Wolves legend Kenny Hibbitt urges Nuno's team to live his dream
Wolves legend Kenny Hibbitt is hoping the current crop can live out the dream he had as a child and reach the FA Cup final.
Hibbitt came so close to realising his ‘ultimate’ ambition during his days in old gold, not once, not twice, but three times.
Along with John Richards and Derek Parkin, he played in each of Wolves’ semi-finals through the 1970s and 80s – the 1-0 loss to Leeds in '73, the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in ‘79, and the 2-2 draw and 3-0 replay loss to Tottenham in ‘81.
Hibbitt was honoured to win the League Cup with Wolves in ‘74 and ‘80, but it was his desire to win the FA Cup that burned brightest. And not getting there did bring about some tears.
“As a kid, I watched every FA Cup final,” he said.
“It was always my dream to play in the FA Cup final. It was the ultimate for me, at that time, as a kid.
“We played in that one against Leeds, and they were probably the best side in the league at that time.
“They were a very, very strong side. We played very well on the day and should have got something from it.
“I was very nervous before the game, but as soon as I walked over the Maine Road line I was OK.
“I always dreamed of going to Wembley for an FA Cup final and, unfortunately, we missed out at that time.
“I never thought the opportunity would come around again but, as we all know, it did.
“Against Arsenal, that upset me probably more than the other two in the fact we never played at Villa Park. We never gave Arsenal a match and that was really upsetting.
“I walked off at the end with John Barnwell and I had tears in my eyes, I was crying.
“I have to admit that. I’m not ashamed to say that, because it was a very disappointing 90 minutes.
“I thought that was the last chance, but it came around again in ‘81.”
The closest Wolves came in those three different years was in ‘81 against Spurs, drawing 2-2 at Hillsborough. Willie Carr’s late penalty took things to extra-time. Wolves rallied but could not find a winner and were then soundly beaten at Highbury.
“I just tried to keep my head,” said Carr, who also played in the ‘79 semi against the Gunners.
“When we spoke to their keeper (Milija Aleksic) afterwards, he said he picked four or five of us to take a penalty, and I wasn’t one of them!
“Well, we got back to two-two and they had gone a bit. I think we should have gone after them a bit more in extra-time.
“In the replay, we just did not play which was a pity.”
Hibbitt agrees with Carr that, in hindsight, which is a great thing, extra-time was their opportunity against Spurs.
“At Hillsborough, we played very well. We took them to extra-time and battered them in extra-time,” he said.
“The replay was at Arsenal which didn’t go down too well with us, and we never played.
“Those three games, well four because of the replay, are the most disappointing games of my career, really.
“But here is an opportunity now to put it right. I think, at this time, having seen them several times this year, this is it. This is the time.”
Hibbitt believes Wolves are more than capable of beating Watford at Wembley tomorrow as the level of performances Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been putting in have blown him away.
“I’d love to be a part of it, and I’m sure a lot of my former team-mates would love to be part of it, but we’re not,” he added.
“We’ve got another opportunity to get to an FA Cup final again.
“We’ve got a fantastic side, and the fans are the best in the country, I’ve always felt that.
“It’s lovely to see what a great club it is now, and what a team we’ve got. I never thought I’d live to see it at this level.”
