South Yorkshire Times, February 28, 1970
Rotherham United Youth v Manchester United Youth
Rotherham United manager Jimmy McAnearney’s faith in five local boys bore fruit this week when the boys were members of the Rotherham United youth team which brought mighty Manchester ‘United to Millmoor for the Cup quarter final replay.
It was a personal triumph for McAnearney, whose bold plan to take four players from Conisbrough Bowman Hilltop Rangers to Millmoor has proved an overwhelming success.
Three of those boys, Alan Epton, Doug Hemmingway and Steve Kulic, joined Mexborough striker Bernard Coop and Rawmarsh full back Dave Abrahams to form the nucleus of the Rotherham side.
Tremendous
The Conisbrough boys were taken to Millmoor at the end of last season, after Hilltop Rangers had set the local junior soccer scene alight with some tremendous football.
They won both the Rotherham Youth League and Cup before Mr. McAnearney swooped to secure the best players for his Millmoor youth squad.
Winger Steve Kulic was later signed on apprentice professional terms.
Hilltop Rangers secretary, Harry Powell, told Me: “Conisbrough should be proud of these lads. They came out of the Manchester United game knowing full well that they had given their everything against players with far more know-how in football.”
The Manchester United squad, six times winners of the trophy, were given the fright of their lives in the first leg. They equalised in extra time
Didn’t Overawe
Old Trafford certainly didn’t overawe the South Yorkshire boys last week, and a back-line which included Abrahams, Hemingway and Epton, contained a forward line which weekly plays in the shadows of Best, Charlton and Co.
Steve Kulic crossed the hall for Rotherham’s second goal, and Bernard Coop’s partnership with Trevor Phillips yet again caused a good deal of trouble in the opposition’s penalty area.
With these boys flying the flag, It looks as though a rich harvest awaits Jimmy McAnearney in the years ahead.
Result:
Manchester Utd 2 Rotherham Utd 2
Hall, Young Phillips, Breckin
Replay
Rotherham Utd 0 Manchezster Utd 0
Second replay, Millmoor, next week.