ONE Evertonian who is either brave or stupid risked missing this match by ‘sparring’ with World Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali on the morning of the Cup final but while his side were on the ropes for a long time, they ultimately delivered a knockout blow to Wednesday.

Killing time in the capital in the hours leading up to the big game, a group of travelling fans going for a stroll through Hyde Park chanced upon Ali – formerly Cassius Clay – out training ahead of his World title fight with Londoner Henry Cooper at the Arsenal Stadium later this month.

With the champ sporting a white tracksuit – Wednesday’s colours for the final – the gauntlet was thrown down and some light-hearted pugilism ensued and thankfully for the fan, some neat footwork on the retreat meant this particular contest was a sporting ‘draw’.

The result of the main event on the day was more decisive and after Harry Catterick’s men recovered from 2-0 to win 3-2 against his former side, a crowd of a quarter-of-a-million well-wishers filled Liverpool’s streets for their triumphant homecoming as the Cup returned to the city for the second consecutive year after a first victory for Everton’s Anfield neighbours.

Everton’s win ensured it was another ‘Mersey double’ for the city this season with Bill Shankly’s team crowned League champions – just like in 1906 when the Goodison Park outfit lifted the FA Cup for the first time.

Ahead of the game, ex-Wednesday manager Catterick sprung a major surprise against his old employers by leaving out prolific goalscorer Fred Pickering, who netted in all of Everton’s first four rounds before missing the semi-final victory over Manchester United with a knee injury.

Although the big Lancastrian – Everton’s leading marksman with 22 strikes this term – had subsequently returned to fitness since the game against Matt Busby’s men and turned out in three First Division matches, Catterick, a former centre-forward himself, remained unconvinced.

He said: “Whilst Pickering appears to have fully recovered physically from injury, he has had insufficient time to recover his confidence and form for me to risk him in such a vital game.”

Pickering’s replacement for the final was hardly like for like.

Little-known fringe player Mike Trebilcock, a diminutive Cornishman recruited from Plymouth Argyle was handed the biggest game of his life – but boy did he take it.