The Full English By Neil Leigh | OneFootball

A stirring Manchester derby fightback and a goal-laden Full Members Cup final cracker. We chart the inside story of one of the craziest 24 hours in City's history - from those who were there.

Former City star Clive Wilson still chuckles at the audacious thought of it.

“Life has changed, and you change with the times, so it definitely wouldn’t happen today, would it? But looking back, it did - and it was bonkers!”

Madness or not, it did happen, and the passage of time has not dimmed the memory of those who were involved in what serves as one of the craziest and most eventful 24 hours in City’s rollercoaster post-war history.

Fiction became fact as a largely youthful and homegrown City side first staged a stirring Old Trafford fightback to recover from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 draw on the Saturday and so put a large spoke in United’s Division One title aspirations.

By Sunday afternoon, we were back in action again, this time at Wembley as we locked horns with Chelsea in the inaugural and most eventful Full Members Cup final in the tournament’s brief and bizarre history.

From finding ourselves 5-1 down and staring at oblivion with 83 minutes gone, Billy McNeill’s young City side summoned up the most incredible of finales, scoring three goals in the final six minutes before being edged out 5-4.

It’s a weekend unlikely to be ever repeated and, 39 years to the day, this is the full dramatic story through the eyes of the City players who lived through all the drama.

A trip to Old Trafford at any time always carries an extra frisson of anticipation and desire – and it was no different back in March 1986.

While City were readjusting and acclimatising to life back in the top-flight under the direction of Scottish manager Billy McNeill after dramatically clinching promotion the previous May, United, under the stewardship of Ron Atkinson, were desperately seeking a first league title since 1967.

Having started the season with 10 straight league wins, despite a slight fall off in fortunes, a star-studded United team featuring the likes of Mark Hughes, Paul McGrath, Norman Whiteside and Gordon Strachan were still flying high in the Division One table and just two points off top spot when the teams stepped out at Old Trafford.

In stark contrast, City fielded a predominantly young and largely homegrown side and were further handicapped with central defender Mick McCarthy side-lined through suspension which meant teenager Steve Redmond was handed only his third league start for the Club.

Rookie goalkeeper Eric Nixon was shielded by a back four of Nicky Reid, skipper Paul Power, Redmond and Kenny Clements.

David Phillips, Neil McNab, Andy May and Clive Wilson formed City’s midfield quartet with Steve Kinsey and Mark Lillis deployed as our attacking spearhead.

And the omens looked bleak when Colin Gibson’s second minute free-kick evaded Nixon to fire United ahead.

A tough task then took on even more Herculean proportions early into the second half when Nicky Reid felled Peter Davenport in the box, Strachan converting the spot-kick to put Atkinson’s men 2-0 up and apparently cruising towards victory.

However, United were to find City’s young charges rugged and resilient opponents as we set about staging a memorable fightback.

“We did really well to get a result on the day because United were competing at the top of the league while we had a very young side out and City were in a period of transition under Billy McNeill,” skipper Paul Power recalls.

“He was bringing young players into the side, people like Stevie Redmond, Steve Kinsey, Paul Simpson, Andy May, Clive Wilson. They were all either teenagers or in their early twenties, whereas United had a much more mature side out with the likes of Whiteside, Strachan, Hughes, Davenport, all international players.

“And we had a young goalkeeper in Eric Nixon too. So, all in all, bearing in mind that we'd gone 2-0 down, we didn't collapse because of the youth.

“It could have been a mentally tough game for them, especially it being a derby. So, full marks to them for holding it together and coming through in the end with a couple of goals.”

For boyhood Blue Mark Lillis, the chance to mix it with United on their own turf was the stuff of dreams – even if fate meant he had to be redeployed in an unfamiliar position.

“I started off the game at centre forward but then Kenny Clements got injured so I was moved to centre half and had to shadow Mark Hughes who was obviously a hell of a player,” Mark recalls.

“But I’d come across Mark a couple of times in football, and I knew he was about to get a big move to Barcelona that summer from United as I think it was about to be announced.

“So, I just said to him: ‘Look, don’t be running around doing some stupid things as I might have to tackle you a bit harder than you’ve had before and you might not get your move!’

“He just looked round at me and smirked but at the end of the game I wished him the best of luck on his move.”

It was a date and occasion that also meant the world to goalkeeper Eric Nixon, another true Blue and boyhood Manc.

One of the great characters of that side, and the only player to feature in all four divisions of English football in the same season, Nixon’s own footballing story is truly the stuff of legend – not least the fact that Eric’s City career was initiated when he had the gumption and confidence to stop outside Maine Road and ask for a trial!

“You've got to remember who I am and where I came from,” Eric points out today. “I came from starting on Hough End playing fields! So, for me to be playing for Manchester City at any time, in any game, on any date was an absolute privilege.

“But the fact that obviously I was playing for City's first team in the Manchester derby with half my family supporting United, half my family backing City and the fact that they could actually come and watch me, and the lads play in the derby was fantastic for them.”

The City comeback that day was initiated by Clive Wilson’s astute 71st minute diving header – at the Stretford End no less - as he stooped to guide home Andy May’s inviting cross for what, astonishingly, was City’s first goal in five games!

“It was a massive thrill. Particularly to score one at the enemy’s base so to speak,” Clive says today.

“There was a lot of rivalry, so to score at Old Trafford was a really pleasing thing, particularly as we fought back from two down.

For Paul Simpson, another of City’s swashbuckling and emerging tyros, it was an equally satisfying outcome, especially as having being ushered on as a sub for the injured Clements, he was also deployed in an unfamiliar role.

And he was at the heart of our equaliser, pressuring Arthur Albiston into a hasty and ill-advised swipe as he diverted an attempted clearance from Wilson’s cross past Chris Turner and into the United net.

“I just remember being subbed on at half-time – then we were 2-0 down – and thinking: ‘Cheers, thanks for that,’” Paul chuckles today.

“I actually went on as a centre forward as well, but for our equalising goal, Arthur Albiston got me out of a hole really because I was just about to swing my right foot to try and strike the ball from the edge of the box.

“Albiston nicked in and scored an own goal from it, whereas mine could have ended over the top of the Stretford End if I had struck it with my right foot!

“In the derby fixtures, we very rarely got a result against United in my days and I'm sure at 2-0 down at half-time, the City fans were fearing the worst. But we had a second half rally and managed to get ourselves back in it. So, it always meant a lot, especially because they were going for titles, to try and put a bit of a dent in them.

“Even though we weren't going for the title, it certainly was good to go and get a result there.”

For captain Power, there was enormous pride and professional satisfaction in City’s performance.

“It was a fantastic result for us. It was almost like a win to go there and get a draw from 2-0 down at Old Trafford,” Power asserts.

“Coming out at the end, I remember Ron Atkinson walking off after the game and he obviously felt that it was as good as a loss.”

For Andy May, another of City’s young bucks who had progressed through the youth ranks at Maine Road, the derby was a full-blooded occasion to savour – and also demonstrated the character of McNeill’s players.

“We were well aware we were playing United on the Saturday and Chelsea on the Sunday but for me I think we were more phased about going to Old Trafford than playing back-to-back games,” Andy says reflecting back.

“Being a local boy, it was a great game to be involved in and it was a fantastic day.

“United had a decent side but it was a game that inspired our boys. We were under the cosh a bit in the first half but got back in the game.

“Clive’s header was probably one of the furthest distance diving headers, I think. It was quite a way out.

“There was also no thought of not trying to get injured and so missing Wembley. It was a full-blooded derby and, fortunately for us, we were able to get back and force the draw.”

UNITED: Turner, Duxbury, Albiston, Higgins, McGrath, Gibson, Whiteside, Strachan, Hughes, Davenport, Barnes (Stapleton 60).

Scorers: Gibson (2), Strachan (60 pen)

CITY: Nixon, Reid, Redmond, Clements (Simpson 48), Power, Phillips, Wilson, McNab, May, Lillis, Kinsey.

Scorers: Wilson (71), Albiston (77 og)

Att: 51, 274

There was no time for City to rest on our laurels, however.

Instead of being allowed to relax, recuperate and reflect on a Herculean comeback, the focus immediately switched to the small matter of the first-ever Full Members Cup final and a Wembley date with John Hollins’ Chelsea.

Viewed from the prism of 37 years’ hindsight, it seems like the one of the most madcap and idiosyncratic ideas that were often the stock-in trade of English football back in the mid-80s.

Ironically the brainchild of controversial and outspoken Chelsea chairman Ken Bates, the Full Members Cup was viewed as the perfect way to make up for the loss of European football with English sides banned from playing on the continent in the wake of the 1985 Heysel disaster.

It was open to sides from the top two divisions but the so called big five of the time – Liverpool, Everton, United, Tottenham and Arsenal – all thumbed their collective noses at the idea.

However, for City and Chelsea – two veritable, albeit sleeping, giants of the game – a period of fallow fortunes meant they were only too happy to get involved, even if it did necessitate a quite byzantine qualifying campaign.

Having negotiated an initial qualifying group which saw us pitted against Sheffield United and Leeds, City’s reward was a semi-final against Sunderland where we prevailed 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw.

That in turn set up a two-legged regional final with Hull City and suddenly the scent of Wembley was in the air with City edging through 3-2 on aggregate after two hard fought affairs.

“It was a tough competition, it really was,” Paul Simpson says today.

“That was its first season and there was some strong opposition in it, so it wasn't easy to get to the final.”

“Those games against Hull were really tough battles,” remembers Mick McCarthy.

Eric Nixon had special cause to recall City’s route to Wembley. “I saved a penalty against Sunderland to help get us there in the shootout,” the former keeper recalls. “Then Paul Power put the winner in and the whole crowd came out on to the pitch to celebrate. That was a great memory.”

“There was hardly any hype about the Full Members Cup early on,” Paul Power points out. “But then the further we got in the competition everybody started to think: 'Hang on a minute, we can make a few quid out of this.'

“A visit to Wembley from the club's point of view with a big crowd there, was a financial winner for everybody. So, the further you got in the competition, the more seriously you started to take it.”

So it was that mere minutes after the dust had settled at Old Trafford, hearts and minds immediately turned to City’s first cup final appearance since our 1981 FA Cup Wembley classics with Spurs.

After running the gauntlet of irate Reds as City left Old Trafford – “When we came out of Old Trafford, we got a bit of stuff thrown at the bus with a few pies and bits coming our way, but we didn’t care,” Lillis recalls – it was straight onto the coach for a four-hour journey down to London.

And for Lillis, a man universally and affectionately known within the game as 'Bhuna' thanks to his love of a curry, the sight of manager McNeill and his coaching staff relaxing with a beer at the front of the team bus as it headed up the M1 seemed the ideal moment to seek to follow suit on the squad’s behalf.

“On the way down to London I said to some of the lads should I ask the gaffer if we can a get a quick drink when we get to the hotel?” Lillis chuckles today.

“I thought we could have one drink to help relax us and then get to bed. All the lads said: ‘What a great idea Bhuna, you go and see him’.

It’s fair to say McNeill, a no-nonsense man universally known as 'Caesar' and the leader of Celtic’s 1967 European Cup winning Lisbon Lions, was less than impressed.

“Billy went mad and said: ‘Have a beer, have a beer?! What do you think we are – a Sunday League team?! We’re not the Dog and Duck, we’re a proper football team!” Lillis laughs.

“I looked round and all the players were suddenly hiding behind the seats on the coach. You couldn’t see them for dust!

“So, we instead ended up having a cup of tea when we got to the hotel!”

For wing wizard Simpson, who after a stellar playing career, has gone on to excel in management most latterly with Carlisle, the contrast with the carefully devised and closely monitored pre and post-match preparations of today was startling.

“I always find it quite amusing really, because everybody talks about recovery after games and making sure you get the right food inside you and all that,” Paul points out.

“Back then, we were all on the coach and straight down to London, into the hotel and getting ourselves ready for a cup final at Wembley.

“There was no way anybody was going to object to it. You didn't question anything, you just got on with it. There was no discussion around it, but it is crazy to even think about it.

“You just knew that's what the fixture list said you were doing. So that's what you're going to do.

For skipper Power, the more pressing concern was the toll those Old Trafford exertions had taken - both physically and mentally - on the City players.

While we had fought tooth and nail in a swashbuckling derby encounter, Chelsea had enjoyed the benefit of a far more straightforward 1-0 victory against Southampton and the captain believes that was to subsequently prove a defining factor at Wembley.

“I think we were affected physically, because we'd had to work so hard to come back from 2-0 down to get that result at United,” Paul says with the benefit of hindsight.

“You can never play a derby match and not give a hundred percent for 90 minutes, whereas I think Chelsea had played Southampton, so I think their game on the Saturday wasn't as physically demanding as ours had been, although they might argue differently.

“And with us having so many young players in the side it would have taken a lot out of them emotionally as well as physically.”

For Andy May, the chance to represent City at Wembley along with several colleagues who had all graduated through the Club’s famed Academy, leant even greater significance to the occasion and merely reinforced the strong bonds that already bound McNeill’s squad together.

“A lot of us had come up through the City youth system like Steve Kinsey, Clive Wilson, Paul Simpson was slightly younger, but we had all grown up together through the age groups,” Andy points out.

“There wasn’t that much money at the Club at the time so young kids coming through were given their opportunity and, to be fair, we had a really good record at youth level, having reached the FA Youth Cup semi-finals and final, so the ability was there.

“It was a great group of players to be amongst and getting promotion the previous year helped cement that togetherness.”

The Full Members Cup may have been a tournament frowned upon by the leading lights of the time but for the fans of both City and Chelsea, a day out at Wembley was an invitation too good to miss, all the more so in that barren period in our fortunes.

The official attendance that day was credited as 67,236. However, many believe thousands more ended up shoehorned into the famous old ground by one means or another in order to watch the respective Blues, even if both sides wore their away kits.

It was a potent reminder of the pulling power of two great English football institutions and the enormity and privilege of the experience of walking out that day beneath the Twin Towers still resonates with the City group.

“My emotions were all in tatters anyway, because my father died when me and my four siblings were less than 10. So, I never had a father figure to look up to. I brought my oldest brother, Alan with me, and to be playing at Old Trafford on the Saturday, and playing at Wembley on the Sunday, he was on my mind the most,” Eric Nixon recalls.

Clive Wilson, another homegrown hero, shared those emotions, adding: “It was an absolutely massive thrill. You dream of playing at Wembley. The occasion was no different to a League or FA Cup final with 70,000 people there, it was a fantastic atmosphere.

“We were just sorry that we didn't perform on the day and that we didn't really do ourselves proper justice.”

“It was incredible,” Paul Simpson says looking back. “When you walk out at Old Trafford that's goosebumps as well, and then to then do it at Wembley the day after was just brilliant.

“Just to get the chance to go to Wembley was special because you really didn't know if you were ever going to get that opportunity.

“There’s more and more opportunities to play at Wembley these days, but back in the eighties, those chances were few and far between, so you just had to enjoy every moment of it when it came about.”

Having been initially rejected by City when he was 16 before being given a shot at soccer salvation by Huddersfield, for Mark Lillis the chance to represent his Club in a cup final was a privilege beyond words.

“I wasn’t just playing for City which meant the world to me, I was also playing for my family,” Mark points out.

“I was so proud and not just for me. I had to pinch myself and think: ‘Am I really here?’ as I had watched loads of Wembley finals with City, starting in 1969 when we won the FA Cup when my mum took me thereIn ter.

“In those days all the men went on the Friday and made a weekend of it and the mums would take the kids on a Saturday and come back that day – and we had tickets for the Leicester end. It was unbelievable given I was just nine years of age. Then suddenly here I was actually playing for City.”

Back in the City starting line-up was Mick McCarthy for what would be the Irish international’s first ever appearance as a player at Wembley and the only change from the side that played at Old Trafford, with Simpson and Graham Baker again on the bench.

But for big Mick, though thrilled to be part of such a big occasion, there was a bittersweet element to the day.

“Being suspended for the derby, I was thinking: 'I’m doing alright here as I can have a rest ahead of Wembley!'” the Blackpool manager smiles today.

“There was a huge sense of excitement. In terms of the the Full Members Cup, the closer we got to Wembley, the more the excitement built.

“There was a huge crowd, but for their first goal David Speedie, who I was best mates with when we were apprentices together at Barnsley, beat me in the air and from 1-0 up, suddenly we were 5-1 down.

“The game just seemed to go away from us and with Speedie getting a hat-trick and me being a centre half, it’s something I can never erase from my memory.”

Ironically, as Big Mick alluded, McNeill’s men got off to the perfect start as Steve Kinsey struck on nine minutes to get the City end rocking.

However, an experienced Chelsea overseen by former favourite John Hollins and featuring a young Pat Nevin alongside seasoned pros such as Speedie, Nigel Spackman and Colin Lee soon turned the tide.

Speedie and Lee struck to send the Stamford Bridge men 2-1 ahead at the break.

And bad then turned to worse as Speedie went on to convert the first Wembley hat-trick since Geoff Hurst’s 1966 World Cup treble before the hour mark.

But the time Lee collected his second and Chelsea’s fifth 11 minutes from time, City and our fans were little more than shell-shocked… only for Lillis and Co. to summon up a barn storming and dramatic finale.

“We had a lot of younger players and it was difficult for us to start that game physically in a great condition and it just got away from us,” Power says today.

“We didn't play well that day. Chelsea got into us,” Clive Wilson asserts. “The Wembley pitch also affected me. It's such a big pitch and it takes the energy out of you. I also think a little of it was because we had played the United game the day before and that was a real energy sapping match for us too.”

Irrespective of fatigue however, for Mark Lillis, the matter of pride and prestige meant City were duty bound to summon up a fightback to remember.

“I remember coming out and looking around at the scoreboard when it was 5-1 to them and that just inspired me,” Mark says today.

“Myself, Paul Power and Neil McNab and a couple of other lads tried to rally the players and we said: ‘Wake up, come on, let’s go.”

As it was, the arrival of substitute Paul Simpson was to again help spark a moribund City back into the life with the left winger’s wizardry bamboozling Chelsea and setting up Lillis for a finely taken 85th minute header.

Remarkably, within three minutes, yet more Simpson magic saw Doug Rougvie divert a header into the Chelsea net as Lillis challenged once more, to spark hopes of a comeback to rival Frank Sinatra.

Incredibly, following Rougvie’s own goal, Andy May was then brought down in the 89th minute to earn City a penalty which Lillis duly converted for his second and our fourth goal.

With adrenalin pumping and Chelsea’s resistance floundering, at 5-4 the impossible suddenly seemed on.

“When Paul Simpson came off the bench, he helped turned things round for us,” Mick McCarthy points out.

“Simmo had helped get us promoted when we beat Charlton 5-1 in the last game of the previous season. He came in that year, and he was a breath of fresh air and just outstanding.

“And, as you can see from the footage of that game at Wembley, he had a wand of a left foot.

“It was literally a case of: just go and enjoy it and see what you can do,” says Paul Simpson. “I think we were 5-1 down at the time when I got on. I don't think anybody expected anything. So, to get the goals quickly with Mark causing chaos, and to get back to 5-4 and you think: 'Wow, we might have a bit of a chance here.'”

Word of the City comeback also sparked a chain reaction off the field as well.

For thousands of despairing Blues who were resigned to defeat and trudging their way back to the barren badlands of the Wembley car parks, news of the late goals persuaded them to perform a sudden about-turn and launch a frantic sprint back up to the terraces.

“The funny thing is some City fans who had decided they had enough at 5-1 for Chelsea all started running back into the stadium,” Lillis says.

“My cousin said he and somefans were making their way out and had a bit of a barney with some Chelsea fans and then someone said: 'Lillis has scored again, it's 5-4 - let’s get back in!' It was mayhem!

“At the time, I was just wrapped up in the moment as we needed to score more so it was: ‘Get the ball and get back to the centre circle.’ For my first goal, I knew when Simmo came in and when he crossed it, the centre half couldn’t get it so it was a matter of guiding he cross in. It was one of the best headers in my career as I was so focused on thinking: ‘I need to get this in the net.’”

Time though was to deny City an equaliser. Pride and passion had been restored but there was also a burning question of what ifs as the players reflected back.

“Momentum is everything in games,” Mick McCarthy reflects. “It can change in an instant, be it a thumping tackle or a shot or a run by someone. It changes the narrative of the game.

Eric Nixon is equally adamant about what could have been.

“They were on the back foot. They didn't know what day it was, Simmo came on, and Mark scored all them goals, and all of a sudden, five more minutes we would have won. They were as relieved as anybody when that final whistle went.”

“Others talk about Super Sundays now don't they, but that was a proper soccer weekend and a half,” Paul Simpson added.

“It was a great weekend and I just think when you're at my stage of my career, you look back on all of those things with a real smile and you have to take the enjoyment and make the most of it because they're real good things to be involved in.”

“I don't think that'll ever happen again, to be fair,” agrees Eric Nixon. “I think it's mega the fact that we played against United and Chelsea on two separate days and two different locations, two massive, massive games.

“It must have cost the fans an arm and leg by the way, as well, to go all the way to Old Trafford and then all the way to Wembley but I think they enjoyed it despite the result.”

Clive Wilson, who would later go on to represent Chelsea with great distinction too, also agrees that wild weekend is right up there in terms of career highlights.

“Definitely, I mean, looking back now, you're thinking: 'Well, two games of that magnitude, 24 hours apart...' People would consider it crazy today,” Clive reflects.

“But, in terms of prestige, it rates very highly, very highly in my career. Playing at Wembley was a momentous occasion for any footballer. If you can achieve that, then you've had a half decent career.”

Andy May was no stranger to Wembley, having represented England Schoolboys beneath the Two Towers. But he believes the footballing gods that afternoon conspired, not for the first time in that period, against City.

“It was such a great experience to play there, with a decent crowd,” says Andy.

“The weird thing is we started so well and took that lead through Steve Kinsey’s early goal.

“But then it was one of those mad moments where everything Chelsea did seemed to find the back of the net, with every ricochet seeming to go to one of their players.

“I didn’t think they were dominant but suddenly they were 5-1 ahead.

“I was brought down for the penalty which got it back to 5-4 but unfortunately, we couldn’t win it.

“It was a great weekend, especially getting the draw at Old Trafford, but just a shame we couldn’t get the win at Wembley.”

For Paul Power too, there’s enormous pride but also a lingering sense of regret.

“I just think the early goals that we conceded, it was difficult for us to turn it round at the last minute. From a captain's point of view, I was just really disappointed to have led Manchester City out in a cup final and not to have won," Paul admits.

“So, I was a bit envious of Skip and envious that I was never able to replicate that, but it was great to have gone to Wembley and experienced those occasions.”

“You don’t want to lose any time and losing a final really hurt but that City side was a special one,” Mick McCarthy says today.

“It was a great dressing room that squad: Paul Power, Nicky Reid, Andy May, Steve Kinsey, Bhuna, Simmo, Neil McNab, Graham Baker... all of the lads.

“It’s funny. I can name that City squad far quicker than many of the other teams I played for and I loved my time at City, I really did. They were special days.”

CITY: Nixon, Reid (Baker 59), Redmond, McCarthy, Power, Phillips (Simpson 59), Wilson, McNab, May, Lillis, Kinsey.

Scorers: Kinsey (9), Lillis (85 and 89 pen), Rougvie (88 og).

CHELSEA: Francis, Wood, Rougvie, Bumstead, McLoughlin, Pates, Nevin, Spackman, Lee, Speedie, McAllister.

Scorers: Speedie (23, 51, 58), Lee (36, 79).

Att: 67, 236

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