Tony Gale has responded to Keith Hackett’s apology to the West Ham fans for his horrendous FA Cup gaffe 24 years ago by declaring: “That stuff kills your dreams.”ClaretandHugh revealed today Hackett had issued his apology in an exclusive interview with ClaretandHugh’s Sean Whetstone and Nigel Kahn last night.
And responding, Gale explained his love affair with the Irons fans declaring: “I sat in with them at the West Brom FA Cup three weeks back and it came back to me how those occasions can kill your dreams.”
In an interview to be heard on “MooreThanJustAPodcast ” next Monday evening he said: “I am a fan and the West Ham supporters are different class.
“Last season when we won in the Capital One Cup against Spurs, the fans were kept in for an hour after the game and as I walked across the pitch they were chanting my name. Brilliant, you just want to jump in there with them.”
But he remains unforgiving over Hackett who claimed his decision to send him off in the 91 FA Cup Final was the worst of his career, following it with an apology for the first time in 24 years.
Gale said’ “Even today, when as a TV analyst I have to make decisions in a split second on incidents I still can’t see it as a sending off – I wouldn’t if it was anywhere else.”
Gale believes Hackett was keen to make a name for himself as being the first ref to send a player off under the rule – now known as the professional foul – declaring: “I appreciate his apology but he made an egotistical decision – he wanted to be the first.”
But his heart remains with the fans and said: “What came out of the day was that incredible crowd reactrion which brought the management, players and fans together like never before.
“It was an incredible response from the supporters and I sat in the dug out despite an official trying to usher me away and got goose bumps with everybody else. It was astounding.”
THE FULL INTERVIEW FEATURING HACKETT AND TONY WILL BE BROADCAST ON THE WEST HAM PODCAST MOORE THAN JUST A PODCAST next Monday evening March 2, 2015 http://moorethanjustapodcast.co.uk
A true Hammer through and through.
We know how many humans make wrong desicion in life but when Refs get it wrong it affects thousands of people.
The problem for me is there seem to be more every week at all levels of the game and the rules don’t help.like off side lets go back to how it was if you only have 1 player between you and the goal you are offside,how can you not be interfering when the keeper and defenders have one eye on you,then there no grey areas,
COYI
I always wondered why tony didn’t go into football coaching/management rather than punditry. I don’t suppose anyone’s asked him have they?
Conker: I suggest you choose your next witticism very carefully.
? That was an honest and genuine question high. I always thought tony would make a really good manager.
Good.
I think tony gale would have made a good manager for West Ham. That was why I was asking the question. It wasn’t meant as any kind of “witticism”
Poor old conker®,you are always being sent to the naughty step,lol 😀
More like having a gun pointed at your head and somebody behind it with an itchy trigger finger. It’s making me nervous and I’m not sure I can continue under these conditions. I am booking another getaway.
You seem to be on a short leash Conker, a bit off topic I have a Caeser inspired catch phrase for you Veni Vidi Vici, (I came I saw I Conkered), (The Sam Haters) !
I know conker, life is a jungle… but you are doing well. Please stay here…
Dont go again Conker,life is too quiet without you & your pro Sam stance on here.Im afraid to say it,but we need you here to balance things out a bit & Matte will be sad if you go again 😉
Glad he didn’t really accept his apology, that man screwed us all and it still hurts after all these years
Tony Gale needs to grow up. I thought it was shameful some while ago when he appeared on tv with Hackett and wouldn’t shake his hand 24 years after the event. That is not sport and he is not a sportsman. Anyone who has played sport at any level will have had awful decisions go against them (and for them) and equally will have made some awful mistakes themselves. That is what makes sports unpredictable and exciting, if at times frustrating and unfair. If you can’t accept that you shouldn’t participate. Fair enough, I can understand the disappointment at the time but holding grudges after 24 years is childish and a poor example to youngsters. Hackett may or may not have made a mistake, you really have to understand the circumstances leading up to the game to have real context.
I thought you were all going to play nice while I went for a pint,
Conker if you are traveling again I can give you some good sites to vist around the Santander area and you can pop in and have a look at Bilbao and how Moyes is doing as we are hoping he might replace your mate.
Sparrow, the time it took you to type that out is a few minutes of your life you won’t get back! You should understand that Hackett took away the chance for Galey to potentially play in an FA Cup Final and Hackett at that time hadn’t accepted the fact he had made a mistake. Admittedly, nowadays it’s not such a big thing.
Conker you left to go to the game or you cleaning BFS,s car before he leaves ?
I will be watching for you in the crowd shouldn’t be hard you being the only one clapping when BFS comes out the dugout to throw the ball back to Nolan when misjudged another pass ( in the knock about I hope ),
Just wave please and don’t wear that onesie.