“Nowadays, kids don’t get many first-team call-ups because there’s so much financial pressure in the Premier League to take risks with youngsters. You just can’t afford to lose, say, three matches on the spin.
“As a manager, if I wanted to throw in 19-year-old Mark Noble then I could but times have changed. West Ham won the FA Youth Cup two seasons ago but sadly nobody in that squad has managed to come in and hold down a place. That’s such a shame but it’s the same almost everywhere.
“In 1974/75, we’d a very good youth team and did really well against some decent sides to reach the last-four,” continues the 67-year-old, who was the chief architect as the Claret & Blue colts overcame a semi-final, first-leg deficit at Ayresome Park (0-1) to beat Boro (2-0) on home turf. “I bumped into Bonzo and Trevor on their way to see Ron about negotiating FA Cup final bonuses for the first-team. ‘Sort one out for us lot, too?’ I joked.
“We met Ipswich Town in the final and with Russell Osman, John Wark, David Geddes plus my England U18, team-mate, Keith Bertschin, they were a very good team, too. Losing 1-3 at the Boleyn Ground, we’d already blown it in the first leg and it was all over by the time we headed to Portman Road (0-2) for the return. It was a pity for everyone involved.”
While Curbs and company had fallen at the final hurdle, Lyall’s first-team made it all the way to Wembley, where they famously beat Fulham (2-0) in the FA Cup final.
“Although I was in the squad, the midfield of Trevor, Bonzo and Graham Paddon picked itself,” he concedes. “John’s only decision was whether to start with Patsy Holland and put Bobby Gould on the bench or go the opposite way. If there’d been five substitutes in those days, I might’ve had chances of getting in and getting on, who knows?
“That night, I went to the post-match reception in the West End and then stood with my mates in the crowd for the trophy parade through the East End on the Sunday morning.”
Curbishley’s remarkable campaign was still not Finn-ished and, Switzerland-bound, he helped the nation’s Young Lions to UEFA European U18 Championship glory over Finland (1-0), who fell to Wilkins’ extra-time, golden goal in Bern.