Caroline Brouwer is one of the unsung heroes of our 1988 FA Cup final win, having served as the physio who was responsible for making the Crazy Gang tick.
From the buoyant personalities to the unique style of play that the team adopted, Caroline witnessed everything that Bobby’s Gould’s men had to offer and was regularly involved with the team on an everyday basis.
On Saturday she returned to Plough Lane as our special guest – however, as she revealed, it was far from the first time she had stepped foot in the Cherry Red Records Stadium!
Watch and read the full interview with Caroline below.
“It’s a real treat to be honest as I don’t see myself as a superstar or anything like that,” said Caroline. “To be invited is really quite special. I come along and pay for my own ticket quite regularly – it’s what suits me.
“I wasn’t anywhere near being a fan before I joined Wimbledon as I previously worked for Leatherhead, who saw the Dons as the bully boys of the league! In those days Women very rarely got jobs in football. I was the first one to break that glass ceiling.
“I cannot speak highly enough of Don Howe, he was an absolute gentleman. He always looked out for me and gave his constructive opinion. He was a real father figure to plenty of people. A brilliant man and a mastermind behind how we played against Liverpool.
“People I hadn’t seen for 10 to 15 years were calling me up asking for tickets to the FA Cup final! It was a horrendously hot day. We had towels in ice baths ready to cool the players down at half-time.
“Princess Diana looked so stunning in the Royal Box, she was effortlessly chic. I had been massaging and preparing the players for an hour and a half before the game, so I felt so inelegant by comparison! In the grand scheme of things it didn’t matter as it was a wonderful moment. When I watched Lurch (Dave Beasant) collect the FA Cup I was bursting with pride!”
In case you missed it – you can also watch our post-match interview with Lee Brown below, as our defender reflected on picking up a 16th clean sheet of the season against Salford City on Saturday.
