1987: ‘Let’s keep Ian Rush and send John Aldridge to Juventus’

Summer 1987. Liverpool Double winners in 1986 had finished the 1986/87 season empty handed. Everton had stormed to the Title ahead of Dalglish’s men and Liverpool had lost the League/Littlewoods Cup Final 2-1 to Arsenal, the first time they had lost a game when Ian Rush had scored. Mark Lawrenson had missed most of the

Italia 1990: Egypt and the Group of Death

June 1990. The Pharaohs were preparing for their first appearance in the World Cup Finals since 1934. Egypt had won their third African Cup of Nations in Cairo in 1986, but had always struggled to qualify for the World Cup, despite regularly beating the same opponents in the Cup of Nations. Egypt had sailed through

1981: So you tried to ban us Mr Croker

May 1981. Jock Stein was preparing to face England at Wembley for the second time. On his first visit in 1979 Scotland had played well but a poor display by George Wood, who had replaced Alan Rough after a 3-0 defeat to Wales, ended in a 3-1 defeat for the Scots. Scotland went into the

Ibrox 1988: The start of something big

Summer 1988 and in the blue half of Glasgow, Rangers Player/Manager Graeme Souness was fuming. His 1987 Champions had finished a miserable third behind Hearts and Double winners Celtic, who had won back the title in their Centenary year. Souness had dipped into the transfer market but strikers Mark Falco and Trevor Francis had come

1985: The Year that changed everything

Summer 1985 was a dark time in English football. A fire at Bradford City had led to the deaths of 56 people. A few days later Liverpool faced Italian Champions Juventus aiming for a fifth European Cup. On a tragic night in a crumbling Heysel stadium, rioting by Liverpool and Juventus fans led to the

1986 Andy Roxburgh takes over

Summer 1986 and Diego Maradona had led Argentina to World Cup glory in Mexico. Scotland who had qualified for their fourth World Cup in a row had failed to progress from the original Group of Death. Drawn alongside eventual Finalists West Germany, South American Champions Uruguay and a dazzling Danish team few expected Scotland to

Rangers 1983/84

Rangers kicked off the 1983/84 season at a cross roads. Manager and Gers legend John Greig was starting his sixth season as manager. Rangers had not won the Championship since 1978. The New Firm of Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen and Jim McClean’s Dundee United had left Rangers behind. Aberdeen had won the title in 1980 and

1984 Auld Enemy Clash

It was May 1984. Scotland prepared to face England in the last ever British Championship clash at Hampden Park. It was an historic game in a 100 year Tournament. The Home International Championship had been running since 1884. However poor attendances and a lack of media interest had slowly lead to it’s demise. In December

1981/82 Paisley’s New Liverpool team

It was Christmas 1981. A cold dark winter in Thatcher’s Britain. A few months on from the Toxteth riots and things were not going well at Anfield. Bob Paisley had started a rebuilding job but the team just wasn’t gelling. A 3-1 defeat at home to Manchester City had left Liverpool 12th in the First