One of the biggest days on the English football calendar is tomorrow – the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
7-time winners Manchester City playing in their third straight final against Crystal Palace, playing in their third final, having never lifted the famous trophy.
One of the most famous FA Cup finals of all time was in 1990 when Crystal Palace faced Manchester United.
1990 Crystal Palace 3, Manchester United 3 after extra-time Manchester United went on to win the replay 1-0 five days later.
John Salako was part of that Palace side – he also played five times for England, including twice here in NZ against the All Whites in 1991 and he joined the show to discuss that final and preview tomorrow's fixture.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The biggest days on the English football calendar comes up
tomorrow morning. The FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, seven
time winners Manchester City playing in their third straight final
against Crystal Palace, playing in their third final ever. Having
never lifted the famous trophy, they came close a couple
of times. One of the most famous FA Cup finals
(00:33):
of all time was in nineteen to ninety when Crystal
Palace faced Manchester United.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yes, nice his first chest to show what he can do.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
He's it's.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Too Art's old position.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Belan is challenging him up. One of the great substitutions.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, a couple of goals for Ian Wright that day
in nineteen ninety Crystal Palace three Manchester United three after
extra time. Manchester United went on to win the replay
one nil. Five days later. John Silaco was part of
that Crystal Palace sidet. He also played five times for England,
(01:33):
including twice here in New Zealand against the All Whites
in nineteen ninety one. He joins us now, John, a
great pleasure to have you on the show. How often
does your mind drift back thirty five years to the
nineteen ninety FA Cup final.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Oh, incredible, incredible day, just as much as when I
made my David in Australian played out in New Zealand.
So look it's magical, twenty one year old going out.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
You know, when you.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Grow up in England, you know the FA Cup's magical.
It's so special, it really is. It's a fairy how.
It's one of those magical things where any any anything's
possible and the minnots go up against the superstars and
you know, nineteen ninety was just so special, and then
obviously going on to that was you know, Liverpool in
(02:21):
the semifinal Villa Park for three was just the.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Most amazing in the FA Cup.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
They you know, they'd smashed the eighties, you know, I
think they'd won the league eight times, the League, the cups.
They were the team to beat them and it was
a change in the guard really from Liverpool to Man United,
Sir Alex Ferguson and you know then going on to
play for England, you know, Unified Germany at Wembley and
then obviously I made my debut in Australia and going
to play twice in New Zealand, was just Auckland and
(02:48):
went into it was just it was incredible to pull
on that shirt.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
It's just magical.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
So they're what you dream of, Jason, when you're a kid,
and you know, I speak to kids and I coach
kids and I talk to them all the time, and
it's there to dream, dare to to you know, to
work hard and you know put pictures in your head.
And I was just one of those kids that just
dared to dream and I just loved it. I spent
all my waking hours playing football, playing sport and just
(03:14):
daring to dream that I could one day play in
the Premier League in an FA Cup final.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Pull on the pull on an England shirt.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Wow, And yeah, it's pretty pretty pretty amazing that you
know that that came true.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
And you know, I've got Sello's Park.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
I've got one of the limited editions of Seller's Park
on my wall. I've got England shirt, Brazil shirt, that
my German shirt that I got off sorry Muller when
I played against Germany, the unified German side. So not
a day goes by that I don't think about how
special that was.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Amazing to what great memories. I'm getting goosebumps even hearing
you talk about it. So walking out at Wimbley, you
talk about it being a dream of every young boy
and you're so right. So when you did it walking
out at Wimbley as a twenty one year old, were
you able to be aware of the situation and as
it was happening to you order do you have to
reflect back on it later?
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Yeah, So that's a great question in a sense where
you know what it is that once we beat Liverpool
in that semi final and we pink, you know, it
was a pinch yourself moment?
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Did that really happen? Then you start thinking about the final.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Then it starts building up and there's flags and everyone's
talking about it. You go to as there are test
goes and even the oh good luck in the final.
You know, everyone is talking at Man United, the biggest
club in the world. You know, everyone's talking about You're
playing Man United in the f.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
A Cup final. It's you know it, And then you realize.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
You go through the taxis and you start training and
you try not to get injured, and you get to
the day and I can just you know, you remember
and what you do is I remember the night before,
but it's like, you know you've been there and you
try and keep the lid on it, but how do
you how do you do that? And really what I
used to do is and the technique and really for
for for sports players. You know, I was just talking
(05:05):
about we're just watching the tennis now, and you know
it's a team sport. It's not it's individuals that are
playing in the team sports. So you've just got to
look after yourself. You've got to get yourself right, and
you go through your routine.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
What makes you go to sleep? You know, you get
your sleep.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
You know, eat, you know you've got like Richard Shaw,
my my room partner, he had a slightly to eat.
He would like to get up early for breakfast. I
wanted to lie in, you know, he would, I would.
I would like to go to bed at half ten.
I would have to turn the telly off at two
o'clock in the morning because he used to go to
sleep with the telly on. It was like, oh my god,
you know, you had so many things, this all but
(05:41):
you deal with all that. You get out, you go
for a walk. And I can remember going for a
walk with Ian right and Mark Bright and the boys,
and you know you've got press and everyone, and you
know Ian Wright's just like I'm born for today.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
You know, he was just so positive.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
And you got the guys and you get around each other,
and that's where then the team comes in and you
get the boys and you're like, yeah, we're ready for today,
and you start talking about it. And then once you
go off that coach and you get up Wembley, you
walk up Wembley Way and you look around and you know,
you sort of start getting starry eyed, and and then
you know, Steve Copple comes back in right heading the game.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Forget the occasion, heading the game.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
These are the tactics bank once you start getting there,
choose your starts, you know what you're doing. And once
you're in that dress room, you got your fuck You've
got your focus head on. And to be honest, you know,
you come out of that tunnel and the second time
you come back up there, the stadium's full. You've got
the Queen there, you know, you know, the Union jacks
are flying and the you know, you know, the national
anthems playing, and you're looking at Sir Alex Ferguson and
(06:40):
Brian Robson and you're thinking, right, okay, let's focus here,
and then it's it's it's ninety minutes. You don't remember
a thing. You're just in the game, and that's what
it's about. And that's really that mentality of listen, you
can't enjoy the game.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
You just got gun play it.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
And unfortunately it should have been extra time and Pens
it wasn't at that time. We went to a replay
on Thursday, and there's a little bit of an anti
climax and yeah, Lee maar and whatever whatever may not
in anyway, and I think my overriding that Thursday, when
I was walking past that FA Cup as a loser,
I hated that. I didn't look at my losers medal
(07:21):
for about twenty years because I didn't want to see it.
I hated that losers medal. But then after about twenty years,
you go, I played an FA Cup final and I've
got a losers medal which is made of solid gold,
and it's great. So look I'm here now and I'm
grateful for that losers medal, but for a long time,
I didn't really want it.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
You mention Ian right there. I think it was under
an injury Cloud coming into the FA Cup final, came
off the bench, got two goals head you were hit
an extra time. How does he right? Where does he
rate among the players who played alongside Ian Right?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
No, he's the greatest, He's the best. He was incredible.
I think Ian was one of those it was just
meant to be.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
He was.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
He was like, you know, sort of someone who almost
passed him by. He was twenty one. You know, he'd
been a little bit of trouble. He'd playing you know,
non league, and he tried and he tried. I think
he you know, Debbie, his other half was pregnant, and
you know, he'd worked on the roads. I think he's
working on a building site and he knew he wanted it,
(08:22):
and then he got this opportunity to come to Palace
and he just took it with every piece of his heart.
And you know, he just came and left nothing and
you talk about never not leaving anything behind us.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
He just wanted it.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
So much and we used to come in and you know,
it was brilliant for all of us who'd had Nigel
Mine and me, Versue Shaw, Mark Bright and Jeff Thomas
and Nigel Martin and he come in right, Nigel, you're
getting gold.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
John. You crossed the balls for me. And you know
we were always working on it.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Did you see what that you know Brazilian Ronaldo did
last night? And you know we'd were talking about Barcelona
Real Madrid, and we'll were talking about you know, Zidan
and Figo and Baggio and you know, we'll be practicing
tricks and it was all about we lived and read
football and it was down to Ian. But he was
one of those players that genuinely I can remember, as
(09:12):
you said, he had a broken leg. He went to
a faith HeLa and he came and and at halftime
we were one nil down against Liverpool in the semifinal
in the FA Cup at Villa Park and he came
in and before Steve Copple could say anything, he came
in and he was he's so animated, he's larger than life.
And he was like, we still got this, we can
still do this, and if any of you don't want it,
(09:33):
don't fancy it.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I'll take your shirt. I'll play with a broken leg.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
And you know he was just so passionate and so
you know, so driven and we all I think we
all got something from that and that was Ian and
we played in that cup final and he hadn't trained.
He had a fractured a heline fracture in his leg,
and he came back and he came on and he
scored two goals and absolutely incredible and it's just such
(10:00):
a shame that we couldn't see it out and win
it on that day, because I think he deserved that.
But listen, he went on to grow your things. I
should have got to move to Arsenal as well at
the time, but they didn't let that happen.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
But anyway, let's time.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
But yeah, Righty went on to Arsenal and I knew
he would do that and what he went on to
achieve with Arsenal and just one of the true greats
and all time best players.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
But he's one of my favorite all time people.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
You just mentioned something there about about you going to
the Gunners as well. I think I remember something about it.
What happened? Why didn't you get the move? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
No, George Graham came in and offered a million pounds
for me at the time, and they wanted to take
me and Palace were willing to sell any prices as
you said no, and we ended up selling Eddi mcgoldwick
for a million pound. That tidd the box at the
time for Ron Noades and I didn't find it no,
because I think Sir Alex came in at Man United,
Graham Sooners at Liverpool and Graham yeah at George Graham
(10:59):
at Arsenal sorry came in for me at the time,
but they weren't selling, so I didn't get my move.
But unfortunately, not long after that, that's Australasia Tour where
we I think we played Australian New Zealand twice in
the Malaysia. I came back, you know, sort of. I
was sort of the best thing since light Spread, which
was incredible. Then unfortunately the following season started and I
(11:19):
got injured against Leeds and did my cruise h as,
I don't know what would you say, Yeah, it's a
cruel game that was That was yeah, that was pretty
pretty bad. So I got Yeah, I got back in
England side and then it went again, so it was
kind of bit. Yeah, it was a rubbish time, but
you know, so I got through thirty six but twenty one.
(11:41):
When you're playing in the FA carp, when you're playing
against the World champions Germany, at Wembley. You think it's
going to happen to you every season and that's where
it's going to live. And unfortunately, sometimes you know, life,
life does that to you, doesn't quite give you what
you're hoping for. But listen, I think you you know,
you learn to accept that you get certain set of
(12:02):
cards and you get certain things. And I'm one of
those people that goes, oh, do you know what did
you get England caps? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (12:08):
And he got five and he go you got five,
you got one, you got five? Wow.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
You know, it's those conversations I find myself going, wow,
I got five England caps.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
You know, I played in the FA Cup.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
Final and you know the year before we'd won the
Zenith we beat Everton at Wembley, scored in that. So
you know, you learn in life and that's one of
the things I've learned to be grateful and you know,
I really appreciate everything I went through and what I've
got and now palliser in the Cup final again.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I was played in nineteen ninety.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
You know, we got to the Semis with the Garra
South Coates side in ninety five and then I was
first team coach in the fifteen sixteen season when we
lost to Mana Nited two which again managed. Yeah, and
then I became, you know, sort of a match day ambassadorm,
a club ambassador for Palace. We went to twenty two
with be there semi final against Chelsea.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
They were just too good for us.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
We lost two nol Wembley and we're back there again,
you know, twenty twenty five we're in the final man City. Well,
I think our names on it, Jason and I, I
really do. I'm really humped for Saturday and I think
we're going to do it. I think third time lucky,
it's going to happen. You know, Oliver Glasner, you know,
(13:23):
we trust and it's been incredible. Mattessa as a sar,
you know, the bank Laquir Richards and Gay Henderson's going
to be Mane of the match and I think as
a Matteta and so I think three to one Palace brilliant.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Just just before you go, obviously, Pallas have been a
solid med table Premier League side since you know, you
won promotion back in twenty twelve thirteen, always sort of
tenths to fourteenth or there are thereabouts. Winning a trophy,
You're probably not going to win the Premier League, but
you can win the FA Cup. How much would it
mean to the fans of Super Palace And there are
a lot back here in New Zealand as well. I
(13:57):
can tell you John to lift that trophy at Wimbley.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Yeah, oh my god.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I think everyone apart from the Man City fans are
rooting for Palace, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
The under and you know it would mean everything. It's
so special.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
To actually get across the line and win the FA
Cup would be so brilliant for the club and to
get into Europe. And to be honest, I think the
bigger picture is obviously Oliver Glazen has been talented as
you know, going to labor coups and everyone wants to
him and Esse and Matteta and obviously gay Laqua Waton.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
So you know it would.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Mean everything and in a sense where it might just
be the catalyst we need to push us on to
the next level of you know, we keep these players,
we bring in some extra players, we go into the
Europa League and finally play in Europe.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
But you know it would be so special.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
I mean, the Palace fans have just been magnificent since
we nearly went out of existence. I think back in
twenty and thirteen and then since then, the Palace fans
have just embraced it.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
They're the best, you know, they're fantastic and they deserve that.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
It would be wonderful and you know, I can't deliver
that as a player, but I feel I'm just part
of it, as part of the Palace family. It would
be absolutely incredible and got fingers crossed. I mean, we
can't take anything for granted, but I just think our
name's on it.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Brilliant.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
I actually did want to ask you about coming to
New Zealand because this is obviously a show going across
New Zealand. I remember being at Athletic Park, a rugby
ground in Wellington to watch England play against New Zealand.
I was there that day watching watching England. You know,
as players yourself, we've only ever seen on television playing
against our national side and it was it was such
(15:35):
a buzz for all of us back then. What was
it like for you, I mean your dayboot against Australia,
A couple of games against New Zealand, what was that like?
Do you remember much about it?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Yeah? And do you know it was incredible?
Speaker 4 (15:45):
I was just you know, I was twenty two and
you know it's everything I'd ever dreamed of is been
part of the England squad and got this opportunity to
fly out and play in this Australasia tour and you
know we're gratty short, you know, and I think you know,
Gary Lineker flying out, Stuart pierced As Walker and so
many great players and I just loved it every second
(16:06):
kind of it. Going to obviously Australian New Zealand, it
was so fantastic and wonderful people. We had all the
press there traveling with us, and you know it was
just big and it was just right where you wanted
to be and know all your dreams come in, you know,
to fruition and yeah, absolutely magical. It was the best
sort of three weeks that I'd experienced in a football
(16:28):
in sense of you know, just everything that went with it.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
You know, you were big time news. It was off season.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
It was just all about you in the newspapers every day,
on the TV doing interviews. I was sharing a ruin
with Mark Waters ex Rangers, you know, sort of Villa Liverpool.
What a brilliant player he was, and you know it
was just so special absolutely incredible and obviously yeah it's
you know, a real big, big highlight and something that. Yeah,
(16:56):
I just it was absolutely magical.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
John, It's been such a delight cheating. Do you thank
you for having a wander down memory lane? Well as
you did, right, I think, apart from City fans, every
is super Eagles this weekend all the best mate up.
It's a tremendous weekend for you and for the Palace family.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Brilliant.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Thanks Jason Pleasure, thanks for joining us, John, John Silaco there,
former Crystal Palace attacker England player Grant says, don't think
John Solarco is going to have great memories about playing here.
I was at Athletic Park that day and it had
rained all week and was the coldest athletic park I'd
ever been to. Man, that's a crowded field, a cold
athletic park. They couldn't mow the grass. It was very
(17:35):
long by the time they played. As I said, I
was at that game as well. England won two nil.
But you know, some of the players who came across,
we'd only seen them on Big League Soccer back then.
You know, this is pre you know, pre Sky Day's,
pre Premier League days and you look at the New
Zealand side that played and a couple of famous names there.
(17:55):
Fred de Jong was in that side, Declan Edge, Michael mcgowry,
whose son James has gone on to be a professional footballer.
Malcolm Dumford camp captain the side, Roger Gray I want
to play. He was Michael Redenton, father of Matt Redenton.
Another father son Combo there So two nil it was
at at Athletic Park and one nil at Mount Smart.
(18:18):
Gary Lineker was in that England team as well. Terrific.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The biggest days on the English football calendar comes up
tomorrow morning. The FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, seven
time winners Manchester City playing in their third straight final
against Crystal Palace, playing in their third final ever. Having
never lifted the famous trophy, they came close a couple
of times. One of the most famous FA Cup finals
(00:33):
of all time was in nineteen to ninety when Crystal
Palace faced Manchester United.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yes, nice his first chest to show what he can do.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
He's it's.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Too Art's old position.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Belan is challenging him up. One of the great substitutions.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, a couple of goals for Ian Wright that day
in nineteen ninety Crystal Palace three Manchester United three after
extra time. Manchester United went on to win the replay
one nil. Five days later. John Silaco was part of
that Crystal Palace sidet. He also played five times for England,
(01:33):
including twice here in New Zealand against the All Whites
in nineteen ninety one. He joins us now, John, a
great pleasure to have you on the show. How often
does your mind drift back thirty five years to the
nineteen ninety FA Cup final.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Oh, incredible, incredible day, just as much as when I
made my David in Australian played out in New Zealand.
So look it's magical, twenty one year old going out.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
You know, when you.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Grow up in England, you know the FA Cup's magical.
It's so special, it really is. It's a fairy how.
It's one of those magical things where any any anything's
possible and the minnots go up against the superstars and
you know, nineteen ninety was just so special, and then
obviously going on to that was you know, Liverpool in
(02:21):
the semifinal Villa Park for three was just the.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Most amazing in the FA Cup.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
They you know, they'd smashed the eighties, you know, I
think they'd won the league eight times, the League, the cups.
They were the team to beat them and it was
a change in the guard really from Liverpool to Man United,
Sir Alex Ferguson and you know then going on to
play for England, you know, Unified Germany at Wembley and
then obviously I made my debut in Australia and going
to play twice in New Zealand, was just Auckland and
(02:48):
went into it was just it was incredible to pull
on that shirt.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
It's just magical.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
So they're what you dream of, Jason, when you're a kid,
and you know, I speak to kids and I coach
kids and I talk to them all the time, and
it's there to dream, dare to to you know, to
work hard and you know put pictures in your head.
And I was just one of those kids that just
dared to dream and I just loved it. I spent
all my waking hours playing football, playing sport and just
(03:14):
daring to dream that I could one day play in
the Premier League in an FA Cup final.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Pull on the pull on an England shirt.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Wow, And yeah, it's pretty pretty pretty amazing that you
know that that came true.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
And you know, I've got Sello's Park.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
I've got one of the limited editions of Seller's Park
on my wall. I've got England shirt, Brazil shirt, that
my German shirt that I got off sorry Muller when
I played against Germany, the unified German side. So not
a day goes by that I don't think about how
special that was.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Amazing to what great memories. I'm getting goosebumps even hearing
you talk about it. So walking out at Wimbley, you
talk about it being a dream of every young boy
and you're so right. So when you did it walking
out at Wimbley as a twenty one year old, were
you able to be aware of the situation and as
it was happening to you order do you have to
reflect back on it later?
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Yeah, So that's a great question in a sense where
you know what it is that once we beat Liverpool
in that semi final and we pink, you know, it
was a pinch yourself moment?
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Did that really happen? Then you start thinking about the final.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Then it starts building up and there's flags and everyone's
talking about it. You go to as there are test
goes and even the oh good luck in the final.
You know, everyone is talking at Man United, the biggest
club in the world. You know, everyone's talking about You're
playing Man United in the f.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
A Cup final. It's you know it, And then you realize.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
You go through the taxis and you start training and
you try not to get injured, and you get to
the day and I can just you know, you remember
and what you do is I remember the night before,
but it's like, you know you've been there and you
try and keep the lid on it, but how do
you how do you do that? And really what I
used to do is and the technique and really for
for for sports players. You know, I was just talking
(05:05):
about we're just watching the tennis now, and you know
it's a team sport. It's not it's individuals that are
playing in the team sports. So you've just got to
look after yourself. You've got to get yourself right, and
you go through your routine.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
What makes you go to sleep? You know, you get
your sleep.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
You know, eat, you know you've got like Richard Shaw,
my my room partner, he had a slightly to eat.
He would like to get up early for breakfast. I
wanted to lie in, you know, he would, I would.
I would like to go to bed at half ten.
I would have to turn the telly off at two
o'clock in the morning because he used to go to
sleep with the telly on. It was like, oh my god,
you know, you had so many things, this all but
(05:41):
you deal with all that. You get out, you go
for a walk. And I can remember going for a
walk with Ian right and Mark Bright and the boys,
and you know you've got press and everyone, and you
know Ian Wright's just like I'm born for today.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
You know, he was just so positive.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
And you got the guys and you get around each other,
and that's where then the team comes in and you
get the boys and you're like, yeah, we're ready for today,
and you start talking about it. And then once you
go off that coach and you get up Wembley, you
walk up Wembley Way and you look around and you know,
you sort of start getting starry eyed, and and then
you know, Steve Copple comes back in right heading the game.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Forget the occasion, heading the game.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
These are the tactics bank once you start getting there,
choose your starts, you know what you're doing. And once
you're in that dress room, you got your fuck You've
got your focus head on. And to be honest, you know,
you come out of that tunnel and the second time
you come back up there, the stadium's full. You've got
the Queen there, you know, you know, the Union jacks
are flying and the you know, you know, the national
anthems playing, and you're looking at Sir Alex Ferguson and
(06:40):
Brian Robson and you're thinking, right, okay, let's focus here,
and then it's it's it's ninety minutes. You don't remember
a thing. You're just in the game, and that's what
it's about. And that's really that mentality of listen, you
can't enjoy the game.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
You just got gun play it.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
And unfortunately it should have been extra time and Pens
it wasn't at that time. We went to a replay
on Thursday, and there's a little bit of an anti
climax and yeah, Lee maar and whatever whatever may not
in anyway, and I think my overriding that Thursday, when
I was walking past that FA Cup as a loser,
I hated that. I didn't look at my losers medal
(07:21):
for about twenty years because I didn't want to see it.
I hated that losers medal. But then after about twenty years,
you go, I played an FA Cup final and I've
got a losers medal which is made of solid gold,
and it's great. So look I'm here now and I'm
grateful for that losers medal, but for a long time,
I didn't really want it.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
You mention Ian right there. I think it was under
an injury Cloud coming into the FA Cup final, came
off the bench, got two goals head you were hit
an extra time. How does he right? Where does he
rate among the players who played alongside Ian Right?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
No, he's the greatest, He's the best. He was incredible.
I think Ian was one of those it was just
meant to be.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
He was.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
He was like, you know, sort of someone who almost
passed him by. He was twenty one. You know, he'd
been a little bit of trouble. He'd playing you know,
non league, and he tried and he tried. I think
he you know, Debbie, his other half was pregnant, and
you know, he'd worked on the roads. I think he's
working on a building site and he knew he wanted it,
(08:22):
and then he got this opportunity to come to Palace
and he just took it with every piece of his heart.
And you know, he just came and left nothing and
you talk about never not leaving anything behind us.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
He just wanted it.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
So much and we used to come in and you know,
it was brilliant for all of us who'd had Nigel
Mine and me, Versue Shaw, Mark Bright and Jeff Thomas
and Nigel Martin and he come in right, Nigel, you're
getting gold.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
John. You crossed the balls for me. And you know
we were always working on it.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Did you see what that you know Brazilian Ronaldo did
last night? And you know we'd were talking about Barcelona
Real Madrid, and we'll were talking about you know, Zidan
and Figo and Baggio and you know, we'll be practicing
tricks and it was all about we lived and read
football and it was down to Ian. But he was
one of those players that genuinely I can remember, as
(09:12):
you said, he had a broken leg. He went to
a faith HeLa and he came and and at halftime
we were one nil down against Liverpool in the semifinal
in the FA Cup at Villa Park and he came
in and before Steve Copple could say anything, he came
in and he was he's so animated, he's larger than life.
And he was like, we still got this, we can
still do this, and if any of you don't want it,
(09:33):
don't fancy it.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I'll take your shirt. I'll play with a broken leg.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
And you know he was just so passionate and so
you know, so driven and we all I think we
all got something from that and that was Ian and
we played in that cup final and he hadn't trained.
He had a fractured a heline fracture in his leg,
and he came back and he came on and he
scored two goals and absolutely incredible and it's just such
(10:00):
a shame that we couldn't see it out and win
it on that day, because I think he deserved that.
But listen, he went on to grow your things. I
should have got to move to Arsenal as well at
the time, but they didn't let that happen.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
But anyway, let's time.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
But yeah, Righty went on to Arsenal and I knew
he would do that and what he went on to
achieve with Arsenal and just one of the true greats
and all time best players.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
But he's one of my favorite all time people.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
You just mentioned something there about about you going to
the Gunners as well. I think I remember something about it.
What happened? Why didn't you get the move? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
No, George Graham came in and offered a million pounds
for me at the time, and they wanted to take
me and Palace were willing to sell any prices as
you said no, and we ended up selling Eddi mcgoldwick
for a million pound. That tidd the box at the
time for Ron Noades and I didn't find it no,
because I think Sir Alex came in at Man United,
Graham Sooners at Liverpool and Graham yeah at George Graham
(10:59):
at Arsenal sorry came in for me at the time,
but they weren't selling, so I didn't get my move.
But unfortunately, not long after that, that's Australasia Tour where
we I think we played Australian New Zealand twice in
the Malaysia. I came back, you know, sort of. I
was sort of the best thing since light Spread, which
was incredible. Then unfortunately the following season started and I
(11:19):
got injured against Leeds and did my cruise h as,
I don't know what would you say, Yeah, it's a
cruel game that was That was yeah, that was pretty
pretty bad. So I got Yeah, I got back in
England side and then it went again, so it was
kind of bit. Yeah, it was a rubbish time, but
you know, so I got through thirty six but twenty one.
(11:41):
When you're playing in the FA carp, when you're playing
against the World champions Germany, at Wembley. You think it's
going to happen to you every season and that's where
it's going to live. And unfortunately, sometimes you know, life,
life does that to you, doesn't quite give you what
you're hoping for. But listen, I think you you know,
you learn to accept that you get certain set of
(12:02):
cards and you get certain things. And I'm one of
those people that goes, oh, do you know what did
you get England caps? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (12:08):
And he got five and he go you got five,
you got one, you got five? Wow.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
You know, it's those conversations I find myself going, wow,
I got five England caps.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
You know, I played in the FA Cup.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
Final and you know the year before we'd won the
Zenith we beat Everton at Wembley, scored in that. So
you know, you learn in life and that's one of
the things I've learned to be grateful and you know,
I really appreciate everything I went through and what I've
got and now palliser in the Cup final again.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I was played in nineteen ninety.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
You know, we got to the Semis with the Garra
South Coates side in ninety five and then I was
first team coach in the fifteen sixteen season when we
lost to Mana Nited two which again managed. Yeah, and
then I became, you know, sort of a match day ambassadorm,
a club ambassador for Palace. We went to twenty two
with be there semi final against Chelsea.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
They were just too good for us.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
We lost two nol Wembley and we're back there again,
you know, twenty twenty five we're in the final man City. Well,
I think our names on it, Jason and I, I
really do. I'm really humped for Saturday and I think
we're going to do it. I think third time lucky,
it's going to happen. You know, Oliver Glasner, you know,
(13:23):
we trust and it's been incredible. Mattessa as a sar,
you know, the bank Laquir Richards and Gay Henderson's going
to be Mane of the match and I think as
a Matteta and so I think three to one Palace brilliant.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Just just before you go, obviously, Pallas have been a
solid med table Premier League side since you know, you
won promotion back in twenty twelve thirteen, always sort of
tenths to fourteenth or there are thereabouts. Winning a trophy,
You're probably not going to win the Premier League, but
you can win the FA Cup. How much would it
mean to the fans of Super Palace And there are
a lot back here in New Zealand as well. I
(13:57):
can tell you John to lift that trophy at Wimbley.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Yeah, oh my god.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I think everyone apart from the Man City fans are
rooting for Palace, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
The under and you know it would mean everything. It's
so special.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
To actually get across the line and win the FA
Cup would be so brilliant for the club and to
get into Europe. And to be honest, I think the
bigger picture is obviously Oliver Glazen has been talented as
you know, going to labor coups and everyone wants to
him and Esse and Matteta and obviously gay Laqua Waton.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
So you know it would.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Mean everything and in a sense where it might just
be the catalyst we need to push us on to
the next level of you know, we keep these players,
we bring in some extra players, we go into the
Europa League and finally play in Europe.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
But you know it would be so special.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
I mean, the Palace fans have just been magnificent since
we nearly went out of existence. I think back in
twenty and thirteen and then since then, the Palace fans
have just embraced it.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
They're the best, you know, they're fantastic and they deserve that.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
It would be wonderful and you know, I can't deliver
that as a player, but I feel I'm just part
of it, as part of the Palace family. It would
be absolutely incredible and got fingers crossed. I mean, we
can't take anything for granted, but I just think our
name's on it.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Brilliant.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
I actually did want to ask you about coming to
New Zealand because this is obviously a show going across
New Zealand. I remember being at Athletic Park, a rugby
ground in Wellington to watch England play against New Zealand.
I was there that day watching watching England. You know,
as players yourself, we've only ever seen on television playing
against our national side and it was it was such
(15:35):
a buzz for all of us back then. What was
it like for you, I mean your dayboot against Australia,
A couple of games against New Zealand, what was that like?
Do you remember much about it?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Yeah? And do you know it was incredible?
Speaker 4 (15:45):
I was just you know, I was twenty two and
you know it's everything I'd ever dreamed of is been
part of the England squad and got this opportunity to
fly out and play in this Australasia tour and you
know we're gratty short, you know, and I think you know,
Gary Lineker flying out, Stuart pierced As Walker and so
many great players and I just loved it every second
(16:06):
kind of it. Going to obviously Australian New Zealand, it
was so fantastic and wonderful people. We had all the
press there traveling with us, and you know it was
just big and it was just right where you wanted
to be and know all your dreams come in, you know,
to fruition and yeah, absolutely magical. It was the best
sort of three weeks that I'd experienced in a football
(16:28):
in sense of you know, just everything that went with it.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
You know, you were big time news. It was off season.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
It was just all about you in the newspapers every day,
on the TV doing interviews. I was sharing a ruin
with Mark Waters ex Rangers, you know, sort of Villa Liverpool.
What a brilliant player he was, and you know it
was just so special absolutely incredible and obviously yeah it's
you know, a real big, big highlight and something that. Yeah,
(16:56):
I just it was absolutely magical.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
John, It's been such a delight cheating. Do you thank
you for having a wander down memory lane? Well as
you did, right, I think, apart from City fans, every
is super Eagles this weekend all the best mate up.
It's a tremendous weekend for you and for the Palace family.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Brilliant.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Thanks Jason Pleasure, thanks for joining us, John, John Silaco there,
former Crystal Palace attacker England player Grant says, don't think
John Solarco is going to have great memories about playing here.
I was at Athletic Park that day and it had
rained all week and was the coldest athletic park I'd
ever been to. Man, that's a crowded field, a cold
athletic park. They couldn't mow the grass. It was very
(17:35):
long by the time they played. As I said, I
was at that game as well. England won two nil.
But you know, some of the players who came across,
we'd only seen them on Big League Soccer back then.
You know, this is pre you know, pre Sky Day's,
pre Premier League days and you look at the New
Zealand side that played and a couple of famous names there.
(17:55):
Fred de Jong was in that side, Declan Edge, Michael mcgowry,
whose son James has gone on to be a professional footballer.
Malcolm Dumford camp captain the side, Roger Gray I want
to play. He was Michael Redenton, father of Matt Redenton.
Another father son Combo there So two nil it was
at at Athletic Park and one nil at Mount Smart.
(18:18):
Gary Lineker was in that England team as well. Terrific.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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