Dickie Guy says that Saturday’s big FA Cup tie against West Ham is an opportunity for Wally and the boys to create more club history after his penalty saving heroics in 1975.
The Emirates FA Cup tie against the Hammers will be almost 44 years to the day since Dickie Guy’s penalty save against Leeds United, who reached the European Cup Final later that season.
Our Club President missed the Carabao Cup tie against West Ham earlier this season and he’s looking forward to attending this time around.
“I am absolutely delighted that the club is in the fourth round,” said Dickie. “It’s a big opportunity for the players, and for Wally and the staff. It’s a chance for them to put their mark on the club and create a new piece of history.
“I can’t wait for Saturday’s game. We played them earlier in the season, but I wasn’t at that game because I was away in Spain. I managed to watch it on TV in a bar, but I’m looking forward to being there for this one. I can’t wait.
“It’s a big game against a London club. I think I’d prefer it to be at West Ham, where there could have been 40,000 or 50,000 watching, but I’m sure our fans are going to create a fantastic atmosphere, and that aspect will make it a big night for the club.”
Dickie believes that Wally Downes is the right man to take AFC Wimbledon forward and he says that our manager has matured a lot since the days when they were team-mates! Dickie recalled being the victim of a prank instigated by Wally when they both played for the reserves.
“Wally is a character,” added Dickie. “There is one story about Wally that I can tell you. We were coming back from a reserve game and we stopped the coach at a garage so that we could go to the toilet. I was in there with my club jumper on and dark blue trousers. There was a carton of Ajax on the floor, but Wally came in and snapped it in half! He was only 16 and I was 28 or 29, and a senior pro at the club. He had only been here a few months, but he has come in, broken it in half, and poured this white powder over me! I was covered in white powder! I made sure I got my own back on the coach. That’s one story about Wally, but I’m sure there are hundreds more!
“He’s matured a lot now and he has great coaching experience. I didn’t want Neal Ardley to go, but at the end I think the time had come. When I knew that Neal was going, Wally was my first choice. I still think that he can get us out of trouble.”
“He is a very experienced coach. Wally worked with Sam Allardyce at West Ham and helped get the club back into the Premier League. He also worked for a long time with Steve Coppell, having great success with Reading. Wally has got great contacts through football and his approach to the game is what I really like. It doesn’t matter who we are playing against he will go for it.”
If you missed Dickie's recollection of THAT penalty save back in 1975, see our previous article.