Snapshot: The '77 Cup Runs

We speak to Ronnie Goodlass about a famous Cup final against Aston Villa.

As Ronnie Goodlass followed his cross through the air, onto the hip of Bryan Hamilton and into the Liverpool goal, he thought he had helped book Everton's place in the 1977 FA Cup final. 

The winger had a different view to referee Clive Thomas. 

The whistle that blew signalled not a richly-deserved Everton goal but a freekick to the opposition. Hamilton's effort was chalked off; Liverpool went on to progress. 

But Everton had already been to Wembley, to play Aston Villa in the League Cup final. A goalless stalement meant a replay at Hillsbrough, where a 1-1 draw, incredibly, sent the tie to a third game.

Old Trafford was the venue and, for Everton, it would provide an agonising end to the saga. Despite goals from Mike Lyons and Bob Latchford, Villa – inspired by a certain Andy Gray – condemned the Blues to a 3-2 defeat.  

Ahead of a recent visit of Villa, evertonfc.com caught up with Goodlass to discuss the remarkable '77 cup runs, his love for the Club and Everton’s battle with their mega-rich Premier League rivals.

Everton's 1976/77 squad 
Click here to see an enlarged version of this photograph

Who's in the picture?

[Back left to front right] - Mick Coffey, Dave Jones, Mark Higgins, Drew Brand, Dai Davies, David Lawson, Ken McNaught, Martin Murray, Ross Jack, Steve Burtenshaw [first-team coach], Eric Harrison [reserve-team manager], Gary Jones, George Telfer, Bob Latchford, Roger Kenyon, Mike Lyons, Jim Pearson, Martin Dobson, David Smallman, John Connolly, Ray Minshall [youth development officer], Colin Harvey [coach] BJ Monoghan, Mike Bernard, Mick Buckley, Steve Seargeant, Terry Darracott, Billy Bingham [manager - Billy was replaced by Gordon Lee in January 1977], Bryan Hamilton, Andy King, Ronnie Goodlass, Neil Robinson, Nigel Groome, Barry Wellings, Ray Deakin, J Milne, M Hart, Pat Heard, Billy Russell, P Lamont, G Stenson, David Esser.

The Interview - Ronnie Goodlass

"My memories of my time at Everton are really good. I've always been an Everton supporter - as was my granddad, as was my dad. To end up playing for the Club was a dream come true. It's something you never forget.

I'd played for England schoolboys and a lot of Clubs showed an interest in signing me. In fact, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley came to my house to try and sign me on. But once Everton came knocking there was only ever going to be one winner. I can think back to walking through the gates at 15, my goal to get into the first team. To go on to achieve it meant so much. 

The 1976/77 season was brilliant. We nearly ended up as the first team to play at Wembley twice in one season. If it hadn't been for the Clive Thomas decision we would have been. I beat Tommy Smith, crossed the ball, and it went in off Bryan Hamilton's hip. Even Liverpool fans I know - and I've spoken to Tommy and other Liverpool players too - say it was goal...

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