Cocky Robins ruffle Reds’ feathers

Saturday 10th January 1981 – FA Cup Third Round
Liverpool 4–1 Altrincham
Scorers: McDermott (27’), Dalglish (39’, 54’), R. Kennedy (88’); Heathcote (71’, pen)

If Everton had been given a fright back in 1975, it was cross-city rivals Liverpool who came close to embarrassment six years later. By now seasoned giant-killers, Altrincham were drawn against Bob Paisley’s reigning league champions and European Cup holders in the Third Round of the 1980/81 FA Cup.

It was the ultimate glamour tie — Altrincham heading to Anfield to face a side boasting the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Terry McDermott, Jimmy Case, Ray Kennedy, Phil Neal and Ray Clemence. Liverpool were at the peak of their powers, and few gave the non-leaguers much chance.

But Altrincham were no ordinary non-league side. Tony Sanders’ men were champions of the Alliance Premier League (the forerunner of today’s National League), and they travelled with belief — and with an astonishing 5,000 away fans packed into the Anfield Road end to roar them on.

The Robins made Liverpool work hard. McDermott opened the scoring just before the half hour, with Dalglish adding a second before the break and a third early in the second half. Yet Alty refused to crumble. With twenty minutes left, Graham Heathcote coolly converted a penalty to spark jubilation among the travelling masses and briefly ruffle the champions.

Although Ray Kennedy added a late fourth for Liverpool, the story of the afternoon was Altrincham’s spirit and resilience. Against a backdrop of both Liverpool and Everton playing FA Cup ties at home on the same day, it was the non-league Robins who stole the column inches. The Liverpool Echo memorably led with the headline: “Cocky Robins ruffle Reds’ feathers.”

Journalist Ann Cummings captured the mood perfectly:

“Tonight (Monday) Altrincham take on Cammell Laird in the Cheshire Senior Cup just two days after the glamorous appearance at Anfield against mighty Liverpool with every right to hold their heads up high. Their dreams of FA Cup glory have vanished, but they were a credit to themselves, their manager and their fans with a gutsy performance that earned them a deserved standing ovation at the end of 90 pulsating minutes of football on the famous Anfield turf.”

Liverpool may have progressed, but the day belonged to Altrincham. The 5,000 travelling supporters went home with memories to last a lifetime — proof that in the FA Cup, even the mightiest can be ruffled.

Altrincham legend Graham Heathcote recalled the moment he found the net at Anfield:

“I am a Manchester United fan and there I was, standing in front of the Kop waiting to take a penalty.

(Alan) Kennedy came up to me and bet me £5 that I would miss it. But I only missed two penalties in my entire non-League career and I wasn’t about to make a fool of myself in front of the Kop.

I was nice and calm, put the ball past (Ray) Clemence and stood in front of the Kop fans taking the applause, they were pretty decent about it. Then Kennedy came up to me in the players’ bar afterwards and gave me a fiver.”