Manchester United, the team that put adventure back into English football, now have a trophy to show that their way is the right way.
Tommy Docherty, the manager who hauled the club back on to its feet with a revival of fair, entertaining soccer, finally saw his ambitions expressed in the FA Cup.
The Doc, previously a three time loser in FA Cup finals, has beaten his jinx to give Manchester United their first major honour since the days of Sir Matt Busby and the European Cup of 1968.
Now nine years and a lot of despair and heartbreak later, United have beaten Liverpool 2-1 to win the 1977 FA Cup and give Wembley a soccer classic.They did it because they managed to match their golden goal touch with probably their best defensive display of the season.
Young defenders Arthur Albiston and Jimmy Nicholl played like lions in their first final, especially Albiston, the 19-year-old Scot, only called up because of injury to Stewart Houston.
Albiston was United's players choice as man-of-the-match. No doubt one of the reasons was because they thought that the enforced change at left back could have been their downfall.
Long-serving Alex Stepney, overjoyed at finally landing a cup winners' medal, said: "I was worried about the young lads at the back, but they were fantastic."
Skipper Martin Buchan who played with superb conviction despite fighting against injury all week, added: "I have been one of Arthur's biggest critics, but now he is due great praise."Albiston had to battle against the varied attacks of Jimmy Case and Kevin Keegan on his flank and as centre-half Brian Greenhoff said: "Arthur played out of his skin."
