by Gary Kent

Created on: February 10, 2009   Last Updated: February 11, 2009

With respect to a previous contributor, the 1966 FA Cup Final was no 'classic', although it is fair to say that people's minds were concentrated on World Cup events that were to take place a few weeks later.

The teams were: Everton: West, Wright, Wilson, Gabriel, Labone, Harris, Scott, Trebilock, Young, Harvey, Temple.

Sheffield Wednesday: Springett, Smith, Megson, Eustace, Ellis, Young, Pugh, Fantham, McCalliiiog, Ford, Quinn.

It was a non-descript final, played by two ordinary sides. At the end of the 65-66 season Everton finished 11th and Sheffield Wednesday 17th in a top-flight Division where clubs such as Burnley, West Bromich and Stoke all finished above both finalists.

And despite the scoreline, it wasn't a 'classic', not in anyone's mind - unless you are an Everton fan of course.

My personal recollection is a feeling of total dismay. Just days before the Final, I discovered that my 'hero' Mike Trebilcock (a Cornishman) had been transferred from my club, Plymouth Argyle, to Everton. Down in darkest Devon we all thought that Trebilcock would only make an Everton Reserve player at best, (we'll still took their money though - all 23,000 of it!)) but Harry Catterick, Everton's manager had other thoughts.

On the Eve of the Final....Friday the thirteenth of May, 1966, Mr Catterick gave the news to his top goalscorer, Fred Pickering, that he wasn't playing the following day - "Remember that young lad I signed from Plymouth a couple of months ago.... well, he's taking your place tomorrow".

The common consensus, even amongst die-hard Evertonions, was that Catterick had 'lost the plot'.

But his decision paid dividends. After trailing Wednesday by two goals, Mike Trebilcock repaid his manager's faith by scoring twice to cancel out Sheffield's lead. Derek Temple netted Everton's third and won the Cup for the blue half of Merseyside.

The fact is though, the quality of the football was poor and despite it being one of the first FA Cup finals that was transmitted 'live', on both BBC and ITV there are only two things that remains in the memory, and they are:-

One: A drunken Evertonian, named Eddie Kavanagh, invaded the pitch when Everton went 2-0 down. To everyone's amazement, and amusement, he ran for over fifty yards, evading a couple of policeman in the process - who, in their vain attempt to arrest the trespasser, ended up on their back-sides! However, he was eventually 'nailed' by a third 'Bobby' who rugby-tackled Mr Kavanagh to the muddy ground. The intoxicated 'Scouser' was given a rapturous ovation by the 100,000 Wembley crowd as he was carted off to the cells.

And two.. and I'll wager you didn't know this...the 1966 FA Cup Final, Everton versus Sheffield Wednesday, was the only time Paul McCartney and John Lennon ever attended a football match together.

But please, don't let rose-tinted spectacles tell you that this was an epic FA Cup final - because I'm old enough to tell you it wasn't.

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