Dilemma for romantic soccer fans

Press, 21 May 1982, Page 24

Dilemma for romantic soccer fans

NZPA London Soccer romantics who enjoy supporting the underdogs will be in for a confusing afternoon when the 101st English Football Association (FA) Cup final is played at Wembley early Sunday morning (N.Z. time). On the face of it, neutral loyalties should lie with the second division side, Queen’s Park Rangers, who are making their first appearance in the final against their London neighbour, Tottenham Hotspur, the Cup holder. The first division giant, has been to Wembley on six previous occasions and triumphed every time. Strangely however,. Tottenham may get the sympathy vote.

At one time this season its fans were gleefully predicting a unique clean-sweep of four major honours. It was not to be. Trophy No 1 disappeared on March 13 when it was beaten by Liverpool in extra time in the League Cup final, the start of a dramatic slump in its fortunes.

In between its sagging challenge for the English First Division championship, which also went to Liverpool, it was beaten in the semifinal of the European Cupwinners’ Cup by Barcelona of Spain, the eventual winner.

Tottenham’s manager, Keith Burkinshaw, has refused to seek excuses, although a cruel run of injuries is partly responsible for the set-backs. It seems as if Glen Hdddle Steve Archibald, Garth Crooks, Graham Roberts, and Tony Galvin have spent as much time on the treatment table as they have on the pitch. That jinx seems to be lingering over Tottenham’s White Hart Lane stadium and the side’s captain, Steve Perryman, England’s Footballer of the Year, could be missing from the side for the first time this season owing to a thigh injury. Perryman, the perfect professional, is the “heart” of a Tottenham side which has to tackle Queen’s Park Rangers without its “brains” — Osvaldo Ardiles.

The little maestro, who went home last month to join the Argentinian World Cup

squad, cannot return because of the Falklands crisis.

But Argentina’s Ricardo Villa will be at Wembley and a repeat of his performance last year could make him England’s unlikeliest hero. Mr Burkinshaw has confirmed that he will play Villa “unless someone in the highest authority tells us otherwise.”

“I’ve got to be positive and make an early decision for the benefit of all concerned,” he said yesterday.

Villa is remembered for the blinding individual goal he scored ,in last year’s FA Cup replay when he weaved the ball past several opposition players to score.

Mr Burkinshaw said that Villa was big-hearted enough to face the possible embarrassment of joining his Spurs colleagues for the national anthem.

“I’d expect Ricky to stand up with the rest of us. If I was out in Argentina I wouldn’t avoid the national anthem. I respect their people irrespective of the present crisis,” he said. Queen’s Park Rangers’ manager, Terry Venables, a member of Tottenham’s 1967 F.A. Cup winning side, has also had his disappointments this season.

His exciting young side was pipped for promotion to the first division by just two points, although many feel their artificial pitch of Loftus Road gave them an unfair advantage. Rangers’ form away from home, six wins from 21 matches, backed up that view and much will depend on how they cope with Wembley’s unfamiliar lush grass. Although Tottenham remains the bookmakers’ favourite, the.record book suggests otherwise. West Ham United, in 1980, and Southampton, in 1976, were the last two second division sides to appear at Wembley and both lifted the trophy despite the odds. Against that, Tottenham, aiming to equal Aston Villa’s record of seven F.A. Cup victories, was the last club to win the cup in successive years, in 1961-62.

In order to be wise after the event, neutrals are advised to buy two rosettes on their way to Wembley.