Exactly 30 years ago today (in fact 30 years ago right at this minute), those of us of a certain age were stood in a crumbling, decaying Wembley Stadium watching one of the greatest Cup Finals this country has ever seen, in any sport.
80 minutes of thrills, spills and high drama. A game in which, for once, we gave our all and played our part in one of Rugby League's most iconic games. The Black & Whites put on a display which would, in all probability, have seen them lift the trophy in 95% of all Challenge Cup Finals that have been contested.
AND IT STILL WASN'T ENOUGH TO BURY THAT DAMN HOODOO.
In a wider context though, the game had a further and more far reaching impact.
Firstly, one of the greatest players ever to grace the game (and certainly one of, if not the, greatest ever to pull on an Fc shirt) played his last game for us. That player was, of course, the incomparable Peter Sterling
.
Secondly, that afternoon 30 years ago effectively marked the end of the Arthur Bunting led Glory years. By Christmas '85 Bunting had been unceremoniously dismissed after an indifferent start to the 85/86 campaign. Amazing when we consider what he had done for the club during the previous eight years.
The main reason for this post however isn't an exercise in nostalgic wallowing by a rapidly ageing 50+ year old, but rather the fact that three whole decades have now passed since that glorious (and indeed frustrating at times) era came to an end.
30 years in which we have tried and tried and tried to recapture those halcyon days, and indeed are still trying. Save for two short periods (1989-91 & 2004-06) when it looked briefly as have we might, just might, climb to the summit once more, the last 30 years have in general been a combination of frustration, despair and disappointment (with the occasional moment of exhilaration thrown in it should be said).
This is the real reason for all the hand-wringing posts of doom & gloom which have proliferated this board during recent weeks (myself included). Not Adam Pearson or Lee Radford (or Peter Gentle, Shaun McCrae, Kath Hetherington and various others since 1985). It's the real reason why all of us seem to permanently banging our heads against a brick wall. It's why, more than any other forum it seems, we are ALWAYS arguing amongst ourselves
.
It's the fact that every so often we glimpse the Promised Land, only for the old charabanc to break down again, that is driving us all nuts. Obviously those of us of a certain age have had to endure the full 30 years of head banging, but even the younger element on here have had plenty of black cloud days.
If I had known back then, on that Wembley afternoon in 1985, what the next 30 years would bring, I might have been sorely tempted to walk away and save myself a good deal of nervous energy. However, when it's in your blood it's a lifelong commitment and there is no turning back.
One day, just you wait and see People, One day. Keep the faith, eh!
