[Albion] Gordon Smith's apology 1983 FA Cup Final

[LlcoolJ]

This, Whiteside won the cup for the Mancs.
Ramsey was excellent in the first half, had he been able to stay on the pitch, we would have won the cup.

100% Still makes me feel sick. And started a lifetime of hatred of the cheating scum!

Beating them to stay up the other season was one of my favourite football moments ever. Doesn't redress the balance to my 8 year old self though.

 

[Dinner with Gotsmanov]

The only thing Smudger should apologise for is his pronunciation of ‘beige’. Beeege.....?

What a gentleman though.

On the subject of Whiteside, does anyone else remember this tale? At the 1st game, some United fans had a banner which read ‘Kevin Moran a cut above the rest’. For the Thursday game, some Albion fans tried to get in with a banner reading ‘Norman Whiteside A cut above the rest’ but had cheekily inserted a letter between the U and T in ‘cut’ (clue: it’s the 14th letter of the alphabet).

The way I heard it was that they were denied entry and had to go to a pub and watch the replay.

Not sure if that is true but if so, the Albion’s banner was spot on. Shocking tackle and should never be forgotten or forgiven.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Absolutely right. It’s kind of become accepted wisdom, that Robinson should have taken it on himself - but just watch it back - that is plainly nonsense. Robbo cuts back onto his right - he has a defender blocking his route to half of the goal, and Bailey set for a shot. Smith is to his right, in acres of space, with a free shot on goal - it would have been criminal for Robbo to NOT pass it - and had he shot and wasted the chance, we’d all still be talking now, about ‘if only he’d squared it to Smith’.

It’s also worth noting there were two further Man U players behind Robbo who were on top of him just after he passed. He took 3 players away from Smith who, as you say, was in a acres of space. It was 100% the right thing to do.

 

[Seasidesage]

Ridiculous that he feels the need to apologise, its split second decisions no thought other than instinct goes into it and no apology should be required.

Had he done something else he might've scored, had Robinson shot he might've scored and had Whiteside been sent off we might've won. It's the 'might've' that make football the great game that it is and create the folklore and stories that make it the greatest sport ever devised...

This obsessive need to apologise for what has gone on before I find bizarre and belittles other scenarios where apologises are actually needed.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Insightful and humble - a good Albion trait ...

 

[dejavuatbtn]

I read his book and the miss haunted him wherever he went. I’ve always felt quite sorry for him, after all he is one of only two players to score for us in the FA Cup final. Having said that he comes across as a bit of a self opinionated so and so in it.

 

[Rogero]

What a gent.

 

[Bodian]

And 3 deliberate hand balls. That's 4 red cards today. The filth.

Is it too late for VAR to step in?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Is it too late for VAR to step in?

My first reaction reading that was 'if only'.

(I'm a big VAR fan, albeit not a fan of the referees who have sabotaged it).

 

[LamieRobertson]

37 years ago yesterday..amazing....it was such a great day out....not quite the same feeling for the replay

 

[Razzoo]

I just want to give him a big hug and say move on, its over and you did score a beautiful header that day. Then I want to kick Whiteside in the balls whilst wearing steel capped boots.

 

[GREASED WEASEL]

great player

would walk into the current Brighton team

Gordon Smith & Gary Stevens legends

the only 2 players to score in a Cup Final in our entire history

 

[Lindfield by the Pond]

No apology needed. The man's integrity is sound as a pound. Legend.

 

[darkwolf666]

I always felt that Robinson should have taken the shot himself any rebound would have likely gone to Smith. Plus Smith scored the goal he has nothing to appologise to me for.

This all day long, Robinson was a greedy fecker, which was part of his game, and I think Smith was gobsmacked he passed to him in that position...

 

[Hu_Camus]

I met Smith, while out for a stroll by the cricket ground.
Real gent, and passionate about the club....Met the legend that is Will i am Buckley, actually in the ground while watching one of those numbered over things, just before the game against Donny.
Nice man, shy and nervous as a puppy about his new start.Warm memory

 

[Sirnormangall]

He appeared at an Albion event a few years ago ( Theatre Royal?) and apologised again to fans. He also said that a couple of years later, after he had left us, he was on a pre season tour of the Far East with his new club ( Man City ?) and while he was relaxing in the hotel swimming pool in Malaysia, a local lad came up to him and said “ are you the guy who missed that chance in the cup final”! Poor bloke has never been able to forget it. Shame he wasn’t better remembered for the great opening goal.

 

[um bongo molongo]

If you take the significance of the moment and the game away, was it THAT bad a miss? Based on the standard of shooting Of the current squad, I’d be pleased we got it on target

 

[Nottseagull]

I hereby vow never to sing a song inferring a lack of sobriety at the time of the incident and referring to him as a stupid scots B******* .

After watching that, I'm now thoroughly ashamed of ever having joined in that song. It's those that did who should be doing the apologising, even if he's never heard it.
Sorry, Gordon.

 

[zefarelly]

Never seen that before, didn't realise he took it so bad.
Things were moving fast and quick decisions had to be made.
I wasn't expecting Robinson to pass either, Smith should hold his head up and say he tried.
He wasn't expecting the ball and got cuaght off guard.
Shame for us , but we have all been caught off guard, at least once.

I was in a similar situation at the very end of the first REMF game, I was tracking stumpy Tim who had the ball, we were clean through, extra time, a few minutes from the end, 4-4. . . . I'm left footed, Tim went left, I had to go to his right, about 8 yards out he then passed to me at the last minute. I hit the target but didn't test the keeper as well as I could have. It haunts me to this day.

Smith played well, and scored in a cup final, how can you possibly criticise that.

 

[Swansman]

If you take the significance of the moment and the game away, was it THAT bad a miss? Based on the standard of shooting Of the current squad, I’d be pleased we got it on target

I had never seen the highlights until opening this thread and was expecting this level of miss:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DEkKs_dj2I

But it turned out to be just.. the average miss that will happen a few times most games. Sure its a pretty poor shot but nothing to be "ashamed" of 40 years later.