Beglin lifts the lid on THAT Grobbelaar bust-up
Successful seasons have their iconic moments as far as fans are concerned, and Liverpool's incredible 1985-86 campaign is no different.
King Kenny's volley against Chelsea, Ian Rush bagging a late winner against Tottenham Hotspur and the Welshman's second goal all but confirming the FA Cup would be heading back to Anfield a matter of months later - these are the instants supporters remember with a smile etched upon their face when they hark back to that famous double win.
But it is another incident during the latter game that is perhaps more easily recalled by casual observers.
Namely, a fight almost breaking out between two players from the winning team - eccentric goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar and defender Jim Beglin.
Speaking as part of our new documentary, 'Double Winners '86 - On The March With Kenny's Army', Beglin reminisces about that unforgettable confrontation.
The Irishman takes up the tale from the moment his goalkeeper gratefully clutched the ball to his chest after an initial mix-up between the pair almost resulted in an Everton chance.
He says: "I don't know what Brucey would have to say about... well I think I do, actually - he'll be right and I'll be wrong!
"He was known to get a bit excitable, Brucey, that's the way he was at times - although I wouldn't say that to his face. The minute he got it in his hands again, he was kind of relieved more than anything else.
"I can't repeat what he said to me, something derogatory, and I think you can see on the replays what I said back to him, something equally derogatory.
"Because I responded the way I did, he hit me on the shoulder, and for a moment I wanted to give him one back!
"Of course everything flashes through your mind, I'm thinking the whole world is watching, the stadium is jam-packed, I need to hold it together.
"Thankfully I did and he rolled the ball to me, I tapped it back to him, and from that moment it was over.
"I've always loved Bruce's company, I've always enjoyed playing with him, and little things like that can happen from time to time on a football pitch. As soon as the game was over, we clinked glasses in the dressing room and it was gone."
Beglin also revealed how supporters have credited that flare-up for the Reds going on to complete a comeback against their local rivals, ensuring they added the FA Cup to their league championship crown.
He adds: "I don't know whether it's true or not but I wish I had a quid for every time a Liverpool fan over the years has said to me: 'that woke us up, that got us going again'.
"If that's true, I'm delighted it happened."
A horrendous leg-break suffered the following season meant the man who wore No.3 at Wembley that day never again reached such heights over the course of the remainder of his career.
But he had plenty of reason to ensure he appreciated the success for what it was on the day anyway, as he explains.
"I was in dreamland. Everything I'd worked for, everything since I was a kid, had gone into that," Beglin says.
"I was kind of reflecting on that. I had one or two moments where I actually got a bit tearful about it, yeah I was excited and all the celebrations I was part of but I also had one or two reflections.
"My dad had been over the weekend I signed for Liverpool, a Liverpool fan all his life, and he died in the summer after I'd signed.
"He never got to see me play in the first team, so that was a big emotion for me to look back on. So it was mixed, but it was more celebratory than anything else. It was the best."
A new feature-length documentary celebrating Liverpool’s clinching of the coveted league and FA Cup double will premiere exclusively on LFCTV GO this afternoon.
‘Double Winners ’86 – On The March With Kenny’s Army’ relives an unforgettable season and features the likes of Hansen, Dalglish, Molby and more.
Narrated by ITV Football's Clive Tyldesley, the 86-minute film will be available to subscribers on LFCTV GO from 2pm GMT. Click here to find out more about how to subscribe to LFCTV GO.
