Celebrating 40 Years of Albion Football: A Moment in Time
Key Highlights :
Friday night saw Albion fans gather in celebration of a team from 40 years ago. A cup run that lasted a few months, and a match that they ultimately lost, was still celebrated with great enthusiasm. This is the beauty of football; moments that last for a short period of time can be cherished forever.
Players who may have only been at a club for a few years can come back four decades later and be remembered as heroes. Fans that were present during the 1980s can still recall the little details of the time, and even those who weren't there can revere the memories. At the FA Cup anniversary dinner at the Amex on Friday, a fan was unable to attend the 1983 final due to the fact he was being born that day. While that is a good excuse for not being there, it's unclear what his excuse was for missing the replay.
The eight football matches that took place 40 years ago had the packed hospitality area at the Amex clapping and cheering as if it had happened the week before. This leads us to Roberto De Zerbi, who on Saturday afternoon spoke of his team being two wins away from European qualification.
As he sat at the top table in the spotlight, he spoke of why reaching Europe would be his proudest moment. His words applied to the Albion team of 1983, some of whom were cheered by the Amex crowd on Sunday. He spoke of how football is about the result, and no one would have turned up to celebrate a team that was knocked out in the third round, but it is also about leaving a memory that will be cherished.
De Zerbi went on to explain that if his team achieved Europa League qualification, then in 20 or 30 years they will be remembered for a historical result. This is more important than salary or money, and it is priceless. He spoke of how all the fans, the club, and the people around the area are dreaming of this moment.
These words resonated with the fans present, and reminded them of the Championship promotion days. It was joked that in 40 years the team would come back with grey hair and walking sticks, lapping up the applause of fans who recalled 2017, even though it was 2057.
The game against Southampton will be remembered as better than it was. The atmosphere will be recalled as one long carnival, when in fact it was quite quiet for long periods. It will be up there with the day Albion won promotion, because when you are in the top division, reaching Europe is the closest you can get to winning promotion.
It brings a mix of excitement and trepidation. It is a brilliant adventure and a dream come true, but it also brings uncertainty as to who they will play, and what new grounds they will go to.
De Zerbi finished by saying that the players, staff, and fans all deserve to achieve Europa League qualification. He expressed his emotion by saying that it is the best day of his career, and that it is priceless to leave something so massive and important.
The Albion fans gathered on Friday night to celebrate the team of 40 years ago, but it was also a reminder of what could be achieved in the future. Reaching Europe would be a historical result, and one that will be remembered for many decades to come.
