It was the ultimate David v Goliath encounter.
The Football League champions against the Southern Leaguers, the consummate professionals versus the part timers, a team full of international superstars facing a collection of teachers, bank clerks and delivery men, the man with the hardest shot in football one-on-one against a bearded tally clerk from the London docks.
As the football world pays tribute following the death of Peter Lorimer (pictured below), Stephen Crabtree recalls the moment his penalty kick put the club on the map. With less than 10 minutes to go in a fourth round FA Cup tie at Elland Road in January 1975 the 1,500 or so travelling fans in a crowd of over 46,000 held their breath. Having seen their brave heroes hold out for so long, surely it would not be all over now.
The man in all-green who stood between the posts had not conceded a goal since a first qualifying match at Bracknell Town, seven rounds and nearly 12 hours of football ago. “I don’t think anyone gave me a dog’s chance,” Dickie Guy recalled. “But instead of his normal blast he placed it and I dived to my right to save it – and I became the hero of the hour. To earn a replay was extraordinary against the ‘giants’ of the decade.”
So it is appropriate that everyone at Wimbledon remembers Peter Lorimer; the man who scored a record number of goals for Leeds, who played for Scotland in the 1974 World Cup, and who helped little Wimbledon in their rise towards the national stage. RIP.
The picture below shows Dickie's famous penalty save, plus Peter Lorimer battling for possession with Dave Bassett.