[lfc-news] Night our fans turned Rome into Anfield - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 19 May 2005
Night our fans turned Rome into Anfield
By Chris Wright, Daily Post

ROME is where many a Liverpool supporter's heart is. The Eternal City
has provided the setting for two of the club's greatest nights, and
another memorable one in more recent times.

But it was undoubtedly the night exactly 28 years to the day of this
season's European Cup final when the love affair with the Italian
capital first started.

Liverpool's first of their four European Cup victories will always
remain the sweetest because it started the club's domination in Europe
and set the standard for what followed.

And for the man who got the ball rolling in Rome with the first goal in
a 3-1 victory over German champions Borussia Moenchengladbach, the
evening is etched in his memory.

Terry McDermott, born and bred in Kirkby, was one of several Liverpool
supporters out on the pitch.

Having had his share of final heartache with defeats in two FA Cup
finals, the first ironically against Liverpool in 1974, the triumph in
Rome was particularly satisfying.

And it was the sight of the fans he used to stand alongside on the Kop
turning the Olympic Stadium into Anfield for the evening that was one of
his abiding memories.

He recalled: "It was my first European final. We had won the UEFA Cup
the year earlier but I was on the bench and was not used. I think I got
a medal but 1977 was the first one that I was really involved in. And it
couldn't have gone any better.

"The biggest thing I remember is walking out of the tunnel into the
stadium and seeing a sea of red and white chequered flags. I have never
seen anything like it, three-quarters of the stadium were filled with
Kopites and it was just unbelievable."

Bob Paisley's side had already claimed the league title - their 10th -
with a goalless draw against West Ham United at Anfield earlier that
month, but their treble dream was left in tatters by Manchester United's
2-1 Wembley win in the FA Cup just days before they travelled to Rome.

McDermott said: "We had come off a bad defeat in the FA Cup final four
days earlier against Manchester United and we were naturally down. A lot
of teams would have folded, but we were determined. We had already won
the league, which probably softened the blow. But we were playing
Borussia Moenchengladbach, who were a very good team. They were one the
best teams in Europe around that time and we had to be at our best. But
the performance we put up was just that and to play as we did in the
biggest games of our lives was superb."

He added: "Being a Scouser and Liverpool fan it was even better. For
many Liverpool supporters of a certain age, certainly all those who were
there, probably 99% would say it is their fondest memory.

"I remember seeing all the pictures of the fans going to the game any
way they could. They were sleeping on the luggage racks on the trains.
They just wanted to be there and it felt like there were 40,000 of them
there. It was without a shadow of a doubt the best match of my life.

"IN ONLY three years since I joined from Newcastle, I had scored in a
European Cup final and we had won. As I Liverpool supporter it is was
what I had always dreamed of, although you never thought you would play
for Liverpool, let alone score in a final as well."

That goal was a typical finish after the England midfielder had latched
on to Steve Heighway's pass to lift the ball over Kneib in the Borussia
goal after 28 minutes.

McDermott recalled: "Supposedly that was my trademark, making the run
into the box from deep and getting on the end of things.

"Steve Heighway picked up the ball and saw a gap between two defenders.
He just threaded it through them and I made the run on the blindside of
them.

"Kevin Keegan had taken Berti Vogts to the far side of the area so I was
in a lot of space and then I saw their goalkeeper coming at me. He was
6ft 9ins, or so it seemed! He was massive and I just thought there is no
way I am going to get clattered by him, so I just hit it and it was an
amazing feeling when it went in to the far corner."

But despite dominating the game, Liverpool were pegged back through
Allan Simonsen's equaliser on 55 minutes. But McDermott and his
team-mates never let the setback get to them.

He said: "We were always confident we would win, but obviously they
equalised and had a little spell when they put us under pressure and got
on top of us. But once Tommy Smith put that header in, we were never
going to lose.

"But the way we won the trophy was in real style, but it also showed the
great spirit and determination we had in that side. There was a lot of
great players and we had the belief that we were the best."

ONCE Phil Neal had added the third from the penalty spot with six
minutes left, and the final whistle had been blown to signal wild
celebrations, McDermott and many more made the most of a momentous victory.

He recalled: "Afterwards was just unbelievable. It was just total enjoyment.

"When we got back to the hotel, there were hundreds of fans in there. We
had a banquet and it was just packed with the supporters and was just a
brilliant night. It went on until four in the morning and than started
again when we got up. We were plastered.

"We were the same on the tour of the city, which was also incredible.
When we went out onto the balcony of St George's there was just another
sea of red and white. Emlyn Hughes sang a song which maybe he shouldn't
have, but it was just a spur of the moment thing.

"We had just won the European Cup and we were high on emotion and
adrenaline."

He still feels that emotion now.

He added: "I still get the video out now and again when I am a bit down
and watch it and obviously it cheers me up.

"I realise now the enormity of what we had done.

"But at the time we were such a good team and we expected to win everything.

"Once we had won it once, it gave us the confidence to do it again."

McDermott won't be at Liverpool's return to the final in Istanbul this
time, but he will be cheering Rafael Benitez's side on. And he sees no
reason why the 2005 players can't create their own piece of history with
another night of celebration.

He said: "I will get a few beers in and hopefully watch Liverpool winning.

"If they can put in a performance like they did against Chelsea and
Juventus they have got a great chance of winning it. They have shown
they can match some of the best sides in Europe. They have had teething
problems in the league with the new manager, but they have done well
away from home in Europe.

"This game, though, is at a neutral venue, and I'm sure there will again
be 30,000-40,000 Scousers there. If it is anything like what we
witnessed in Rome it will be something those players will remember for
the rest of their lives."

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