FA Cup Quarter Final

Notts County 1     Everton 2
Chiedozie 18                                          Richardson 6
                                                              Gray 47
 

Attendance :- 19,534
Referee:-  J. Martin (Alton)
Weather:- Rain, becoming heavy in the 2nd half
 

Notts County
Colours:- White shirts with black dual pinstripes, Black shorts, White socks
League Position:- before match 21st/22, after match 22nd/22 (Top tier)
Manager:- Larry Lloyd

1.   Mick Leonard
2.   Aki Lahtinen
3.   David Clarke
4.   Pedro Richards
5.   Brian Kilcline
6.   David Hunt
7.   Martin O'Neill
8.   Trevor Christie
9.   Iain McCulloch
10. Ian McParland *
11. John Chiedozie

Sub: Mark Goodwin *

Everton
Colours:- Blue shirts, White shorts, Blue socks
League Position:- before match 15th/22, after match 15th/22 (Top tier)
Manager:- Howard Kendall

1.   Neville Southall
2.   Gary Stevens
3.   John Bailey
4.   Kevin Ratcliffe
5.   Derek Mountfield
6.   Peter Reid
7.   Alan Irvine
8.   Kevin Richardson
9.   Graeme Sharp
10. Andy Gray
11. Kevin Sheedy *

Sub: Alan Harper *

Click here to read Jimmy Sirrel's programme notes

Video of the match:- BBC cameras recorded the match for extended highlights on that night's "Match of the Day". See Notts on the box - The 1980's.

No reports available

Up the Maggies footnote:
Only the FA Cup and League Cup offered a chance of going to Wembley in those days, so this was a very big deal for Notts. It had been 29 years since County had last reached the Quarter-Finals of the FA Cup and, as in 1955, they were again handed a home tie. Their opponents Everton were taking their first baby steps towards an incredible run of success having already booked their place in the League cup final. Only a month earlier Everton had beaten Notts 4-1 in a top flight league fixture at Goodison Park, they had also won at Meadow Lane earlier in the season. By contrast, struggling Notts hadn't won a league game since December and had only reached the sixth round by beating three clubs in division's below them; Bristol City, Huddersfield Town and Middlesbrough. The precious Quarter-final home advantage was partially conceded by Notts' own officials who made the contentious decision to hand over the whole of the County Road stand (as well as half of the Kop) to Everton fans. With the Meadow Lane end still only offering a few token steps, there was now no obvious recognisable home end - all we could see from the main stand was blue and white. It was a big mistake, Everton didn't quite sell out their allocation but were still able to make an atmosphere that suggested it was they who were playing at home. Forced out of my regular spot under the Road stand roof, I was on the terraces in the main stand that day - getting absolutely soaked in the rain whilst standing on tip-toe up against the panelling of the seating area in order to see over the heads of the adults. Attacking the Meadow Lane end in the first half, Notts had an effort cleared off the line during an early spell of pressure that also saw an O'Neill free-kick tipped over the bar and County winning four consecutive corners, but up the other end a throw-in bounced kindly for Kevin Richardson who simply nodded the ball in for a soft opening goal, 1-0 to Everton with only 6 minutes gone. Notts were soon level however, McCulloch's cross on 18 found Christie who's header was brilliantly parried - only for John Chiedozie to prod home the equaliser. Some shocking defending almost allowed Sharp to restore Everton's lead whilst Lahtinen and McCulloch forced further fine saves out of Neville Southall. Notts began the 2nd half by winning a corner but within 2 minutes Everton were back in front with one of the most ridiculous goals ever seen at Meadow Lane; a Sheedy free-kick was floated in from the left and Andy Gray appeared to miss-time his diving header, but the ball hit the side of Gray's head as he hit the ground and the ball then bobbled into the net just inside the post, 2-1 Everton. "How can Notts County recover from that blow?" asked 'Match of the Day' commentator John Motson. The rain was now teaming down and the pitch soon became a mud bath. Christie went close with Notts best 2nd half chance whilst Everton would have had a third goal had it not been for the mud holding up Sharp's goal bound effort at the very end. Unlike 1955, nobody had been confidently expecting Notts to make the Semi-final this time around, but it was still bitterly disappointing, especially given the nature of Everton's winning goal (A point for Wolves that afternoon also saw Notts sink to the foot of the old 1st Division table for the first time since promotion had been won three season's earlier). Many Notts players on duty in this Quarter-final later cited it as the biggest disappointment of their career, including Martin O'Neill who bemoaned the lack of belief in the side that, on the day, really could have won.

Notts County Season 1983/84
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