On the 10th August 1999, 92 teams began the road to Wembley in the 40th staging of the League Cup. Since it began in 1960, 36 teams have made it to the hallowed turf at Wembley. On 27th February 2000, Tranmere were facing Leicester City in the last League Cup final at the old Wembley. It would be another 17 years before Tranmere would visit Wembley again.
With a life dedicated to football, we ask Tranmere Youth Manager Andy Parkinson what is was like as a 22 year old, experiencing the magic of the League Cup.
“The moment I am probably remembered for is that goal against Middlesborough,” he said. “It was a quick throw out from Johnny Achterberg to me from the half way line, I got past a couple of players and managed to score. I didn’t score a great amount of goals but that’s the one I’m best remembered for. That was probably one of the best memories for me.
“When I think back to that time now, it was probably the first big emotional time in football for me. At the end of the [Bolton] game, I remember there was a big pile on, all the players jumping on each other. We seemed to be on TV a bit back then and we were quite well known as being the giant killers. The memories of it are all about the emotions for me now and just how emotional football can be and to achieve a trip to Wembley was amazing."
To read the full interview, make sure to pick up a programme at the Walsall game tonight!