stood at one end of Wembley, the other end was only partially visible through a 'foggy' summer haze. What a player John Wark was. Ipswich got the best out of him, but he did alright at Liverpool too! Ipswich thoroughly deserved their cup win - with thanks to Bobby Robson.

[@mjb4983]

I was at the Wembley haze.

[@Vortigan07]

I was 9 years old and just "discovered" football that season and become an Arsenal fan. I still remember this game, it was gutting! It would be difficult even for the most passionate Gooner to say that Ipswich didn't deserve this. The scoreboard said 1-0 but the reality was it was a proper pasting! On any other day it would have been 5 or 6!

[@stephenpettett3472]

Spot on. Tough day. This would have been your first Arsenal final too, I guess.

[@jj9749]

Turned out well the following year though

[@Vortigan07]

@@jj9749 Yeah that was a much better day, despite trying really hard to throw it away at the end 😂 And then in 1980 we lost both The FA Cup final and Cup Winner's Cup final in the space of 5 days!! Funny how all the early scars stay so prominent in the memory.

[@jj9749]

@@Vortigan07 and to make matters worse Liam Brady left just afterwards!

[@robertcrisp9166]

I've supported ipswich town for well over thirty years. This was one of my most memorable moments

[@ldanzamariastile3536]

Ipswich was a good team back then RIP David coleman

[@tigerarmyrule]

They were a fine team. Mills, Wark, Mariner etc....all genuine internationals and of course they had that great gentleman and man manager the one and only Sir Bobby may he Rest in Peace.

[@glynnevans1851]

@@tigerarmyrule Quite agree with you sir. Bobby was a very acumlished player and manager and very underrated. He always promoted proper carpet football and was a excellent judge of selecting the right players for the right match. Also he never selected a team by name only like the current manager we have now and he s Light years behind Bobby. You may remember Bobby never agreed with these Momentous wages cuz he came from proper working class back ground. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK. Aston Villa fan since 1968

[@stevemurph1]

We had a wonderful day. Proud to have been a member of "Robson's Army."

[@tommylee7755]

Coyb 💙 I wasn't born to see this but proud itfc fan a trophy lifted in a time of such meaning

[@myalfie]

A vintage FA cup final from my childhood, truly golden days.

[@tigerarmyrule]

Back in the day when the FA Cup final appearance could literally obsess a town club like Ipswich for weeks. A Cup final goal or good performance could make you a local hero for life.

[@Keithbarber]

Sunderland, who were winning finalists in 1973, beating Leeds 1-0 came together as a city, and tyne tees television made a documentary called "meanwhile back in Sunderland" which showed the fans who were able to travel south to London, leaving the city early as they started out, and those who stayed behind, the community coming together to see their team play nearly 250 miles away and the joyous reaction in the city when the final whistle blew and Sunderland had truimphed - and I daresay Ipswich saw similar scenes, even if not shown on television - nowadays???????

[@astonmartin4360]

I was there.Ticket via David Price.I sat with the "tracker boys" and cried.

[@markdoyle1408]

We were not tractor boys back in 78

[@zzzaaa0990]

That was a great Ipswich team,legendary status

[@robbieporter1612]

I never went to the final but being a school boy in Devon going to school on the Monday with all the plastic surporting arsenal fans was one of happiest days ever thank you ipswich and your brilliant fans

[@redflag8970]

Why are they plastic an not you haha

[@robbieporter1612]

@@redflag8970 because I actually went to games and watched my team these were not pŕoper arsenal fans who went to games just went to the final

[@redflag8970]

Fair enough bud

[@robbieporter1612]

@@redflag8970 you know the ones mate they probably stopped a genuine arsenal fan going

[@redflag8970]

@@robbieporter1612 ye an they only take interest when they win haha

[@tnimbus]

I was 13. Brilliant team and a brilliant game.

[@southaussieblue]

No exaggeration, could have been 5 nil

[@Vortigan07]

Even Arsenal fans, if they're honest, know that this is 100% right!

[@ajay999999]

Well it wasnt it was 1-0 and that was due to a cock up by Willie Young

[@robertgraffham6440]

But for O'Leary and The Woodwork!

[@bobuk161]

That was one powerful Ipswich team. Bobby Robson was a great manager. Would have made a great manager for us at Liverpool because his style of play was always attacking.

[@richardwhitelaw4217]

Remembering Paul Mariner today....

[@danbrown67]

A 1-0 thrashing. I had forgotten that Kevin Beattie let Malcolm McDonald out of is pocket towards the end...

[@gordonmonaghan133]

A 1-0 thrashing indeed! Excellently put. It is also(in my view) one of the best cup finals in the last fifty years, and harks back to a time when the FA cup really meant something.

[@geoffpoole483]

@@gordonmonaghan133 For many years it was the only domestic fixture televised live. The build-up to kick-off took all day.

[@hullster9970]

Not many know this about David Geddis. He won the FA Cup here with Ipswich. He won the league with Aston Villa a couple of years later as 1 of the 14 Villa players used that season and then, he won the European Cup with Villa the following year. League winner, FA Cup winner, European Cup winner inside 4 years. Not bad eh?

[@polaris7122]

Went to school with him, and Kevin Beattie. Another one was Robin Turner(TIGER).

[@zxz1]

Ipswich were a great team, finishing above arsenal for 9 out of 10 consecutive seasons during this era, so no surprises here , Ipswich would have been easy favourites to win

[@hrivett54]

God my heart was missing beats this match

[@pedddler]

Rest in Peace Sir Bobby Robson and Paul Mariner.

[@GuyFawkes15]

Classic Coleman; "Osborne - One-Nil."

[@cotswoldcuckoo775]

GuyFawkes15 Another one .. George Best !!!!

[@RobCLynch]

'Goals pay the rent - and Keegan does his share'

[@jasenwright1178]

I was working that day. Would have loved to have made it to the game--after this result--I'm glad I didn't ! COYG!

[@micklumsden3956]

I’m hoping that the current team can draw inspiration from 46 years ago to finish the job and get back into the top flight

[@DonLusher]

Pat Jennings... what a goalkeeper he was.

[@cerneuffington2656]

Possibly the most one-sided Cup Final of the seventies, even though it was only decided by the one goal. Willy Young had a proper stinker of a match.

[@hugodrax71]

I'd say the '74 final was even more one-sided than this one

[@pisceansith6915]

Unfortunately I missed this game, but I disliked willy young for what he did in the final 2 yrs later, should have been sent off

[@JP1234815]

Willy Young's1980 FA Cup final wasn't that great either!! In this day and age he would have been sent off for his late, late challenge on Paul Allen.

[@pauloliver7853]

@@hugodrax71 So right. Newcastle never showed up.

[@jj9749]

@@JP1234815 First time the phrase Professional Foul was used I think

[@shanemckenna9416]

Like Sunderland in 73 Ipswich deserved their fabulous win.

[@zxz1]

Agree ,Arsenal were the underdogs here though, Sunderland and Southampton were the outsiders in their finals as second division teams

[@jsin1225]

Sir Bobby produced miracles at the club. Had them fighting at the top year on year, winning in europe. Ahead of his time. Especially when he bought in thighson & muhren. Should be mentioned amongst the greats

[@ArmyofLove]

May Bobby Robsons legend live long!!!!

[@mikeknight7923]

I remember this final well, David Geddis was brilliant, did anyone notice all the fencing around wembley?

[@brendanflynn4792]

I was there behind the Arsenal goal !

[@pisceansith6915]

which one remember the game has two halves!!!!

[@kevinjames7012]

“Osbourne! 1-0!” Gotta love Coleman.

[@emptypages1970]

One of the most one-sided cup finals ever.Arsenal not in the game at all,Ipswich outplayed them in every department.Willie Young had a complete nightmare of a match,but to his credit did play brilliantly in the following years final.

[@pisceansith6915]

which made me sick to my stomach, as I had left England, to live in the US, and to find out the nature in which United lost is even more painful..

[@cashmandillian4600]

I remember this game we were so bad and I have never watched the game since either final ..I was thinking at time as teenager maybe Arsenal might just get jammy but for Roger Osbourn

[@jeanlawley6483]

Ipswich were all over Arsenal and could have won 5 or 6 nil ... but then Ipswich were the bigger club

[@planningadvice1184]

Cup final of 78. I was a young lad and felt destroyed by the result. Ipswich had a great team and manager and thoroughly deserved the result dispite beating an injury hit arsenal team.

[@1101grayzer]

Willie Young’s perfect assist

[@paulspice720]

Osborne who came in a special bus of 12! How did Coleman know these things? he must have had them for everyone! He was like it on final score. Who remembers? League Division 4 - Bury 2 Blackpool 2. "....and that is 12 weeks away there for Blackpool without a win!".

[@juliantooke8647]

Ipswich beat every team in those days!!

[@TimoCard-yr2dr]

My father's team bless him

[@tommylucy4738]

This was a 1-0 thrashing the Gunners were lucky it wasn’t 3/4 I was there (gutted) 😂👍

[@Vortigan07]

Totally agree! I was only 9 and sat at home but I remember it! They took our pants down that day, no question!

[@ursamajor6546]

Bobby ❤️❤️❤️

[@hugodrax71]

Poor SuperMac...played in two FA Cup finals and hardly got a kick in both...also a Wembley loser in the League Cup final of '76. When his side did lift the FA Cup in '79 he was out with a knee injury that eventually ended his career. Arguably the deadliest English striker of the 1970s yet he failed to win a winners' medal during his career.

[@andystoker6961]

Quiz question: what is taken to the FA Cup Final and never used? Expected answer: Ribbons in the colours of the losing team. Actual answer: Malcolm MacDonald

[@aidanjoyce3248]

Supermac was brilliant.

[@pisceansith6915]

El Indio, do you remember when SuperMac scored five against Cyprus in 1975, cos it was that night I decided I wanted to be a footballer.....

[@geoffpoole483]

He played for Newcastle in the 1974 final; they lost 3-0 to Liverpool.

[@John-ml8qf]

Is this the FA cup final with the most shots on goal post?

[@robbieporter1612]

I went to school in Totnes Devon I was the only ipswich fan It was the greatest day of my life going back to school after ipswich won and giving plastic arsenal fans stick

[@ralphmorris8169]

Played at 3pm on a Saturday!!! Game being ruined by the FA & Sky!

[@DonLusher]

How beautiful is this? Back when Arsenal were more Irish than Ipswich! Jennings a great goalkeeper but also Paul Cooper.

[@martinhowarth81]

Being a spurs fan , I don’t recall if I even watched the game , I believe I must of but .. Ipswich we’re far far better team looking at these highlights .. we’ll deserved. Hit the woodwork how many times ?

[@RamSingh-cg2dn]

Ipswich town were really really good at that time..... notice the plastic bucket in front of the reserve players,those were the Un sofisicated days of football

[@johnnyserdon9694]

Ipswich fan all my life football was football then its awash with foreigners now not the same vibe to it

[@chunder27]

Note to modern commentators this is how you do your job. Less talking and shouting more atmosphere.

[@jj9749]

How did WIllie Young ever get to play professional football?

[@jj9749]

Both Mariner and Talbot went on to play for Arsenal. No-one from Arsenal went the other way!

[@alanburgess9715]

Err What about Alan Sunderland?

[@DutchVanHelsing]

Effin Ipswich....No fear , what a team and One-Nil by Coleman ...from a CFC Boy

[@troywindle466]

FA cups, love em with all my heart

[@petelowson5481]

How many sitters did Paul Marriner miss? 😳

[@jeffmead2935]

the score was flattering fer the Gooners, Ipswich Town slapped em up that day.Good and proper

[@roystonhesketh3987]

No colour clash...why weren't arsenal wearing red?

[@redflag8970]

No one realised how good that Ipswich side was until this game an they went on to be a force but prob didn’t win what they deserved

[@tommylucy4738]

Remember being gutted but 12 months later sheer joy !! Funny log game ! Up the Gunners

[@ldanzamariastile3536]

I'm a united fan fan yes arsenal where lucky in 79 gary bailly screwed up on that cross

[@tommylucy4738]

Dance Fever not lucky in 79 was better side for 85mins but nearly blow it !!! 👍🏆

[@tommylucy4738]

This was a1-0 thrashing !!! We was lucky it wasn’t 3/4 goals

[@ldanzamariastile3536]

@@tommylucy4738 lucky in the sense that you got that goal at the end with that bailly poor concentration on the cross, i remember feeling sick for days even worse than when aquero scored for city to win them the title my best friend who supported arsenal at the time who sadly died recently just rubbed it in my face when arsenal won footbal can be cruel at times

[@tommylucy4738]

Dance Fever you ain’t done to bad since 79 !! 👍🏆

[@pj5517]

Forgot how good they were that day. .Didn't Osborn pass out after scoring?

[@Maestrohbill]

Yes he did. Mick Lambert came on for him.

[@clivenewman4810]

How we only lost 1-0 I'll never know.

[@waggie28]

b16 upper tier tunnel end...what a day,... 25 mins of "Bobby Robsons blue and white army"

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

Forgot, it could have been Ipswich 4 Arsenal 0.

[@nooneyouknow5002]

Footballers had 'the' hair then..

[@bernardjay379]

Most one sided 1-0 scoreline in a cup final, Arsenal were extremely lucky not concede four or five that day.

[@seefeelsixtynine]

strange that we ended up buying talbot and Mariner..

[@BrazilianDaftPunkFan]

an unexpected moment.

[@MrJeepsters]

Why did Arsenal play at Wembley instead Hightbury (their real home) ?.

[@Jason314159]

coolinjapan is right, though I can understand your confusion because it says "Division One" in the top left corner throughout the video.

[@Duncan1974]

Derek Nippard has got two watches out there ... they say time...

[@nlgbbbblth]

Good old Asloppe

[@Ray-xh6gb]

Arsenal where terrible that day well done ipswich

[@iainclark5964]

Osborne 1 - 0, classic Coleman

[@HMS1955-hs6zi]

Gooners were lucky to not loose it 4-0.

[@fortnitewednesdays3138]

COME ON YOU BOYS IN BLUE

[@diptastik5651]

Far too depressing to watch !

[@t.swallgren9204]

Ipswich could have won this 4-0.

[@mjb4983]

Ipswich shone that day

[@seefeelsixtynine]

Unfit Hudson and McDonald should never have played..effectively it was 9 v 11

[@peterreid9769]

Arsenal had a very dodgy centre back there.

[@mjb4983]

Could have been much more

[@xpat73]

Should have been 5-0. Arsenal never showed up.

[@geoffpoole483]

I grew up in Ipswich and remember a feeling of confidence about the town in the days before the final. We just knew we were going to win. The 1-0 scoreline doesn't tell the full story. I don't remember Paul Cooper having to do very much.

[@seanbonella]

mcdonald played in 2 cup finals, crap in both...not the man

[@tombartram7384]

3

[@geoffpoole483]

@@tombartram7384 He lost that one as well.

[@ajay999999]

I dont like this all film of Arsenal losing should be destroyed.

[@ajay999999]

I don't like this all film of Arsenal losing should be destroyed

[@marksims68]

That is a LOT of film, would take decades to destroy.

[@robertgraffham6440]

It wasn't a division 1 game at all! It was the F.A. Cup Final!