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Town Topic: The Day We Won the UEFA Cup
Thursday, 20th May 2021 09:54

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Blues' 1981 UEFA Cup triumph, what are your memories of the final in Amsterdam and of that European run as a whole?

Add your recollections of the games and the trips, your favourite moments, photos or YouTube videos in the comments section below.


Photo: Action Images



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BlueandTruesince82 added 10:03 - May 20
My memory is having to watch it on VHS because I wasn't born yet. Gutted I didn't get to live through the glory days.
2

Ftnfwest added 10:57 - May 20
Went to first leg but couldn't get anyone to take me to Amsterdam (was only 15). As i lived in Cambridge, out of local radio range, i was listening to National Radio sports programmes none of which had commentary, just periodical updates when a goal went in. 3 years later both legs of the final (with spurs involved) were live on tv.... Unbelievable relief when the whistle went though, great times.
1

ElephantintheRoom added 11:00 - May 20
My memory is that it was the night we won it, rather than the day. And it was a bit more nerve wracking than it should have been, largely because Town were utterly shot by then. Plus a tad overconfident when Thijssen scored early on.
0

ChrisFelix added 15:01 - May 20
Like many others disappointed that we missed the league. Also the game was overshadowed by the fact that Liverpool were appearing in another European Cup final. However the win was special & gave us the third star on our badge.
1

pensionerblue added 15:33 - May 20
I have many memories of the final and events leading up to it. I travelled over to Holland with 3 friends the day before with the intention of spending the night sleeping in the car. As you can imagine this was far from ideal and I ended up on the back seat of a bus parked nearby. I was woken up to the engine starting up and fortunately managed to get off before the bus left the depot!
As far as the match is concerned I recall that we were under a lot of pressure in the second half and that our fans gave the team tremendous vocal support particularly in the last 10 minutes or so to see us over the line. It was of some disappointment that the UEFA trophy was not carried by the team around the pitch and displayed to our support - I believe that a reason eas given later but I cant recall what that was.
There was a crowd photo from the match on the cover of the 1981 Year Book and I was able to pick myself out amongst our fans.
Yes, I dont think that it can be disputed that the 1981 team was our greatest ever
1

pensionerblue added 15:33 - May 20
I have many memories of the final and events leading up to it. I travelled over to Holland with 3 friends the day before with the intention of spending the night sleeping in the car. As you can imagine this was far from ideal and I ended up on the back seat of a bus parked nearby. I was woken up to the engine starting up and fortunately managed to get off before the bus left the depot!
As far as the match is concerned I recall that we were under a lot of pressure in the second half and that our fans gave the team tremendous vocal support particularly in the last 10 minutes or so to see us over the line. It was of some disappointment that the UEFA trophy was not carried by the team around the pitch and displayed to our support - I believe that a reason eas given later but I cant recall what that was.
There was a crowd photo from the match on the cover of the 1981 Year Book and I was able to pick myself out amongst our fans.
Yes, I dont think that it can be disputed that the 1981 team was our greatest ever
0

blueblood66 added 17:48 - May 20
I saw all the rounds and the final first leg but wasnt allowed to go to Amsterdam (I was 13) I listened to the commentary on Radio 2 with the legendary commentators Peter Jones and Brian Butler and I actually (probably illegally) recorded it on casette which I still have. Sportsnight follwed and Mottys commentary and excitement was amazing, I waited for hours on the Cornhill for the civic reception to see my heroes bring home the cup. What an atmosphere I still remember it and today has brought it all back listening to Radio suffolk and watching the footage posted online. I have all of the programmes from that season and tlots of the the memorbilia like a tie and various books that came out. Happy days.
0

Pendejo added 21:57 - May 20
12 year old Pendejo, has been a naughty boy that day and was sent to bed early and my stereo confiscated so I couldn't listen.

However, my clock radio was left in my possession, so I plugged in an ear piece and listened to the radio... That's all I can remember, pretty sure I cried at the final whistle.

My favourite goal of that UEFA Campaign... Beattie's free kick v Bohemians Prague
0

Chris_Knights added 08:51 - May 21
What a team... what a manager !!

My grandad was a steward in the stand now called the Cobbold Stand and I'd get in for nothing and sit right at the back!! Favourite tie that year was when we demolished St Etienne. They had Platini, Neeskens and Rep and they never got a kick.
0

gosblue added 09:15 - May 21
The game was a bit of a blur and the cup presentation was so far away from the massed ranks of Town supporters that we couldn't really see what was going on. I remember Warky running himself to a standstill and Thyssen still managing to look world class. I may be getting mixed up with another European trip but the ferry ride over was horrendous with some ferries cancelled because of the storm. I remember the vast majority of Dutch people (apart from a few mindless Ajax fans) loved ITFC. There was a huge gathering of Town supporters in and around the bars in the red light district the night before the match. I also remember nearly missing the ferry home because a Dutch bar owner invited us into his bar where his daughter's wedding reception was going on.
0


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