I’M NOT sure how many people stayed up late enough, as I did, to watch a programme last weekend called When English Clubs Ruled Europe.

I was interested because the two clubs were Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. It was based on the late 70s and I was at Southampton from 1973 and played against these clubs.

But I remembered, as I watched people like Bill Shankly in particular on the TV, how I first came across him and his club. It was just after I was appointed in one of my first managerial roles, at Doncaster Rovers. Our first game was a league match, the second one a cup tie where we beat Crewe Alexandra at home.

On the following Monday the players and staff gathered around a radio, no TV in the clubs in those days, listening for the FA Cup draw. It was the third round where all the big clubs came in. We thought they’d missed us out, I think we were the last fixture drawn – Liverpool versus Doncaster Rovers.

The excitement rolled around the town. On the day of the game 12,000 supporters travelled. I had called a special board meeting with the directors to try and allow me go the night before with the team to a hotel which they agreed to reluctantly, aware of course the size of the crowd at Anfield would give them, whatever the result, a fair old bag of money to take home.

The game itself was good. We lost 2-0 but put up a good show. At the end of the game, as always, the two groups of staff got off the benches to shake hands and Mr Shankly looked at me and said “Boot Room” and walked away. The Boot Room in those days was famous. It was a privilege really to be asked in.

After I’d been in the dressing room and the players were starting to have their showers, I did the press room and then nervously tapped on the Boot Room door. I called in and there, in a very small room, sat looking at me were Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Roy Evans and Joe Fagan, names who managed Liverpool for more than 30 years between them. They asked what I wanted to drink. They all had something in their hands. I pointed to whatever one had and Joe Fagan got up to one of the boxes, which all had numbers on.

All clubs had the players boots in those days. He opened one of the boxes and they didn’t have boots, they had the drinks. There was only one place for me to sit, it was on a beer barrel. They looked at me carefully. I had a light-coloured raincoat on, the barrel was covered in dust and I sat down. I found out later I had passed the test.

Many, many years on I was told that one of the reasons they invited youngsters in, like me, was to talk them about their club but mainly their players. It helped them if they were looking in the future to sign other club’s players. But it was a great experience, as was later on meeting up with Brian Clough, who was a legend in his own lifetime.

I remember well his first European Cup win with Nottingham Forest in 1979. We met at Wembley when we played each other in the League Cup final. I always say we won the first half and he won the second, with a 3-2 result for him. But within days of them playing the final in Europe, which of course he went on to win and again the following year.

He was a real character. When we played them in the league at The Dell, he would come, as trainers and managers did after the game, to meet up to have a drink before they departed on the bus. He would bring me a gift for my wife Anne, Nottingham Lace, which we still have. In return I would get him a box of strawberries from a field up in Bursledon, who were massive supporters and would bring some down for me and my staff on a regular basis.

People who remember seeing Brian on ITV will remember what an outstanding character he was, apart from being one of the most successful managers in history.

Good news and bad

THERE was good news and bad for Southampton-connected individuals in the last week.

Seeing Sky remove three of their Soccer Saturday pundits, Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson, who between them had done nearly 50 years’ service, but mainly our own Matt Le Tiss was a shock. It must show how difficult things are financially or whatever the reason they are giving for finishing staff.

But I’m sure Matt will certainly still be involved in the game next season with his excellent record, both on and off the field.

The other names of course were Messrs Ings and Ward-Prowse, who were named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad. They deserve to be involved, in my opinion, for the season that they have just completed.

Danny, second top goalscorer in the Premier League and James’s excellent 100 per cent record of playing every minute of the league season. Whether they both start the games or not, the manager will have his own first team in mind, possibly regulars who have already played for him because the squad is very big, with 24 players included.

Going back to my days with England, it’s not always a good time for a player to come away for about 10 days and either sit on the bench or not even get changed. I’ve said over the years, that I think they should repeat what happened when I was involved.

I was not just manager of the under-21 team but also what they called the B team. It was made up of senior players, who were basically on the edge of the first-team squad but too old to play for the under-21s. We went to the same countries as the first team and we would have a fixture a night or two before the big game.

On some occasions, it was just a one off without other games. But it was giving the players good experience of the difference with international football and it was far better than not being involved at all.

But let’s hope that both of our players either start the games against Iceland and Denmark, or take part. Well done to both and good luck.