Centre-halves have long been equated with the ‘rugged’ prefix.
West Brom’s John Wile, a stone-hard Geordie who gave as good as he got across 13 years and 600-plus games for the Baggies, was grit personified against Ipswich Town in 1978.
Just seven minutes into the game at Highbury, Wile lost his footing attempting to challenge Brian Talbot for a header in the West Brom box. The Ipswich man beat him to it to head home, but the resultant clash of heads left both men prostrate.
Ipswich Town 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
The FA Cup
Semi-Final
8 April 1978
Highbury, Arsenal FC
After a lengthy pause, Wile, patched up like Mr Bump, was able to resume; Talbot’s gash, just above his right eye, left him badly dazed and finished his afternoon.
Ipswich went on to win 3-1, securing a first trip to Wembley – and a subsequent solitary FA Cup success.
Wile lost another Semi-Final with the Baggies in 1982 – and also suffered heartbreak in a League Cup semi.
Some men are remembered for their goals; the image of Wile, Albion skipper, with his blood-soaked bandage and shirt stands out for heroism of a different, but no less noble kind.
The magic of The Cup works in many ways…
