THERE were better goals, there were better Wembley finals — but few which ever did so much to shape football history.
When Lee Martin hit Manchester United’s FA Cup winner 30 years ago on Tuesday, it set them on the road to three decades of near total dominance.
That 1990 replay against Crystal Palace, won by the Red Devils 1-0, was one of the most forgettable battles for the most famous knockout trophy.
But for Alex Ferguson it was huge, because the Old Trafford boss was under pressure.
They had finished the season 13th and at one stage went 11 games without a league win.
There were protests during one home loss, to Palace in December, with fans demanding Bryan Robson got the manager’s job.
United insiders insist, despite the rumours, Fergie was always safe. We will never know.
But while it was the first of 38 major trophies for the most successful manager in history, for the match-winner that was as good as it got.
That summer Fergie signed Denis Irwin from Oldham, who United beat in the semis, and by the time Martin recovered from a back issue he was second choice.
Yet for the Wembley hero, there are no could-have-beens. Just the memory of the place he played in United history — one he is asked about even now.
As the 30th anniversary approached, Martin was happy to relive the day — with the revelation he was only in position to score after a crossed wire message from the bench.
He said: “On the day of the first game Paul Ince said to me at breakfast ‘one of us could be a hero at the end’. He was probably thinking it was more likely to be him than me, though.
“The Saturday was a fantastic match, 3-3, and we were relieved when Mark Hughes equalised near the end of extra-time.
It felt like the start of something, Sir Alex’s first trophy.
Lee Martin
“Steve Coppell had told Palace to get about us in the replay, rough us up a bit, and the first tackle nearly put Steve Bruce in the stand.
“About 15 minutes into the second half I was really deep and assistant boss Archie Knox shouted to get forward, so I just started running and kept on.
“Hughes made space with a run, which left a big gap, I ran into it and Neil Webb floated over a brilliant ball.
“I thought I might have handled it, but the ref didn’t blow, I swung a leg and it flew in.
“I couldn’t hit it that well again if I tried. There was no whistle, no offside, and the lads raced over, it was a huge pile on.
“As I shot I got cramp in my calf and was shouting at the lads to get off me. Bryan Robson slapped my face because he thought I was concussed, saying ‘keep going, you’re alright’.
“There was still half an hour left but I thought ‘there’s no way you’re going off’, but I was awful for the rest of the game.
“It was just an incredible feeling. I’d had a few assists but rarely scored. I was about 60-1.
“Back in the dressing room, Archie asked me about the goal.
“I mentioned about him screaming at me to go forward — but he’d meant one of the other lads! It was just a great time for us all, it felt like the start of something, Sir Alex’s first trophy.
“I’m still asked about my goal, I’ll never tire of that. For a local lad who had grown up as a United fan, it was fantastic.”
While it was a win that sparked a new dawn for Fergie and his team, it was the beginning of the end for Martin.
He revealed: “After the final we went on a tour to Ireland and I twisted my back in a game at Waterford. I’d been having problems with it and was out for a few months.
“The gaffer said I’d be straight back in, but he’d signed Denis after the FA Cup victory and he was brilliant. So yes, maybe I didn’t play as many as I could have.
“But if you’d told me at 16 I would play 110 games and score the winner in the FA Cup final I’d have snapped your hand off.
“I was a United fan, I still am, and it was just a great time. We all felt it was the start of a new team and to play my part in it is something I’m so proud of.”
