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Town made it through to the FA Cup Final for the first time as they battered West Brom 3-1 at Highbury in a hard-fought semi-final.
Brian Talbot's brave header opened the scoring but saw him hauled off, unable to continue and replaced by Mick Lambert. Skipper Mick Mills put Town 2-0 ahead before Tony Brown's late spot kick for The Baggies ensured a few nerves.
A thumping header from John Wark ensured wild celebrations in London for a huge Town following, to be repeated just a month later on the biggest stage.
My overriding memory is that of my girlfriend then, now my wife, almost passing out and having to sit down with her for the first 15 minutes so missing what was going on on the pitch. Then there was the blood! That made her queezy once again.
Established 1968
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 11:21 - Apr 8 with 2037 views
Celebrated this more than the actual final itself. Remember at the final whistle just finding it hard to believe that the team I supported was going to Wembley. My thoughts immediately went back to how I felt coming out of Stamford Bridge in 75 after we had been robbed against West Ham and at that time wondering if we would ever get another chance to get to the final. God knows what time I got home from Highbury that night as the celebrations on reaching Wembley seemed to go on for ever.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 12:07 - Apr 8 with 1942 views
April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 11:21 - Apr 8 by hammo56
Celebrated this more than the actual final itself. Remember at the final whistle just finding it hard to believe that the team I supported was going to Wembley. My thoughts immediately went back to how I felt coming out of Stamford Bridge in 75 after we had been robbed against West Ham and at that time wondering if we would ever get another chance to get to the final. God knows what time I got home from Highbury that night as the celebrations on reaching Wembley seemed to go on for ever.
You weren't the only one that felt like that... me too, we'd finally achieved something, then came " the voucher hunt"!...
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 12:58 - Apr 8 with 1878 views
I was a young teenager on a rare trip out with a school friend & we were in the clock end. It felt like we were cruising until Big Al decided to punch a cross away instead of leave it alone. Then it was a very nerve racking period until Wark sealed the deal. My most memorable match.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 13:56 - Apr 8 with 1790 views
Apart from the football I travelled up alone on the train to Highbury aged 17. When I went back to Liverpool Street and at some point a gooner sat opposite me. We talked about the final they had been leyton orient at Stamford Bridge in the other semi. On the day of the final travelled up with my dad. After we came out jumped on tube same bloke as semi sat opposite me amongst all the thousands. He spoke a out our number four Brian Talbot months later Talbot was a Arsenal player we got the Dutch men the rest is history. Never saw that man again.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 15:30 - Apr 8 with 1683 views
Was there with my uncle RIP and remember looking at my watch when they scored the penalty thinking it’s 4.40, games nearly over but then remembering the earlier hold up and there was still 15 minutes! (Games usually finished between 4.40 and 4.45 in those days
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 16:21 - Apr 8 with 1645 views
When Hunter conceded that penalty and they scored I, apparently, went so white my mate was concerned that I would have a heart attack. Then we started an attack down our left side and I was shouting at Mills to go back but he managed to get a corner. Not any corner THE corner and Warks head did the rest. Turner had time to miss a sitter or was he wasting time. Oh happy days.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 17:22 - Apr 8 with 1577 views
my mate had 100 to one for the correct score town to win 4 1 . till this day he hasn't forgiven robin turner for missing a sitter near the end of the game.
forensic experts say footers and spruces fingerprints were not found at the scene after the weekends rows
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 17:55 - Apr 8 with 1551 views
Remember that Turner miss. Good job that the game was already won but didn’t swear too much as if it hadn’t been for his goal at Bristol Rovers in the 5th round we wouldn’t had been in the semi-final.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 20:41 - Apr 8 with 1437 views
Went there with my dad, brother and his mate. Stood at the clock end. The mate died a year or so afterwards. Very sad. Too young.
Still we had 4 s/f tokens. I did not realise the scarcity of them. On the day the tickets went on sale (needing two different tokens) I joined the queue at PR on the steps of the Churchmans building at 4 am. It snaked down PR, behind the North Stand, around the practise pitch and up to the offices at the ground.
I got there 7 hours later having played chess and crib with others about me while we waited. I got to the office. The pile of tickets was clear and it was LOW. The bloke in front of me had enough vouchers for 17 tickets !
At that moment I would have chearfully killed him.
We got our tickets. But it was touch and go.
Then Mr Osbourne struck the ball and I danced on the terrace with a bloke that I had never seen before or since.
Football does this. I am sure you understand.
[Post edited 12 Apr 8:28]
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 20:46 - Apr 8 with 1427 views
I remember feeling stunned at the end, we hadn't been great that season but here we were on the way to Wembley for what was the biggest game of the year, not only in England but quite possibly the world. I still have vouchers 22 and 23 if anyone's looking ...
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 21:17 - Apr 8 with 1372 views
Attended with Hammo56, who has expressed far better than I could, how we all felt at the final whistle, not a bad way to celebrate your first ever away game, the second being the cup final itself.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 21:17 - Apr 8 with 1372 views
April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 21:05 - Apr 8 by TexacoCup
I remember feeling stunned at the end, we hadn't been great that season but here we were on the way to Wembley for what was the biggest game of the year, not only in England but quite possibly the world. I still have vouchers 22 and 23 if anyone's looking ...
Ten years old. Clock end with my dad. Tears in our eyes at the end. Priceless memory.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 21:20 - Apr 8 with 1368 views
Hazy memories nowadays, I know me and a mate got the train, went to the wrong end to queue up to get in and were quickly ‘escorted’ by a couple of coppers to the right end. As for the game, was a bit of a pinch me at 2-0 in so much as we were so close. Thomas awarded the penalty, correctly for once, and the utter joy and relief when Warky scored. Don’t really think it sunk in until the train stopped at Diss and I walked home to tell the old chap about it all.
We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 21:49 - Apr 8 with 1328 views
Probably an unusual memory but it was a day of very mixed emotions for my brother and me. As teenagers we had our tickets and place on the bus booked, then our dear Nana died suddenly the day before. I had sat at her bedside all the night before until she passed and I was shattered and naturally hugely upset. I felt we should stay at home, but Mum insisted we go and told us that it would be what Nana wanted. She loved the Town too. Nana had collapsed with a five pound note in her apron pocket for my brother and I to spend at the match. We had to go!
I vividly remember the drama of the goals. Being a bag of verves when Big Al needlessly gave away the penalty until Warky scored the third and we were on our way to Wembley. Almost unbelievable after the heartbreak of 1975! I remember standing on that Clock End, the joy at the final whistle and thinking "nana, this was for you!"
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 09:07 - Apr 9 with 1075 views
I went with my dad. We travelled by car, parked up, mum’s bacon sandwiches consumed, we got onto the terrace at the Clock End nice and early. We were half way down the terrace in line with the right goalpost as we looked down. The crowd built and so did the anticipation.
West Brom had a good team. They’d beaten us at the Hawthorns and drawn at PR. It was the team of Wile, Robertson, Regis, Statham, Brown x2. The late great Laurie Cunningham was sub, I think only just back from injury. They finished 6th that season. But we fancied our chances. It was a better draw than Arsenal, though of course we’d have taken Orient in a heartbeat.
By 3pm, the terrace was packed. Despite an open terrace with 20,000 odd on it the atmosphere was electric. I had that feeling we’d do it.
The game was a strange one. We started well and we scored; it was a great moment somewhat tarnished with Talbot’s injury. How were we going to win with a weakened midfield? Simple. Several of our lot had brilliant games. Mariner up front, Woods out wide, Beattie/Hunter, Mills was everywhere, Lambert did well - everyone stood up. Then Mills scored. Mayhem. Yes, we could definitely do this now. Half time.
Second half, we knew what was coming and so it did. It was the longest 45 mins I can ever remember. Alamo time. My watch and that big old Highbury clock went backwards. Then Hunter punched the ball out. He has no idea and neither does anyone else. Nightmare. I wasn’t actually breathing at that point. Then WBAs Martin stupidly got sent off. Deserved it too. Hello thought I, the door is open - and so it was.
Spaces appeared. Mariner and Woods exploited them as West Brom pushed. Corner. Something was going to happen I said to myself. It did. Wark’s crashing header. We went absolutely crazy. Berserk. That was my best moment watching football ever. All disappointments of the previous few years, including 75, fell away in an instant. I looked across and saw an outpouring of raw emotion possibly only matched by that Bolton play off night at PR.
We’d done it. Turner missed a chance my mother could have put away, but nobody cared (bar those with a 4-1 bet). Final whistle. Scenes I’ll never forget. People were ecstatic, crying, heads in hands, hugging strangers, you name it. All the players had given everything and so I think had the supporters! Special mention for John Wile. What bravery. Blood everywhere after the Talbot goal but he battled on.
On leaving, we had to go through 1000s of West Brom supporters to get to the car. Scarves hidden, look miserable. The contrast between winning or losing was never more amplified. Many years later, I worked with a chap (Rob has now sadly passed) exactly the same age as me who was on the North Bank that day. He said it was the most disappointed he ever felt at a football game. That’s what sport can do to you.
What a day. We went to the Final and it was sublime. Amazing experience. But for pure raw football emotion and drama, nothing will ever surpass Highbury 1978 for me.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 10:12 - Apr 9 with 1024 views
April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 09:07 - Apr 9 by Churchman
I went with my dad. We travelled by car, parked up, mum’s bacon sandwiches consumed, we got onto the terrace at the Clock End nice and early. We were half way down the terrace in line with the right goalpost as we looked down. The crowd built and so did the anticipation.
West Brom had a good team. They’d beaten us at the Hawthorns and drawn at PR. It was the team of Wile, Robertson, Regis, Statham, Brown x2. The late great Laurie Cunningham was sub, I think only just back from injury. They finished 6th that season. But we fancied our chances. It was a better draw than Arsenal, though of course we’d have taken Orient in a heartbeat.
By 3pm, the terrace was packed. Despite an open terrace with 20,000 odd on it the atmosphere was electric. I had that feeling we’d do it.
The game was a strange one. We started well and we scored; it was a great moment somewhat tarnished with Talbot’s injury. How were we going to win with a weakened midfield? Simple. Several of our lot had brilliant games. Mariner up front, Woods out wide, Beattie/Hunter, Mills was everywhere, Lambert did well - everyone stood up. Then Mills scored. Mayhem. Yes, we could definitely do this now. Half time.
Second half, we knew what was coming and so it did. It was the longest 45 mins I can ever remember. Alamo time. My watch and that big old Highbury clock went backwards. Then Hunter punched the ball out. He has no idea and neither does anyone else. Nightmare. I wasn’t actually breathing at that point. Then WBAs Martin stupidly got sent off. Deserved it too. Hello thought I, the door is open - and so it was.
Spaces appeared. Mariner and Woods exploited them as West Brom pushed. Corner. Something was going to happen I said to myself. It did. Wark’s crashing header. We went absolutely crazy. Berserk. That was my best moment watching football ever. All disappointments of the previous few years, including 75, fell away in an instant. I looked across and saw an outpouring of raw emotion possibly only matched by that Bolton play off night at PR.
We’d done it. Turner missed a chance my mother could have put away, but nobody cared (bar those with a 4-1 bet). Final whistle. Scenes I’ll never forget. People were ecstatic, crying, heads in hands, hugging strangers, you name it. All the players had given everything and so I think had the supporters! Special mention for John Wile. What bravery. Blood everywhere after the Talbot goal but he battled on.
On leaving, we had to go through 1000s of West Brom supporters to get to the car. Scarves hidden, look miserable. The contrast between winning or losing was never more amplified. Many years later, I worked with a chap (Rob has now sadly passed) exactly the same age as me who was on the North Bank that day. He said it was the most disappointed he ever felt at a football game. That’s what sport can do to you.
What a day. We went to the Final and it was sublime. Amazing experience. But for pure raw football emotion and drama, nothing will ever surpass Highbury 1978 for me.
Best match ? Not for me. That title goes to a game against Bolton. It was a semi-final in a way too.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 13:55 - Apr 9 with 901 views
April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 10:12 - Apr 9 by flykickingbybgunn
Best match ? Not for me. That title goes to a game against Bolton. It was a semi-final in a way too.
I guess it depends on one’s definition of ‘best match’. The best I ever saw us play was the 6-0 Man U game. Others will say St Etienne away, but I never saw that beyond the grainy video images.
As a football match, you could argue the Barnsley game (now that was a great day too) was better than Bolton, but for sheer intensity Bolton and Barry Knight was the most extraordinary game I have seen at Portman Road, so I get where you are coming from.
It’s all good fun and despite so many disappointing seasons, those are the moments that cannot be taken away from those who were lucky enough to witness them.
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 14:13 - Apr 9 with 881 views
Although WBA were favourites & were a decent side, finishing 6th in the league I was confident we'd beat them as long as we could get our strongest side out, as we'd had a terrible season for injuries. I was a student at the time & wouldn't have had a chance of getting a ticket. I can't remember where I was, but I do recall hearing our clinching 3rd goal on a car radio somewhere. Managed to get a ticket for the final thanks to a uni mate whose dad was a director of Plymouth Argyle.
Apologies for being three days late, the BT pop up has been putting me off using TWTD a bit.
My abiding memory is of walking up the open terrace at the end of the game utterly drained from the intensity of watching the most fiercely contested game I had ever witnessed and suddenly realising what the victory meant. 'We're going to Wembley' I exclaimed to my brothers and it seemed that everyone around me had not realised it either from the reaction that statement got.
The three of us did get to the final too, but for a couple it was the result of my queuing for sixteen hours around Portman Road because, although I had been to every home game that season, I had looked at the queue for Manchester United tickets and decided to wait a day or too - not realising that the long queue was because of the clamour to get a voucher. I think it was the first sixteen thousand and I missed out.
The sheer joy of winning after Ron Atkinson had taken WBA players to Wembley before the semi-final so it wouldn’t be a shock when they saw it for the first time in the final
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April 8th 1978 FA Cup Semi Final ; WBA 1-3 Ipswich - memories please! on 09:02 - Apr 11 with 573 views
I lost an Ipswich Town Supporters Association lapel badge at this match. It was given to me at school by a younger pupil who was training at Ipswich and knew that I was a town fan. I'm not entirely certain, but that pupil was probably Terry Butcher. A few years later the club staged a social do at Lowestoft's South Pier. I could not go as I was away, but a pal told me about it later. By this time Terry Butcher was a star of the youth and reserve team but I had not heard of him! Anyway, my name came up in a conversation with Terry and he said "Yeah, I know "Meadowlark" I have met him since then and he didn't have a clue who I was, so this is a bit of a non-story! 😂
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