Les O'Neill - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 01 January 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Les O'Neill
Former Carlisle midfielder Les O'Neill spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton ahead of United's FA Cup third round tie against Everton at Goodison Park next Saturday, O'Neill remembering the times he played against the Toffeemen in Carlisle's 1974-75 season in the sun :


" There were great games to play against Everton. You have got to remember that most of the team had not played at that level ever. So all the games that were played that year were memorable because of the grounds we were going to, the stadia, the supporters. Going to Liverpool, that is one of the homes of football isn't it, so you always look forward to going there.

" The FA Cup draw brought back memories of going there, obviously I have still got family that live up there and I get up there quite often to see them and my grandchildren. Of course I have still got loads and loads of friends up there so as soon as it was made, straight away this one comes straight back to your memory doesn't it.

" Actually that season I think we did quite well against the top teams, infact I read somewhere that I think Billy Bingham was the Everton manager at that time and he reckoned that really we stopped them from winning the Championship that year. Because we took four points off them, it was then only four points I think at that time and not the six. I think they lost out by about three points or something like that, it was very, very close anyhow.

" I think Dai Davies was in goal then at right-back was Micky Bernard and then the two centre-backs, you had (Mickey) Lyons, (George) Telfer played in midfield, they had (John) Connolly, (Mike) Buckley, (Bob) Latchford upfront. They were up there virtually all season so they were a good side.

" The whole atmosphere at the stadium, all this was new to most of us. Playing in front of 30,000 to 40,000 people, I would say that is what you enter the game for. You want to test yourself at the highest level, you want to be playing in these big stadias and in front of all these people. Your main objective is to go out and enjoy it and I think that is what we did all season. I don't think we were phased by going to these places you know, I think we went to enjoy it and we did. "



" I think Carlisle have a very, very slight chance of winning this time, I would love to say yes but David Moyes is a very, very good manager I would say. The one thing about his sides is, if you look at the sides that he produced and the sides that he produces at Everton. It is all built on, if you play for David Moyes, you have got to have the desire, the will, determination, the work-rate, commitment and attitude.

" You have got to have that as a team and then of course on top of that they have also got to have quite a bit of skill in the side as well. So no matter what team David puts out against Carlisle, you know that even if they are kids they will be up for it, they will work their socks off. But the only thing I think Carlisle can hope for, and honestly this is what football is all about, you can never ever say that Everton are going to beat Carlisle and be 100% sure, because there is always that 1%.

" They just might hit them on an off day, the referee might give Carlisle one or two decisions that could have gone the other way, and that is why football is so unpredictable. But as I say, my heart would say I would love to see Carlisle even just get a replay, but my head says that Everton will win the game, but who knows.

" Being at Carlisle was my happiest time in football without a shadow of a doubt. When you come into the game you want to go as high as you possibly can. OK, it was only for a very short period but all those lads that played in that team can say to people that at one point in our lives we played for the best team in the country and we were top of the league. Alright, it was only for a little while, but we were, Carlisle topped the first division after I think it was three or four games. That can never, ever be taken away from you so that is a great feeling to have you know.

" The lack of television coverage from then is a shame, I would say, even myself, I would love to have some of the video of games that we played. Because I know I am obviously biased because I was part of the team but we played some tremendous football. I know it is miles away, but we played the game the same way as Arsenal do today, just pass and move.

" In some games that we played, it was unbelievable the stuff we played. We had reporters that were based in the North-East, Doug Weatherall, Bob Cass and all these lads and they used to love coming over to Carlisle to do a league game. Because we knew these reporters and we spent time with them and that. "