Queens Park Rangers v Bristol City

HOOPS
Columnist
TALKSPORT REPORTER AND RANGERS FAN
TONY INCENZO’S RECALLS SOME WEIRD AND
WONDERFUL STORIES...
NO COFFEE
OUR recent Carabao Cup victory over Oxford
brought back vivid memories of the horrific
1986 final when the competition was known as
the Milk Cup.
Rangers were abysmal on that Sunday afternoon
35 years ago at Wembley. Absolutely abysmal.
And Oxford deservedly beat us 3-0.
My preparation the night before consisted of a trip
to the West End. As was commonplace for me in
the 1980s, I spent my Saturday night with mates at
the Empire nightclub in Leicester Square.
And what was commonplace with the Empire
was that we always got chatting to members of
the opposite sex.
Indeed, my new-found lady friend on that
particular occasion was very friendly indeed.
When the club closed at 3am, she invited me
back to her place for what I will politely describe
as “a coffee”.
Under normal circumstances, I always accepted
such invitations with eager gratitude. But not
this time!
I proudly announced: “I’m extremely sorry
but I have to get up in the morning as I’m going
to Wembley to watch Queens Park Rangers win
the Milk Cup!”
I still remember the look of bemusement and
indignation on her face as she toddled off
towards the taxi rank.
Anyway, I made it to Wembley full of expectation.
I’d been in attendance when Rangers triumphed
at Chelsea in the last eight and I travelled by
special train up to Liverpool when we won the
semi-final.
But quite simply, our team failed to turn up for
the final. It’s one of the biggest disappointments
of my whole life.
In hindsight, maybe I should have swerved
Wembley and gone back for that coffee after all…
Follow Tony on Twitter at @TonyIncenzo
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