Over the season, we will give you a look at the days when Tranmere were hitting Premiership teams for six in the national Cup Competitions just a handful of years ago.
Firstly, as its January 27th, let's have a look back at one of the biggest cup upsets of all time and one of the greatest days in the history of Tranmere Rovers Football Club.
Date:
Venue:
Competition: F.A. Cup Fourth Round
Result: Everton 0-3 Tranmere Rovers
The 27th of January is now fondly known as "St. Steve's Day" by many Tranmere fans. A win which is regarded as the best ever for Tranmere by many of their faithful supporters.
After a good 2-1 victory away to
Not an easy game, with Tranmere at the time lying near the foot of the then Division One table [now Coca-Cola Championship] but Everton, with Walter Smith in charge were not in the greatest of form either. They too were lying perilously close to the three relegation places in the Premiership.
39,207 people crammed into
A tremendous amount of noise was made by the travelling Rovers fans, who were stamping their feet on the wooden floor and chanting all game. Yet the Toffee's faithful fans just sat, quietly. This was until the 62nd minute, when they all stood up and ran out, embarrassed by their team's dismal display.
I still remember the words on Match of the Day the next morning. I think the Commentator was John Champion, and his words were "The 2,000 Tranmere fans sound more like 20,000". And that was an understatement.
Anyway, on to the game. Rovers were, ultimately brilliant. They out-classed their Premiership opponents who looked more like a Conference out-fit.
All the chances fell to Rovers, with Everton's defence looking old, slow and in general just to poor to handle anything Tranmere threw at them.
The first goal was always going to be important, and it was Rovers who got it, from their loyal servant and now hero, Sir Steve Yates, popping up on the left-hand side of the penalty area.
Thanks to some good work by my all time favourite player, Andy Parkinson down the right, Jason Koumas was able to cross the ball deep into the Everton box.
Although Paul Rideout was fouled by the Everton defender, Sir Steve Yates, for some unknown but fantastic reason on the left climbed above the defender and looped the ball over Myhre in the Everton goal, 1-0 Tranmere!
The first goal was always going to be crucial and Tranmere had got it, nothing less than they deserved. They continued to pile on the pressure with Everton not offering much at the other end.
All they had to attack was a certain Danny Cadamarteri, who can't shoot for toffee(s!) anyway. Anyway, he was kept out by Rovers magnificent back line of Graham Allan, Clint Hill, Richard Jobson and Steve Yates.
John Aldridge's men were in charge and next up to score was massive potential and Welsh U-21 international, Jason Koumas.
More good work on the left by Andy Parkinson (wonder kid) on the right gave Koumas a half chance to score.
After beating the Everton defender, Parkinson turned inside and passed the ball to Jason Koumas near the far right corner of the penalty area.
Koumas' shot was inch perfect, it couldn't have been any better. He hit it first time and curled the ball into the top left hand corner, leaving Thomas Myhre in the Everton goal once again stranded and helpless.
Rovers were in wonder land. Just 35 minutes in and they were beating their huge rivals, Everton, by two goals to nil.
The Rovers fans were going mental and the Everton fans just looked on in despair at what was happening to their team on the pitch. Their day was going from bad to worse and Everton's performance on the pitch was mirroring that.
So Rovers went in at half-time 2-0 up. They were in Heaven and probably in fear of an Everton back lash in the second half, which never came. Instead, Rovers continued to pile and the pressure and Everton just couldn't handle it.
Rovers won a corner and what happened after that is history. Jason Koumas crossed the ball into the Everton area from the corner and it was met perfectly by Sir Steve Yates who was running into the penalty area like a Ferrari F1 car at full speed.
Sir Steve was un-marked (un-surprising really at the speed he was going) and the goal-machine headed the ball down into the ground with the ball then bouncing over an arm of the diving Thomas Myhre who really had no chance.
Steve Yates celebration said it all. The look on his face was a picture of delight and sheer happiness. I have to confirm I had never seen him run as fast as he did for that celebration. The Rovers squad trying to catch him had no chance, not even the rapid Andy Parkinson.
There was no way back for Everton now, the curtains had fully closed, but the exits from the ground were now fully open and Everton fans were streaming out.
Look over to the Tranmere fans, and it was quite a contrast. All of them were on their feat, chanting, singing, dancing or whatever happy things they could think to do.
I remember chants such as "We want four", "Always look on the bright side of life" and "There's only one Peter Johnson" being chanted. All three rare chants, of which the first two I can only recall being sung two or three times since that great day.
Although Rovers failed to get that fourth goal in the remaining 28 minutes, knowbody could complain (unless you are from the Blue third of Merseyside). We had scored three and it had been a historic day for Tranmere Rovers Football Club.
Who would have thought Tranmere would have won 3-0? I am being completely honest when I say I actually predicted Rovers would win the game 3-0 since the draw was made, this is 110% true. I can honestly say though, knowbody I told my prediction to expected we would get a goal let alone a win, but then I was only ten at the time, you have eternal optimism at that age.
When the final whistle went, Rovers fans were over-joyed. Many had never experienced anything like it. It was such a wonderful feeling, to beat your Merseyside Rivals who you hate so much.
We left the stadium still chanting. All of us pouring out of the stadium bearing smiles on our face, hoping we wouldn't hit a tribe of Everton fans threatening for revenge (or possibly suicide after what had just happened!). Fortunately we didn't, and we were able to bear the smiles on our faces for weeks and days to come.
I remember one man walking out beside us chanting "there may be trouble ahead". He was right; one more Premiership team would fall to Tranmere Rovers in the 2000/01 F.A. Cup and there is another special look into the archives at that game coming shortly.
Everton 0-3 Tranmere
Yates (22, 62)
Koumas (35)
Tranmere: Achterberg, Hill, Jobson,
Everton: Myhre, Watson, Xavier, Ball, Unsworth (Gough 45), Gemmill, Gravesen, Pembridge, Hughes (Max-Moore 45), Campbell, Cadamarteri (Tal 71).
Attendance: 39,201
Referee: Jeff Winter
Booked:
Tranmere: Allen (55)
Everton: Gravesen (45) Gemmill (55) Tal (72) Pembridge (87)
Finally, I'd like to wish everybody a happy St. Steve's day. Enjoy it and make sure you manage to at least catch the goals from the game and enjoy them.
Take the mickey out of you Evertonian friends and just enjoy the day. It's the fifth anniversary of St. Steve's Day, so honour it (and Sir Steve Yates) and let's hope another game like this one comes along in next seasons F.A. Cup.
Lastly, I hope you have enjoyed this article and it has either refreshed your memory of that special day or has taught you what happened on
Happy St. Steve's Day to all and lets hopr for three points at Valley Parade tomorrow.