Following on from their treble winning season of 1968-9 Frank Brennan’s Braves went from Appleby Park to Wembley then to the Stadio Olympico in Rome.
Not bad for a ‘bunch of shipbuilders in Northumberland’.
The first leg of the European Amateur Cup Final had gone to plan -a 2-0 victory over Almas Rome on Tyneside thanks to John Rutherford and a Tommy Orrick penalty.
This was despite being without forwards Brian Joicey and Micky Lister who had moved to Coventry City and Blyth Spartans respectively and keeper Micky Morgan out injured.
9 of the12 Wembley ‘wonders’ though played in both legs
Jim Goundry had deputised between the posts in the home leg with Alan Madison donning the gloves in Rome whilst stylish midfield maestro Mick Dagless slotted in seamlessly and defender Vic Hillier on as a late substitute
The team that lined up in Rome was -Maddison Driver Twaddle Hall Tatum Thompson Dagless Wake Wrightson Cassidy Rutherford .Subs Orrick Hillier
Alma’s eventually levelled the tie on aggregate at2-2 with a late late goal.
‘I’ll never forget the sight of the Italian referee jumping in the air when that went in-youd have thought he’d scored it himself’ declared Shields skipper Ronnie Tatum .
The Shieldsmen survived a ‘barrage of cushions and tomatoes thrown at them by the Rome fans and as soon as the final whistle blew the lights were turned off and the North Shields players left to stumble off the field in the dark.
However in the end the Barassi Cup winners were decided on the toss of a coin -and Ronnie guessed right and the Shields lads jubilantly claimed the gold medals.
Great days.
