On May 6th, 1978, Ipswich Town Football Club faced Arsenal in what remains, to this day, the most one-sided FA Cup Final ever played. It was the biggest match in our club’s history — and I almost missed it.
I spent the early part of that Saturday morning crying at the foot of the stairs. My father, ticket in hand, had refused to take me to Wembley. He offered only these words: “Don’t worry, son. Your day will come.” It would be another 23 years before it did.
Once the tears dried, I stuck to my usual Saturday ritual — a walk to the newsagents. I picked up a quarter of pear drops, a can of Shandy Bass, and the latest issue of Roy of the Rovers.
On the way home, I stopped by the Hogan house. A few months earlier, it was there I learned that England had failed to qualify for the World Cup in Argentina. That day, we kicked about on the patch of grass near my house. Patrick and Michael Hogan argued their way through a game of “World Cup Singles” while I played in goal.
After an hour of bickering between the Hogan boys, I gave up and headed home. I was keen to find out if Mr. Race had recovered from his broken leg and temporary blindness to miraculously score the winning goal for Melchester Rovers.
After that, it was two and a half glorious hours of kids’ TV — Chris Tarrant, Lenny Henry, the Phantom Flan Flinger, and my very first crush: Sally James. Then came Dickie Davies and World of Sport, building up to the final with expert analysis and anticipation.
A Domestic Tragedy
That’s when disaster struck. Dinner was served: mashed potatoes. I protested. Loudly. I refused to eat the meal my mother had lovingly prepared. In response, she banished me to my room for the rest of the day.
Back then, a child having their own TV was unheard of. Let alone half of Dixon’s showroom in their bedroom. I had nothing. At the age of eight, I cried for two hours straight.
Thankfully, my mother softened. At ten minutes to three, she let me back downstairs — just in time to see Micky Mills introducing the squad to the Royal Family, who, as ever, were enjoying their complimentary tickets.
The Most Dominant 1–0 Ever
I curled up on the carpet next to my cat, Paddington, and watched in awe as Ipswich produced the most dominant 1–0 win Wembley has ever seen. The Blues were incredible. Arsenal barely turned up.
When Roger Osborne scored the winner against Pat Jennings, I lost it. In a moment of pure elation, I picked up Paddington and launched him across the room. He was fine. I was not. Paddington was our cat.
I got sent straight back to bed.
In doing so, I missed Doctor Who (Tom Baker vs. the Cybermen) and 3-2-1 with Ted Rogers and Dusty Bin. But honestly? It didn’t matter. Ipswich Town had won the FA Cup. Even if I hadn’t been there in person, it was still our day.
1978 FA Cup Final
Ipswich 1 v 0 Arsenal
Watch the biggest 1–0 victory in football history.