Ffwtbol a Fflêrs: Cofio Arwyr `76


Ffwtbol a Fflêrs: Cofio Arwyr `76

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-Something special

-is happening to Wales.

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-Half a lifetime of hope

-becomes a reality.

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-Good things come to those who wait,

-but for the first time in decades...

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-..in 2016, Wales reached the finals

-of a major football tournament.

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-After years of supporting Wales,

-years of being so near yet so far...

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-..I never thought this would happen.

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-Almost 60 years since 1958...

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-..when a young Pele

-broke our hearts in Sweden.

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-We qualified.

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-Like a memory that didn't happen.

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-Not sure if I was good enough.

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-We've heard of the team of '58...

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-..but how much do you know

-about the team of '76?

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-It's a crying shame

-if you don't remember the team...

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-..that made the last eight

-of the European Championships.

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-It's the story of a team wronged

-after achieving a great feat.

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-It's a feat that deserves more

-recognition from an entire nation.

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-Good morning.

-It's 9.00am in the capital city.

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-In a moment, news, weather

-and the traffic report.

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-First,

-a history lesson from the '70s.

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-I may look old, but I don't

-remember the team of '58.

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-It's part of Welsh folklore.

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-Players like Kelsey, Allchurch...

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-..John Charles, his brother, Mel,

-and Cliff Jones.

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-The 1976 team is different.

-They were part of my upbringing.

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-A time between school and college

-when only three things mattered.

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-Football, flares...

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-..and the Afro.

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-It's odd what a person

-finds in the attic.

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-Yes, Wales had an easy group.

-Austria, Hungary and Luxembourg.

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-You still had to beat them.

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-England, Scotland, the Republic

-of Ireland and Northern Ireland...

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-..despite all the stars

-in their ranks...

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-..didn't make the quarter-finals.

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-Wales had a new manager,

-new caps, a new captain...

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-..and one 34-year-old player

-from Division Three...

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-..playing a crucial role in the game

-against Austria on the Racecourse.

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-Arfon Griffiths.

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-I think it's a good side

-at the moment.

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-It's a hell of a good spirit there.

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-We're playing together

-consistently...

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-..and time will tell

-if we're good enough.

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-The '70s. What a decade.

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-Now that I've realized how great

-the achievement of '76 was...

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-..it's time to return

-to the root of the story.

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-There's only one way to do that -

-straight from the horse's mouth.

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-It's going to be quite a journey.

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-The journey begins

-in an unusual place.

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-I've known Huw Llywelyn Davies

-since the 1970s...

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-..but we've never discussed

-the football team of '76 before.

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-This team has had

-very little recognition.

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-Wales was the only team

-from the British Isles...

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-..to reach the last eight.

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-Did they live under the shadow

-of the Wales rugby team?

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-Yes, and that's been true

-of Wales' national team...

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-..over the years,

-but especially so during the '70s.

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-So much attention

-was given to the rugby team...

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-..not only in Europe

-but across the world.

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-They were recognized

-as one of the best.

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-Welsh communities knew the players.

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-They were part of the community.

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-There had been a general feeling...

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-..that the boys

-who played football for Wales...

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-..crossed Offa's Dyke

-for three days, played...

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-..and returned to play

-for their English clubs.

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-During this era, I was heavily

-involved with football.

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-There was always a good atmosphere

-with the Welsh squad.

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-They were a very Welsh group.

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-It was the beginning of Dai Davies'

-career, but there were others...

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-..John Mahoney, Brian Flynn

-and Leighton James.

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-You could sense their national pride

-during that time.

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-What about the fashion?

-You needed football and flares.

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-Shoulder-length hair,

-a beard or a trimmed beard.

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-It wasn't long after

-the Beatles era.

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-Everyone had long hair

-during that time.

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-Flares, wide ties

-and lapels stretching even wider.

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-That was the time.

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-What's the main reason

-for Wales' success?

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-Mike Smith has done a good job.

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-The camaraderie in the team,

-between the players, is good.

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-John Mahoney

-is Welsh through and through.

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-He wears a Cymdeithas Yr Iaith badge

-even though he speaks no Welsh.

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-He signed Plaid Cymru's

-St David's Day petition...

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-..and often stays

-in the Conwy Valley and Llandudno.

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-I roomed with Mahoney for most of

-the games. He was a true Welshman.

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-He was probably...

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-..Mr Welshness.

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-He roomed too long

-with Terry Conroy at Stoke.

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-He learnt

-all those Irish rebel songs.

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-I didn't used to want it to be...

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-..the honour for playing

-for your native land.

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-I didn't want it diluted.

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-I wanted people

-to appreciate the red jersey...

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-..and what it meant

-to play for Wales.

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-He believed that

-to motivate the players...

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-..you should play Welsh hymns

-and the Welsh national anthem.

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-When I got in the room...

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-..first thing

-as you walked down the corridor...

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-..he'd have this music on.

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-In the dressing rooms, he'd play it

-there and it became a regular thing.

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-He was a wonderful character.

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-I was always on the lookout

-for somebody if I thought...

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-..before the game,

-if they were talking or...

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-..joking,

-not so much talking but joking...

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-..instead of focused on the game.

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-It did used to irritate me, yeah.

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-I remember Ian Evans

-coming into the team...

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-..and before the game, team bonding

-was a couple of pints in the pub.

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-Ian was singing Maybe It's Because

-I'm A Londoner, which he was.

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-John Mahoney threw a pint over him.

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-Big Ian started crying.

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-Taffy, he was alright.

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-When he came into the squad first,

-he was a bit of a diamond geezer.

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-He thought he'd come from London

-and he was sweet.

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-I think he thought

-he was better than us...

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-..but he was alright after.

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-A few of us

-knocked him down a peg or two.

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-He was great then,

-I think he appreciated it.

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-I think his dad's

-from up the Gwent Valleys...

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-..but I know, in the end, he was...

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-..he was really proud

-to play for Wales, yeah, Taffy.

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-The new gaffer

-was by no means a Taffy.

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-What do you say to the charge

-that you're both an Englishman...

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-..and you have no experience

-in senior league football?

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-I've worked in Wales for six years

-as Director of Coaching.

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-I've handled Welsh teams

-on 64 occasions...

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-..against countries

-throughout the world.

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-I want to be associated

-with Welsh players.

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-You look at the characters

-in the dressing room.

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-Stubborn, pig-headed at times...

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-..single-minded...

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-Very.

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-..never suffered fools gladly...

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-Never.

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-..and yet,

-they were managed by a player...

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-..who'd only played

-amateur football, had no medals...

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-..no caps, and that is the most

-difficult thing of all to do.

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-If things go wrong, there are

-players who'll sit there...

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-..and say,

-"Show us your caps, guv'nor."

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-Yeah, to be fair to Mike...

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-..he was very thorough,

-at times nit-picky.

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-I'm certain that some of the players

-were unsure of him...

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-..because he hadn't succeeded

-as a player.

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-He was a good coach,

-he was a good talker...

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-..a good motivator,

-he was well-organized in our games.

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-He must have had a look at it before

-he became the Welsh manager...

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-..and thought, "I need to do that,

-I need to do that and do that."

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-We knew what we had to do.

-The players gelled well together.

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-He spoke...

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-The only other person I've heard

-speak like him would be Alf Ramsey.

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-Fears? No fears at all.

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-I've got some

-very good players there.

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-I've seen what they can do.

-I know they'll do well.

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-I don't think

-he'd mind me saying it...

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-..but we used to call him Smoothie

-because he had a way with words.

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-Interesting team talk?

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-Yeah, yeah, a lot of big words.

-Corrugated and marmalade thrown in.

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-We didn't really know sometimes

-what he was trying to get to.

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-He was so meticulous

-in his preparation.

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-We'd even receive a dossier

-three nights before a game.

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-Did you all read it?

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-Did you all read it?

-

-Some read more than others.

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-I went up to the room...

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-..and on the wall is a picture

-of Luxembourg's right-back...

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-..who was a bank manager.

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-We played Liverpool the day before

-and beat them.

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-I had to look at this picture

-of a bank manager from Luxembourg...

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-..having just beaten one of the best

-teams in the world the day before.

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-I went downstairs to Mike

-and said, "Who's that?"

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-He said, "That's your trouble,

-no respect for your opposition."

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-"Mike, not being funny, but I think

-he'll sleep a lot worse than I am...

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-"..about who he's facing

-on Wednesday."

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-Do you accept that being a

-non-Welshman might prove a handicap?

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-No, I don't see it at all.

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-As the new manager,

-a former amateur player...

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-..and an Englishman

-managing a Welsh team...

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-..a good start was important

-for Mike Smith.

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-We hated losing.

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-I don't know how for years...

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-..he was able to stay at Wrexham.

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-I'm not sure why I'm here,

-if I'm good enough.

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-There is the final whistle,

-Wales have done it.

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

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-Here in historic old Vienna...

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-..a new Wales team

-and a new Wales team manager...

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-..have come to test themselves

-against Austria.

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-September '74, the first game.

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-Even though the lads are confident

-and lead at half-time...

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-..Wales lose 2-1 in Vienna,

-but Mike Smith isn't too despondent.

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-To have come away

-and played so well for so long...

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-..that's a great tribute

-to the players.

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-As a side, we hated losing.

-We all wanted to win.

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-I don't think we ever thought

-we were out of it...

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-..just because

-we lost the first match.

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-Mike Smith has learnt

-from this trip.

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-Wales may well benefit

-from what he's learnt.

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-That game's gone,

-on to the next one.

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-However,

-the supporters weren't convinced.

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-In late October, the same night

-as the Rumble in the Jungle...

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-..between Ali and Foreman...

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-..the meagre 8,000 who turned up at

-Ninian Park for the second game...

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-..saw Wales beat Hungary 2-0.

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-It gave us a bit of hope.

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-I never thought

-we were without hope.

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-Sometimes, it's a strange thing

-to people who never played the game.

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-They wouldn't understand how one win

-can make a hell of a difference.

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-To Swansea, and the Vetch, next

-for the group's easiest game.

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-The night before

-the Birmingham pub bombings...

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-..and two days before Barry's

-Helen Morgan was crowned Miss World.

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-On the Vetch, Wales were too strong

-for the Luxembourg part-timers.

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-Five-nil.

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-What was Don Revie's attitude?

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-Did he like his players

-going away on international duty?

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-No, no.

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-He hated it.

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-The old bribes used to come out.

-"I'll match the match fee."

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-I loved playing for Wales.

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-I used to have

-quite a few conversations...

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-..with club managers of mine.

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-Certainly more than one of them...

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-..implied to me that you don't

-really want to go down to Wales...

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-..to play in a game like this when

-we've got a big game on Saturday.

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-But I always,

-unless I was injured...

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-..I'm turning up.

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-You get the likes of Paul Reaney,

-Terry Cooper, Norman Hunter...

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-..and Jack Charlton

-going away with England.

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-None of them ever, ever,

-including myself, he offered me...

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-..never, ever took the money.

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-To the last cap from the first,

-every one was the greatest honour...

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-..you could ever be bestowed upon.

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-One who had the honour for the first

-time against Hungary in Budapest...

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-..was Dai Davies.

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-It must be said that

-Everton's goalie had his doubts.

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-I wasn't sure what to expect,

-to be honest.

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-I boarded the bus and I told Roger

-Malone, one of the journalists...

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-..I didn't know why I was there,

-I wasn't sure I was good enough.

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-He replied,

-"If you weren't good enough...

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-"..Mike Smith

-wouldn't have picked you."

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-Dai was a terrific goalkeeper.

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-He was shouting all the time

-to the back four.

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-"Watch your right-hand side,

-watch your left-hand side."

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-I think Dai was good at seeing

-who wasn't really at it.

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-He'd be on their case, whether

-that's from his teaching background.

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-Are you glad

-you became a professional?

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-When I've met people like you, yes.

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-Would you rather be a schoolteacher?

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-Yes, no comment.

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-Brave goalkeeper.

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-Strong goalkeeper.

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-More than anything,

-he looked like a goalkeeper.

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-His physique was tremendous.

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-Dai was probably

-a little underrated.

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-What he did, he went about his job

-in a professional...

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-..and for Dai,

-a fairly quiet manner.

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-But he was a decent keeper.

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-If the starting eleven could gel,

-roll up their sleeves...

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-..be creative and win the game,

-it was great.

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-My first cap, 2-1, I don't remember

-the goal they scored.

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-I've forgotten it.

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-I remember

-not having any expectations.

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-All I wanted to do

-was prove to my teammates...

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-..I was good enough to be on

-an international pitch with them.

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-In 50 years,

-Hungary had never lost at home.

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-To go away from home and win

-away from home at that level...

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-..that in itself was quite a feat.

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-After that game, we all thought

-we had a fair chance of qualifying.

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-After victory in Budapest,

-the nation started to believe.

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-Next, a trip to Luxembourg,

-one of the European minnows.

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-If they were small, what about us?

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-"It is a real pleasure for us

-to welcome today in our midst...

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-"..the directors, players

-and football fans from Cumbria."

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-We might be small, but we were

-good enough to win at a canter.

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-Arfon Griffiths

-from Division Three...

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-..became a hero

-on the international stage.

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-The first cap I came on as

-a substitute against Czechoslovakia.

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-Dave Bowen was the manager.

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-I wasn't in his plans

-and that was it.

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-I was out for three or four years...

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-..until Mike Smith took over.

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-I wouldn't be here talking to you

-if he hadn't been manager.

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-He was the little general

-as John Mahoney called him.

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-He had so much ability.

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-He could have easily played

-at a higher level.

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-I don't know how for years...

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-..he was able to stay at Wrexham.

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-He was a better international

-than a player for Wrexham.

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-He had this wonderful ability

-to ghost into spaces...

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-..and score vital goals,

-as he did against Austria.

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-It came

-from a Rod Thomas through ball.

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-I saw the keeper come out

-and I just slotted it in.

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-I just couldn't believe it really.

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-I just thought me,

-a Hightown lad, a local lad...

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-..scoring a goal like that.

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-I enjoyed playing at the Racecourse,

-always a special atmosphere.

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-Always seemed to win there.

0:19:110:19:13

-The lads voted to play at Wrexham

-most of the time.

0:19:130:19:16

-It was a great sense of Welshness

-on those occasions.

0:19:160:19:21

-Wales one, Austria nil.

0:19:220:19:24

-A place beckoning

-in the quarter-final...

0:19:240:19:28

-..of the European Championship.

0:19:280:19:30

-There is the final whistle.

-Wales have done it.

0:19:310:19:35

-Because we're such a small nation,

-we went out and enjoyed ourselves.

0:19:350:19:40

-If we won, great.

-If we lost, we didn't expect to win.

0:19:400:19:43

-This team

-that we're talking about now...

0:19:460:19:49

-..to this day,

-is still the only team...

0:19:490:19:52

-..that Wales have had

-that topped its qualifying group.

0:19:520:19:56

-Winning five from six guaranteed

-a place in the last eight.

0:19:560:20:02

-To cap an incredible year

-for Arfon Griffiths...

0:20:030:20:06

-..he was on a different stage

-a few weeks later...

0:20:060:20:10

-..a hero far beyond his local area.

0:20:100:20:12

-Arfon, how do you feel?

0:20:140:20:16

-I just can't believe it.

0:20:170:20:19

-To be mentioned with all these

-famous sportsmen is enough...

0:20:190:20:22

-..but to win it is unbelievable.

0:20:230:20:26

-It's unreal, really.

0:20:260:20:28

-When you look at Gareth Edwards

-won it the year before...

0:20:280:20:32

-..and then Mervyn Davies

-won it the year after...

0:20:320:20:35

-..two icons in Welsh rugby...

0:20:350:20:37

-..and then you've got the likes

-of Gareth Bale today...

0:20:370:20:41

-..it's something

-to be very proud of.

0:20:420:20:45

-The Welsh Sports Personality

-of 1975, Arfon Griffiths.

0:20:460:20:50

-Eight countries left...

0:20:590:21:00

-..and two legs against Yugoslavia

-for a place in the finals.

0:21:000:21:05

-First up, Zagreb.

0:21:050:21:08

-I felt that we could go out

-and beat them.

0:21:080:21:10

-Plan was to keep it tight.

0:21:130:21:15

-We were up against it

-in the first minute.

0:21:150:21:17

-We're going to get stuffed.

0:21:180:21:20

-They were outstanding in Zagreb,

-they were outstanding.

0:21:200:21:24

-.

0:21:240:21:25

-Subtitles

0:21:280:21:28

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

0:21:280:21:30

-Following the civil war, much has

-changed in this corner of Europe...

0:22:030:22:08

-..but I doubt if Zagreb

-has changed in 40 years.

0:22:090:22:12

-Yes, it's a capital city now,

-but in 1976, under Tito's rule...

0:22:120:22:17

-..Yugoslavia was made up of Serbia,

-Macedonia, Croatia and so on.

0:22:170:22:23

-It was also a combination

-of football skills...

0:22:230:22:26

-..and they were a superb side

-known as the Brazil of the Balkans.

0:22:260:22:32

-Miroslav Rede has reported on

-Balkan football for over 50 years.

0:22:350:22:41

-He holds the Yugoslavians of '76

-in high regard.

0:22:410:22:44

-Yugoslavia had a special team

-in 1976.

0:22:460:22:49

-Coach 'Bice' Mladinic,

-formerly of Hajduk Split...

0:22:550:23:00

-..was one of Yugoslavia's

-greatest managers.

0:23:000:23:03

-A golden generation, developed

-through the youth system...

0:23:040:23:10

-..that came within a whisker

-of being European champions.

0:23:100:23:13

-In terms of Wales,

-what did you know about them?

0:23:140:23:17

-We knew very little about Wales,

-compared to England or Scotland.

0:23:180:23:24

-We had no idea

-how strong they were.

0:23:260:23:31

-We knew about the Welsh team

-of '58 in Sweden...

0:23:310:23:36

-..but we knew little

-about the Welsh team of '76.

0:23:360:23:39

-As the sports reporter for

-the Sportske Novosti newspaper...

0:23:400:23:48

-..I spent the whole of the week

-before the first game in Zagreb...

0:23:480:23:54

-..watching Welsh players

-playing for their English clubs.

0:23:540:24:04

-As I travelled home, Mike Smith

-was on the same plane as me...

0:24:060:24:13

-..on his way to watch Yugoslavia

-playing Hungary in Banja Luka.

0:24:130:24:18

-It was Smith who gave me this tie.

0:24:180:24:22

-He was such a fine man.

-One of the best. A real gentleman.

0:24:230:24:31

-The sun shone on Wales' success...

0:24:350:24:37

-..and though I'd never accuse anyone

-of being a fair-weather supporter...

0:24:370:24:42

-..the team of '76 basked

-in the glory...

0:24:430:24:46

-..but it wasn't easy to follow them.

0:24:460:24:49

-President Tito was in power,

-the Iron Curtain split Europe...

0:24:490:24:53

-..and only the brave

-headed to Zagreb.

0:24:530:24:55

-A month after Harold Wilson's

-resignation as Prime Minister...

0:25:010:25:05

-..with Save Your Kisses For Me

-topping the charts...

0:25:060:25:09

-..an adventure awaited old heads

-Wil, Glyn and John Llew.

0:25:090:25:14

-It was also an unforgettable

-experience for Karen...

0:25:170:25:21

-..a 14-year-old girl

-from Aberystwyth.

0:25:210:25:23

-A bus picked us up

-from the airport in Zagreb.

0:25:250:25:29

-It took us to the hotel.

0:25:300:25:32

-It was called

-Hotel Inter Continental.

0:25:320:25:36

-The whole trip cost 72.

0:25:360:25:40

-Did that include

-the cost of the flights?

0:25:400:25:43

-Yes, everything.

0:25:430:25:45

-Everything.

0:25:460:25:47

-We'd attended the home matches and

-Dad was taking my sister to Zagreb.

0:25:470:25:54

-I had a tantrum

-and got my own way in the end.

0:25:550:25:59

-Dad took both of us to Zagreb.

0:25:590:26:01

-Dad borrowed money

-from one of his friends...

0:26:020:26:05

-..to take me over.

0:26:060:26:08

-I'm so grateful he took me.

0:26:090:26:13

-I remember handing my passport over

-when we reached Yugoslavia.

0:26:160:26:20

-The girl who worked

-on the tollbooth looked up at me...

0:26:210:26:26

-..and looked down

-and tore a strip of paper.

0:26:270:26:30

-Here it is.

0:26:300:26:32

-For some reason,

-I've kept it in my records.

0:26:320:26:37

-Jugoslav 3 - Wels 0.

0:26:370:26:41

-Look how she spelt Wales.

0:26:420:26:44

-In her own language.

0:26:440:26:46

-I was in East Berlin

-when I was in the Army.

0:26:460:26:49

-Yugoslavia looked like East Berlin

-at the time.

0:26:490:26:53

-They'd never seen flares

-and colourful clothes.

0:26:530:26:58

-They were...

0:27:010:27:02

-..really, they were...

0:27:020:27:04

-..they wanted our clothes.

0:27:040:27:07

-Red and white scarves...

0:27:070:27:09

-..rosettes,

-they'd never seen things like this.

0:27:090:27:13

-They asked us what we wanted...

0:27:140:27:15

-..and we wanted

-an English breakfast.

0:27:160:27:18

-John wanted a continental,

-didn't he, Glyn?

0:27:180:27:21

-They served us a plate

-of bacon and eggs.

0:27:210:27:26

-John had a roll and a cup of coffee.

0:27:260:27:29

-"Where's my breakfast?" asked John.

0:27:310:27:33

-"There."

0:27:330:27:35

-That's what he ordered -

-the continental.

0:27:350:27:38

-I wanted something different.

0:27:380:27:40

-You were starving by midday.

0:27:400:27:42

-I was ready for another one

-straight after it.

0:27:420:27:46

-I have photos

-of Yugoslavia and Zagreb.

0:27:460:27:49

-John Mahoney out in Zagreb.

0:27:500:27:53

-My sister, Julie, with Brian Flynn.

0:27:540:27:57

-Me with Terry Yorath.

0:27:580:28:00

-Me and my sister,

-somewhere in Zagreb.

0:28:010:28:04

-This is a clipping from a newspaper

-out in Yugoslavia.

0:28:050:28:10

-Me, there.

0:28:100:28:12

-Dad and Julie.

0:28:130:28:15

-Because we were behind

-the Iron Curtain...

0:28:160:28:18

-..this man followed us around.

0:28:190:28:21

-Dad spotted him...

0:28:210:28:24

-..and what happened?

0:28:240:28:26

-Julie and myself went one way

-and Dad went the other way.

0:28:260:28:30

-The man didn't know which way to go.

0:28:310:28:33

-We couldn't spend time with them

-the night before the game.

0:28:340:28:38

-What state would the lads have been

-in had they spent time with you...

0:28:380:28:44

-..the night before a game?

0:28:440:28:46

-Eh, John?

0:28:470:28:48

-Glyn is the pacemaker.

0:28:490:28:50

-We went out for a wander, in a taxi.

0:28:510:28:54

-All the taxis

-were small Volkswagens, Beetles.

0:28:540:28:58

-Joey Jones almost lost a leg

-on one of the trips.

0:29:000:29:05

-The driver was ready to take us...

0:29:050:29:08

-..and half of Joey Jones' leg

-was outside and the door was open.

0:29:080:29:13

-You pulled the door behind him

-and Joey Jones almost lost his leg!

0:29:130:29:18

-It would have been the end

-of his career.

0:29:180:29:22

-It was an absolutely

-fantastic experience.

0:29:230:29:28

-I'm so glad about it all.

0:29:280:29:30

-Hands in your pocket when it's cold.

0:29:320:29:34

-Hands in your pocket when it's cold.

-

-In your own pocket!

0:29:340:29:36

-The team of '76 finished

-at the top of their group.

0:29:520:29:55

-They were one of Europe's

-eight best teams.

0:29:550:29:58

-They played the first leg

-away from home.

0:29:580:30:01

-When you visit

-a 48,000-seater football cauldron...

0:30:010:30:04

-..the plan is simple.

0:30:050:30:07

-Silence the crowd, keep things tight

-and don't concede at all...

0:30:070:30:12

-..especially

-in the first 20 minutes.

0:30:120:30:15

-That was the plan anyway.

0:30:150:30:17

-What could go wrong?

0:30:180:30:20

-There was a lot of confidence

-in the team and we had good players.

0:30:220:30:26

-Terry Yorath, Brian Flynn.

0:30:260:30:27

-We felt we could go out

-and we could beat them.

0:30:280:30:31

-It was a difficult game. It would've

-been for any country playing them.

0:30:320:30:35

-I like the challenge

-of European competition.

0:30:360:30:39

-It makes a change from

-42 First Division games each season.

0:30:390:30:43

-It's a fresh challenge to pit

-your wits against these players.

0:30:430:30:47

-I'm looking forward to it.

0:30:470:30:49

-At this stage,

-when you're in the last eight...

0:30:490:30:52

-..all sides

-have got talented players.

0:30:530:30:55

-Yugoslavia have their fair share.

0:30:550:30:57

-Basically, it was simple.

0:30:580:31:01

-We've got a game plan.

-Our plan was to keep it tight.

0:31:010:31:04

-The plan worked to perfection

-for 40 seconds.

0:31:080:31:13

-We didn't play particularly well...

0:31:170:31:20

-..I'll be honest,

-we were up against it.

0:31:200:31:23

-One-nil. Then we went two-nil down.

0:31:240:31:26

-Dai brought off a brilliant save

-off Jimmy Hadziabdic.

0:31:310:31:35

-It was a hell of a shock...

0:31:400:31:43

-..to hear that I'd been called up

-to the Yugoslavian squad...

0:31:430:31:47

-..for the first time

-by the manager Ante Mladinic.

0:31:470:31:52

-I was the youngest player in

-the squad and it felt like a dream.

0:31:530:31:58

-The memories are still vivid because

-I was one of the stars of the game.

0:31:580:32:05

-I remember Dzemal Hadziabdic...

0:32:060:32:08

-..winning the ball

-on the half-way line.

0:32:090:32:12

-He only had me to beat.

0:32:120:32:14

-I dived at his feet

-and made the save.

0:32:140:32:17

-We could have started

-the second leg 3-0 down.

0:32:180:32:21

-We did well in terms

-of restricting them...

0:32:210:32:25

-..and limiting them

-to a 2-0 deficit...

0:32:250:32:28

-..which we felt, had we got

-an early goal in the return leg...

0:32:280:32:32

-..everything to play for.

0:32:320:32:34

-I enjoy browsing

-through old newspapers.

0:32:380:32:40

-Before heading home, I perused,

-read and discovered more...

0:32:410:32:46

-..about a mystery from the east that

-played its part in the second leg.

0:32:460:32:51

-There's a reference

-to referee Rudi Glockner.

0:32:560:32:59

-We'll return to Rudi Glockner

-during this story.

0:33:000:33:03

-He's at the centre of the story,

-his name pops up all the time.

0:33:030:33:08

-I'll draw your attention

-to another name - Necdet Cobanli.

0:33:080:33:13

-He was a Turkish millionaire.

0:33:140:33:16

-In '76,

-he was UEFA's delegate at the game.

0:33:160:33:20

-He was highly respected within UEFA.

0:33:210:33:26

-He was also responsible...

0:33:270:33:29

-..for securing the finals

-here in Yugoslavia...

0:33:300:33:34

-..if Yugoslavia won.

0:33:340:33:36

-He had the power,

-he had the influence.

0:33:360:33:40

-I'm not implying anything,

-but it's odd, isn't it?

0:33:420:33:46

-In '76, he was elected

-to FIFA's executive committee.

0:33:460:33:52

-When he died in 2012, he was

-highly praised by Sepp Blatter.

0:33:530:33:59

-That's never a good thing.

0:34:000:34:02

-Back home for the next challenge...

0:34:050:34:08

-..and to face Glockner.

0:34:100:34:12

-Horrible, arrogant man.

0:34:120:34:14

-I felt that things

-weren't quite right.

0:34:140:34:17

-Over the two legs,

-they were better than us.

0:34:190:34:21

-We're fighters. We'll have a go.

0:34:220:34:25

-.

0:34:250:34:25

-Subtitles

0:34:300:34:30

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

0:34:300:34:32

-And that's that.

0:34:570:34:58

-The all-important game

-on 21 May, 1976.

0:34:590:35:02

-Ninian Park. 3.00pm kick-off.

0:35:020:35:04

-In the match programme

-there's an acknowledgement...

0:35:040:35:08

-..that UEFA had promised

-that the finals...

0:35:080:35:12

-..would be held in Yugoslavia...

0:35:120:35:15

-..if they beat Wales.

0:35:160:35:18

-That was UEFA's promise.

0:35:180:35:20

-That was the offer.

-All they had to do was beat Wales.

0:35:220:35:25

-The game was held in Ninian Park

-and there's another story.

0:35:250:35:29

-The players felt at home in Wrexham.

0:35:300:35:32

-The Racecourse was their fortress.

0:35:320:35:35

-The Football Association of Wales

-held a vote...

0:35:350:35:39

-..to decide whether the game

-would be held in Wrexham or Cardiff.

0:35:390:35:43

-The vote ended in a tie - 10-10.

0:35:430:35:46

-The casting vote was given

-to the president at the time.

0:35:460:35:49

-He would decide

-where Wales would play Yugoslavia.

0:35:500:35:52

-Terry Squire, God rest his soul...

0:35:530:35:56

-..chose Cardiff as the venue.

0:35:570:35:59

-Hindsight is wonderful.

0:36:000:36:01

-"Our Most Demanding Test"

-is the headline.

0:36:020:36:04

-"Far from impossible,"

-said Mike Smith, on condition...

0:36:040:36:08

-.."at no time must we allow

-our hearts to rule our heads."

0:36:080:36:13

-Patience, passion

-and support was crucial.

0:36:130:36:19

-Passion and support, yes.

0:36:200:36:22

-Patience, I'm not so sure.

0:36:220:36:24

-I am sure of one thing...

0:36:240:36:26

-..everyone who had one of these...

0:36:270:36:29

-..piled into Ninian Park

-that afternoon.

0:36:290:36:32

-With the Yugoslavs

-heading to Cardiff...

0:36:350:36:37

-..along with East German referee

-Rudi Glockner...

0:36:370:36:41

-..and UEFA's representative,

-Necdet Cobanli...

0:36:410:36:44

-..there was fire in Welsh bellies.

0:36:440:36:46

-Mike Smith's team knew

-that a resounding victory...

0:36:470:36:51

-..would secure a place in the finals

-in East Germany, not Yugoslavia.

0:36:510:36:57

-You were still in the game,

-weren't you?

0:36:580:37:01

-Going into the second leg,

-you had a chance.

0:37:010:37:04

-Yes, we did.

0:37:040:37:05

-I felt we had the ability...

0:37:050:37:08

-..to come back from the two goals

-they had scored at home.

0:37:080:37:14

-I still felt, being at home,

-crowd behind us...

0:37:160:37:20

-..if we get a break early doors,

-then we can do it.

0:37:200:37:25

-There's always that thing...

0:37:250:37:28

-..with Wales

-and Welsh sport in general...

0:37:280:37:32

-..we're fighters, we'll have a go.

0:37:320:37:35

-With our side, with our players,

-players who want to do well...

0:37:360:37:40

-..they'll do so much better

-if the crowd's behind them.

0:37:400:37:43

-I didn't sort of feel inspired

-by the crowd before the game.

0:37:470:37:52

-It was more of a hostility

-towards them and not for us.

0:37:520:37:58

-There was a sense of anger

-and ill feeling.

0:37:590:38:05

-Rudi Glockner,

-the referee from East Germany...

0:38:080:38:11

-..complained that his country's flag

-wasn't being flown.

0:38:110:38:18

-Coming back to Cardiff,

-we had the East German referee...

0:38:190:38:23

-..who came into town

-like a gunslinger.

0:38:230:38:26

-He was arrogant, he was arrogant.

0:38:260:38:29

-Horrible, arrogant man.

0:38:310:38:32

-He wanted the East German

-national anthem played...

0:38:330:38:36

-..which the Welsh FA refused to do

-and I think he took it out on us.

0:38:360:38:40

-Terry Yorath

-leads out the Welsh team...

0:38:400:38:43

-..to climb their hill

-as manager Mike Smith has put it.

0:38:430:38:48

-Most of Wales has come up

-from the valleys to support them.

0:38:480:38:52

-Just listen to this atmosphere.

0:38:520:38:54

-It's something that hasn't been

-experienced here...

0:38:540:38:59

-..or any other ground around Wales

-for a tremendously long time.

0:38:590:39:04

-The most important match Wales have

-played since the 1958 World Cup.

0:39:050:39:11

-I'll never forget the manager's

-words before the game.

0:39:110:39:15

-He warned us that

-the atmosphere would be different...

0:39:150:39:18

-..to anything

-we had experienced before.

0:39:180:39:21

-I couldn't sleep at all

-the night before the game...

0:39:210:39:26

-..worrying about who I was marking.

0:39:280:39:31

-I'd watched British football

-on TV before...

0:39:320:39:37

-..but it was like stepping through

-the gates of hell at Ninian Park.

0:39:370:39:43

-You got the impression the referee

-was waiting to do something...

0:39:450:39:49

-..to aid them a little bit.

0:39:500:39:52

-Being a referee

-is a difficult job...

0:39:530:39:56

-..but I felt that things

-weren't quite right.

0:39:560:40:00

-But even during the game,

-I felt we had the ability.

0:40:000:40:04

-The early ball

-trying to set Popivoda away.

0:40:060:40:09

-It might well have succeeded.

0:40:090:40:11

-The referee is moving

-towards the spot...

0:40:110:40:14

-..and has given it.

0:40:140:40:17

-What a disaster for Wales

-and they can't believe it.

0:40:170:40:21

-Popivoda, the left winger, he dived.

0:40:210:40:25

-There was no contact...

0:40:250:40:27

-..and he dived before Malcolm Page

-made contact with him.

0:40:270:40:30

-Listen to the booing.

0:40:310:40:33

-It's 1-0 here and 3-0 on aggregate.

0:40:340:40:37

-We were losing 1-0. That was

-an even bigger mountain to climb.

0:40:380:40:42

-There were some tasty challenges

-flying around.

0:40:430:40:46

-Being a forward player, I was

-on the wrong end of quite a few.

0:40:460:40:49

-We received little or no protection.

0:40:500:40:52

-James.

0:40:520:40:54

-Flynn.

0:40:540:40:55

-Some of our players

-lost their heads.

0:40:560:40:59

-The challenges were flying in.

0:40:590:41:02

-It was a dirty game.

0:41:020:41:04

-I look at it and I think to myself,

-it was shocking really.

0:41:050:41:09

-The referee came in

-from East Germany into Heathrow.

0:41:090:41:13

-He had to find his own way down...

0:41:130:41:15

-..to Cardiff.

0:41:160:41:18

-East Germany

-in the Communist country...

0:41:180:41:21

-..Yugoslavia

-in the Communist country.

0:41:210:41:23

-Yugoslavia were going to have

-the semi-finals.

0:41:230:41:26

-Reading between the lines...

0:41:270:41:29

-But you could have got yourself

-sent off.

0:41:300:41:32

-Yes, I agree with you.

0:41:330:41:35

-It was one of those games where

-Muzinic, he was tackling Flynny...

0:41:350:41:41

-..he was pulling his jersey.

0:41:410:41:44

-After one foul, the last foul,

-I confronted him...

0:41:450:41:48

-..and I said, you know,

-what's going on, in my terms.

0:41:480:41:54

-He spat at me.

0:41:540:41:56

-I thought to myself,

-well, I was boiling, wasn't I?

0:41:560:42:00

-I tackled him, I trod all over him

-to be honest with you.

0:42:000:42:04

-How I stayed on, I just don't know.

0:42:040:42:07

-But that was the referee.

-He gave some confusing decisions.

0:42:070:42:11

-You just couldn't believe it.

0:42:110:42:13

-A goalkeeper can do nothing...

0:42:140:42:16

-..when something happens

-at the far end of the pitch...

0:42:160:42:19

-..but I thought

-our luck was out that night.

0:42:190:42:22

-You have to roll your sleeves up,

-front up and do your best.

0:42:220:42:27

-Oh, he hit the post.

0:42:270:42:31

-Unbelievable luck.

0:42:310:42:32

-Toshack. Griffiths. Good blocking.

0:42:350:42:39

-Evans! Yes.

0:42:400:42:43

-When Taffy equalised, Ian Evans,

-we felt we had momentum...

0:42:430:42:48

-..which we did.

0:42:490:42:50

-We did have a fair amount of control

-of the game as I remember.

0:42:510:42:55

-Tosh scores two goals,

-one was given offside...

0:42:550:42:59

-..and the other was given against

-Mahoney because his feet were high.

0:42:590:43:04

-Toshack. Here's Mahoney. Toshack.

0:43:040:43:07

-The whistle has gone,

-it's not going to count.

0:43:070:43:11

-The crowd could see

-what was happening.

0:43:110:43:14

-They were getting frustrated.

0:43:150:43:17

-The crowd are now going mad.

0:43:170:43:20

-You weren't renowned as

-a penalty taker during your career.

0:43:200:43:25

-I'd never, ever

-taken a penalty in my life.

0:43:250:43:28

-Toshack in on Maric.

0:43:280:43:30

-Mahoney.

0:43:310:43:32

-And Maric doing supremely well.

0:43:320:43:35

-He's given a penalty, or has he?

0:43:370:43:41

-Yes, he has indeed.

0:43:410:43:43

-Arfon Griffiths

-was our penalty taker.

0:43:430:43:45

-Arfon had gone off because Mike

-wanted to put an extra forward on.

0:43:460:43:50

-Why didn't Leighton James

-take the penalty?

0:43:510:43:54

-I'd missed one.

0:43:540:43:55

-The last one I'd taken,

-I missed one against Luxembourg.

0:43:550:43:58

-And Tosh then took the next one,

-I think it was...

0:43:590:44:03

-..against Hungary, out in the

-Nepstadion and he missed that.

0:44:030:44:08

-Terry picks the ball up and sees

-the backs of Welsh players.

0:44:080:44:12

-I turned around to Tosh

-and I said...

0:44:140:44:16

-Nah. No chance.

0:44:190:44:21

-Leighton James. No chance.

0:44:210:44:24

-Brian Flynn. No chance.

0:44:240:44:27

-Looks like

-I'm going to have to take it.

0:44:290:44:31

-Terry Yorath has a chance

-from the penalty spot.

0:44:330:44:36

-My knees were rattling.

0:44:360:44:38

-This is one of the most important

-penalties that Wales will have.

0:44:390:44:43

-Maric saves it.

0:44:460:44:47

-I don't think Terry

-minds me saying this...

0:44:480:44:50

-..but it was the worst penalty

-I'd ever seen.

0:44:500:44:53

-I'll give you your time again.

0:44:530:44:55

-Penalty's been given -

-do you pick up the ball?

0:44:550:44:59

-I would do if no-one else wanted it.

0:45:000:45:02

-I'd do it again.

0:45:030:45:04

-But I'd make sure I'd stick it

-in the top left-hand corner.

0:45:040:45:08

-Rudi Glockner says enough is enough.

0:45:080:45:10

-Indeed, one has to agree with him.

0:45:110:45:13

-A sad afternoon for Wales.

0:45:130:45:17

-I have to be honest about it.

0:45:170:45:19

-Over the two legs,

-they were better than us.

0:45:190:45:23

-They were a slick side.

-They could keep possession.

0:45:230:45:28

-We, as defenders, had to run.

0:45:280:45:31

-We had to chase and get organized.

0:45:310:45:34

-They were a good side, John.

0:45:340:45:37

-It wasn't to be.

0:45:380:45:40

-Looking back, we readily accept...

0:46:020:46:05

-..that the team of '58 were lucky

-to reach the World Cup finals.

0:46:050:46:10

-There are enough stars in the

-current team to shine in France...

0:46:100:46:14

-..but the fact that the boys

-of '76 have been forgotten...

0:46:140:46:19

-..really gets under my skin.

0:46:190:46:21

-They all deserve a place

-in the Hall of Fame.

0:46:210:46:24

-For some unknown reason, people

-have forgotten all about this.

0:46:330:46:38

-If we went to the tournament, like

-the present side going to France...

0:46:430:46:47

-..perhaps we'd have had

-the recognition we deserved.

0:46:480:46:51

-Looking back,

-I often think sometimes...

0:46:560:47:00

-..it's like a memory

-that didn't happen.

0:47:010:47:03

-Just listen to this atmosphere.

0:47:040:47:06

-A group of boys

-who'd done their best.

0:47:090:47:12

-They gave a hundred percent.

0:47:120:47:14

-They entertained the supporters.

0:47:160:47:19

-They really are on their way now.

0:47:200:47:23

-This team that we're talking

-about now, to this day...

0:47:260:47:29

-..is still the only team

-that Wales have had...

0:47:300:47:32

-..that topped its qualifying group.

0:47:320:47:34

-Eleven heroes on that pitch.

0:47:360:47:38

-We qualified.

0:47:420:47:44

-Nobody will ever

-take that away from us.

0:47:440:47:47

-Wales have done it.

-What a tremendous performance.

0:47:480:47:51

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