When Charlton Athletic met Sunderland within the First Division play-off ultimate in 1998, the sport pitted Alan Curbishley and Peter Reid in opposition to one another in a extremely tense atmosphere at Wembley.
Nonetheless, the pair have been relaxed earlier than kick-off, conversing and joking with one another within the tunnel whereas each groups have been conducting their heat ups. As each Curbishley and Reid clarify, tales have been exchanged in a pleasant method, all earlier than a extremely tetchy match for a shot within the Premier League.
“When the boys went out to heat up, I stood within the tunnel with Reidy as a result of there was nowhere for us to go,” Curbishley tells FFT. “If we have been at The Valley or the Stadium of Mild, the boss would have an workplace. However we simply stood there within the tunnel, chatting.”
Reid provides his facet of the story, too.
“I used to be very comfy with him,” says Reid. “We have been speaking about occasions passed by, taking part in in opposition to one another. I feel I received him pissed on Blue Nun when he was at Brighton – we had fun about that.”
That dialog did not detract from both supervisor’s deal with the sport at hand, although, with Curbishley reminding his gamers of the prize at stake for his Charlton staff.
“We have been the underdogs that day, I suppose,” Curbishley admits. “However we have been assured, as a result of we hadn’t let any objectives in and it was a settled staff. I mentioned, ‘I don’t need anyone waving to their household and looking out round – I do know it’s a colossal match, however let’s focus’.”
Whereas Charlton did let objectives in that day, 4 to be actual, additionally they managed the identical whole themselves, courtesy of a Clive Mendonca hat-trick. After 120 minutes, with the scores degree at 4-4, a penalty shootout was wanted to find out which facet would acquire promotion to the Premier League.
Charlton finally received 7-6, with Sunderland defender Michael Grey the one participant to overlook his spot kick. This wasn’t via an absence of preparation, although, which Reid explains.
“We had our coaching periods on the Stadium of Mild and practised penalties after each session,” Reid tells FFT. “I all the time thought we have been somewhat bit higher than Charlton, although.”
