'I won the FA Cup at Wembley - just hours before we'd been on a team night out at the dogs'
WALLY MEETS ALAN DEVONSHIRE: These days, players go on tours of Wembley Stadium the day before a big final - but West Ham legend Alan Devonshire says the East-enders relaxed with a night of greyhound racing
by Mike Walters · The MirrorAlan Devonshire enjoyed a night at the dogs at Wembley - just hours before he went back to lift the FA Cup with West Ham.
And then, of course, the Hammers paraded the trophy… along the Barking Road.
Beneath his flat cap, and barely recognisable without the Zapata moustache which was his trademark skipping down the left flank as a player, Devonshire still chuckles at the Irons’ warm-up the night before they shocked Arsenal at Wembley 44 years ago.
Manager John Lyall’s enlightened decision to let his squad off the leash proved inspired - although it’s hard to imagine modern-day footballers having a flutter at the greyhounds on the eve of a big final without breaking curfew.
“Players now would be amazed that John allowed us to go to the dogs the night before that final in 1980 final," said Devonshire.
“It was a bit surreal watching greyhounds racing around the Wembley track, knowing we’d be playing on the pitch in the middle of it the following afternoon with 100,000 people in the stadium and millions watching around the world.
“Nearly all the lads were there - from memory, I think only David Cross and Phil Parkes stayed in the hotel - but it was great man-management because it took our minds off the final. I used to own a few dogs back then, so it was a relaxing environment and we were all sensible, only drinking Coke and enjoying the races. These days, players go on guided tours of Wembley the day before a big final - we just had a night at the dogs and a good laugh.
“When we walked out on the pitch the following day, I didn’t feel any nerves. There was no pressure on us because we were massive underdogs as a Second Division club and Arsenal had been in contention for trophies all season.
“Although it was my cross which led to Trevor Brooking’s winner the following day, I didn’t think I played that well personally. It was a hot day, and maybe it was one game too far for me - but it was a terrific team performance because Parkesy barely had to make any saves beyond routine.
“My favourite memory was the day after, when we paraded the Cup at East Ham town hall, and the turnout was incredible. I never knew we had made so many people happy.”
At 68, Devonshire’s love affair with the FA Cup shows no sign of waning. He was probably West Ham’s greatest signing, a £5,000 snip from non-League Southall, when he gave up his £80-a-week job as a forklift truck driver at the Hoover factory in Perivale across town.
On Saturday, he takes Maidenhead United, the National League club where he has just clocked up his 800th game as manager in two spells, to Taunton Town in the fourth qualifying round. They are 5,000-1 outsiders to take him for a nostalgic encore at Wembley, so he’s not shouting the odds yet. But Devonshire’s loyalty to Maidenhead is worth celebrating because it is another club providing the beating heart of English football.
Back in 2015, the Magpies signed 6ft 4in defender Max Kilman and sold him to Wolves for £40,000 three years later. Critically, chairman Peter Griffin negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on clause, so when Kilman sealed a £40million move to West Ham in the summer, Maidenhead enjoyed a monster £4m windfall, securing the club’s long-term future.
Devonshire said: “I told the chairman I wasn’t going to ask for an extra half-million in my budget because I know how far this club has come. We were getting crowds of 70 when I first started here - now our average gate is around 1,200 and we can be a thorn in anyone’s side on our day.
“It’s fantastic to see Max doing so well. As a manager, there are few better rewards than seeing young players fulfilling their potential - and of course I couldn’t be happier that he’s landed at West Ham. It’s funny how it’s turned out.”
As for the Cup, Devonshire can feel the sap rise every time there’s a draw on a Monday lunchtime and Maidenhead are among the balls in the velvet bag saying: “I still get a buzz when it comes round because I’m lucky enough to have seen how much it means to the fans when you win it.
“To people of my era, it’s still the greatest cup competition in the world, even if it seems to have lost its way a bit. For little clubs like us, it’s a chance to dream.”
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