Charlie laid down Wembley legend

Last updated : 26 January 2002 By Dave Maddock, The Mirror

The Arsenal striker had just scored a spectacular winner in the 1971 final against the Merseyside giants and his celebration will go down in FA Cup folklore as one of the greatest moments in the competition's history.

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It was Anfield legend Tommy Smith who was closest to George as he drilled the ball past Ray Clemence. And it was the look of disgust and despair on the defender's face, in contrast to the striker's joy, that made the moment so poignant.

Thirty years on, as Arsenal again prepare to meet Liverpool in the Cup, the Mirror brought the two back together to relive that mercurial FA Cup moment.

George admits that there is always one misconception about the celebration that made him a legend. "People always say that I laid down because I was knackered," he explained. "I probably was, but I did the same thing before the final at Manchester City, and it was wet and horrible thick mud that day, so I must have meant it!

"I was probably ahead of my time, pulling strokes and thinking up celebrations and stuff. But people say I created an image, and that's wrong - I didn't create the image, it was created for me.

"They used to get excited about my hair, because it was long. Now they have it long, purple, all sorts of things, and nobody says a word. The celebration was just a natural thing. It's everybody's schoolboy dream to go and score the winner at Wembley for your local club, and that's exactly what I did."

Smith, even now, finds it painful to think about that final, and that George celebration. He maintains, also, that the Arsenal man's shot was helped by a deflection, which his rival gracefully concedes.

His most abiding memory, though, is of being sick - literally - after collecting his loser's medal. "We used to drink milk straight after the game in those days, and I don't know whether it was that, or the emotion, but I was ill for about 15 minutes," he recalled.

"I was captain, and I remember feeling so down, but Bill Shankly just came round and said it didn't matter that we lost because it was the start of something. He was right."

These days, the Cup seems to have lost some of its magic, and both men think they know why.

"It's a business now, pure and simple, the romance has been moved aside," insisted George.

"I don't think there are any characters any more. With so many foreign players coming into the game, it has all gone anonymous.

Smith agrees. "When we played in the Cup Final, it was the only live game on television, and there was this incredible sense of anticipation, with the build-up going on for days.

"Now, there are live games every single night of the week, and that takes some of the mystique away."

It is still special though, as Michael Owen's winner last season proved. As Cup Final goals go, it was almost up there with George's - and that's some tribute.