In late July, Wembley Stadium staged the Opening Ceremony of the 1948 Olympics. In the face of post-war rationing, they were dubbed the “Austerity Games.”

The stadium was subsequently used for athletics, football, hockey and some equestrian disciplines – and Fanny Blankers-Koen, a Dutch housewife-turned-sprinter, was the star of the Games with four gold medals.

Earlier that year it was Manchester United who hit four golden goals as they edged a six-goal thriller in the FA Cup final.

United, who was playing in their first final for 39 years, would finish runners-up in the League but went one better in the Cup.

Their opponents were also from the North-West of England, Blackpool – the famous seaside resort which was the holiday destination for millions of people in post-war Britain.

Before the age of jet travel and cheap package holidays abroad, this spot on the Fylde Coast, with its famous Tower, had been an attraction for northern workers and their families since the late 1880’s.

The Seasiders, who had finished ninth that season, would be a special FA Cup team in this period with the likes of Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen, two of their shining stars. They would enjoy two more finals in 1951 and 1953, but in 1948 it was United who stood taller than everyone else.

Neither team played in their regular colours – Blackpool donned white shirts, while United were in unfamiliar blue shirts. Twenty years later, they would wear blue again

at Wembley, when they beat Benfica to win the European Cup final.

The 1948 FA Cup final will be remembered as one of the best ever staged at Wembley Stadium.

Blackpool went ahead on a penalty taken by Eddie Shimwell, after Mortensen was brought down by United’s Allenby Chilton.

This incident was the subject of much debate – and in another era, no doubt it would have been the focus of multiple action replays and pundits’ forthright analysis.

Mortensen was tripped by Chilton, but it looked as if the contact was made outside the penalty area and that the Blackpool player had stumbled into the area. Whatever actually happened, a penalty was given and Blackpool were ahead, 1-0. Jack Rowley hit back for United sixteen minutes later, before Stan Mortensen restored the Seasiders’ lead at the 35th minute.

It was a terrific match and was ultimately won with a decisive scoring burst of three goals in 14 minutes from Manchester United. A second goal by Rowley was followed up by one apiece for Stan Pearson and John Anderson.

Afterwards, Johnny Carey, the United captain, was carried high with the Cup and Blackpool’s manager was left to rue his decision to leave out Jimmy McIntosh, who had scored five goals en route to the final.

In one of those delicious football ironies, Blackpool met Manchester United in a rearranged League match four days after the final and Blackpool won, 1-0. The scorer of the lone goal? It was Jimmy McIntosh.

fa cUp memorIes

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■ Blackpool full-back Eddie Shimwell fires the penalty kick past Manchester United goalkeeper Jack Crompton, who is unable to reach the ball. United later rallied to win, 4-2.

DIffIcUlT To sTop

The BesT of WemBley

■ A crowd of more than 100,000 lined the streets of Wolverhampton to greet

their heroes after the Wolves’ 3-1 win over Leicester City in the 1949 Cup final.

smyTh’s Goal ReTuRns Cup To WolVes afTeR

41 yeaRsf air-headed Billy Wright, the captain of

England and Wolverhamton Wanderers, and Samuel Smyth, the Irish redhead and international inside forward, are the

men Wolves supporters are thanking because the FA Cup is going back to Wolverhampton after a lengthy wait of 41 years following their 3-1 win over Leicester City this afternoon.

This is Wolverhampton’s third Cup. They also won the prized trophy in 1893 and 1908. A Wembley crowd of nearly 100,000 will never enjoy a finer sight of non-stop energy and generalship than Wright produced in the critical first 20 minutes of the second half, when Smyth drove through the Leicester defence and hit the ball low into the far corner of the net for a 3-1 lead. A “goal” by Ken Chisholm sent the Leicester fans into delirium, but it was disallowed. They had not seen the referee pointing to the spot from where Chisholm had booted the ball. Wolves’ first goal came in the 13th minute of the first half on a header by Jesse Pye. Wolverhampton took a 2-0 lead just before half-time on Pye’s close-in kick following a tussle near the goalmouth. In the second half, Leicester opened with a great effort and scored on Mal Griffiths’ spinner in the 46th minute, which narrowed Wolves’ advantage to 2-1.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3-1 LEICESTER CITY

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, April 30, 1949

leaDInGoff

■ Wolves captain Billy Wright (6) receives the 1949 FA Cup trophy from H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth after Wolverhampton had defeated Leicester City, 3-1.

meeTInG a pRInCess

William Ambrose Wright was born in Shropshire in February 1924 and by 1949 was already building a reputation that would guarantee him a place in any English Football Hall of Fame.

“Billy” Wright, as he was more commonly known, became the first Englishman to win a century of caps while playing for his country, 105 times actually. And ninety of them as captain.

He was also the hero of Wolverhampton Wanderers. A one-club man, he played over 500 times for Wolves during nearly twenty years allegiance to the West Midlands club.

In this time, he led them to three First Division titles and an FA Cup win over Leicester City in 1949. And he was named Footballer of the Year in 1952.

Wright married Joy, the oldest of the popular singing trio, the Beverley Sisters, to become the 1950’s version of Posh and Becks. Headlines of “Footballer Marries Pop Star” had already been done long before David and Victoria Beckham got around to it!

Wright captained the Wolves side that met Leicester City in the 1949 FA Cup final. His young team were developing nicely and had finished sixth in the First Division. By contrast, their opponents, Leicester City, had finished a lowly 19th in the Second Division.

In their first Wembley appearance, Leicester were unlucky to be without two key players – goalkeeper Ian McGaw and Don Revie, with a nose injury. Revie would have other opportunities to make his mark on the FA Cup final.

At the helm at Molineux

was former Wolves player Stan Cullis. In his early thirties, Cullis, like Wright, became a legend of the club, managing them for 16 years.

Cullis and Wright were a formidable pair – one off-the-field the other on-the-field. They were the very backbone of Wolves’ marvellous decade of success.

At Wembley, Wolves got ahead on an early goal from Jesse Pye and before half-time he added a second.

But showing commendable fortitude, Leicester pulled a goal back when Mal Griffiths scored at the start of the second half, before Sammy Smyth put the game out of Leicester’s reach with a run and shot in the 64th minute.

The Second Division squad couldn’t respond – and three more finals in the 1960’s would also end in defeat.

Afterward, Wright and his team-mates went up the 39 steps to collect the trophy from Princess Elizabeth, who was dressed in a royal blue hat and coat – Leicester’s colours.

The following day the Cup was back to Wolverhampton to a rapturous homecoming and the traditional speech from the Town Hall balcony. Cullis said a few words of thanks and then introduced “the most popular man in Wolverhampton today – Billy Wright.” Wright burst into his familiar smile and the crowd roared their approval.

After finishing at Wolves without a caution or sending off to his name, Wright was awarded a CBE and later had both a stand named after him and a statue built in his honour at Molineux.

fa Cup memoRIes

I t rained hard before the Cup final, but the weather did not dampen the ardour of today’s crowd of 100,000, who watched as Arsenal, playing in their fifth

Wembley final, defeated Liverpool, 2-0, to win the Cup for the third time.

This equalled the Bolton Wanderers’ record of winning three times at Wembley. Therainhadtakenthefireoutof thebeautifulstretch of grass, giving the ball a low bounce. Arsenal’sall-importantfirstgoalwasscoredbyReg Lewis, who placed the ball low and wide of the Liverpool goalkeeper, Cyril Sidlow, in the 18th minute. Liverpool made several bids to equalize, but Arsenal’s defence proved up to the task. In the 63rd minute Lewis sealed Liverpool’s fate when he received a pass from Freddie Cox and, with Sidlow, smashed a low, brilliant kick to give Arsenal a 2-0 advantage. It was a wonderful climax to the careers of Arsenal’s Joe Mercer and Denis Compton. Mercer, the team’s captain, who was presented the Cup by King George VI, was mistakenly given a loser’s medal by the Queen. Fortunately, this mistake was quickly corrected.

GLORY IN EXTRA-TIME ■ King George VI shakes hands with the Charlton Athletic team before the 1946Cupfinal.OPPOSITE PAGE: With a large – and cheering – crowd on hand, Arsenal’s team bus arrives at Islington Town Hall for a civic reception after their 2-0 winoverLiverpoolinthe1950Cupfinal.TheGunnerspreviously won the FA Cup in 1930 and 1936.

LEWIS’S 2 GOALS WIN FA CUP FOR GUNNERS

ARSENAL 2-0 LIVERPOOL

By Frank Coles at Wembley, Daily Telegraph, April 29, 1950

When Bob Paisley replaced the charismatic Bill Shankly as manager of Liverpool, people wondered whether the long-time Anfieldservantwouldbeabletohandle some of the tough tasks that faced any man in charge of team affairs.

Paisley proved more than able in all departments and his eight years in Liverpool’s top job was one long parade of trophies.

One element of putting together a winning team is the ability to make tough decisions on team selection – and leaving out players who believe they should not be in the team.

Paisley said he felt he had a special understanding of what those decisions meant to the players left out because he had been on the wrong end of such a disappointing call himself in his own career.

In 1950, Paisley, a wing-half, was a regular on the Liverpool team that had reached the FACupfinal.Hehadevenscoredinthesemi-finalagainstneighbours, Everton, and his name was in the Cup match-day programme, but he was left out of the Wembley side – because in those days there were no substitutes.

Not uncommonly at that time, team selection was the province of the football club’s Board and it is thought Paisley lost out on a 5-4 vote.

It hurt Paisley badly but hardened him for when he had to make those tough decisions himself.

Liverpool were in their second FACupfinalandtheirfirstatWembley Stadium. Winning the FA Cup remained their Holy Grail.

In their way was a talented, if ageing, Arsenal team, captained

by the veteran Joe Mercer. Also on the Gunners side were brothers, Leslie and Denis Compton.

Denis was making one of his finalArsenalappearancesbeforesettling solely into his hugely successful career as a Middlesex and England cricketer.Hewasoneof thefirst

sportsmen to realise that winning the Cup had commercial value to their fame. For many years he was the public face of Brylcreem hair lotion.OnCupfinalafternoon

Arsenal were at their slickest and dominated proceedings with Reg Lewis scoring a brace of goals, one in each half, to clinch the result. They deserved their win that day and the Merseysiders were still left on thetrailinsearchof theirfirstFA Cup success. Many felt they had missed the energy and tough tackling of Paisley.

Liverpool’s major star, the hugely talented Billy Liddell, couldn’t work his magic and centre-forward Albert Stubbins didn’t make winning headlines onCupfinalday–butnearlytwentyyearslaterhewouldfindnew fame as one of the faces featured on the front cover of The Beatles’ iconic Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

Ironically, Bob Paisley was named Liverpool captain the season after their 1950 Cup defeat and became one of the club’smostdecoratedfigures,still working his magic at the club more than thirty years after the disappointment of missing out onhisFACupfinalappearance.

In a career littered with honours as player and manager, the FA Cup stayed out of his reach. But his name remains reveredatAnfield.

FA CUP MEMORIES

A VIEW TO REMEMBER ■ Gunners captain Joe Mercer enjoys a victory ride on the shoulders of goalkeeper George Swindin (in dark jersey) and Laurie Scott (fourth from right).

DESTINED FOR TYNESIDE ■ Joe Harvey lifts the Cup after Newcastle United won the first of three FA Cups in the 1950’s. Jackie Milburn’s two second-half goals made the difference for the Toons.

MAJESTIC MIlbuRNSCORES 2 GOAlS TO WIN NEWCASTlE’S

FOuRTh Cup CROWN

N ewcastle United, after defeating Blackpool, 2-0, in a not-so-distinguished final, completed a hat trick of Wembley wins – 1924, 1932 and 1951 – and the

latest triumph will always be known as Jackie Milburn’s Cup final.

This tall, strapping young Tynesider is the fastest centre-forward in the game. He won today’s Cup final in the first 10 minutes of the second half with two opportunistic goals. Milburn’s first goal, at the 50th minute, was inspired by Blackpool’s Stanley Matthews, who led their fine attacking effort in the first half. That surprise goal shook Eric Hayward, Eddie Shimwell and the rest of the Blackpool defence to the roots and, before they could recover from the blow, Milburn scored again at the 55th minute to settle all arguments. Wembley had never seen a finer goal. Little Ernie Taylor put the defenders off-balance with a back-heeler to Milburn. From 25 yards, the Newcastle leader booted a left-footer and the ball was in the roof of the net before Blackpool goalkeeper George Farm could react. The two-goal lead gave the Newcastle defence the confidence they needed to keep Blackpool from scoring.

ROYAl GREETING ■ In this postage stamp from St. Martin, Newcastle United captain Joe Harvey introduces his team-mates to King George VI before the 1951 Cup final.

NEWCASTLE UNITED 2-0 BLACKPOOL

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, April 28, 1951

In that English football hot-bed of the North-East, Newcastle United fans put a special star by the player who plays “centre-forward” or wears the mythical No. 9 shirt.

Malcolm Macdonald, Alan Shearer and Andy Cole are three players in the modern era who have enjoyed great success with the famous No. 9 on the back of their shirt.

Many other players have found the weight of expectation, when wearing the Newcastle No. 9 shirt, to be too much.

Hughie Gallacher and Jackie Milburn were greats of earlier times who set the standard for future Tyneside striking heroes.

John Edward Thompson Milburn was better known as “Jackie.” He was born into a coal mining family from Ashington and was part of a wider family group that produced footballers aplenty, including the Charlton brothers, Jack and Bobby.

“Wor” Jackie Milburn began his career as an outside-right but was moved to centre-forward and became a prolific goal-scorer for the Tyneside team. An England international, he would also play a central part on a Newcastle side that would win three FA Cup finals in just five years.

The first of those in 1951 was against Blackpool, a team boasting the talents of Stan Matthews, Stan Mortensen and the likes of Jackie Mudie and their captain, Harry Johnston.

Bill Slater later captained Wolves to their 1960 FA Cup final triumph at Wembley – but nine years earlier he played as an inside-forward for Blackpool.

The Seasiders had beaten Birmingham City in a semi-final Cup replay at Goodison Park

whilst Newcastle needed a replay at Huddersfield Town to fend off Wolves.

The FA Cup final itself was refereed by Bill Ling, who would later be the man in the middle in the 1954 World Cup final.

Newcastle, captained by Joe Harvey, who would also later manage the club at Wembley, won the match via a two-goal blast just after half-time.

Milburn, 26, was on target twice in five minutes – firstly, beating the offside trap to tuck a pass from George Robledo past Blackpool goalkeeper George Farm. Five minutes later, Milburn received a clever back-heel from Ernie Taylor and thrashed a shot home from twenty yards.

Matthews had been outstanding for Blackpool but his special “Wembley” day was still two years away.

1951 belonged to “Wor” Jackie and his Newcastle team-mates. Milburn would play in two more finals and score another famous goal.

After beating Blackpool, the team brought the trophy back to an adoring Geordie public.

In later life, Milburn’s contribution to Newcastle United was reflected with a stand being named in his honour at St. James Park. And not one, but two statues were commissioned to recognise his exploits – one in his birth-place of Ashington and the other at Newcastle.

Milburn, who had spent his early working years in coal mining, was also a heavy smoker and sadly died of lung cancer in 1988. But before the 1950’s were finished he had already become an iconic figure at St. James Park.

FA Cup MEMORIES

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■ The streets of Newcastle were filled as 50,000-plus fans lined up to see the Toons parade the Cup trophy en route to St. James Park.

Cup MADNESS

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■ Blackpool, which was led by winger Stanley Matthews, were battered by Newcastle United in the 1951 Cup final. But in 1953 they would return to Wembley and defeat Bolton, 4-3, to take the trophy back to Blackpool.

blACKpOOl’S DIFFICulT DAY

Newcastle wiN agaiN, breakiNg a 61-Year-OlD

cUP recOrD

the best Of wembleY

■ Newcastle United captain Joe Harvey receives the FA Cup from Prime Minister

Winston Churchill after their 1-0 win against Arsenal. It was Newcastle’s second

straight Cup final win and fifth overall.

NEWCASTLE UNITED 1-0 ARSENAL

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 3, 1952

f or gripping drama and thrills, it was the most memorable Association Cup final in the 29 years that Wembley has hosted the greatest game in the world. Newcastle

United defeated Arsenal, 1-0, today before a crowd of 100,000 and became the first team since 1891 to win the Cup two years in a row.

George Robledo’s winning goal at the 84th minute of play was merciful relief to both teams and their fans. Arsenal players were already beginning to wilt under the warm spring sun and didn’t look like they could endure playing an extra half-hour to determine a winner. They also had the misfortune of losing right-back Walley Barnes, who tore ligaments in his knee. Arsenal had no substitutes and three players already were nursing injuries, so the Gunners played on with only ten men. With the end of regulation time nearing, Robledo ended the tension with a header, and the ball hit the bottom of the Arsenal net. Jackie Milburn, the hero of Newcastle’s 1951 Cup win, was held in check all afternoon by Arsenal’s Ray Daniel. The win gave Newcastle its fifth FA Cup.

sUPPOrtiNg the gUNNers ■ A large number of Arsenal fans arrived at Wembley all dressed up to see their team play Newcastle in the Cup final. In their six Cup final visits, the Gunners had a split record of three wins and 3 losses.

Newcastle United would win the FA Cup three times in five years and on each occasion the the trophy itself was handed over to the victorious captain by a different Guest of Honour.

In 1951, King George VI passed the trophy to winning captain, Joe Harvey. Sadly the monarch was in failing health and died the following February. Princess Elizabeth became the new monarch and three years later as Queen Elizabeth would hand football’s most famous piece of silverware to Newcastle skipper Jimmy Scoular.

In 1952, in the year of her accession to the throne, FA Cup final duties had been passed on to one of history’s most celebrated Englishmen. Winston Churchill, who had led the country so courageously through the Second World War, was the FA Cup final’s Guest of Honour that year.

The man, a nation’s hero, picked out Jackie Milburn as he was introduced to the teams. “Are you going to grab the headlines again this year?” he was asked.

Milburn, who had a bust of Churchill in his family home, was honoured to be singled out.

The Prime Minister would hand over the FA Cup at the end of the game and also enjoyed hearing his first home-bred horse, Loving Cup, had won a big race at Newbury.

Opponents for Newcastle in 1952 were Arsenal who had finished third in the League with Newcastle back in eighth position.

The two clubs – each Cup winners in the previous two seasons – had both come through replayed semi-finals. Arsenal had finally overcome Chelsea in two matches staged at White Hart Lane whilst Cup holders, Newcastle, had beaten Blackburn Rovers in a semi-final replay at Elland Road.

The final itself was a disappointment and suffered the fate of many Wembley finals in this era. A key player would get injured and either had to leave the field or hobble about, injured on the wing.

Final after final suffered this “Wembley curse” and the call for the use of substitutes would became a clamour – but they would not be used until the 1968 Cup final.

For Arsenal, in 1952, that was all too late. They lost an influential player in Walley Barnes early in the game and the dye was cast. The Gunners pressed hard but to no avail, losing Barnes was too much of a handicap.

The match itself was decided when a cross by Mitchell was headed home by Robledo late in the game.

George Robledo had been born in Iquique, Chile – the son of a Chilean father and English mother. The family emigrated to Brampton, in Yorkshire, in 1932 when he was five due to the instability in Chile at the time. Robledo’s coal-mining life ended when he joined Barnsley. In 1949 he and his brother, Ted, signed for Newcastle.

Robledo enjoyed his time at Newcastle, winning two FA Cup finals before heading home back to Chile in 1953. He would never be forgotten on Tyneside.

fa cUP memOries

The stars of TV, film and radio poured into Blackpool for another bumper summer season – and George Formby, Tommy Cooper and Ruby Murray would play to packed houses in Britain’s foremost holiday resort. But even the biggest names in show-business would play a distant second billing to a footballer who had delivered his own perfect Blackpool performance on an even larger stage earlier in the year.

Stanley Matthews, later Sir Stanley, had been the key difference in Blackpool’s dramatic 4-3 win over Bolton Wanderers at Wembley in a Cup final which most observers agree was the best-ever.

Jimmy Armfield, himself a celebrated figure in Blackpool FC’s history, put it simply: “Sir Stanley Matthews was the greatest footballer England ever produced. He was exceptional during the whole time he played.”

Never more so than on May 2nd, 1953, when his brilliance secured an unlikely Cup final victory for Blackpool.

Matthews had divided his professional career between Stoke City and Blackpool. Born in the Potteries, Matthews would develop his skills as a winger like no other. At times, in his first spell of over 250 league matches for Stoke, Matthews was simply irresistible.

And in 1947, he took those sublime skills to Blackpool, where building up his stamina on the beach was part of a regular routine that started when he had been stationed there for the RAF in World War II.

Even in the fledging days of television, Matthews had

become a huge star though his exploits for club and country and one game would enshrine that reputation.

In 1953, most neutrals were backing Blackpool to beat Bolton so Matthews, now 38, could finally pick up an FA Cup Winners’ medal after coming up short in 1948 and 1951.

It didn’t start promisingly for the Seasiders, who were down,1-0, in 75 seconds. Stan Mortensen got a goal back for Blackpool only to see the Wanderers go ahead again and extend their lead early in the second half.

Now, with twenty minutes to go, and two goals down, one of sport’s great comebacks was about to take place and Matthews would be in the middle of it all.

The twinkle-toed winger crossed for Mortensen to get his second goal of the match. The other “Stan” completed his third goal – the Wembley final’s only ever hat-trick – with a stunning free-kick. Now it was 3-3.

Suddenly pandemonium ... and seconds left to play.

Cue Stanley Matthews. He took on Bolton’s Ralph Banks and Harold Hassall, beating them in an instant and centred low and accurately for South African Bill Perry to clinch the game for Blackpool, 4-3.

In her Coronation year, Queen Elizabeth handed a Winners’ medal to Matthews, the undoubted “King” of English football.

The match was later dubbed “The Matthews final” – something that embarrassed the brilliant winger as he pointed out that his name-sake, Stan Mortensen, had actually scored three goals in the game.

FA CUP MEMORIES

T he Coronation Year Cup final will be remembered for all time as the match Stanley Matthews won and, in doing so, proved wrong the England team

selectors, who had omitted him from the squad against Scotland a fortnight ago and from the travelling party which leaves for South America on Thursday.

Matthews, at age 38, was playing in his third Cup final in an attempt to take home a Winners’ medal. There has never been a Wembley final to match this one. It began with the drama of Nat Lofthouse’s second-minute, 25-yard drifting shot for a Bolton goal and ended with Bill Perry’s match-winner in the final minute to give Blackpool a 4-3 victory. The fates were being kind to Blackpool’s Stan Mortensen, who levelled the score at 1-1 at the 35th minute, with his shot that got past Bolton goalkeeper Stan Hanson. Bolton’s Willie Moir made it 2-1 on a header before half-time.

MATThEwS LEAdS BLACkPOOL TO

COR0NATION YEAR

CUP wINBLACKPOOL 4-3 BOLTON WANDERERS

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 2, 1953

hAIL STANLEY (ANd STANLEY) ■ After their 4-3 comeback win over Bolton, the Blackpool bus departs Wembley Stadium with the FA Cup on top (of the team) bus for everyone to see.

There was also the tragedy of George Farm’s two goalkeeping blunders. There was also the sight of Eric Bell, Bolton’s half-cripple, who pulled a leg muscle early in the match, hopping down the field and heading a hero’s goal at the 55th minute for a 3-1 lead. Only a player of genius could have saved this critical situation. Matthews saw his opportunity, seized it and with both feet played Bolton out of the match. Blackpool’s rally began with 22 minutes left to play. Matthews kicked the ball toward the left post and, after a scramble, Mortensen booted it into the net to cut Bolton’s lead to 3-2. Matthews soon had the ball again and kept it away from his pursuers for nearly three minutes until being awarded a free-kick from just beyond the penalty area. In an attempt to stop the Blackpool star from scoring, Bolton packed their goal and it looked impossible to find an opening in this human wall, but Mortensen saw one and sent a terrific shot whistling into the roof of the net to even up the score at 3-3. It was Mortensen’s third goal of the match – and the only hat trick in Cup history. With one minute remaining, Matthews moved the ball up from the right and toward the net. It appeared he would score, but at the last second, passed to Perry, who was rushing in and kicked the game-winner for Blackpool’s first Cup. It was the most dramatic Cup final seen in thirty years at Wembley.

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■ Stanley Matthews (right) and Harry Johnston (left), the Blackpool captain, enjoy a victory ride off the pitch after winning the 1953 Cup final.

A VICTORY RIdE TO REMEMBER

A five-goal Cup Final with the match-winner scored in the final two minutes three minutes ranks high in the long catalogue of thrilling Wembleys. But

West Bromwich Albion’s 3-2 victory over Preston North End was not gained in the grand manner the 100,000 crowd had come to expect of the best team of the season.

Not until late in the second half did Albion find the rhythm which had made them the most-talked about team in the country. And Preston, who came into the Cup Final on the crest of a wave, were the obvious victims of Wembley nerves. The most disappointed was Tom Finney, who had been hailed as a probable match-winner. He was the target of close tackling by Len Millard, Ray Barlow and George Lee. Finney only had one scoring chance, just before half-time, from 15 yards out and unmarked, but he fired high and wide. There has rarely been a Wembley final without stage fright. Today, it was George Thompson, the Preston goalkeeper. Twice, he dropped the ball when chased by Albion forwards. And toward the end there was panicky judgment when Frank Griffin, the Albion right-winger, shot the game-winner from just beyond the dead ball line. But Thompson showed no nervousness in his great effort to save the goal on which the game turned -- a penalty shot, which evened up the score at 2-2 at 18 minutes into the second half. The match opened slowly until the 21st minute, when Albion and Preston exchanged goals. Lee nearly scored for Albion with a curving run and a hard shot. At the last moment, Ronnie Allen raced in just in time to sidestep the ball into the net with his right foot for a 1-0 lead. A minute later, Preston evened it up with Jim Sanders’ kick that Angus Morrison head-butted into the net. Six minutes after half-time, Tommy Docherty passed to Charlie Wayman, who scored easily on Sanders, the Albion goalkeeper, for a 2-1 lead. After Allen’s penalty-kick equaliser at the 63rd minute, Albion pressed hard, with Millard and Joe Kennedy linking up on the attack. It was Kennedy’s pass to Reg Ryan and then to Griffin that won the match. Griffin headed the ball past Preston’s Joe Marston before running down the goal line from the wing for the final goal in the 87th minute.

WEST BROMWICH WIN FIVE-GOAL

THRILLER

SIDELINE SMILES ■ West Brom’s Len Millard (middle, with trophy), Jimmy Dugdale (left) and Paddy Ryan (right) are interviewed by a radio reporter after the Cup final. OPPOSITE PAGE: The Baggies bring the Cup back to the Birmingham suburb of West Bromwich.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 3-2 PRESTON NORTH END

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 1, 1954

If Stanley Matthews had his “day in the sun” in 1953, the man to whom many compared him had a very different experience a year later.

Tom Finney was a very special player, a talented footballer who could be effective across a forward line. And he had other skills – he could score great goals on a Saturday afternoon and mend your boiler on Saturday evening!

Finney, a one club man, was also a qualified plumber. Indeed, he was known to soccer fans as the “Preston Plumber” and when he retired from football his plumbing business continued to be successful for many years.

Finney and Matthews provided the game’s observers with a vibrant debate on who were the better player. England was just lucky to have both of them.

As Bill Shankly said: “Tom Finney would have been great in any match and in any age ... even if he had been wearing an overcoat!”

Preston and West Bromwich Albion – The Baggies – had made it to the 1954 FA Cup final with the Midland club clear favourites. They had lost the First Division Championship on the run-in but experts felt they would put that disappointment behind them and have too much for Preston in the Cup final. Of course, a lot depended on Finney – who was a potential match-winner. And he knew it. But on Cup final day Finney admitted he had a shocker: He had found the build-up to the final all-consuming.

Being a local lad and Preston’s best player, he was in constant demand for interviews with the

press and broadcasters – and his phone was red-hot with ticket requests from those who knew him and those who didn’t.

All part of traditional FA Cup final stuff – but it got to Finney.

By the time Finney was in London to prepare for the big game he felt exhausted. And when he hit that Wembley atmosphere, despite playing many England internationals there, Finney just felt drained and just didn’t seem right for the final.

The match itself was 1-1 at half-time, after a first period in which neither team hit their true stroke.

Preston then went ahead in the second half with a goal by Charlie Wayman, but Albion’s Ronnie Allen scored a penalty, his second goal of the game, and in the closing minutes Frank Griffin squeezed the ball under George Thompson’s body for the decisive goal.

Suddenly, it was 3-2 – and a great day for the Midlanders.

For Finney, there were just regrets that in a wonderful career, this day of all days was the one where he delivered one of his most disappointing performances.

Twice Footballer of the Year, he retired from Preston North End and football at the end of the 1959-60 season. He was a one-club man, brilliant footballer and great example to those who followed him.

His famous water splash photograph was recreated into a statue located outside the Deepdale Stadium in Preston. Later knighted for his services to football, Finney enjoyed his 90th birthday in 2012.

FA CUP MEMORIES

LEADINGOFF

■ Preston goalkeeper George Thompson stretches to his right, but is unable to reach Ronnie Allen’s penalty kick in the second half.

JUST OUT OF REACH

LEADINGOFF

■ LEFT: Len Millard (middle, with the Cup) and his teammates (left to right) Ray Barlow, Jimmy Dudley, Jimmy Dugdale, Jim Sanders, Joe Kennedy, Johnny Nicholls and Ronnie Allen enjoy their lap of honour around the Wembley pitch.

OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: Frank Griffin, who scored the Cup’s game winner, kisses his boot while Ray Barlow (left) and Ronnie Allen watch.

OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM: Albion Captain Len Millard enjoys a victory ride on his team-mates’ shoulders.

WEMBLEY WONDERS

PRESSUE AND GLORY ■ Albion goalkeeper Jimmy Sanders looks away while Ronnie Allen attempts his penalty kick in the second half, which evened the score at 2-2. OPPOSITE PAGE: Ronnie Allen (holding the Cup) and his West Brom team-mates celebrate in their Wembley dressing room.

P laying with the least notable of all their teams, which have put together the magnificent unbeaten record of five Cup final triumphs at Wembley since 1924,

Newcastle United defeated favoured Manchester City this afternoon, 3-1. It was the Geordies’ third Cup final victory in the past five years.

The crowd of 100,000 at London’s football cathedral agreed that the win was truly deserved. The good luck that had marked Newcastle’s progress to the 1955 final clung to them to the end of the story, which was a bitter end from the viewpoint of their rivals. In 1952, the last time Newcastle won the Cup, the task of mastering Arsenal by 1-0 became less formidable when an unfortunate knee injury kept Walley Barnes, the losers’ right-back, off the field for more than an hour. By an almost unbelievable coincidence the incident was now reproduced in every particular, with the substitution of the name of Jimmy Meadows, right-back for Manchester City, for Barnes. Nineteen minutes into the first half, Meadows fell in agonising pain after wrenching the ligaments of his left knee. He was forced to withdraw and watched from the trainer’s bench as the 10-man drama unfolded. Never before has Cup final history been repeated in such stark and unhappy detail. Jackie Milburn scored for Newcastle 45 seconds after the kick-off to give the returning Cup-holders a 1-0 advantage. Manchester City fought bravely and evened up the match at 1-1 in the final minute before half-time on Bobby Johnstone’s diving header. At the 53rd minute, Newcastle went on top for good when Bobby Mitchell drove past Manchester goalkeeper, Bert Trautmann, and booted a low shot for the goal and a 2-1 lead. Seven minutes later it was almost all over as George Hannah banged it past Trautmann to give Newcastle a 3-1 lead.

NEWCASTLE ROUT 10-MAN CITY;

RETAINS UNBEATENCUP RECORD AT

WEMBLEYNEWCASTLE UNITED 3-1 MANCHESTER CITY

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 7, 1955

WEMBLEY WONDERS ■ Newcastle United goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson dives to stop a Manchester City scoring attempt in the first half. OPPOSITE PAGE: Newcastle’s Jackie Milburn kisses the Cup in the team’s dressing room after the Geordies’ 3-1 win over Manchester City. Milburn scored Newcastle’s first goal in the game’s opening minute.

The FA Cup itself is one of the most beautiful trophies in world sport. Many sporting organisations have tried to emulate the stylish contours of the FA Cup, but few have succeeded.

Of course, the trophy would be polished up to its gleaming silver best before being displayed and distributed on the big day. And to the victors the spoils. The FA Cup would then be filled with milk, beer or champagne, and guzzled down by celebrating players.

Then, over the following days, the trophy would be shown off to the fans, held vicariously over the side of an open-topped bus or town hall balcony.

Charlton Athletic manager Jimmy Seed broke the FA Cup’s lid when he accidentally dropped it out of a taxi after his team had won the Cup in 1947. He had it repaired at his own expense as his way of apologising.

Occasionally dropped, occasionally dented, the Cup would always somehow be back to its Saturday best on Cup final day. And such was the case in 1955, when Newcastle United met Manchester City in their Wembley showdown.

Two Newcastle wins in 1951 and 1952 were followed by another one in 1955.

“Wor” Jackie Milburn was once again on target – this time inside a minute, 45 seconds to be exact, which (at that date) was the fastest Wembley goal in Cup final history.

Unmarked from a corner Milburn drilled a header home after City’s captain, Roy Paul, strayed away from the scorer to mark Milburn’s team-mate, Vic Keeble.

It was a fatal mistake by the City defender.

City, who were playing their

deep-lying, centre-forward formation, got back in the game through Bobby Johnstone. And led by that season’s Football of the Year, Don Revie, they pushed hard for victory but the Geordies were the better side and secured their third Cup final win in five years, 3-1, with additional goals from Bobby Mitchell and George Hannah.

Queen Elizabeth reportedly greeted the final whistle by remarking to Newcastle United chairman Stan Seymour that his team had broken a record.

And indeed they had.Newcastle had won at Wembley

every time they had played there. They were also the first team to be in ten finals, and their win had equalled Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa’s record total of six wins each.

This is how the trophy found itself in the corner of a small room of a house in Ellington Terrace, Ashington. Milburn had taken the Cup home to personally show to his family and friends.

As everybody excitedly talked about the game, they didn’t notice Milburn’s little daughter, Betty, take the trophy out into the garden and proceed to fill it up to the brim with mud-pies! When she proudly brought it back in the house, the Milburns were horrified to see the Football Association’s pride and joy reduced to the role of a humble bucket! Elbow grease was applied by the Milburn family and the trophy was eventually returned to it former glory.

When Newcastle returned the FA Cup to The Football Association they probably didn’t think that over 50 years later it would still not have returned to Tyneside.

FA CUP MEMORIES

A t last the FA Cup has been won by the brilliance of forward play as distinct from dour defence. And in accomplishing the feat Manchester

City’s 3-1 victory over Birmingham City, before a crowd of 100,000, caused the greatest Wembley Cup surprise since Portsmouth defeated Wolves in 1939.

Manchester City’s three goals today were of a standard unequalled at Wembley in a Cup final and were comparable with Scotland’s Wembley Wizards of 1928 and the 1953 Hungarians’ magic. The result made history as well as being a repetition of 22 years ago, when Manchester City won the Cup after losing in the previous final. Twelve months ago, they lost the Cup final to Newcastle United, 3-1. In lifting the Cup today, Manchester City have emulated United’s triumph in the League and completed a unique Manchester Double. Recent experience of Wembley pitfalls is greatly valued

at the start of a match. Again it was so, with City this time profitting from their lessons learned from 12-month-old knowledge. In 1955, Jackie Milburn put City behind quickly after his goal in the first minute. City accomplished the same feat today with Joe Hayes’ shock goal that got past Birmingham goalkeeper Gil Merrick after three minutes of play. Birmingham’s Noel Kinsey scored the equaliser with an in-off-the-post shot fifteen minutes into the match. Don Revie was the master of ceremonies in Manchester City’s second-half win. He moved the ball on a brilliant cross-field sweep, splitting Birmingham’s defence and varying the tempo from short passing to the use of the telling long ball. It was a repetition of the Hungarian rhapsody. Jack Dyson, the cricketer, took a pass from wing-half Ken Barnes and easily slipped it past Merrick for a 2-1 lead at the 65th minute. Three minutes later, Merrick was taking the ball out of the net again after Dyson passed to Bobby Johnstone, the little Scot, who flashed a quick-as-lightning strike past Merrick. With 15 minutes left to play, Bert Trautmann, the Manchester City goalkeeper, was knocked out in a collision, but he remained in the match. The doctors’ examination revealed that Trautmann had finished the match with a broken neck.

Revie diRectsmAnchesteR city’s

MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 BIRMINGHAM CITY

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 5, 1956

A dUeL OF tWO cities ■ Don Revie, the future Leeds manager, enjoys a drink from the FA Cup trophy after leading Manchester City to their third Cup final victory. City previously won the Cup in 1904 and 1934.

scORingmAchine

the PAin OF victORy ■ Manchester City goal keeper Bert Trautmann reacts after being injured after a goal-mouth collision. He would later finish the game.

Bernhard Carl Trautmann was born in October 1923 in Bremen, Germany. A keen handball player, Trautmann, like many young German people, was swept along in the wake of political turmoil and change in his country.

As the Second World War was in full flight, and barely 18-years-old, Trautmann found himself fighting on the Russian front. Three years later with the German troops in retreat, the young soldier was captured by British troops and transferred to a prisoner-of-war camp in Cheshire.

To wile away the long hours of boredom the captives would play endless games of football and Trautmann excelled in goal.

When peace was finally declared, Trautmann was released, but he chose to stay in England.

Manchester City signed him and then fought off petitions, protest letters and abusive phone-calls. Soon thereafter, Trautmann, the German, quietly started to make his career in English football.

A runner-up in the 1955 FA Cup final, despite the Duke of Edinburgh personally wishing him “Sehr gut” in the pre-match introductions, a year later he was in the final again. This time, City would be 3-1 winners over Birmingham City, with Don Revie making a telling difference.

Goals from Hayes, Dyson and Johnstone swung the game Manchester City’s way, but not before they survived the drama of the last fifteen minutes, which saw Trautmann, that season’s Footballer of the Year, break his neck in a heavy collision with

Peter Murphy, Birmingham City’s inside-left.

Trautmann lay motionless for minutes, but he refused to leave the field. He resumed play, dazed and disorientated. He even made another brave head-long save, as the crowd watched him reeling and grabbing his neck.

Manchester City edged home and their captain, Roy Paul, later lifted the trophy high above his head after receiving it from Queen Elizabeth, which set a trend that continues to this day.

There was a brief scare when their full-back, Roy Little, thought he had lost his Winners’ medal. Everybody searched high and low in the dressing room before it was found. Little had inadvertently rolled it up in his team-shirt and thrown it in the laundry basket.

The City team returned home to a huge welcome. Afterall, their neighbours Manchester United had won the league championship and City had won the FA Cup. That would be the case again in 2011.

In a marvellous show of warmth and affection the crowd massed outside the Manchester Town Hall repeatedly called for their hero, Bert Trautmann, to take a bow.

“We want Bert ... we want Bert ...” was the cry followed by “For he’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”

It was a remarkable tribute to the German goalkeeper who four days after Wembley was diagnosed with having broken his neck.

Trautmann would play at Maine Road for fourteen and 1-half years – making nearly 550 appearances. In 2004, he was awarded an honorary OBE.

FA cUP memORies

The BesT of WemBley

■ Johnny Dixon, the Aston Villa captain, lifts the FA Cup trophy in

jubilation after his team had defeated Manchester United, 2-1.

Villa eNDsUNiTeD’s

DoUBlehoPes

P laying before a crowd of 100,000, which included the Queen, Prince Phillip and the Prime Minister, Aston Villa defeated Manchester United, 2-1. This effort

spoiled United’s hopes of winning the League-Cup Double.

United were dealt a blow when Ray Wood, their goalkeeper, was knocked out six minutes into the opening half. He was carried off on a stretcher. This match will be forever remembered as Peter McParland’s Cup final. He was the one who knocked out Wood, then he knocked out United with two second-half goals. After the accident with Wood, United were forced to play most of the match with only 10 players. Jackie Blanchflower gave up his centre-half position to don the goalkeepers’ jersey, Duncan Edwards took over Blanchflower’s job as pivot and inside-right Billy Whelan moved to left-half. Nothing short of a miracle could have saved United, yet they played with courage and held Villa to a scoreless first half. It was not until the 68th minute that McParland sent Villa into the lead with a first-class goal for a 1-0 lead. He was loudly booed. Five minutes later, McParland sent the ball past Blanchflower for a 2-0 lead, and it meant almost certain defeat for United, but to their credit they staged a do-or-die rally. The Reds were rewarded with a header by Tommy Taylor on a corner kick, which was taken by the enthusiastic Duncan Edwards at the 83rd minute. But United’s rally fell short.

ASTON VILLA 2-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

By Frank Coles at Wembley The Daily Telegraph, May 4, 1957

Matt Busby took over the manager’s duties at Manchester United in 1945 and set in motion a dynasty that would straddle over twenty-plus years and produce a series of special teams and very special footballers.

His first United team were already assembled at Old Trafford when he got there but with a shrewd transfer or two he maximised their potential. A famous FA Cup win in the marvellous 1948 final was followed by the League Championship four years later. That team aged quickly together and there was an urgent need to rebuild and renew.

Busby created a new Manchester United team, but disliked the slick-sounding name for his young side: “The Busby Babes.” Still, he did enjoy their marvellous football. They were a revelation.

League Champions in 1956 and 1957 – they had made the semi-finals of the latter year’s European Cup and also reached the FA Cup final.

United, who won the League Championship by eight clear points from runners-up Tottenham Hotspur, survived an early scare in the FA Cup, coming through on a seemingly straight-forward 3rd Round tie at lowly Hartlepools United of the Third Division (North) by a narrow 4-3 scoreline.

Victoria Park was packed with more than 17,000 fans and saw the visiting stars of United take a three-goal lead in just 32 minutes. An old-fashioned FA Cup comeback followed and within a quarter of an hour it was 3-3 before the Reds’ Liam Whelan hit the winning goal.

The 1956-57 United side, captained by Roger Byrne, had a young Bobby Charlton coming through and a man-boy in Duncan Edwards, an extraordinarily

precocious talent. They were just three names on a team that was simply a brilliant fusion of talent and technique.

United arrived at Wembley as hot favourites to beat Aston Villa and secure that much sought-after domestic Double. But they didn’t – and this was due to a collision early in the game as to the Midland team’s supremacy.

After just six minutes, Peter McParland, Villa’s outside-left, followed in his own header and he and United goalkeeper Ray Wood crashed into each other. Wood sustained a broken cheek-bone and had to leave the field only to return and play as a “passenger” on the right wing.

Centre-half Jackie Blanchflower, the brother of Danny, took Wood’s place in goal and, despite some Wembley heroics, couldn’t repel a brace of goals from fellow Irishman, McParland. The first was a bullet header, the second was a rebound off the bar.

Wood went back in at goal for the last few minutes and United pulled one back late in the game when Tommy Taylor headed home a Duncan Edwards corner.

But to no avail. Villa got safely over the finish line and went up to receive the Cup with some fans making their displeasure felt. The injury to Wood had been a game-changer and some directly blamed McParland for it. He had been booed throughout the game and was also booed when he and his team-mates received their medals.

However, for Villa it was a moment to celebrate. Their seventh FA Cup win put them ahead of Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United in total Cup final victories.

The 1957 win over Manchester United represents the last time they lifted the famous trophy.

fa CUP memoRies

leaDiNGoff

■ Tens of thousands of Aston Villa fans packed the streets of Birmingham to celebrate the Acorns’ seventh Cup final win. Villa also won the Cup in 1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913 and 1920.

WelCome home

The BesT of WemBley

■ Bolton’s Nat Lofthouse, who scored 2 goals against Manchester United, is given a victory ride by his teammates

after their 1958 Cup final victory.

Football plays a unique part in British sporting and social life. For many people it is the magic that lifts a hum-drum existence, for others it’s the icing on the cake. What’s true is that when tragedy hits the game, it has a profound and unifying effect on its loving public.

Such was the case after the Munich air crash on February 6, 1958, that killed 23 people on their way back from Manchester United’s European Cup-tie against Red Star Belgrade.

Eight United players would lose their lives when the airplane, which was taking the team back to Manchester, crashed following a re-fuelling stop in Munich. It failed to take off on a snowy airfield in Germany. Of the 44 people on board, only 21 survived – footballers, back-room staff and journalists were amongst those who were killed.

The last player to lose his life was Duncan Edwards, who died in a German hospital just 16 days after his final game of football. He was buried on February 26th with 5,000 people there to mourn his passing.

Probably the most gifted player of his generation, his life was tragically cut short at just 21, before he had even fully matured into the footballer the world knew he would become. He was already outstanding.

Edwards joined Byrne, Taylor, Whelan, Colman, Pegg, Jones and Bent as Manchester United men who tragically perished in the Munich Air Disaster.

United’s manager, Matt Busby, survived but was on a long road to recovery; it was

left to his assistant, Welshman Jimmy Murphy, to drive things forward and keep the club’s spirits up. It was a huge task but remarkably he was able to put a Manchester United side on the field again within a fortnight.

On an emotionally-charged night at Old Trafford on February 19, 1958, United played Sheffield Wednesday in their delayed FA Cup 5th Round tie. The side was made up from a mixture of surviving first-team players, young reserves and players brought in like Ernie Taylor from Blackpool and Stan Crowther from Aston Villa. It was a match like no other and United, who were cheered on by a partisan crowd, won, 3-0.

The United side later won a replayed 6th Round tie with West Brom and then an epic semi-final replay with Fulham, 5-3. A young Alex Dawson scored a hat-trick and Bobby Charlton, now on the recovery path, scored United’s fifth goal.

The final itself was one step too far for this United side even though Matt Busby, who was still feeling the effects of the crash, was on the team bench. United had been led out by Murphy, who had done a very special job in the Scotsman’s absence.

Bolton Wanderers were the opposition in the Cup final. They were led by their centre-forward, Nat Lofthouse, who got both goals, with his second famously involving barging United keeper Harry Gregg while in the act of scoring. He then lifted the Cup as the team’s captain.

Despite facing a very pro-United crowd for obvious

fA CUP memoRIes

f or the third straight year, a goalkeeping controversy affected the Cup final, which Bolton Wanderers won, 2-0, over Manchester United before a crowd of

100,000. After a break of 29 years, it was Bolton’s fourth Cup final win.

The questionable call came on Nat Lofthouse’s charge on Harry Gregg, the United goalkeeper, during Bolton’s second goal. Lofthouse scored the first goal at the third minute after Bryan Edwards sent a speculative crossing pass to the Bolton captain, who shot it deep into the corner of the net for a 1-0 lead. Thirty minutes into the match, United’s Dennis Viollet came face to face with the glittering chance for an open goal, but he shot the ball over the crossbar and the glaring miss haunted him for the rest of the afternoon. United had two more scoring opportunities before half-time, but goalkeeper Eddie Hopkinson showed why he will be England’s goalkeeper in the World Cup matches in Sweden by making two glorious saves. His full-length save of a rocket kick by Bobby Charlton was a masterpiece. Charlton would have another chance at scoring eight minutes into the second half. Hopkinson was beaten, but Charlton’s kick crashed against the far post and ricocheted like lightning across the face of the goal and into

Hopkinson’s awaiting arms. Lofthouse’s second goal – the controversial one – came at the 50th minute. Gregg had fumbled a crossing kick and, as he gathered up the ball, he was run over by Wanderers’ captain. Lofthouse and the ball then tumbled into the net to give Bolton a 2-0 lead. The goal was allowed although, most of those in the stands wondered if perhaps it should have been disallowed. This, however, wasn’t the same Manchester United that had won the League title in 1957 and played Aston Villa in the Cup final last year. Less than three months earlier, eight United star players and three team officials were killed in a plane crash near Munich (on February 6). The plane had crashed after taking off following a refuelling stop. Two other United players – Johnny Berry and Jackie Blanchflower – would never play again. Thirteen days after the crash, on February 19th, Matt Busby’s squad would defeat Sheffield Wednesday, 3-0, in a Fifth Round Cup tie before 60,000 on an emotional evening. It was a victory every Englishman cheered for. The printed scorecard for the match did not list a starting line-up for United. Instead, there were blanks. United’s squad wasn’t announced until just before kick-off. It was a mixture of reserves, juniors, hastily imported players and two survivors of the plane crash.

TWo GoAls foR lofThoUse As

BolToNlIfTs CUP BOLTON WANDERERS 2-0 MANCHESTER UNITED

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 3, 1958

UNITeD WhITeWAsh ■ Bolton captain Nat Lofthouse is chaired by his team-mates for a victory lap around Wembley following the Wanderers’ 2-0 win over Manchester United.

The BesT of WemBley

■ Nottingham Forest captain Jack Burkitt poses with the Cup for the

newspaper photographers, while riding on the train back to Nottingham and a heroes’ reception. OPPOSITE PAGE:

Nottingham Forest fans descend en masse to the capital city in anticipation of a

second Cup final win.

N ottingham Forest treated the crowd of 100,000 to a dazzling display of fast, controlled football in the first 30 minutes of play, which allowed them to

cement their 2-1 victory over Luton Town.

It was the first Wembley Cup final appearance for both teams. Forest, the third oldest club in the country, had previously won the Cup in a 3-1 victory over Derby County in 1898. The match was marred by an injury to Roy Dwight, Forest’s lively right-winger. He suffered a broken right leg following a collision with Luton’s right-back, Brendan McNally, 33 minutes into the opening half. Dwight got Forest’s first goal ten minutes into the first half, after getting a crossing pass from Stuart Imlach, which he fired past Ron Baynham, the Luton goalkeeper. Four minutes later, Tommy Wilson scored on a header following a centre pass from Billy Gray to make it 2-0. Forest’s defence was so good that Luton did not get a worthwhile scoring opportunity until five minutes into the second half. Their second scoring chance came in the 62nd minute, when Dave Pacey took Ken Hawkes’ pass and reduced Forest’s two-goal lead to 2-1. Syd Owen, the valiant Luton captain, who was playing in his last match, tried to rally his men for an equalising goal, but Forest held out against the inspiring raids of Billy Bingham. When the second half was over, Owen’s dream of a storybook comeback ending to wrap up a distinguished playing career was shattered.

NoTTiNgham foresT Too good for luToN ToWN

iN cup fiNaleNOTTINGHAM FOREST 2-1 LUTON TOWN

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 2, 1959

The BesT of WemBley

■ Bolton’s Nat Lofthouse, who scored 2 goals against Manchester United, is given a victory ride by his teammates

after their 1958 Cup final victory.

The live televising of the FA Cup final was now an established part of the event and its coverage on the BBC was building a growing audience.

In 1959, the final was part of a new programme called Grandstand, the famous Saturday afternoon show that would run on the BBC for nearly fifty years.

Watching Grandstand became part of the country’s psyche – getting up early and viewing the build-up to the big kick-off.

On May 2, 1959, the programme was on the air at 11:30 a.m. and continued to 5:05 p.m. and was full of Cup final features and other sporting outside broadcasts.

Kenneth Wolstenholme was the BBC commentator and his voice became synonymous with the Corporation’s coverage of televised football in this period.

Wolstenholme commentated on the first-ever Match of the Day in 1964 and, of course, most famously on the 1966 World Cup final.

But the BBC was no longer alone in broadcasting the final. ITV, the country’s first commercial television channel, had started broadcasting in 1955 and transmitted their first Cup final the following year.

Over the years the two companies would enjoy a big rivalry on Cup final day – and each would have their own “wins” in the pre-match build-up, even if invariably the viewers traditionally favoured the BBC when the match actually started.

In 1959, the Cup final was between Nottingham Forest and Luton Town – two of the less fashionable teams in the tournament.

Whilst Gerry Loftus and Peter Lloyd described the action for ITV, Kenneth Wolstenholme was the familiar voice on the microphone on the BBC. Mind you, he had to apologise to viewers who complained that the BBC’s new-fangled score captions described Forest as ’Notts Forest rather than Nott’m Forest.

And with another tilt towards the growing influence of television in British life, Forest supporters were heard to sing the theme tune of the popular ITV programme, Robin Hood, at regular intervals throughout the game.

It was Forest’s first final since 1898. Luton Town, however, had never even reached the

semi-final stage in their 74-year history.But this was a year when, one-by-one, the

favourites went out.In an exciting game at Wembley, Roy

Dwight opened the scoring for Forest, who then extended their lead through Wilson. Dwight, famously the uncle of Reg Dwight, aka Elton John, then broke his right shin bone in a collision with Luton’s NcNally. Once again, the Wembley injury jinx was in play, but this time the team in front stayed in front, despite being down to ten-men.

Luton, who had been fired up by lively winger, Billy Bingham, got one back through Dave Pacey just after the hour.

Forest were reduced to only nine fit men when Bill Whare came down with a cramp, but somehow the men from Nottingham got over the line.

And BBC and ITV viewers had enjoyed the latest episode in the continuing drama that was the FA Cup final.

fa cup memories

leadiNgoff

■ More than 75,000 Nottingham supporters welcome the return of their beloved team after the 2-1 win against Luton Town in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Team captain Jack Burkitt savours the moment as he hoists the Cup for Forest fans to celebrate.

a day of hoNour

deeley’s 2 goals daZZle

WolVes INWeMBley CUP

THRIlleR

N orman Deeley, whose two brilliantly-scored goals in the FA Cup final, will be the toast of the Black Country long after other parts of today’s 3-0 victory

by Wolverhampton over Blackburn Rovers are forgotten.

ItwasWolves’fourthFACupfinalwin.TheypreviouslytookhometheCupin1893,1908and1949. Theirtriumphwasonemorepracticalproof of thesoundjudgmentof WolvesmanagerStanleyCullisandhisselectionof whoplayedtoday. Cullis’sdecisiontorecallDeeleyandSouthAfrican-bornDesmondHornetothewing-forwardpositionsandthebloodingof youngBarryStobartatinside-right,afteronlyfiveappearancesinfirst-classfootball,werebolddecisionsbyamanwhowaswellawareof thestormaheadif theyfailed. Thematch’sturningpointcameatthe41stminute. Roverscentre-half MickMcGrathinterceptedBarryStobart’spassandaccidentlybootedtheballpasthisowngoalkeeper,HarryLeyland,togiveWolverhamptona1-0lead.

Wolveswouldlateraddtwomoregoalstoensurevictorythisafternoon. Thefirstcameinthe67thminute,whenDeeleytookacrossingpassfromHorneandtheright-wingerfiredfromtheedgeof thepenaltyareatogiveWolverhampton a2-0advantage. Blackburnappealedforoffsideonthegoal,butRefereeHowleyruledthatMcGrathwasstillinpositiontointerferewiththeplay. Deeley’ssecondgoalcamewithtwominuteslefttoplayinthematch. StobartsetitupbysendingapasspastMattWoods,theBlackburncentre-half,toDeeley,whoquicklyscoredtoputWolvesahead,2-0. Afterwards,whentheWolverhamptoncaptainandhiscolleaguessteppeduptoreceivetheCupandtheirWinners’medalsfromtheDuchessof Gloucester,Blackburnfansletlooseanoutburstof boos.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3-0 BLACKBURN ROVERS

By Frank Coles at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 7, 1960

WolVes RUle oNCe MoRe ■Wolverhampton’sEddieClamp(left)andBillSlater(withtheCup)liftthehistorictrophyontheWembleypitchforWolvesfanstorejoice.

EveryMaythegreatandgoodgatherinaglitzyLondonhoteltocelebratethecrowningof thatseason’sFootballWriters“Footballerof theYear.”Proudlypositioningitself as

the“original”annualprizetoEnglishfootball’sbestplayer,theevent,stagedjustbeforeeachseason’sFACupfinal,isalwayswellattendedandfullof famousfaces.Football’sglitterati,television

celebrities,theoddfashionandfilmstar,minglewiththe“scribes”–andallinallitisusuallyagreatnightout.AmongtheVIPguestsarea

sprinklingof previouswinnersof theprize–averitableWho’sWhoof Englishfootball.Andoneregular,andmost

welcomememberof thosespecialalumni,isanelderlygentlemanwitharemarkablefootballingstorytotell.BillSlatercaptainedWolves

totheirFACuptriumphoverBlackburnRoversinMay1960.Itwasthelatesthigh-watermarkintheMidlandsclub’ssuccessfulrunof trophyliftingthathadstraddledthepreviousdecade.ACupfinalwinin1949

hadbeenfollowedupbythreeLeagueChampionshipsinthe1950’sandsomefamousfloodliteveningsinthefledglingEuropeanCup.Indeedinthe1958-59season

eachof theclub’steamswontheirrespectiveleagues.ItwasheadytimesforWolves

andtheircentre-half andcaptain,BillSlater,whowaschosenastheFootballerof theYearin1960.HiscareerhadstartedatBlackpoolandindeedhehadplayedontheir1951sidethatlosttheCupfinaltoNewcastleUnited.

Hewasanamateurfootballerthenandwasindeedthelastplayerof thatstatustoplayinanFACupfinalatWembley.Alongsidethelikesof Matthews,MortensenandMudie,theversatileSlateractuallyplayedatinside-forwardfortheTangerines.Hewouldplayatcentre-half forWolvesatWembleynineyearslater.Slaterplayedtwelvetimesfor

England,fourof thematthe1958WorldCupinSweden.HehadalsoplayedforGreatBritaininthe1952OlympicsinHelsinki.Itwasafeatemulatedbyhisdaughter,Barbara,whowasagymnastatthe1976MontrealGamesandisnowBBC’sDirectorof Sport.Slaterwas“oldschool”–a

terrificcompetitor,wholedfromthefront.HiselevenyearsatMolineuxweretestimonytohisability.The1960FACupfinalitself

wasapoorone-sidedgame;notleastbecauseof anotherWembleyinjuryjinx.Thistime,BlackburnRovers’

left-back,DaveWhelan,laterasuccessfulbusinessmanandownerof WiganAthletic,brokehislegminutesbeforehalf-time.Wolveswerealreadyagoaltothegood.Theyaddedtwomoreinthesecondhalf toclinchvictory.Theoccasionhadan

unfortunateendingwithorangepeel,applecoresandallmannerof rubbishbeingthrownfromtheterraces,chieflybyBlackburnfans.TheirtargetsincludedrefereeKevinHowleyandthevictoriousWolves.Butalsotherewasprobably

thesenseof injusticesincetheCupfinalhadbeenagameof 10playersv.11.

Fa CUP MeMoRIes

tottenham’s Worst shoWing at Wembley is

good enough to Win double

a s Danny Blanchflower accepted the FA Cup from the Duchess of Kent at Wembley this afternoon, Len Chalmers lay on the treatment table in Leicester

City’s dressing room, receiving attention to a badly injured right leg. That, in essence, is the story of how Spurs achieved the Double.

Had Chalmers not been hurt in a clash with Les Allen after 18 minutes of first-half play, Blanchflower might not have become the first captain in this century to lead his team up the steps to the Royal Box to collect their Cup Winners’ medals only a week after they had become League Champions. As Blanchflower and his men ran jubilantly round the pitch with the Cup held high, the 10 survivors of

Leicester’s gallant battle against overwhelming odds lined up at the tunnel entrance to pay tribute to their conquerors and a great achievement. Spurs failed on a golden opportunity to score in the fourth minute when John White missed his shot from eight yards out. After Cliff Jones’ goal was disallowed for being offside in the 38th minute, Tottenham finally got on the scoreboard in the 70th minute, with Smith breaking the ice with his goal that will always be shown in future newsreels about the “Team of the Century.” The goal was set up by a series of passes from Allen to Terry Dyson, who slid it on to the unmarked Smith. Looking every bit like England’s No. 1 centre-forward, Smith moved to his right, turned and hammered the ball into the net to give Spurs a 1-0 lead. Seven minutes later, White and Smith connected on a series of passes, with Smith passing the ball on to Dyson on the far post, who headed in a spectacular goal. Soon Blanchflower was running up the steps to the Royal Box – and Aston Villa’s Double of 1897 had finally been duplicated.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-0 LEICESTER CITY

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 6, 1961

a rare aChieVement ■ Spurs players hoist the Division One and FA Cup trophies for their fans as they celebrate their historic Double with an open-top bus ride.

Fa CuP memories

John Arlott is one of British broadcasting’s most famous voices – his cricket commentaries, deliciously wrapped in a soft Hampshire burr, are the stuff of legend.

Arlott, however, was also a football reporter for a national newspaper in the winter and this was his lyrical take on the Super Spurs – the first team to win the Double in the 20th century.

“We, who have had the delight of watching this team, will long recall its movements ... because we only have two eyes, we could not truly encompass them, could not quite see how, when the speed of their unpredictable rhythm peaked, they swept into action thinking with each other’s minds, so that the 10 men without the ball were as busy as the man with it.” Colourful stuff.

It was the mantra of Spurs’ legendary manager Bill Nicholson that told the story: “If you’re not in possession, get into position.”

And so it was. Spurs had started the 1960-61 season like an express train, winning their first 11 League games on the spin. Indeed they won a record 31 matches and scored a phenomenal 115 goals en route to winning the League title.

Their 2-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday clinched the first leg of the Double. Nineteen days later came the second leg, the FA Cup final – against Leicester City.

If Bill Nicholson was the managerial guru off the pitch, his captain, Danny Blanchflower, was the key influencer on it.

A man of many parts – author, newspaper columnist and broadcaster – Blanchflower, who famously turned down an appearance on TV’s popular This is Your Life programme, was, as Nicholson saw him, “a wonderful asset.”

The 35-year-old wing-half, from Northern Ireland, directed “the traffic” for Spurs and was a true White Hart Lane legend.

He also had a witty turn of phrase. When he lifted the FA Cup above his head on

the Town Hall balcony following the previous day’s Wembley success, he told the watching throng, and a special close-by observer, “I’m very happy to have won

the Double and that it has happened this year, in my term of office!”

Alongside Blanchflower was the local Mayor, decked out in full official regalia, puffing and panting and incongruously lifting the League Championship trophy aloft.

The final itself had been a bit of an anti-climax. Opponents, Leicester City, had battled through a twice-replayed semi-final with Sheffield United, but then on the big day itself lost full-back Len Chalmers, who was a first-half victim of the recurring Wembley injury jinx.

It changed the balance of the game – Spurs, denied a first-half goal from Cliff Jones being offside, settled matters in the second with goals from the free-scoring rumbustious Bobby Smith and winger Terry Dyson.

For Spurs, winners of the trophy in 1901 and 1921, it was another FA Cup success in a year ending in a “1.” It would happen twice more in the next thirty years.

Spurs’ Bobby Smith with the Cup.

onCe around the PitCh ■ Tottenham’s Danny Blanch-flower and Bobby Smith (front right, with the Cup) parade the Cup on their victory lap after defeating Leicester City, 2-0.

TOTTENHAM REPEATs As WINNERs IN BEsT

WEMBLEY FA cuP FINAL

sINcE 1948T ottenham Hotspur won the FA

Cup in handsome fashion with their 3-1 victory over Burnley in front of 100,000 this afternoon.

The result of their clash at Wembley was an absorbing Cup final – perhaps the best since Manchester United beat Blackpool in 1948.

Spurs’gripontheCuptightenedinthefirstthree minutes, when Jimmy Greaves completed hisday’sworkbyscoringthecrucialfirstgoal. A clearance by Bill Brown was soon headed in by Bobby Smith and Greaves raced through Burnley’s defence, lost control, was given time to recoverandflashedtheballpastAdamBlacklaw,theBurnleygoalkeeper,fora1-0lead. This single thrust meant that Burnley would always be trying to catch up for the remainder of theafternoon. They did draw even in the 50th minute when the energetic Ray Pointer robbed Tottenham’s Dave Mackay and slipped a pass to Gordon Harris,whoselow,hardcrosswasflickedintothenetbythelurkingJimmyRobson. But within 30 seconds, the shrewd, hard men of Tottenhamstruckagain.

While Burnley were still enjoying the glorious heady feeling that comes from equalising in a Cupfinal,Spursbrokeaway,withJohnWhitecentering to Bobby Smith, who reached back to bring the ball under control, turned and thumpeditinfora2-1lead. So the struggle went on, with Spurs always justincontrol,untilthe80thminute. As Terry Medwin drove a loose ball goalward, the luckless Tommy Cummings, standingontheline,flexedhisbiceptopreventacertaingoal. Promptly, Jim Finney, the referee, pointed to the spot, the gentlemanly Burnley players protested,andthelinesmanloweredhisflag. DannyBlanchflowerthenconvertedthepenaltykickforthe3-1lead.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3-1 BURNLEY

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 5, 1962

DOuBLE THE GLORY ■ John White and Maurice Norman (right) share the Cup with the large crowdof TottenhamfansatWembley.SpursarethefirstCupwinnerstowintheprizedtrophyinback-to-back years since Newcastle United achieved this feat in1951and1952. OPPOSITE PAGE: Tottenham, after winning the Cup two years in a row, proudly display their trophy to the crowd from an open-top bus during a civic reception, which was held in North Londontohonourtheir3-1victory.

LEADINGOFF

■ With ten minutes left to play in regular time, Tottenham’s Danny Blanchflowerscoresonapenalty kick to put Spurs ahead,3-1.

GAME cLINcHER

May 5th, 1962, was the day I watchedmyfirstFACupfinal–andIhaven’tmissedonesince.

A black & white Ferguson TV, with its 17-inch screen, was centre-stage in our family living room,curtainstightlydrawn–nosunlightallowed.Gameon.Thiswasmyfirstintroduction

to an event that would weave a thread through my personal and professional life for more thanhalf acentury.AndIwasn’t disappointed by my Cupfinal“debut.”Moreimportantly, neither was TottenhamHotspur’sCupfinalfirst-timer,JimmyGreaves.

London-born Greaves had been a teenage scoring sensation at Chelsea before being lured in the late spring of 1961 to the lira and life-style of Italy and the riches of AC Milan.Itwasbignews.

Greaves, who had been spirited out of London Airport onhisfirstflighttoItaly,whiledisguised in business suit, bowler hat and carrying a furledumbrella.HewasbackinEnglandsixmonthslater–notmucholderbutlotswiser–andreadytodonanewoutfit:thefootball strip of the famous TottenhamHotspur.

Greaves was a scoring machine, and had developed an uncanny knack of scoring on any debut he made for club andcountry,andatanylevel.Indeed, on arriving back in England he scored two goals for Spurs’ Reserves, then added a hat-trickonhisfirst-teamdebutaweeklater.Onthedayof theCupfinal

he kept that proud record intact.FirstFACupfinalappearance,firstgoal...andinthefirstthreeminutes.

Burnley, the opposition, wereaveryfineteam–LeagueChampionsin1960–andnowlookingtowintheFACupfinalfor only the second time in their history.TheirlastCupfinalwas held before the First World War.

The Central Lancashire side’s chances were put to the sword when Jimmy Greaves took a headed pass from Bobby Smith, carried the ball forward, suddenly stopped dead, moved the ball onto his left foot and trickled a ball past three Burnley defenders and their goalkeeper,AdamBlacklaw.ItwastypicalGreaves.He

“passed”moregoalsintothenetthanhammeredthem.Hecould easily pick-pocket an opponent’sdefence.

Job done? No, Burnley were made of

stout-heartedstuff.Andfiveminutes into the second half Jimmy Robson shinned an equaliser past Spurs goalkeeper BillBrown.

It was 1-1 and a bit of WembleyCupfinalhistory.Robson’s effort was the 100th goalinthe34finalsplayedatthefamousstadiumsince1923.The 101st goal came just one minute later, with Bobby Smith puttingSpursbackinfront.

It was his second goal in successivefinals.

The Londoners’ captain, DannyBlanchflower,addedathirdfromthepenaltyspot–and the Cup was heading back toNorthLondonagain.Thenextyear,Tottenham

wouldbethefirstEnglishteamto win a European trophy when beating Spain’s Atletico Madrid in the European Cup-Winners’ Cupfinal.

FA cuP MEMORIEs

LAW FIRES UNITED TO CUP FINAL WIN,

EUROPE TRIP NEXT

M anchester United, who only a few weeks ago had fallen so far from glory that they looked like they would be slipping out of the First Division,

will be back in Europe next season as worthy representatives of English football.

A thoroughly-merited, handsomely-achieved 3-1 victory over a disappointing Leicester City earned United, the first English team to blaze the European Cup trail, a place alongside Tottenham in the Cup Winners’ tournament. As Noel Cantwell led his troops on a lap of honour, everyone knew that this was a team of spirit, pride, skill and intelligence, a team, indeed, of true thoroughbreds that fully deserved to climb up beside the Busby Babes of the mid- to late-1950’s. United snatched the lead in the 30th minute of the first

half, when Pat Crerand beat David Gibson to the ball. Crerand then punched a low, crossing shot to Denis Law, who thumped a right-footer into the net for a 1-0 lead. Twelve minutes into the second half, Bobby Charlton let loose a thunderbolt that bounced off Leicester goalkeeper Gordon Banks. United’s David Herd then put the rebound in the net for a 2-0 advantage. A well-taken, diving header by Ken Keyworth in the 80th minute cut United’s lead to 2-1 and briefly revived Leicester’s hopes. However, with five minutes left to play, Banks horrified every England player and official in the stadium by dropping a high centre pass from Johnny Giles which Herd rammed home for the 3-1 victory. Later that night, a crowd of 300,000 greeted the United team upon their return to Manchester. As the team’s buses arrived at the Town Hall, in Albert Square, crowds swept away the barriers, with police and officials climbing onto the official platform in an attempt to take control. Fans were even climbing atop statues. A total of 400 were injured in the crushing riots during the welcoming celebration.

MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1 LEICESTER CITY

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 25, 1963

RED DEVILS REBOUND ■ Manchester United captain Noel Cantwell holds the FA Cup trophy out of the train window before leaving for Manchester, after a 3-1 victory in the final against Leicester City at Wembley. It was the Red Devils’ third Cup crown after having won it in 1909 and 1948.

■ Manchester United’s manager, Matt Busby, leads the parade of the Cup at Wembley.

OPPOSITE PAGE TOP:Maurice Setters, Bill Foulkes (with the Cup), and the United squad enjoy their open-top bus tour of Manchester after winning the FA Cup.

OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM: (left to right) United’s David Herd, Denis Law and Maurice Setters look to see what other treasures are at the bottom of the Cup.

BRITAIN’S BEST OF 1963

LEADINGOFF

Finding myself sitting next to that Scottish footballing maestro, Denis Law, at a sporting lunch I was intrigued to know how he had found working under legendary manager Bill Shankly when starting out his playing career at Huddersfield Town.

“Shankly was fantastic. Committed and focused. In fact, when he moved to Liverpool I half-expected him to come back to get me.” Now that would have rewritten football history! And it would also have changed the headlines following the 1963 FA Cup final.

In 1961, he had scored no less than six times against hapless Luton Town only for the 4th round game to be abandoned with City leading, 6-2.

When the game was restaged Law scored again but unbelievably the Hatters went through, 3-1.

Like Greaves before him, both Law and his English team-mate, Joe Baker, had an unhappy spell in Italy after Torino had purchased his contract in 1961 for a record 110,000 GBP.

Manchester United came to the rescue in July 1962, paying out a record £115,000 for Law and, in so doing, helping to secure another piece of United’s eternal triangle of “Best, Law and Charlton.”

In the spring of 1963, Law and the rest of his United team-mates were fighting off the effects of the worst winter since the war, the Big Freeze, and the very real threat of relegation.

Both had sent shivers down the spines of United fans. Eventually United staggered to safety,

finishing 19th – and with the mighty thaw came the almighty Law, who was a firework in a football shirt. Eleven stone of mayhem. And electric around the penalty area. World-class.

United’s 1963 Cup run was packed into just three weeks. After a delay of nearly two months, Law scored a Third Round hat-trick against Huddersfield on March 4, and, just 26 days later, United had advanced to the semis.

Law scored the only goal in their semi-final against Southampton and then typically opened the scoring against their durable opponents, Leicester City, at Wembley in a final that itself had been pushed back three weeks to accommodate the earlier weather delays.

Leicester would be Wembley finalists three times in the sixties – 1961, 1963 and 1969. They didn’t win any of them. They even lost the toss for shirt colours against United.

However, unlike in the other two finals they did score in this one through Ken Keyworth.

By that time, United had got a second goal from David Herd. Herd added the clincher for United with five minutes to go.

Back in 1963 Denis Law was setting Wembley on fire, playing for no less than three teams there during the year: Manchester United on Cup final day, his beloved Scotland in a win against England and, most fittingly, scoring for the Rest of the World team in a showpiece match held to celebrate the FA’s Centenary.

He would go on to be a true United legend.

FA CUP MEMORIES

BOYCE’S HEADER BLOWS BUBBLES FOR HAMMERS

N ow the FA Cup is, at last, resting in the place long reserved for it on the Upton Park sideboard. West Ham United, after defeating Preston North End, 3-2,

in today’s final, will now shift their gaze from Wembley to the even richer pastures of Europe.

WithLiverpoolalreadyqualifiedfortheChampions’tournamentandWestHamnoweligiblefortheCupWinners’tournament,thenewmodeof EnglishfootballwillbewellrepresentedontheContinentnextseason. TwiceagoalbehindtoPreston,theysteadiedtheiroverwroughtnervesandfoughtbacktocarryoff theCupwithagoalbyRonnieBoyceinthesecondminuteof injurytime. Untiltoday,WestHam’sentryinthehonourslistrantooneline,whichread:“SecondDivisionChampions,1957-58.” Thematchbeganwithanoteof highpromise.IntheninthminutePrestonsnatchedtheearlygoalallfinalistsprayfor.DougHoldensqueezedtheballbetweenthepostandJimStanden,theWestHamgoalkeeper,fora1-0lead. Thejoyfulchorusof North End! North End!diedsuddenlyonthelipsof thePrestonpartisansoneminutelater,when

WEST HAM UNITED 3-2 PRESTON NORTH END

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 2, 1964

HAMMERS RULE ■ThevictoriousWestHamteam,whobeatPrestonNorthEnd3-2,celebratetheirwell-earnedvictorywithanopen-topbustoparadetheFACupthroughthelargecrowdinEastLondon.

BobbyMoorefoundJohnnySissonswithawell-judgedpassandtheWestHamteenagewingerswitchedtheballtoJohnnyByrneonhisleftbeforesprintingintothemiddletohittheaccuratereturnpassintothecornerof thenettoeventhescoreat1-1. Prestonwentintothedressingroomathalf-timewithaslenderone-goallead.Ithadbeenscoredinthe40thminutebyAlexDawson,whoheadedacornerkickfromDavidWilsonintothenetlikeabulletasStandenslippedontheturf whiletryingtoreachtheball. Inthematch’sfinalminute,WestHamgotonthescoreboardagainwithPeterBrabrook’scornerkick,whichglancedoff KenBrown’sforeheadandGeoff Hurstheadeditagainstthebar,withtheballbouncingontotheground.Itthenslippedthroughthefingersof AlanKelly,thePrestongoalkeeper,andcreptintothenettoevenupthescoreat2-2. Tenminutesbeforetheendof thematch,Kellywasinjuredinagoalmouthcollision,whichrequiredthreeminutesof attention. ItmayhavecostPrestontheopportunitytocarrythebattleintoextra-time. NinetyminuteshadalreadytickedawayonrefereeArthurHolland’swatchwhenBoyce,thetwo-goalheroof WestHam’ssemi-finaltriumph,racedintothepenaltyboxtoheadBrabrook’scentrekickintothenetforagoalthatwillbetalkedaboutaroundUptonParkforalong,longtime. Followingthematch,acrowdmeasuredat250,000greetedWestHamontheirreturntotheWestHamTownHall.

1964wastheyearacertainCassiusClay“shookuptheworld,”beatingthat“biguglybear”−SonnyListon−inoneof WorldHeavyweightChampionshipBoxing’smostsensationalupsets.Withindayshewassportinganothernewtitle−

MuhammadAli−andtherest,astheysay,ishistory.Andmakingtheirannualday-longappointment

withFA Cup Final Grandstandthreemonthslater,TVviewersupanddownthecountryweremindfulthatanothersportingupsetcouldbeonthecardsthatveryafternoon.PrestonNorthEnd,twiceFACupwinners,in1889

and1938,werenowaSecondDivisionclubthathadnarrowlymissedoutonpromotion.TheiropponentsonCupfinaldaywereFirstDivision

WestHamUnited,whoseplaceinCupfinalhistorywasalreadysecureafterappearingintheveryfirstWembleyfinal,whichwasheldatbackin1923.Forty-oneyearslater,WestHamfieldedateam

comprisedtotallyof Englishmen−afeatthathadnotbeenrepeatedsinceBolton’sCupwinoverManchesterUnitedin1958.Also,bizarrely,sevenof theirplayers’surnames

beganwithsameletter:“B.”SoMessrs.Bond,Burkett,Bovington,Brown,Brabrook,ByrneandBoycejoinedcaptainBobbyMoore;futureWorldCupfinalhat-trickman,Geoff Hurst;teenagerJohnnySissonsandgoalkeeperJimStandenintheWestHamline-up.Thegameitself wasacracker.Prestonwasfielding

theyoungestplayer(atthattime)toeverappearinaWembleyfinal,HowardKendall−at17yearsand345days.Theygottheirnosesinfrontafter10minuteswithagoalbyveteranDougHolden,whohadbeenaCupwinnerin1958.Twominuteslater,theHammerswerelevel,with

JohnnySissonsshowingnobig-timenerveswithadecisivecross-shot.ThegameebbedandflowedbeforePreston

deservedlygotaheadfiveminutesfromhalf-timewithaheaderfromAlexDawson.Intothesecondhalf andWestHamdrewlevelat52

minutesafterGeoff Hurstheadedagainsttheundersideof thebarandPrestongoalkeeperAlanKellywasunabletodragtheresultantreboundfrombeyondtheline.ThiswasaCupfinallivingupto,andprobably

exceeding,expectations−anditwasmakinggreattelevision.Andweviewers,enjoyingthethenraretreatof

watchinglivefootball,weregearingupforanother

thirtyminutesof excitementwhen,withextra-timelooming,BrabrookcentredandRonnieBoyceheadedhomeforaninjury-timeWestHamwinner.EvennowIcanrememberfeelingcheatedof not

havingmoreof thisabsorbingmatch.Thefinalwhistleswiftlybroughtproceedingstoa

closeandtheclassyBobbyMooregothimself intothatverynicehabitof liftingcupsatWembley.AndforoneparticularhappyHammeritwasthe

startof aglorioussummerof sport,withgoalkeeperJimStandenspendingconsiderabletimehelpinghisWorcestershireCountyCricketteam-matestosecuretheCountyChampionship.

FA CUP MEMORIES

Bobby Moore enjoys a special moment with the Cup.

WEMBLEY CLIFF-HANGAR ■ Geoff Hurst’sshotinthefinalminuteof regulationtimebeatPrestongoal-keeperAlanKellytoeventhescoreat2-2.

LEADINGOFF

■AfterplayinginthefirstWembleyCupfinal,in1923,WesthamfinallytooktheCuphometoUptonPark.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Mooreshowsoff theCuptoapairof youngfanswhohadclimbedupthewindowoutsidetheWembleydressingroom.

THE YEAR OF THE HAMMERS

I t took Liverpool until the 23rd minute of extra-time in the FA Cup to establish finally what most people had believed beforehand – and what had been apparent, except on

the scoreboard almost from the first kick – that Leeds were every bit equal in a relentless Roses war of attrition, and, that in attack, they had the imagination and pace which their opponents could never match.

The2-1victorygaveLiverpoolitsfirstCup. IntheirfirstvisittoWembleyin1950theylosttoArsenal,2-0. Today’sCupfinalwasthefirsttogointoanextra-timeperiodsinceCharltonAthleticdefeatedBurnley,1-0,in1947. Attheendof full-time,Liverpoolmighthavebeentwo,threeorfourgoalsup.Buttheconcentrationof Leeds’playersintheirownpenaltyarea–atonepoint10menacross–leftLiverpoolwithlittleornothingtoaimatand,whentheywereontarget,GarySprake,theLeedsgoaltender,wasinsuperbform. Threeminutesintotheextra-timeperiod,GerryByrnecentredalowpassthroughamomentarilydisorganiseddefenceandRogerHunt,bendingatthekneesonthefarsideof thegoalarea,headedtheballpastahelplessSprakefora1-0lead.

Fromtherain-soakedLiverpoolendof thestadium,achantbegantosoar:“We’llberunningroundWembleywiththeCup.” AndthoughJimStorrie,theLeedsinside-right,wasnowlimpingontheleftwingwithaninjuryreceivedinthefirstfewminutesof thematch,Leedssomehowmanagedtofightback. JohnnyGilesdroppedbackindefenceandBillyBremnermovedupintotheattack.OnacentrepassfromNormanHunter,thetoweringJackCharlton,whoalwayscametotheassistancewhenLeedswereintrouble,connectedonaheader,whichBremnerswungthroughonahalf volley,sendingtheballscorchingintothefartopcornerof thenettoeventhescoreat1-1inthe95thminute.Nowthecrywas“Leeds,Leeds,Leeds!” Thematchfinallyturnedwithsevenminutesleftinextra-time,whenIanCallaghan,onarun,stabbedtheballthroughthedefenceontheright. Asheapproachedthegoalmouth,CallaghanhookedtheballandIanSt.John,whowasmovinginfromhisleft,scoredwithaheaderthatleftLeeds’defencehelpless. Noteamcouldrecoverasecondtimeinextra-time,andbothteamsknewitwasallover.

LIverpooL stop Leeds In

extra-tIme to WIn Cup

LIVERPOOL 2-1 LEEDS UNITED

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 1, 1965

a sea oF red ■LiverpoolcaptainRonYeatscarriestheCuptrophyaftertheteamhasbeenpresentedtheirmedalsintheRoyalBoxfollowingthe2-1extra-timewin.

May1,1965–itwasthefirstrealred-letterdayof mylife.Afterall,itwasthedayLiverpoolfinallywontheFACup.Drivenonbythesheerenergyandenthusiasmof the

greatBillShankly,are-bornLiverpoolfootballclubhadfollowedupthepreviousyear’sLeaguetitlesuccesswithanalmightyrunatboththeFACupandtheEuropeanCup.Atarain-soakedWembleyStadiumthefamous

Liverpoolsupporterswereinfullcry.Theyaddedsomeoriginalsongstothetraditionalfare–reflectingthatotherphenomenonof thetime,theMerseySound.Liverpool’sopponentthatdaywereLeedsUnited,

runners-upintheLeagueandnowintheirfirstFACupfinal.Theywereseriousopposition.TheQueenarriveddressedinred.Anomen?And

thentheDukemettheKing.Duringthepre-matchrituals,PrincePhilip,theDuke

of Edinburgh,shookhandsandexchangedwordswithBillShankly.Thematchitself couldn’tmatchtheanticipation.My

fathercamerushinginfromwork20minutesintothefirst-half andaskedwhathe’dmissed.“Nothing,”wechorused.Andsoitwentfor90minutes,withbothteams

cancellingeachotherout.TheonenotableincidenthadbeenafoultacklebyLeeds’hard-manBobbyCollins,onLiverpool’sfull-back,GerryByrne.TheWembleyinjuryhoodoohadstruckagain.Byrne

hadbrokenhiscollar-bone,butinanactof unstintingpersonalcourageheplayedonregardless,disguisingtheexcruciatingpainhewasin.Thegamewentintoextra-timeandLiverpoolfinally

openedthescoringthroughastoopingheaderfromRogerHuntthreeminutesintothefirstperiod.Surelythatwasit.BedlamatWembleyandbedlamin

every“red”householdonMerseyside.Butwhat’sthis?JackCharltonheadsacrossthe

Liverpoolboxandthatflame-hairedfire-ball,BillyBremner,crashesavolleypastTommyLawrencetoeventhecountat1-1.Intothesecondhalf of extra-timeandLiverpool’s

IanCallaghancentres,thenIanSt.Johnflingshimself,sendingaflyingheaderintoLeeds’net.Itwasagoalworthyof winningtheFACupfinal.Andithad.Soakedtotheskin,theLiverpoolfansinWembley

StadiumbrokethesoundbarrierasskipperRonYeatsliftedthemostfamoustrophyinworldsport.BackinLiverpoolpeoplepouredoutintothestreets

tosharetheirexcitement.Of course,thegamewas“re-played”onpatchesof groundthelengthandbreadthof Merseyside.Itwasdifficultthatdaytofindanybodytobea“Leeds”supporter–theyallseemedtogointohiding!Andthefollowingday,weallstreameddowntothe

citycentre,some500,000of us,toseetheCupbroughthome.Thecrowdswerefivedeep,andIwasbarelyfivefeet

tallbutIstillremembertheopen-toppedcoachpassinguswiththevictoriousLiverpoolplayersholdingthefamoustrophyaloft. Itwasared-letterdayindeed.

Fa Cup memorIes

Ron Yeats lifts England’s most prized trophy to celebrate Liverpool’s Cup final win.

BrInGInG tHe Cup to ansFIeLd ■ RonYates(left,withtheCup)andGordonMilne,whomissedtheCupfinalduetoinjury,enjoysharingtheCuptrophywiththousandsof joyousLiverpoolfans.

TEMPLE STUN WEDNESDAY WITH BLUES

COMEBACK

N ow that the FA Cup and the League Championship are safely locked away at Goodison Park and Anfield, the City of Liverpool can look forward to a

monopoly of English soccer’s interest in the two major European competitions next season.

Apart from Tottenham’s Double in 1961, we have to go back to 1956 to find so complete a domination of the domestic game. In that year, Manchester United won the League and Manchester City carried off the Cup. Everton’s 3-2 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the Cup final and Liverpool’s League title have made Liverpool the new soccer capital of England. Sheffield Wednesday scored first at the fourth minute with Jim McCalliog’s rebounding shot off Ray Wilson, which sent Gordon West, the Everton goalkeeper, diving the wrong way. Then, with the second half just twelve minutes old, Johnny Fantham fired in a tremendous shot that bounced out of West’s arms. David Ford raced up to the approaching ball and popped it into the net for a 2-0 lead. That goal should have clinched victory for Wednesday. Instead, it was their undoing as their attention seemed to

wander from the task of winning the Cup. Two minutes after West had picked the ball out of the net, Everton staged a 14-minute, three-goal comeback that has been matched in drama in post-war finals only by Blackpool’s triumph over Bolton in 1953. Everton’s hero was 21-year-old Mike Trebilcock. He put Everton back into the match by thumping a header from Derek Temple to cut Wednesday’s lead to 2-1. In the 64th minute, Trebilcock drove another fierce shot through a tangle of legs past Ron Springett, the Wednesday goalkeeper, to even the count. With ten minutes left to play, Everton’s Alex Young passed to Temple, who had an uncluttered path to the Wednesday goal. Temple steered the ball 30 yards upfield at top speed, then hit it hard and true past the advancing Springett for a 3-2 lead and eventual victory. It was Everton’s third Cup final win. They previously won the coveted trophy in 1906 and 1933.

EVERTON 3-2 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 14, 1966

MERSEYSIDE’S BEST ■ Everton’s two goal-scorers, Mike Trebilcock (left) and Derek Temple, enjoy a few moments to celebrate with the Cup in their Wembley dressing room.

The FA Cup final is littered with compelling stories of heroes and heroism, of despair and dismay, and unique Wembley moments. The 1966 Cup final had all of those three elements – and much more.

Everton came to Wembley trying to win their third FA Cup final, Sheffield Wednesday their fourth.

Prior to the game, there were two big stories. One was an injury to Wednesday’s experienced centre-half, Vic Mobley, which gave teenager Sam Ellis his Wembley chance.

The second was Everton’s manager, Harry Catterick, controversially dropping out-of-form centre-forward Fred Pickering.

His place was taken by a 21-year-old Cornishman, Mike Trebilcock. Trebilcock’s name was nowhere to be found in the 1966 Cup final programme.

Indeed everybody had a different pronunciation of Trebilcock’s name itself when he was announced in the Everton line-up.

It was Wednesday who got off to a flying start, ahead in just four minutes on Jim McCalliog’s goal.

They increased their lead at 57 minutes through Sheffield-born David Ford. The Cup seemed destined for a year’s stay in Yorkshire.

Then, as often before, FA Cup final fate took over.

Trebilcock, who had made little contribution to the game, popped up to pull one back just moments after Ford’s strike. Five minutes later, the Evertonians raised the roof as he capitalised on a weak header from Sam Ellis to hit a second deadly right-footer.

Everton fan Eddie Kavanagh provided

the Cup final with one of its most iconic moments. With his shirt flapping, braces stretched and trousers billowing in the breeze, he ran onto the field, outpaced two policemen, who were in hot pursuit before losing first his jacket, then his footing, as he was sent hurtling to the ground with a tackle more befitting the Rugby League Challenge Cup final.

The policemen carried Eddie off the pitch and into Wembley folklore, they were asked by Everton captain Brian Labone to go easy on him. So, Eddie was removed, but the game still had left one remarkable twist.

With ten minutes remaining Young’s contribution proved decisive – as in Gerry Young of Sheffield Wednesday, not the famous Alex of Everton.

A harmless punt upfield by Everton’s keeper, Gordon West, was inexplicably fumbled by Wednesday half-back Gerry Young, leaving Everton winger Derek Temple, who was coolness personified, to carry the miscue up towards the Wednesday penalty area before shooting low past Springett.

I met Young many years later when I was making a documentary for the BBC to commemorate the staging of the 100th Cup final. He told me sadly that despite a very commendable professional career he would only be remembered for one thing – and he had been reminded of it every day since it happened. His sadness was evident for all to see.

For Mike Trebilcock the story could not have been more different. He never went on to achieve greatness at Everton, or in football, generally. Indeed most Cup final observers still struggle with pronouncing his name – but he did change the course of the game’s history.

FA CUP MEMORIES

LEADINGOFF

■ Eddie Kavanaugh, an Everton fan, decided to take a dash across the Wembley pitch after Mike Trebilcock had scored his second goal to even the score at 2-2. With two policemen in pursuit, Kavanaugh was eventually caught and removed from the stadium.

STEALING THE SHOW

LEADINGOFF

■ A crowd of more than 100,000 arrive at Wembley Stadium, London, for the 1966 FA Cup final between Everton and Sheffield Wednesday.

A HOME FOR HEROES

SpurS Shatter chelSea’S defence

the BeSt of WemBley

■ Tottenham’s Dave Mackay lifts the Cup trophy after receiving it in the

Royal Box, which is 39 steps above the Wembley pitch. OPPOSITE PAGE:

Terry Venables (front middle) and Jimmy Robertson (front right) and their team-mates enjoy a post game-victory

tour around the Wembley pitch.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-1 CHELSEA

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 20, 1967

e nglish football will be sending its most sophisticated ambassadors to Europe next autumn, with Manchester United seeking success in the Champions’

tournament and Tottenham Hotspur trying to recapture the Cup Winners’ trophy.

This is a comforting thought at the end of a season following England’s World Cup triumph last July. Tottenham’s 2-1 FA Cup victory over Chelsea gave Spurs their third Cup in seven years and fifth overall.

This Cup meeting featured the first all-London final at Wembley and the crowd remained too passive. Chelsea, perhaps because they were nervous, or possibly because they were not good enough to do anything else, allowed Spurs to take the initiative from the kick-off and Bill Nicholson’s men went on to dictate the course of the game for all but its last few minutes. Chelsea held Spurs scoreless for forty minutes in the first half. Tottenham’s breakthrough came when Alan Mullery’s powerful shot bounced off the shin of Chelsea captain Ron Harris and Jimmy Robertson smartly drove it past

Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Bonetti for a 1-0 lead. In the 67th minute, Tottenham’s Dave Mackay, the Scottish star, made a long kick toward the penalty box, Robertson touched it and Frank Saul hammered it home for a 2-0 lead. With four minutes left to play, Chelsea’s hopes were raised momentarily when Pat Jennings, Spurs goalkeeper, allowed in a goal by Bobby Tambling to cut Tottenham’s lead to 2-1. Following the match, Tottenham’s Cliff Jones and Chelsea’s Joe Kirkup became the first substitutes in Cup history to be awarded a medal without kicking a ball.

leadInGoff

■ Tottenham’s Jimmy Robertson (front right facing, with his hands extended) celebrates after putting Spurs ahead, 1-0, with five minutes left to play before half-time.

It’S trophy tIme

The 1967 FA Cup final was the first all-London affair staged at Wembley – and Tottenham’s third final in seven years. It would be Chelsea’s second appearance in their 62-year-old history.

For the neutral fan an all-London match was not as attractive a proposition as a traditional North v. South confrontation but these two clubs deserved to be in the season’s climax game and had two men at the helm who were proving instrumental in their progress.

The clubs’ managers were simply contrasting characters. Yorkshire-born Bill Nicholson had quietly gone about his business since being appointed the Spurs boss in 1958. The Double in 1961, an FA Cup win in 1962 and English football’s first European success twelve months later had already guaranteed his place in the North London’s club roll of honour.

His counterpart at Chelsea, Tommy Docherty, a gregarious Scot and FA Cup finalist with Preston in 1954, was starting out on an uneven managerial career that would see him handle more clubs than are found in a golfer’s bag. But at his time as boss at Chelsea, he had made a genuine impression as he took his “little diamonds” out of the Second Division and into Europe.

The Kings Road team had a fashionable swagger.

At heart a young side, Chelsea had already won the fledgling Football League Cup in 1965 but the FA Cup was the real thing and Wembley was a fitting stage for Docherty’s men.

They had got close to the final in 1965 but were beaten at the semi-final hurdle by eventual winners, Liverpool.

As often happens in football, one of Chelsea’s early on-field architects, Terry Venables, now found himself in a Spurs shirt, helping plot his old team’s downfall as indeed did another Chelsea old boy, Jimmy Greaves. Venables would ultimately win the Cup both as player and manager of Spurs.

The Cup final itself was only really memorable from the North London club’s point of view. And two of its lesser lights, Jimmy Robertson and Frank Saul, had scored on both sides of the half-time break. A late goal from Chelsea’s all-time record goal-scorer, Bobby Tambling, proved only a consolation prize.

Amusingly, one Chelsea player later blamed his team’s lacklustre Wembley display on a surfeit of Chinese food, which they thought was light and healthy, but made them sick.

“I was so full of flaming bean-shoots I felt like a becalmed junk!” the player noted.

A row over Cup final tickets and a sluggish start to the new season combined with a new Chelsea board meant Docherty would take his leave of Stamford Bridge before the year was out and his next foray into the FA Cup would be as the manager of Rotherham United.

It would be the way of Docherty’s career, but he would win the Cup in the next decade with Manchester United.

And Chelsea were only three years away from lifting football’s most famous trophy.

fa cup memorIeS

N ow that West Bromwich Albion have ended an eight-year Cup drought in the Midlands, they face the task of persuading a skeptical public that they

really are among the leaders of a brave new movement in British football.

Were Albion to promise, as Manchester City did a week ago, that they will go boldly seeking victory in Europe next autumn, only a few of their own supporters would have believed them. However, with 100,000 on hand at Wembley, and millions more watching on television, they saw a team praised so often for a willingness to attack, instead beat Everton, 1-0, with their only direct shot – in the third minute of extra-time. Albion won the FA Cup because they were stronger, tougher, more ruthless and better equipped for grim, physical warfare than their immature opponents. Leeds, who have been so widely criticised for their approach to football, could not have done a better job this afternoon. One can conclude that as the teams walked down the tunnel and lined up on the rain-soaked turf, Albion may have been faced with the spectre of defeat that haunts all FA Cup finalists. It appears that Albion and Everton were frightened of

each other’s reputation as goal-scorers. For the first thirty minutes Albion played like sullen spoilers. And, foolishly, the lads from Goodison promptly decided to combat force with force. True, there was no punching or deliberate tackling of opponents, but there was enough bodychecking to remind one of the action in a local ice hockey rink. Only after the Everton fans had loudly demanded the football for which they had paid, did some of the players remember that one of their duties was to entertain. For 90 minutes the dull play continued. Finally, after three minutes of extra-time, Albion’s Jeff Astle collected a pass at midfield, moved past Everton’s Jimmy Husband, and then, as he neared the goal, mishit a shot against Colin Harvey’s leg. When the ball rebounded to his left boot, Astle drove it firm and true into the top far corner of the net for the game-winner. Following the match, a crowd of more than 250,000 welcomed the Albion squad’s return with the Cup on its open-bus route from Birmingham to West Bromwich.

astle’s loNe extra-time

goal defeats

eVertoNWEST BROMWICH ALBION 1-0 EVERTON

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 18, 1968

fiVe CUPs ■ West Bromwich Albion’s Jeff Astle (left) and Bobby Hope celebrate their 1-0 victory over Everton in the 1968 FA Cup final. It was Albion’s fifth Cup final win.

the Best of WemBley acepelest quos quiae. Lic tem fugitae pernam doluptatur sectem ugitae pernam doluptatur sectem acepelest quos quiae. Lic tem fugitae pernam doluptatur sectem ugitae pernam doluptatur sectem acepelest quos quiae. Lic tem fugitae pernam doluptatur sectem ugitae pernam doluptatur sectem

In 1968, Everton were back at Wembley to try and win their fourth FA Cup final. There were six changes in their all-English line-up from their Cup final win over Sheffield Wednesday, in 1966, and their ranks now boasted two World Cup winners, Ray Wilson and Alan Ball.

Ball, who had been outstanding in England’s World Cup win over West Germany, had been snapped up quickly by the Merseyside club in the wake of that famous victory in 1966.

Everton’s opponents at Wembley were Midlanders West Bromwich Albion, who were equalling Newcastle United’s record ten appearances in the final.

Albion had been at Wembley a year before as the “other” cup – the Football League Cup – came of age and moved to a single match at English football’s headquarters.

West Brom’s opponents that afternoon had been Third Division QPR, who famously came back from a two-nil deficit to win, 3-2.

The 1968 FA Cup final would see a couple of significant “firsts.”

It was the first final to be televised in colour, exactly thirty years after the first final was screened in the fledging days of black and white television. Actually only a minority of viewers could see the game in all its glorious colour – Everton in their amber shirts, West Brom in their white shirts!

This was also the game in which the first substitute was used in the Cup final. Twelve-men squads had been named by the teams the previous year but neither substitute had been used in the game. A small piece

of history was therefore made when Dennis Clarke replaced the injured West Brom wing-half, John Kaye, as an unremarkable match went into extra-time.

Everton rued an easy header missed by winger Jimmy Husband to win the game late in normal time.

From a club brought up on the extraordinary heading skills of footballing legends, like Dixie Dean and Tommy Lawton, it was unfortunate the chance fell to Husband rather than to their genuine aerial threat, centre-forward Joe Royle.

The match was won by a single goal early in extra-time, when Jeff Astle, following up a blocked right-footer, hit a decisive left-foot strike that flew past Everton keeper Gordon West.

Astle had scored in every round of the Cup that season; in fact, he had scored no less than nine goals in the tournament.

A Baggies legend, Astle would go to the World Cup in Mexico two years later, but missed a vital chance against favourites Brazil, with England trailing, 1-0, in a crucial Group game. Later in life he would make an unlikely public comeback as a singer – on Fantasy Football League, a popular late-night comedy football show hosted by David Baddiel and West Brom fanatic Frank Skinner.

In 2002, Astle died of degenerative brain disease. A coroner recorded a verdict of death by industrial injury. Basically the view being that Astle, who scored over half of his goals with his head, had suffered long-term from being a master of that sporting skill.

What isn’t in doubt is Astle’s place in West Brom’s rich and illustrious history.

fa CUP memories

tWo KiNgs at WemBley ■ LEFT: West Brom’s Jeff Astle proved to be the star on the Wembley pitch. RIGHT: Merseysider Paul McCartney was at Wembley to support Everton.

YOUNG’S GOALWINS CUP FOR CITY,

BLUES AIM FOREUROPEAN

SUCCESSI f the 1969 FA Cup had ended shortly after 4

o’clock at Wembley this afternoon it would have qualified for a place in the soccer history books as a classic tale of two cities.

However, it lingered on for another half-hour and died tamely.

Manchester City, which defeated Leicester City, 1-0, today, now turn their gaze once more towards the distant horizon of a European triumph. Leicester, the FA Cup losers, now prepare for an immediate resumption of their struggle for First Division survival. For 30 minutes this afternoon, it was a superb demonstration of bold, artistic, attacking soccer. At half-time, it could tastefully be described as a very good game and at the 60-minute mark it was still far above average. But in the last 30 minutes of the contest the match became boring.

Duringabreathlesslyexcitingfirsthalf hour,thescoresheet might have read: Leicester City 3, Manchester City 3. Instead, Manchester City led by Neil Young’s 24th-minute goal. Thereafter, the men from Manchester seemed to remembertheywereplayinginaCupfinalandbegantodoubt the wisdom of the enterprising policy that had given them command of the match. Manchester City’s winning goal was made possible by Mike Summerbee collecting a throw-in from Francis Lee, holding off a challenge by Alan Woollett, and stumbling along the by-line before pulling back a shin-high crossing pass to Young. Young then thumped the ball into the roof of the net for the winning goal after 24 minutes. Leicester, however, had one great opportunity to wipe out that lead. It came in the 53rd minute and poor Andy Lochhead must still be wondering how he managed to lift the ball over the bar with his penalty shot.

ThE BEST OF WEMBLEY

■ As fans line the streets of Manchester, City football fans celebrate with the FA Cup trophy, while riding in an open-top, double-decker bus

following their 1-0 win over Leicester City inthe1969Cupfinal.

MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 LEICESTER CITY

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, April 26, 1969

For Leicester City they hoped thisfinalwouldbea“fourthtimelucky” for them. For Manchester City the target was an FA Cup triumph to follow the previous season’s successful tilt at the League Championship. And in one of those special FA Cup quirks this was the fourth season in succession the two clubs had met in the tournament.

A City win in the 5th Round in 1965-66 had been followed by a 3rd Round win the following season. Leicester City had been the victors, 4-3, in a 4th Round replay in 1967-68. Now they weremeetinginthefinalitself.

Leicester’s place at Wembley was secured with a late semi-finalwinnerbyAllanClarke,Britain’s costliest player, when he was signed from Fulham the previous summer.

City were a team of many talents – with the trio of Bell-Lee-Summerbee being as popular with the Maine Road fans as Law-Best-Charlton were across at Old Trafford.Thefinalitself wasplayedon

the last Saturday of April and the pitch was heavy underfoot. Leicester were in a relegation dog-fightwithfiveLeaguegamesstill to play after proceedings were completed at Wembley.

They ultimately went down. The Midlanders more than

playedtheirpartinthefinal,but were undone when Mike Summerbee crossed for inside-left Neil Young to crash home.

Peter Shilton, the youngest goalkeepertoplayinthefinal,was unable to prevent it.

It was the only goal of the game and City manager Joe Mercer had completed the Double of winning as a captain, for Arsenal in 1950, and now as

a manager nineteen years later. Mercer was part of a managerial duowiththeflamboyantLondoner, Malcolm Allison, as his younger side-kick. Thiswasalsothefinalin

which there was another contest on the Wembley pitch – and the alternative one, BBC Sport v. ITV Sport, ended ungraciously in an old-fashioned punch-up!

As always the two competing broadcasterswere“ontheirmarks” at the end of the game to grab the key individuals for post-match interviews. The BBC thought they had a contract with the eventual winners, Manchester City, whilst ITV had got live reaction from Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison throughout the match and then, with at least three of their staff incongruously dressed in track-suits, chased down the victorious City players as they celebrated.

Things got heated – over-heated actually – and the odd punch was thrown by members of the two broadcasting giants as theyliterallyfoughtforthefirstkey interview. In the aftermath both broadcasters claimed they were in the right – and so the FA and Wembley stepped in, demanding a more sensible system.Iwaspartof that“sensible

system” – the pre-match drawing of lotsinthe1980’sfor“whowouldgetwhofirst”–butIcantellyouasthefinalwhistlewasblown, the instructions always sentoutwere:“Tryandgetthewinning captain, the goal-scorers and the Cup itself – and get themfirst!”And“theyarenotonourlist”

was a conversation that never took place – until the following Monday!

FA CUP MEMORIES

LEADINGOFF

■ Leicester City goalkeeper Peter Shilton tries in vain to stop the winning goal from Manchester City’s Neil Young in the 24th minute of theCupfinalatWembley.

ThE MOMENT ThAT COUNTS

The BesT of WemBley

■ Chelsea’s Peter Osgood (No. 9) is congratulated after heading-in an equalizer

in the Cup replay against Leeds, which was played at Old Trafford in Manchester. OPPOSITE PAGE: Chelsea captain Ron Harris celebrates after the Blues’ 2-1 victory.

A s Chelsea carried the FA Cup joyfully around Old Trafford tonight, Leeds United walked slowly to their dressing room at the end of a season that had

promised them so much and left them with nothing but special memories.

A goal, headed by David Webb in the 14th minute of extra-time, was enough to give Chelsea a 2-1 victory over Leeds United before a crowd of 62,078. The match was a replay of their Cup final at Wembley 18 days ago that finished in a 2-2 extra-time draw before a crowd of 100,000. It was the first replay in 58 years and would take a total of 240 minutes to determine a champion. Webb’s goal came after Ian Hutchinson sent a long, high throw from near the Leeds corner post that curled into the goalmouth. Jack Charlton managed to get his head on it, spinning the ball upwards. For a second or two the ball seemed to hang in the air. Then Webb soared above friend and foe to head it firmly into the net. Everyone in Old Trafford knew that this historic battle had been won and lost in the 224th minute. Leeds, however, would not believe this horrible truth until the whistle sounded for the last time 16 minutes later. Leeds took the lead at 35 minutes into the first half, when Allan Clarke left three defenders trailing him, then slipped the ball to Mick Jones in the middle, who got past Chelsea’s John Hollins and John Dempsey and fired a rising shot into the roof of the net for a 1-0 lead. Chelsea finally evened up the score in the 78th minute. It came on a perfectly-executed play by Peter Osgood, Hollins, and Hutchinson, who caught the Leeds defence napping. Charlie Cooke then chipped the ball into the penalty-box area, which Osgood connected with on a

header that got past David Harvey, the Leeds goalkeeper. From that moment, Chelsea’s hopes began to rise and Leeds’ grip on the game began to loosen.

WeBB & Co. sToP

leeDsCHELSEA 2-1 LEEDS UNITED

By Donald Saunders at Old Trafford, The Daily Telegraph, April 29, 1970

The Cup final of 1970 was scheduled to be played early in April to give defending world champions, England, their best chance of acclimatising for the big test ahead in Mexico.

But, as is often the case, the best laid plans ...

This FA Cup final became the first to go to a replay in Wembley history – and the first since 1912. But it also delivered two remarkable matches – a beauty and a beast – and a winning goal created from one of football’s newest phenomena.

On Saturday April 11, Leeds United faced Chelsea in the Cup final – a classic North v. South encounter.

The match was played on the worst pitch that Wembley had ever provided its finalists. The Royal International Horse Show had been staged in the stadium a week before and left the famous turf looking like a ploughed field.

Jack Charlton opened the scoring at 21 minutes and Chelsea equalised twenty minutes later with Peter Houseman’s tame shot, which slipped through Gary Sprake’s arms. Sprake would be dropped for the replay.

The second half buzzed at both ends, with near-misses for both sides. After some indifferent recent finals, this was a belter. At six minutes from normal time, Allan Clarke headed against the post, but Mick Jones was there to drive home the rebound.

With the League lost, and their European Cup hopes in the balance, it seemed that the FA Cup was finally on the way to Elland Road. But no, two minutes later, John Hollins crossed and Ian Hutchinson – of the long throw – headed

dramatically home. Extra-time delivered more

thrills but no more goals. A replay at Old Trafford

would be next, but not until April 29th, by which time Leeds United had gone out of the European Cup in a 2-1, second-leg defeat by Celtic in front of an astonishing crowd of 136,505 at Hampden Park.

The FA Cup was the final leg of the fast-disappearing treble and a crowd of 62,078 looked on as Chelsea and Leeds locked horns again.

The game, which was played on a Wednesday evening drew a remarkable TV audience of 28 million – the second largest ever for a sports event on British television. Only the 1966 World Cup final itself has actually topped that number of viewers.

The game was used by both sides to settle old scores, tackles were wild and wilful. Players squared up to each other, flattened each other, and were involved in mass brawls.

While this was all going on, a match broke out! Mick Jones, again from Clarke’s promptings, fired home for Leeds. Peter Osgood kept his record of scoring in every round by heading an equaliser 12 minutes from regular time.

The game was finally won in extra-time, when Hutchinson, his arms spinning like a windmill, projected a long throw into the Leeds penalty box. These “missiles” from the Chelsea inside-forward had become a new feature – his throws measured at some 115 feet, the longest in modern football. His throw that night was back-headed by John Dempsey and David Webb was there to force it over the line.

fA CUP memoRIes

leADINGoff

■ Chelsea’s Ron Harris (left) and Peter Bonetti raise the Cup while touring West London in an open-top bus celebration.

A DAy To RememBeR

ArsenAl’s eXTrA-TIMe Cup WIn eArns lofTy

double for

Gunnersn ow that Arsenal have become the second

club of the 20th Century to win the FA Cup and League Championship in the same season after their 2-1 victory

over Liverpool in extra-time, they inevitably will be compared with Tottenham, the only other footballers to achieve that distinction since 1897.

Itisasdifficulttomeasure,fairly,theSpursof 1961againsttheGunnersof 1971.TherewasagracefuleaseaboutTottenham’stwintriumphs. Arsenalearnedtheirsuccessesbydeterminedhardworkinthefaceof adversity. Althoughbothteamstodayappearedclosetoscoringthewinninggoalintheinitial90minutes,thematchscore was0-0attheendof regulationtimeandanextra-timeperiodwasaddedtodetermineawinner.Theextra-timeperiodof 30minutesprovedtobefilledwithplentyof scoring. Barelymorethanaminuteaftertheextra-timekick-off,SteveHeighwaycollectedalong,carefullyjudged

passfromPeterThompson,wholeftArsenal’sPatRiceandGeorgeArmstronghopelesslyconfused.Heighwaythendrovetheballfromthenarrowestangleintothenearcornerof BobWilson’snetfora1-0lead. Tenminuteslater,ArsenaleveneditupwhenEddieKellydribbledtheballunderGeorgeGraham’sfootandintothenet.KellywasthefirstsubstitutetoeverscoreinaCupfinal. Thewinninggoalcameinthe111thminute. JohnRadfordcollectedtheballoutontheleft,pulleditbackfirmlyintothemiddle,andpassedtoCharlieGeorge,whohammereditpastRayClemence,thehelplessLiverpoolgoalkeeper,fora2-1advantage. Thenextday,acrowdof morethan200,000roaredasArsenalcaptainFrankMcLintockliftedtheCuphighintotheairatIslingtonTownHall.

ARSENAL 2-1 LIVERPOOL

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 8, 1971

double delIGHT ■ Arsenalplayersaremobbedbytheirenthusiasticfansastheyclimbthefamous39stepstoWembley’sRoyalBoxtocollecttheFACuptrophy,whichcompletedanhistoricDouble.

The1971FACupfinalwasaspecialoneforme.ItwasthefirstfinalIactuallyattendedinperson–thefirstof many.Ihadgotmyhandsona

prizedticketforthegame–beatingoff mybrotherfortheopportunitytogoandseemyteamatWembley.Itwasactuallymysecond

triptothefamousoldstadiumastheyearbeforeIhadgonethereonaschooltriptoseeEngland’slastgameonhomesoilbeforetheydefendedtheWorldCupinMexico.Thatwasamid-weeknight

game;theCupfinalwasinitstraditionalslot–aSaturdayafternoonkick-off at3p.m.Anditwasaveryhotday.TheArsenalv.Liverpool

Cupfinalthrewuptwoteamsatdifferentstagesof theirdevelopment.TheGunnershadactually

clinchedtheLeaguetitleearlierintheweekatthehomeof theirNorthLondonrivals,TottenhamHotspur.Sotheynowhadthe“Double”intheirsights.RayKennedyhadscoredthevitalgoal.Liverpool,themselves,werea

teamintransition.AcrushingFACup6thRounddefeatatWatfordthepreviousseasonhadforcedtheirmanager,BillShankly,toreluctantlyjettisonsomeof hisoldfaithfulsandmovetheclubforward.Includedintheirnew

line-upweretwoUniversitygraduates,wingersSteveHeighwayandBrianHall,whowereaffectionatelydubbedas“BigBamber”and“LittleBamber”afterTV’sUniversityChallengepresenter,BamberGascoigne.Onastiflinghotafternoon

atWembleytheinitialninetyminutesweregoallessandalmostincidentfree.Heighwayfinallygotthe

scoringunderwaywithanextra-timegoal,hisnear-postshotbamboozlingArsenal’sgoalkeeper,BobWilson.Forme,atthefarendof the

stadiumitwasanunforgettablemoment–andalongwiththousandsof otherLiverpoolfanswecelebratedthegoalinsonguntil…Nineminuteslater,a

scruffyLiverpooldefenceletEddieKellyintopushtheballgoalwards,andGeorgeGrahamseeminglybrushedtheballonitswaypastRayClemenceandintotheLiverpoolgoal.Itwasalmosta“phantom”

touchandlaterthegoalwasofficiallycreditedtoKelly.HethusbecamethefirstsubstitutetoscoreintheFACupfinal.Whatever,itdulledthenoise

attheLiverpoolendof thegroundandsettheGunnersupforafinaltiltatlandingtheelusiveDouble.Nineminutesfromregular

time,withtheplayers,socksrolleddownandwiltingintheheat,thevitalgoalwasstruck.Arsenal’sJohnRadfordlaid

theballacrossforCharlieGeorge.Hisrightfootrocket,fromoutsidethebox,flewpastClemenceandlandedGeorgeflatonhisbackandwithaplaceinfootballimmortality.Young,arrogantand

talented,Georgebecamethetoastof NorthLondon–or,atleasthalf of it!“Georgehasdone

it!”screamedtheBBCcommentator...andhehad.TheDoublewasArsenal’s.

fA Cup MeMorIes

Leeds Win FA CUP’s

100TH YeAR

O n the 100th anniversary of the first Cup match at Kennington Oval between Wanderers and Royal Engineers, Leeds United won its first Cup final after

three attempts in the past eight years. A packed Wembley crowd of 100,000 watched as Don Revie’s squad defeated Arsenal, 1-0.

Leeds, the most consistent team in European soccer for the past eight years, carried off the centenary FA Cup in a final that proved to be one-sided. After losses in the Cup final in 1970 against Chelsea, and in 1965 against Liverpool, Leeds showed from the start of the match they were the better side, and by the finish they had outplayed the opposition in almost every phase of the game, even if they only controlled it for the last half hour. What they beat, of course, was not only Arsenal but their own psychological barrier, the unhappy reputation of the team which often tripped in the final. It was significant when Leeds manager Don Revie decided before the start of the match to go with David Harvey as his goalkeeper rather than with Gareth Sprake. After Arsenal’s missed attempt by Pat Rice on a deep diagonal cross, Leeds’ winning goal came at the 53rd minute. It began with Jack Charlton slipping the ball forward to Peter Lorimer. He fed it out to Mick Jones, who had moved to the right wing. Bursting past Bob McNab on the outside, Jones pulled the ball back and there was Allan Clarke, moving wide of Arsenal’s Peter Simpson and Frank McLintock to send the ball beyond Geoff Barnett, the Gunners’ goalkeeper, with a stooping, precise header. It was as if a cloud had been removed from over Leeds. Suddenly, their play began to sing and 37 minutes later the Cup finally belonged to Leeds. But two days later their luck did not hold up. Leeds lost to Wolves, 2-1, and were unable to capture the vaunted Double.

sWeeT sUCCess ■ Leeds’ Norman Hunter (6) leaps high into the air to celebrate after team-mate Allan Clarke scores the winning goal against Arsenal.

LEEDS UNITED 1-0 ARSENAL

By David Miller at Wembley The Sunday Telegraph, May 6, 1972

Life was never simple with Leeds United. Under the astute leadership of manager Don Revie, they had become a powerful force in English football.

League Champions in 1969, FA Cup finalists in 1965 and 1970, League Cup winners in 1968, European Fairs Cup winners in 1968 and 1971 – these were just some of their achievements. They had also finished runners-up in the League on four occasions since being promoted to the First Division in 1964.

They could be mean, moody and magnificent – and often all on the same afternoon. But they also had a growing reputation for being “nearly men” despite their trophy haul.

As they approached the climax of the 1971-72 season they were in reach of emulating Arsenal’s Double-winning achievement of the previous campaign – they had an FA Cup final to play on the Saturday, ironically against the Gunners, and then 48 hours later a final League game of the season away at Wolves, where a draw would be good enough for the Yorkshiremen to win the crown.

They had tried to have the Wolves game moved – claiming, with some justification, that to be asked to play a game in the week of the final, and then to play the match with Wolverhampton two days later, was too much. But the authorities stood firm.

Allan Clarke’s fine headed goal at 53 minutes from a cross by Mick Jones proved to be the Wembley match-winner. And, once again, Alan Ball, a World Cup winner at Wembley and now an Arsenal player, failed to land domestic football’s most famous trophy.

For Jones, the final was to end in heart-break as he dislocated his left elbow late in the game. It would keep him out of the Leeds team at Wolves but, despite being in agony, he would not be denied his chance of picking up a Winners’ medal from the Royal Box.

After both teams had collected their medals, Jones, wrapped in bandages and aided by Leeds hard-man Norman Hunter, made his way up the thirty-nine steps to the Royal Box, where he received his Winners’ medal from the Duke of Edinburgh. The crowd cheered him all the way.

All was set for the trip to Wolves on Monday. Revie, an earnest, committed man made no bones about the size of the occasion.

“I’ve waited and sweated years for this.”

Instead of enjoying their FA Cup success, it was heads down and prepare for Monday night. They went straight to their hotel in Wolverhampton from Wembley – perhaps the wrong move. They hadn’t got Wembley out of their heads and bodies.

The game at Molineux turned into a nightmare for Leeds. They lost, 2-1, and Liverpool drew, 0-0, at Arsenal, thus failing to take advantage of Leeds’ slip-up. This left Derby County, with their season already completed and on holiday in Majorca, as the new Champions of England.

Derby’s manager, Brian Clough, who was sitting with his feet up on his own family holiday in the Scilly Isles, expressed his surprise and delight. Of course, Clough’s own short spell in charge at Elland Road in 1974 was less successful – lasting only a painful 44 days.

FA CUP MeMORies

We did iT! ■ After losing in the 1970 Cup final, Leeds captain Billy Bremner savours this special time with football’s most prized trophy. OPPOSITE PAGE: Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is introduced to Arsenal’s Alan Ball prior to the Cup final.

UNDERDOG SUNDERlaND wiNS Fa’S pRizED CROwN

S underland won the FA Cup, 1-0, because Leeds United passed it to them and then goalkeeper Jim Montgomery hung on just when Leeds should have snatched it

back. That is the inescapable truth which Leeds, possibly the most powerful favourite of all-time, must now swallow, choking with disappointment, at a result which lets the Cup go to the Second Division for the first time since West Bromwich Albion won in 1931.

Sunderland’s sensational achievement owes so much to their wonderful resonance, their heart and their spirit, which cannot be rivalled, and their will to run when there was no strength left on which to run. They made history – the most improbably romantic winners in 101 years – because with great determination they made their own luck. This was no fluke. Much of the football may not have been memorable. But there has not been such tension, nor such excitement, at Wembley since Manchester United won the European Cup in 1968. Sunderland’s lone – and winning – goal came 30 minutes into the first half, when Ian Porterfield swept a 30-yard crossfield pass to Bobby Kerr on the right. Seeing David Harvey, the Leeds goalkeeper, off his line, Kerr floated a high chip shot, and Harvey had to back-pedal hard to turn the ball over the bar. Billy Hughes sent over Sunderland’s first corner shot, which bounced off Vic Halom’s chest and headed down to Porterfield, who with the aplomb of Pelé, caught the ball on his left thigh, swivelled and cracked it into the roof of

the net with his right foot for a 1-0 lead. Leeds should have led, 3-1, at half-time, instead of being one down to Porterfield’s stunning, match-winning volley. They had several chances to even up the score – but each time Sunderland rallied to hold their slim lead. In the second half, Leeds had more chances to take the lead. In the last half hour, they attacked with 10 men. Repeatedly, Sunderland were on the ropes, hanging on, ducking and weaving their way clear again and again. With 26 minutes left to play in the match, Sunderland goalkeeper Jim Montgomery made two heart-in-mouth, unforgettable saves, which were assisted by Peter Lorimer’s galling, incredible misjudgement a few yards out. That was the death-blow to Leeds. When time had expired, Sunderland manager Bob Stokoe dashed across the pitch, with his raincoat flapping in the wind, and hugged Jim Montgomery, his goalkeeper, who had made the miraculous second-half double-save against Trevor Cherry and Lorimer. Following the match, Stokoe noted, “I can’t say enough about the team. They gave everything they had. Winning the Cup is great for the club and great for soccer. To think just three months ago we were a Second Division team of nobodies and now we are known by all. It must be marvellous for the game.”

SUNDERLAND 1-0 LEEDS UNITED

By David Miller at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 5, 1973

EXTRa BaGGaGE ■ Sunderland captain Bobby Kerr exits the open-top bus with the prized Cup following a parade to celebrate their 1-0 Cup final victory over Leeds United.

lEaDiNGOFF

■ Sunderland manager Bob Stokoe and his goalkeeper, Jim Montgomery, meet at midfield and celebrate the club’s unexpected Cup final victory.

lUCKiEST GUY iN ENGlaND

CUp MaGiC ■ Second Division Sunderland’s 1-0 upset of powerhouse Leeds United is one of the greatest stories from the Cup’s legendary history.

If one image best sums up the FA Cup final it may just be that of Sunderland manager Bob Stokoe in his rain mac, trilby hat on his head, running full pelt across the Wembley turf to hug his goalkeeper, Jim Montgomery, as the Second Division side clinched a famous victory over all-conquering Leeds United.

Sunderland, who had finished sixth in the Football League’s Second Division, had beaten the FA Cup holders, Leeds United, who were rightly recognised then as part of English football’s aristocracy.

The match swung on two incidents. Firstly, the only goal of the game was scored by Sunderland’s Scottish mid-fielder, Ian Porterfield.

As a 15-year-old he had a trial with Leeds United but returned homesick to Scotland, where he joined Raith Rovers. Sunderland signed him in 1967.

Porterfield scored from close range with a searing right-foot volley following a Billy Hughes corner. The goal, which came after 30 minutes, set up a second half where Leeds would relentlessly try and turn the game around.

And only the save of a lifetime, and possibly FA Cup final history’s best-ever, prevented them from doing it.

As Leeds’ pressure piled on, Jim Montgomery pulled off a remarkable double-save, firstly from a diving header from Trevor Cherry and then from the close-range rebound from Peter Lorimer, when a goal seemed absolutely certain.

He managed to push

Lorimer’s effort onto the underside of the bar and out. Some Leeds players were already celebrating a goal and the referee seemed poised to give it.

Lorimer looked on in amazement while Cherry bashed the turf in frustration.

In the space of a few seconds, Montgomery had miraculously thwarted the First Division hot-shots – not once but twice – with a save that many believe was as good as Gordon Banks’ marvellous World Cup effort against Pelé three years before.

I later interviewed “Monty” and he modestly explained how he had denied Cherry, then Lorimer – and you knew he had told the story many times before. Daily on Wearside, no doubt. Sunderland born and bred, Montgomery’s save became part of the legend of the FA Cup.

As Leeds’ resolve was broken, Sunderland attempted to extend their lead but to no avail.

On the final whistle the stadium exploded with the Wearside fans in ecstasy. And Stokoe made his famous dash towards Montgomery.

Stokoe, who had covered his bright red Sunderland track-suit with a mac, as the weather had worsened throughout the afternoon, had only been manager at the club for six months but had led them to a slice of Cup final history.

Sunderland were the first Second Division side to win the final since 1931 and only Southampton in 1976 and West Ham United in 1980 have repeated the feat.

Fa CUp MEMORiES

L iverpool, whose remarkable endurance and teamwork promised until recently to bring them the coveted Double, seized the FA Cup trophy effortlessly with a 3-0

victory over Newcastle United as their due reward for an admirable contribution to a fascinating season.

Afteradisappointingfirsthalf,LiverpoolwonitssecondCupbyscoringthreememorablesecond-half goals–twoof thembyKevinKeeganandtheotherbySteveHeighway–whichNewcastle,increasinglyindisarray,simplyhadnoanswer. ThiswasNewcastle’sfirstdefeatinsixWembleyfinals. Itwasalsothefirsttimein14yearsthatanyteamhadwontheCupbysuchaclearmargin. Ironically,itwasdonebyateamwhichhasoftenbeencriticisedinthepastforitsallegedinabilitytoputtheballinthenetoftenenough. Liverpoolwereabletoscoresofreelybecauseof theirattackingskillandNewcastle’sdefensivefrailty. Keegan’sgoalsandtheexcitementhisoverallperformancegeneratedmadehimthegame’soutstandingcontributor. Afterascorelessfirsthalf,Keegan’sthunderousshotannouncedLiverpool’sdeterminationtoattackmorepurposelyinthesecondhalf.OnlysixminuteshadexpiredwhenAlecLindsayscoredoneof thebest“goals”evertobeseenatthishistoricstadium. Roaringupinsupportof hisattack,LindsayacceptedwhatappearedtobeareturnpassfromKeegantovolley

theballirresistiblypastWillieMcFaul,theNewcastlegoalkeeper,fromthemostacuteof anglesontheleft.Lindsaywasstillrejoicingamongthephotographerswhenitwasnoticedthatalinesmanhadhisflagupandtherefereewasawardingafree-kickforoffsideagainstKeegan. Liverpool’sdisappointmentlastedonlysixmoreminutes.AftergettingacentrepassfromTommySmith,Keeganturnedjustinsidethepenaltyareatohammeraright-footshotintotheroof of thenetfora1-0lead. Atthe74thminute,PeterCormackchippedtheballtoJohnToshack,whichheheadedsquaretoSteveHeighwayandthewingerranwideof theNewcastledefenceontherightbeforeplantinghisshotbeyondMcFaultogiveLiverpoola2-0lead. Withtwominuteslefttoplay,andNewcastle’sspiritbrokencompletely,BrianHallandTommySmithexchangedpasses,thenSmithburstdowntheby-lineontherighttoputoveralowcentrepass,whichKeeganhookedintothenetatthefarpostforhissecondgoalanda3-0lead. TheLiverpoollegionssangtheirheadsoff and,atthefinalwhistle,twosupporterswhohadmanagedtofindawayontothepitch,paidtheultimatehomagetoBillShankly,theLiverpoolmanager,astheykneltandkissedhisfeet.

Keegan’s 2 goaLs ReTURns CUp BaCK To

LiveRpooL

ReD gLoRY ■ LiverpoolcaptainEmlynHughesholdsupteam-mateKevinKeeganastheycelebratetheirCupwin. OPPOSITE PAGE:AssistantBobPaisley(left,withtheCup)andBillShankly(right,wearingacap)enjoytheiropen-topbusparadeafterdefeatingNewcastleUnitedatWembley.

LIVERPOOL 3-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 4, 1974

The BesT of WemBLeY

■ Morethan100,000travelledtotheLiverpoolCityCentretocelebrateBill

ShanklyandhisteamfollowingtheirreturnfromWembleywiththeFACuptrophy.

BillShanklyisoneof Englishfootball’sgreatestmanagers.HisarrivalatLiverpoolinDecember1959litafusethatwouldrockettheclubintoahugelysuccessfulfuture.Shankly,aproudScotsman,wasthefoundingfatherof themodernLiverpoolFootballClub,andthecatalystforchangeandimprovement.Hedemandedthebestfor,andfrom,hisplayers,andfor,andfrom,theloyalLiverpoolsupporters.InMay1974,hewasabout

towatchhislastgameastheLiverpoolmanager.Whetherhe,orwe,knewitatthetime–whoknows?Hewoulddramaticallyretirefromhismanagerialhot-seatlaterthatsummer–adecisionhelikenedto“awalktotheelectricchair.”ButonCupfinalday,hisjob

wastooutsmartJoeHarvey,hisfriendandtheNewcastlemanager.Itstartedearly.OnCupfinalmorning,both

managerstookpartinalivetwo-waytelevisioninterview,andthetwin-shotfromthetwodifferenthotellocationsgraphicallyportrayedthedifferingmoodsintherespectivecamps.Shanklywasinhiselement

–ebullient.Fullof quipsandcuriosities.PureShankly.JoeHarvey,bycontrast,wasquietandalittleuncomfortable.ItwasakintothefirstliveU.S.electiontelevisiondebateswhentelegenicJohnKennedy’sstyleclearlyoutpointedamoroseRichardNixonandhelpedsendhimontheroadtotheWhiteHouse.TheCupfinalmorning

interviewswereamirrorimageof whathappenedthatafternoonatWembley.LiverpooldestroyedNewcastle

United.Thepre-matchhypehadbeenbasedonGeordies’starstrikerMalcolmMacdonald,whobelievedthathe,andNewcastle,wouldhaveabigdayatWembley.Hedidn’tandtheydidn’t.Instead,twogoalsfrom

risingstarKevinKeegan,andanotherCupfinalnotchfromSteveHeighwayputclearwaterbetweenthetwosides.Anditcouldhavebeenmore.Asthegameentereditsfinal

stages,alleyeswereonShankly.Thetelevisioncamerascapturedhimsittingonthebench,dramaticallymovinghisarmsleft,right,upanddown,directingthefootballtrafficandconductinghismarvelloussoccersymphony.AftertheCupwasdulyhanded

overtoRedscaptainEmlynHughes,theLiverpoolfansgreetedtheirheroeswithtypicalScousefervour.Theloudestcheer,however,wasleftforthemanwhohadsetthewholeballrollingsome15yearsearlier.And,althoughatrifleexcessive,

itwasn’tsurprisingtoseetwoLiverpoolfansraceonthepitchandactuallykneeldownandkisstheScotsman’sfeet.Shankly’stakeonthedaywas

typical.“I’mhappiestnotformyself,

theplayersorthestaff butforthemultitudes.I’mapeople’sman,asocialist,”hesaid.“I’msorryIcouldn’tgoamongstthemandspeaktothem.I’mhappythatwehaveworkedreligiously,thatwedidn’tcheatthemandthatwehavesomethingtotakebacktothemtomorrow.”Shanklyleftbehindaclubwith

ambitionandbite,abag-loadof trophiesandamilliongreatmemories.

fa CUp memoRies

Fulham Fade under hammers’ GreaT day OF GlOry

a lan Taylor, a Fourth Division player less than six months ago, will remember the second all-London FA Cup final with a glow for the rest of his life;

Peter Mellor, the Fulham goalkeeper, will not be allowed to forget it. That, in essence, is the story of today’s slight miscarriage of justice at Wembley, which West Ham United won convincingly, 2-0.

West Ham took home the FA Cup for the second time in their history, mainly because Fulham did not have a goalkeeper to match the rest of their excellent team. It hurts to say that, because Mellor is one of the nicest players in the game; nevertheless, it is true. Twice, the blond giant erred in the second half, and twice the predatory Taylor was on hand to make him pay and to reduce to nothing all of Fulham’s astonishing first-half superiority. So, Wembley rang to the sound of Bubbles. And the dream Bobby Moore and Alan Mullery had of a fairytale ending to their long and distinguished careers died. The thunderstruck Fulham fans were forced to console themselves with the thought that it was a case of defeat with honour.

West Ham had been outmanoeuvred and outplayed at almost every turn in the first half by Second Division Fulham. Alan Taylor, however, settled this final in four dramatic minutes of the second half. First, at the 60th minute, he drove an angled shot past Mellor after the diving goalkeeper could only push Billy Jennings’ fierce shot to one side. The blame on that occasion rested as much with Fulham’s John Cutbush as with Mellor. For it was the full-back’s indecision that allowed Pat Holland to intercept the ball and pass to Jennings. Holland, who was playing for the injured Keith Robson, also figured crucially in the second of Taylor’s goals in the 64th minute. It was his pass that allowed Graham Paddon a shot almost identical to Jennings’ from out on the left. This time, the ball was aimed at the near post, not the far post. Taylor became the first player in 18 years to score a total of six goals in the Cup’s last three rounds.

WEST HAM UNITED 2-0 FULHAM

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 3, 1975

TWICe as GOOd ■ West Ham’s Billy Jennings (right) and Pat Holland raise the Cup on their lap of honour around the Wembley pitch following their 2-0 win over Fulham.

The beauty of the FA Cup is that it has such wonderful stories of sporting derring-do. And the 1974-75 campaign did not let the romantics down.

The 1975 Cup final featured two London clubs: West Ham United from the top flight and Fulham from the Second Division.

Fulham had taken a tortuous route to the final – 11 matches and 18.5 hours of Cup football. In miles and matches no team, to that point, had taken longer to reach Wembley.

This was Fulham’s first FA Cup final but in their ranks they boasted two of English football’s most revered elder statesmen.

Former West Ham legend, Bobby Moore, was gradually bringing his glittering career to a close and had signed with Fulham in March 1974.

Now 34, Moore, was playing against the very team he had lifted the Cup for in 1964.

Alongside him on the Fulham team was their captain, Alan Mullery. He, too, had been a Cup-winner – with Spurs in 1967 – and now at 33 was leading out his first club at Wembley.

Neither man could probably believe it.

Another man pinching himself was West Ham’s striker, Alan Taylor.

Signed for £40,000 the previous November from Rochdale, and on his 21st birthday, Taylor had taken the latter stages of West Ham’s Cup run by storm.

He scored both goals in their quarter-final win over

London rivals, Arsenal, at Highbury.

And he was on target again with a pair of goals in their FA Cup semi-final replay win over Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge.

Taylor had risen from Fourth Division obscurity to FA Cup folklore – and there was more to come. In the final itself, Taylor once again struck gold.

With an hour of game gone, and still goalless, Fulham goalkeeper Peter Mellor parried a cross from Hammers’ Billy Jennings and there was Taylor to gleefully sweep it into the net.

Four minutes later, the same combination, a mistake from Mellor and another piece of opportunism from Taylor put the game out of Fulham’s reach.

“We’re forever blowing bubbles” rang around Wembley Stadium as West Ham lifted the trophy for the second time in their history.

Moore looked on, but both he and his veteran team-mate, Mullery, knew just having another big day out in football’s most famous knock-out competition was a bonus in itself.

Moore and Taylor went into retirement in due course.

Taylor spent a couple more years at Upton Park before going on a footballing travelogue with spells at Norwich City (twice), Vancouver Whitecaps (twice), Cambridge United, Hull City, Burnley and Bury.

In many ways his glory days were captured inside three months and three games.

Fa CuP memOrIes

STOKES GrabS Cup fOr

SOuThampTOnT he Southampton Saints and Jim

McCalliog, in particular, proved there is simply no substitute for experience – not even the apparently inexhaustible, young,

and now bitterly disappointed, Manchester United, which lost in the Cup final today to the Saints, 1-0.

ItwasMcCalliog,a29-year-oldveteranof SheffieldWednesday’sappearancehereinthefinaltenyearsago,and, irony of ironies, a Manchester United reject, who ultimately determined the outcome of a match that caught firelateintheday. It did so when McCalliog, who had dominated the second half with a telling display of the old-fashioned inside-forward skills, found Stokes unmarked in a pocket of spacebetweentheUniteddefenceandmidfieldeightminutesfromtheend. Striding forward towards the edge of the penalty area, Bobby Stokes struck the ball left-footed before the lunging Brian Greenhoff could reach it and the shot snaked low into the far corner of the net, past United goalkeeper Alex Stepney’s unsuccessful dive for the game’s winning goal, at the82ndminute. NoFACupfinalwouldbecompletewithoutitsfairytale element and Stokes’s winning goal was it on this occasion.Atonepointearlierthisseason,SecondDivisionSouthamptonalmostsoldtheirunsunghero.Today,Stokestwicemissedonshotshighabovethebarbeforehefinallyloweredhissightsforthewinninggoal.

SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 1, 1976

mIDfIELD TraffIC ■ Southampton’s Peter Osgood (right) and Manchester United’s Stewart Houston battle for a highballinthesecondhalf.

unDEr aTTaCK ■ Southampton attacks theManchesterUnitedgoal.BobbyStokesscoredSouthampton’s only goal with eight minutes to play in regulationtime.OPPOSITE PAGE: With his team-mates near him, Southampton captain Peter Rodrigues holds aloft theFACupasthepost-gamecelebrationatWembleybegins.

Steve Coppell played over 300 times for Manchester United in an eight-year career thatwascutshortbyinjury.

A hard-working wide man, Coppell had started his professional career at TranmereRoversbeforeManchester United manager TommyDochertysignedhiminFebruary1975.

And all this while Coppell was busy studying for an Economics degree at Liverpool University.IknowthatbecauseI was there with him!

Coppell had decided to complete his studies before movingfull-timeintofootball.A typically noble gesture, which he saw through to a successful conclusion.

It meant we had a student pal who was regularly featured on Match of the Day and who starred in topical features on TV’s Football Focus and Kick Off when they wanted to highlight hisunusualdualexistence.Inhisfirstfullseasonwith

United, back in the First Divisionafteraone-seasondropintothelowerflight,theRedDevilsmadeittoWembley.And his University mates, me included,wentthere,too.Itwas a little awkward for me, as a devoted Liverpool fan, but it was great to see a mate on the fieldintheFACupfinal.

Coppell was part of a dual-wing strike force formed by TommyDocherty.GordonHillhad been signed from Millwall and scored both goals in a semi-finalwinoverDerbyCounty.It was to be his second trip to Wembley–hisfirsthadbeentoseeaspeedwayfinal!

United’s opponents were SecondDivisionSouthampton,whoweretwicebeatenfinalists

in1900and1902.LawrieMcMenemy had cannily put together a side packed with experience–andFACupfinalexperienceatthat.

Captain Peter Rodrigues (Leicester City, 1969), JimMcCalliog(SheffieldWednesday, 1966) and Peter Osgood (Chelsea, 1970) knew theirwayaroundFACupfinalday – and also in their ranks was the vastly experienced MickChannon.

On the day itself, however, it was one of their less well-known players, Bobby Stokes, who scored the game’s only goal just eight minutes from regulartime.

Stokes took a through ball from McCalliog and steered it past Alex Stepney in the ManchesterUnitedgoal.Appealsforoffsidewereinvain.ACupfinalupsetwaslanded.TheSouthamptonstriker

won a car for scoring the winninggoalintheCupfinaland told reporters he had been taking driving lessons prior to the match because he felt sure hewouldwinit.

For Steve Coppell and Gordon Hill there would beabetterfinalforthemtwelve months later – against Liverpool.OnthatoccasionImade it clear to Steve there was only one team I wanted to win –anditwasn’tUnited.

Mind you, four days after his disappointing Wembley experience against Southampton, footballer turned student Coppell was back with his University colleagues and actually playing in goal for our DepartmentsideinaCupfinal.

Unfortunately for Steve we lost that one, too, giving him a ratheruniqueDouble.

fa Cup mEmOrIES

UNITED sTop LIvErpooL’s

DrEam TrEbLE

L iverpool’s dream of the Treble is no more. It lies in pieces on the Wembley turf, shattered by their own uncharacteristic mistakes in defence and a burst of

devastating finishing by Manchester United early in the second-half of a curiously uneven FA Cup final, which the Red Devils won, 2-1.

Twice, inside six minutes, Liverpool were punished instantly for committing elementary errors that opponents usually find them guilty of once or twice in a whole season; and Jimmy Case’s reply, in between, became nothing more than a defiant, but hopeless, gesture. Although the scoring pattern was a distorted reflection of the first-half play, it did have the merit of transforming what promised to be a final as one-sided as that between Liverpool and Newcastle three years ago into a genuine contest. Until Stuart Pearson drove the first goal past Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence, five minutes after the second-half re-start, United had not really been in the match.

In the 50th minute, Liverpool’s Emlyn Hughes and Tommy Smith floundered as Jimmy Greenhoff suddenly found Pearson clear slightly to the right of the Liverpool goal. Clemence then allowed Pearson to beat him with a low shot inside the near post that the goalkeeper could have been expected to save. Two minutes later, Liverpool reacted spiritedly to that setback when Case confirmed his development this season into a player of the highest class by bringing down a centre pass from team-mate Joey Jones, turning, and then driving the ball high out of the reach of United goalkeeper Alex Stepney’s left hand to even the score at 1-1. But the cheers died in Liverpool throats three minutes later when a mistake by Smith lost possession to Greenhoff inside the penalty area. Greenhoff ’s first shot was blocked, but Lou Macari’s alert follow-up flew into the net off Greenhoff ’s body for a 2-1 lead.

MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 LIVERPOOL

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 21, 1977

CoNGraTULaTIoNs ■ Martin Buchan, the Manchester United captain, accepts the Cup from the Duchess of Kent after their memorable 2-1 Cup final win over Liverpool.

Twelve months after losing to Southampton, Manchester United were back in the Cup final at Wembley. This time their opponents were the team from just down the M62: Liverpool.

The Merseyside Reds were in a heady period of success. They had just clinched their 10th League Championship and were just four days away from a date with European destiny in Rome

There they would face German champions, Borussia Mönchengladbach, who had won their third successive Bundesliga title.

Liverpool’s manager, the wily Bob Paisley, conscious that any replay of the final would be held in the height of summer, picked a team to win it on Cup final day. Out and out striker, David Johnson was chosen ahead of midfield stalwart Ian Callaghan in the Liverpool manager’s starting line-up.

Those positions would be reversed in Rome.

The match was being described to BBC viewers, for the first time, by John Motson, a voice that, through the years, would become synonymous with the FA Cup final. To this date he has commentated on no less than thirty-four.

The game, played on a typically hot Cup final afternoon, was goalless in the first half but exploded into life early in the second period. Stuart Pearson scored at 50 minutes with a shot Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence probably should have saved.

The equaliser, just two

minutes later, was a cracker. Liverpool’s eccentric full-

back, Joey Jones, lifted a cross-ball to Jimmy Case on the edge of the United box, and the mid-fielder juggled with it, turned on the proverbial “sixpence” and volleyed home.

Amazingly the winner was just three minutes away – a shot from Lou Macari being deflected beyond Clemence by the midriff of Jimmy Greenhoff. The former Stoke City striker claimed it – as all forwards do.

Liverpool had missed out on a domestic Double and indeed a possible unique Treble, but they used the long train journey back to Merseyside to put their Wembley disappointment behind them and turn their minds to all things Rome.

Of course, they would enjoy a glory night in the Eternal City four days later, winning the European Cup final, and writing an immortal page in their illustrious history.

Their FA Cup final defeat was devastating, but that win in Rome eclipsed it.

Manchester United revelled in their victory over their close rivals but their manager, Tommy Docherty, was only at the club for a short while longer.

He would later leave ... and go on (from club to club) with his special brand of managerial magic. In later life he became a big hit on the after-dinner speaking circuit.

His best day at United though was putting Liverpool to the sword and in doing so he put right the wrongs of the previous year.

Fa CUp mEmorIEs

A t the 50th Wembley Cup final, Ipswich Town finally shook off the bad luck, which has dogged them for six years and denied them the major trophy

their steady progress under Bobby Robson has merited.

Against all the odds, the patched-up and unfancied Suffolk side won the FA Cup for the first time in their history. In their Wembley debut, the 1-0 victory over Arsenal came on a late goal by Roger Osborne. Until Osborne finally put the ball past Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings, there was an uncomfortable feeling that whoever, or whatever, that frowns upon Ipswich's endeavours would force them to remain empty-handed once more. It was both predictable and fitting, therefore, that David Geddis made the opening for the goal that will transform Ipswich into something considerably more livelier than a sleepy East Anglian town for days to come. Ipswich dominated the first half almost totally, with Jennings stopping a pair of attempts by David Geddis and Kevin Beattie. In the second half, Ipswich's frustration continued as John Wark missed with a shot that hit the post and Jennings made a save from a perfectly-placed header by George Burley. Finally, with 13 minutes left to play, Geddis broke down the right side, got past the Gunners’ Alan Hudson and Sammy Nelson, then drove the ball low into the goalmouth. Arsenal’s Willie Young could only block the shot and Osborne snapped the rebound into the net for the winner.

IpswIch town

wIn 50th wEMBLEY cUp

IPSWICH TOWN 1-0 ARSENAL

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 6, 1978

pRoUD VIctoRs ■ Ipswich’s Kevin Beattie and Clive Woods celebrate on the lap of honour around Wembley following their 1-0 Cup final victory over Arsenal.

There are many ways famous FA Cup-winning goal-scorers are fondly remembered and their special moment marked, but perhaps Ipswich Town’s Roger Osborne had one of the more unusual. For every time his manager, the hugely likeable Bobby Robson, took the family pet dog for a walk in the lovely Suffolk countryside, his cry of “Come here, Roger!” would be heard.

Robson, of course, had named the dog after Osborne, the 28-year-old son of a cowhand from a small Suffolk village of 500 inhabitants. He was one of the Cup final’s less likely heroes.

Osborne scored the only goal of the final against Arsenal after 19-year-old David Geddis’ cross had been steered into the striker’s path by the Scottish centre-half, Willie Young.

The goal and goal-scorer was greeted with mass hysteria by “the Tractor Boys” following the Suffolk side and Osborne was engulfed by jubilant team-mates Geddis, Mick Mills, Charlie Woods, Paul Mariner and George Burley.

Overcome by it all, Osborne needed medical attention and had played his last telling action in the game. His place in the history books was, however, secure.

This was a great triumph for Robson and his men. Appointed manager of the club in January 1969, Robson had built up a stylish team, thriving under the unique off-field leadership of the Cobbold family, who were at the helm of the club for many decades.

Robson was a wonderful footballing man, and I had the privilege of spending many

hours in his company. His love for the game was total, his enthusiasm limitless and his knowledge of his sport supreme.

At Portman Road he had built a Cup-winning side based on the defensive strength of the likes of Alan Hunter and the great Kevin Beattie; the midfield guile of John Wark and Clive Woods, and the front-line sharpness of Paul Mariner. But it was two of the less celebrated, Geddis and Osborne, who combined to give Ipswich fans a special Wembley moment.

For Arsenal, it was just a bad day at the office, and for their centre-forward, Malcolm Macdonald, late of Newcastle, another Cup final anti-climax.

The Gunners would have a more memorable time 12 months later – as indeed would one of the VIP guests at the 1978 Cup final.

Margaret Thatcher, the Leader of the Conservative Party, would secure the keys to 10 Downing Street in a historic win over the Labour Government in May 1979, but a year earlier – in 1978 – she had been at Wembley for football’s big day out.

Making sure she was seen to be involved in every part of British social life she had gone to the 1978 final – and was delighted, no doubt, that the team in blue had won the day.

When later asked on BBC Radio who was her Man of the Match, the choice of “Number 10” wasn’t surprising. The future Prime Minister named Trevor Whymark.

This raised a quizzical eyebrow from her inquisitor. Whymark, you see, was named in the match-day programme but didn’t actually play!

FA cUp MEMoRIEs

L iam Brady made nonsense of the confident prediction that this would be the most evenly-balanced FA Cup final for years. More than that, this Republic of

Ireland midfield player gave Arsenal a 3-2 victory over Manchester United they did not entirely deserve.

Brady insisted recently that the theory Arsenal is only half a side without him is totally wrong. Yet it could be no coincidence that on the two occasions he touched the ball seriously in the first half, the Gunners scored, and that it was his pass which led to them rescuing victory from the jaws of extra-time. United were clearly the better side for long periods of a somewhat scrappy, undistinguished game that boiled up into a dramatic climax with three goals in the last four minutes. Still it was a heartbreak finish for United, who dragged themselves even with two late goals only to see Brady rub their noses in the famous turf with another of his inspired passes. Arsenal’s first goal came after 12 minutes in the first half. It started when Brady intercepted the ball at midfield, accelerated past Lou Macari, who had kept a tight rein on him until he evaded Mickey Thomas, and passed to Frank Stapleton on the right touchline. Stapleton sent a pass to David Price, who beat Martin Buchan, then pulled the ball back across the goal, where

three Arsenal players – Brian Talbot, Alan Sunderland and Graham Rix – were fighting to put the ball in the net. It is not entirely clear who finally sent the ball flying past United goalkeeper, Gary Bailey, but Arsenal later credited the goal to Talbot. Until they scored again in the 43rd minute of the first half, the Gunners were extremely hard pressed. With United preparing to settle for being only one goal down at half-time, Brady uncorked another of his magical runs to mesmerise Arthur Albiston and Buchan and offer Stapleton a free header at the far post for a 2-0 lead. By the 86th minute, Arsenal were confident enough of victory to bring on Steve Walford, a defender, to replace Price and set up shop in the back. It did not work, because, one minute later, Gordon McQueen scored on a low pass from Joe Jordan to cut Arsenal’s lead to 2-1. Then, with only two minutes remaining, Sammy McIlroy forced his way past Arsenal’s Walford and David O’Leary, drawing Pat Jennings from his goal-line, and steered the ball into the net to even up the score at 2-2. United’s joy lasted only one minute. Rix sent a deep centre pass to Sunderland, who met it firmly with his right foot at the far post for the winning goal.

Brady MasterMinds

GUnners’ Late Fa CUp Win

ViCtOry Lap ■ (Left to right) Arsenal’s Graham Rix, Pat Rice and Liam Brady parade the FA Cup around Wembley after their thrilling 3-2 win over Manchester United. A total of three goals were scored in the last four minutes of the Cup final.

ARSENAL 3-2 MANCHESTER UNITED

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 12, 1979

The 1979 FA Cup final has been dubbed the “Five-Minute Final” because all the drama in the game was captured in a remarkable sequence of scoring in the dying embers of the match.

In that time Manchester United pulled back a two-goal deficit only to see their last-gasp heroics upstaged with a late, late winner by Sunderland – of Arsenal.

All these Wembley high jinks on a hot day in May had looked a million miles away when Arsenal started their FA Cup trek with the longest-ever tie in the history of the competition proper.

Arsenal met Sheffield Wednesday no less than five times in sixteen January days to try and resolve their 3rd Round tie. Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings had actually been hit with snowballs in the first of those games at Hillsborough; in May he was celebrating with ice-cold champagne.

Manchester United had gone to replays with Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool en route to Wembley.

The final had an early goal. Arsenal’s Brian Talbot, Graham Rix and Alan Sunderland arrived at exactly the same moment to lash the ball home from close range after just twelve minutes.

It was almost impossible to decide who got the last or most significant touch but Talbot was given the nod. He was already on his way to making Cup final history by being on different winning sides in successive finals.

Liam Brady, who was leading the United defenders with an Irish jig, centred for Frank Stapleton to score the Gunners’ second goal at the 43rd

minute. Dublin-born Stapleton would

score for United in a later FA Cup final. And then the game went to sleep. I know, I was there. On a hot afternoon, Arsenal didn’t chase any more goals and United couldn’t get started. It was a tough watch.

Indeed, the game was meandering to a boring conclusion (unless you are a Gunners fan!) and then all hell broke loose. At 86 minutes, a cross from Steve Coppell was deflected into the path of United’s centre-half, Gordon McQueen, who swept the ball past Jennings.

Two minutes later, United unbelievably were level. Again Steve Coppell was the architect with a through-ball brilliantly dispatched on the run by Sammy McIlroy.

There was bedlam in the stadium, United fans were in ecstasy, Arsenal fans in agony. Any neutral that had slipped off early had missed one of the greatest finishes in Cup final history. And there was more to come. Within a minute of United equalising they were behind again and this time decisively. Brady broke brilliantly down the wing, Rix centred and Gary Bailey, who was in the United goal, mis-read the ball’s flight and was unable to keep it out.

Sunderland was on hand to apply the coup de grace for the Gunners – and this time it was his goal for sure, and the final act in a dramatic finale.

His celebration run after scoring, chased by substitute Steve Walford, is one of the Cup final’s most iconic images – although lip readers may find it a little naughty!

Fa CUp MeMOries

L ondon now belongs to West Ham United. In broiling heat, the Second Division Hammers upset the Arsenal aristocrats from North London, 1-0, with a goal by

Trevor Brooking. West Ham was the lowest-placed team to collect the Cup since Wolverhampton in 1908. Arsenal was also the first team since Blackburn Rovers, in 1886, to reach the Cup final for a third straight year.

FA Cup history was made today at Wembley’s third Cockney Cup final, which was played in sublime, sunny conditions. Receipts were officially £729,000, but television fees and other extras pushed them beyond the million-pound mark for the first time. Seventeen-year-old Paul Allen of West Ham also made history by being the youngest player to appear in a Wembley Cup final. The England Youth captain beat the record set by Howard Kendall in 1964, when he appeared as a fresh-faced youth for Preston North End – by coincidence against West Ham. It was also a memorable afternoon for Arsenal full-back John Devine, who had been preferred to Sammy Nelson.

The Republic of Ireland defender set out ambitiously to help his side win their second successive final. Brian Talbot, who had won Cup-Winners’ medals with Ipswich in 1978 and Arsenal last year, showed with Liam Brady, Graham Rix and David Price that they meant to stifle the West Ham midfield and not allow Brooking and Alan Devonshire the free travel warrants Everton had given them in the semi-final replay. A strong competitive showing was missing in the early stages, as so often happens in Wembley finals with sides slow to settle down. West Ham were the first to show something beyond the ordinary in the 12th minute. Stuart Pearson got away on the left and centred low across the goalmouth, away from a string of Arsenal defenders. A minute later, the Hammers went into a surprise lead. Alan Devonshire beat Pat Rice and Talbot on a powerful run down the left side. His centre kick was rebounded twice before Brooking headed the ball in, which gave West Ham a 1-0 lead. This goal gave West Ham added confidence, and glory. In the 67th minute, Arsenal made a run at West Ham, with Rix unleashing a wicked, angled shot, which Phil Parkes, the goalkeeper, who was playing in his first Cup final, did well to block.

2nd divisionWest Ham aRe

sunny side up in

Cup WinWEST HAM UNITED 1-0 ARSENAL

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 10, 1980

I have spent many hours in the company of West Ham legend Sir Trevor Brooking – firstly, when he worked at the BBC as a football pundit, and then more significantly when we both found ourselves working at The Football Association.

A respected football man and good company, conversations with him would often turn to the day he won the FA Cup for his beloved Hammers as he scored a rare, but decisive, goal against Cup holders, Arsenal, after 13 minutes.

Even the TV cameras on the day had a double take, cutting to a close up of West Ham striker Stuart Pearson before realising that it was Brooking who had booted it home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Brooking had an outstanding game, passing and tackling, as was demanded.

He was a leading light on the Second Division club as they set out on their Road to Wembley.

West Brom, Orient, Swansea and Aston Villa fell to the Hammers and then Everton were taken out in a dramatic semi-final replay. The scorer of the extra-time winner, left-back Frank Lampard (Senior), celebrated by famously spinning around the nearest corner flag. His son, Frank Jr., would often be urged to later repeat that special celebration when he scored vital goals for Chelsea.

Arsenal, their Wembley opponents, were in their third successive final, a remarkable feat, but not before a marathon fight to the finish against Liverpool in the semi-final. The

tie went to four matches before Brian Talbot, who was fast becoming an FA Cup legend, headed in the lone goal in the tie’s third replay, which was staged at Coventry City.

The final also marked the appearance of the youngest-ever Wembley finalist at 17 years 256 days. Paul Allen very nearly topped that achievement by scoring a second goal for the Hammers.

Only a crude tackle by Willie Young denied him the chance to get on the Wembley score-sheet.

For Arsenal, it was third time unlucky, and as the final whistle went, their attentions turned to the following Wednesday’s European Cup Winners’ Cup final against Valencia in Brussels.

That game went to extra-time and ultimately to penalties – with no goals being scored in 120 minutes.

Both teams fielded their star-men for their opening penalties, but World Cup winner, Argentinian Mario Kempes, and the Gunners’ Irish wizard, Liam Brady, missed. Every other penalty-taker hit the mark until in sudden death Graham Rix had his effort saved.

Two finals in five days. And no silverware for Arsenal.

The Hammers would have to wait a further season for elevation to the First Division, but in their first FA Cup final of the decade, they lifted the famous trophy for the third time in their history – and the modest Trevor Brooking, later knighted, no doubt briefly allowed it to go to his head!

Fa Cup memoRies

LeadinGoFF

■ (Left to Right) West Ham’s Geoff Pike, Paul Allen and Ray Stewart celebrate with the FA Cup trophy following their 1-0 win over Arsenal.

viCtoRy touR

VILLA LEAD ToTTEnhAm To Cup VICToRY In

mEmoRAbLE REpLAY

R icardo Villa, the Argentine who left the pitch in tears last Saturday after being substituted, returned to Wembley tonight to score two goals that earned

Tottenham the distinction of winning the 100th FA Cup final in a 3-2 replay victory over Manchester City.

Five days ago, the two teams played to a 1-1 extra-time draw at Wembley before a crowd of 100,000. Tonight, Villa brought the most exciting match Wembley has staged for years to a memorable climax, with a goal that deserves to take its place among the great ones ever scored during a century of finals. It came in the 76th minute, shortly after Spurs pulled themselves back from the brink of defeat for the second time in five days to finally defeat City. Villa collected a pass from Tony Galvin near at the left-hand corner of the penalty box, then went striding boldly past two defenders. As he searched for an opening wide enough for a shot, he went past two more defenders before driving the ball beyond Joe Corrigan into the net.

Tottenham scored first when Steve Archibald’s rebound was powered firmly into the net by Villa eight minutes into the first half. But within three minutes City had evened up the count at 1-1 with a spectacular goal by Steve Mackenzie. In the 50th minute, City took the lead after Dave Bennett forced his way into the penalty box area, was elbowed off-balance by Paul Miller, then bundled over by Chris Hughton. With commendable coolness, Kevin Reeves placed the penalty kick to the left of the diving Milija Aleksic and into the corner of the net for a 2-1 advantage. Ten minutes later, Glenn Hoddle rose to the heights with a beautifully-judged, delicate chip shot into City’s penalty area. Archibald quickly turned the ball back, but Garth Crooks swept in with a booming kick that soared past Corrigan to even up the score at 2-2. Villa’s goal sixteen minutes later would be the decider for Spurs, giving them a sixth Cup final win.

A GREAT CELEbRATIon ■ Spurs’ Ricky Villa scored 2 goals in the 3-2 win over Manchester City.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3-2 MANCHESTER CITY

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 14, 1981

Odd things you’ve done in your life? Well, amongst mine it has to be one morning in May 1981 when I stepped into a central London store and helped choose two generous lengths of ribbon – one white, the other sky blue – for a very special occasion.

Indeed, as tradition dictates, one set of ribbon would never be seen again, the other would be the most photographed stretch of fabric in the world for just a short period of time.

Incongruous though it might seem, I was out buying the ribbons that would adorn the FA Cup when it was to be presented to the winners of the 100th Cup final.

I was now working for BBC Television and filming a documentary, tracing the history of the FA Cup.

Which is how I found myself, on the Friday morning before the final, being led down the endless corridors of the FA headquarters at Lancaster Gate to a strong-room at the back of the building.

A heavy door was swung open and there in its unspectacular wooden case was the FA’s jewel in the crown – the FA Cup itself. I felt like I was being introduced to a famous celebrity.

In reality, I was. My assistant and I then

helped lift the case onto a trolley and wheeled it up to the front door and a waiting security van. We duly pushed the VIP passenger up a ramp and into a van. The door was slammed shut and we waved the trophy off for its date with destiny.

The final itself was a

memorable one – fitting for such an auspicious occasion.

The first game was a draw, courtesy of Tommy Hutchison’s header – a first-half goal for Manchester City – and a second-half deflected equaliser for Tottenham Hotspur. It meant the celebrations of staging the 100th FA Cup final went into a second week and a Thursday night replay.

And it would be a stunning game of football.

Argentinian Ricky Villa had been substituted in Saturday’s match and had trudged slowly down the Wembley touchline to the dressing rooms.

On the Thursday evening at the replay, it would be a different story, with Villa being the central figure in a fantastic feast of football.

The colourful Argentinian, combined with his fellow-countryman, Ossie Ardiles, to put Spurs ahead, 1-0. City’s Steve Mackenzie, age 19, volleyed in a superb equaliser.

City finally went ahead via a Kevin Reeves second-half penalty. Spurs levelled at 71 minutes through Garth Crooks and the stage was set for one of the Cup final’s greatest goals.

Tony Galvin raced down the left and passed inside to Villa. This time the bearded South American buccaneered his way through the retreating City defence. He went on ... and on.

“And still Ricky Villa ... what a fantastic run ... amazing goal,” were the famous words of BBC commentator John Motson.

Villa’s despair on Saturday had been replaced by ecstasy on the following Thursday.

FA Cup mEmoRIES

LEADInGoFF

■ Garth Crooks (not pictured) scores the second goal for Tottenham in the second half to level. After Ricky Villa’s goal six minutes later, Spurs would have the winning edge, 3-2.

WEmbLEY KInGS

T ottenham took the FA Cup home again today after Glenn Hoddle became the first player to settle the Wembley final with a penalty kick since George Mutch

gave Preston North End the victory in 1938.

Preston had to wait until the last minute of extra-time to defeat Huddersfield Town, 1-0. However, Hoddle’s goal against Queens Park Rangers came after only six minutes. Tottenham and the Rangers finished at 1-1 after extra-time five days ago at Wembley, before a crowd of 100,000. There was no doubt about the correctness of referee Clive White’s decision. In the sixth minute, Graham Roberts was clearly brought down by Queens Park’s Tony Currie as he broke into the penalty box. Nor could anyone call Hoddle’s shot indecisive. He fired it, low and firm, inside Rangers’ left-hand post, as Peter Hucker dived the other way. Rangers do have doubts about whether that should have been the match’s only penalty. They claimed Mr. White should have pointed to the spot when Bob Hazell slumped to the turf, following Paul Miller’s second half tackle. I suspect, however, Mr. White may well have seen the linesman’s flag raised for offside before Hazell was tackled.

hoddle’s penalTy kick

wins replay

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1-0 QUEENS PARK RANGERS

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 27, 1982

The one ThaT coUnTs ■ Tottenham’s Glenn Hoddle scores the game-winning penalty against Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Peter Hucker.

leadinGoFF

■ H.R.H. Princess Anne is introduced to the Queens Park Rangers team before the match began.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Tottenham’s Steve Perryman proudly lifts the FA Cup after receiving it in the Royal Box.

Bon chance

The National Anthem was sung with a special poignancy and gusto on the day of the FA Cup final at Wembley in 1982.

It was the crowd’s way of reflecting the public mood as the nation’s servicemen fought to repel the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Isles.

Tottenham were in the final again, but this time both their Argentine maestros were appropriately missing from the line-up as they faced London opposition in QPR, ironically managed by ex-Spurs star Terry Venables.

Multi-talented Venables had already authored a fiction work, “They Used to Play on Grass,” in 1973, when eight years later QPR turned that title on its head by laying an artificial pitch.

I remember attending its launch at Loftus Road back in 1981 and thinking to myself that the bounce of the ball on the surface was both erratic and high. It would prove a telling advantage to QPR as they were allowed to stage home Cup ties on it, despite opposition from rivals.

Nowadays, FA Cup ties are not allowed on artificial surfaces despite their vast improvement.

Anyway, back in 1982, QPR got three home draws on their way to the semi-final and an away 4th round tie was drawn and taken back to Loftus Road.

Venables, who was also co-authoring the “Hazell” detective novels, had a footballing namesake, Bob Hazell, in Rangers defence, and an exciting pairing of Tony Currie and John Gregory in midfield.

Simon Stainrod played up front with 21-year-old Clive Allen, the son of Les and cousin

of Paul, both Wembley FA Cup winners.

For the second time in succession the final went to two matches. The first instalment was a poor game with two late goals; Hoddle put Spurs ahead before Terry Fenwick scored a late leveller.

I had a bird’s eye view of that goal, as I was sitting directly to the side of the goal – not on the side of the pitch but about two yards from the actual net itself.

It was an amazing privilege – and one captured in a photo in the match day programme for the replay.

I got such a fantastic viewing spot because I had been chosen to act as one of BBC’s “heavies” to grab the game’s key interviewees as they did their lap of honour.

In those days there wasn’t the large gap between final whistle and trophy presentation that there is now, so interviews were carried out after the medal ceremony.

As always there was a gentleman’s agreements with our friends and rivals at ITV – later my other broadcast home – but a lot of that bonhomie went up in smoke when the final whistle went and orders came down from on high to get “so and so” and “so and so” – even if they weren’t on our list!

The replay was won by yet another goal, a penalty, from Glenn Hoddle. QPR’s young side fought hard but just came up short.

One of the men watching from the bench was last year’s hero, Ricky Villa. His appearance raised a huge cheer from Spurs fans. It was a very emotional time.

Fa cUp MeMories

RED DEVILS RULE AGAIN ■ Manchester United celebrates their 4-0 Cup final victory against Brighton & Hove Albion. United previously won the Cup in 1909, 1948 and 1963.

M anchester United, on the 74th birthday of Matt Busby, their president, shrugged off a season’s accumulation of frustrations at Wembley tonight

to take home the FA Cup with a 4-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion., with 91,534 in attendance.

United, which is obligated to settle for third place in the League Championship behind Liverpool, who defeated them on this pitch in the Milk Cup, and was almost beaten by Brighton in extra time last Saturday, finally rose to full height to win an entertaining replay by the most decisive margin in a Wembley final. Five days ago, United and Brighton finished in a 2-2 draw at Wembley in the original Cup final match in front of a crowd of 99,059. Two goals by Bryan Robson and one each by Norman Whiteside and Arnold Muhren tonight gave Busby, who built a great post-war United team, and another after the Munich air disaster of 1958, an extraordinary birthday present. The match was decided, in effect, in a five-minute period midway through the first half, during which United was transformed from a team full of uncertainty to a confident side with a two-goal lead. Arthur Albiston began the first move, in the 25th minute, with a pass to young Alan Davies, whose quick, accurate kick into the middle was driven home by Robson.

ROBSON’S 2 GOALS LEADS UNITED’S CRUSHING CUP

REPLAY WINAGAINST BRIGHTON & HOVE

MANCHESTER UNITED 4-0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

By Donald Saunders at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 26, 1983

Five minutes later, Muhren’s corner kick was booted back into the middle by the alert Davies, and headed powerfully into the net by Whiteside for a 2-0 lead. United increased their lead to 3-0 in the 44th minute after Muhren’s free kick was headed down by Frank Stapleton and Robson kicked it past helpless Graham Moseley and Steve Foster for his second goal of the evening. Seventeen minutes into the second half, United made certain that victory was theirs when Muhren drove a left-footed penalty kick into the corner of the net for a 4-0 lead. The kick was set up by Gary Stevens pulling Robson by the arm. Interestingly, until those hammer blows were struck by the United attack, Brighton appeared to be in Cup-winning form. In the 75th minute Gerry Ryan replaced young Gary Howlett in mid-field and desperately pushed his team forward, right to the final whistle, but Brighton was denied the consolation of a goal. Afterwards, United, having proved their superiority over two games, enjoyed the satisfaction of parading the Cup around Wembley. Brighton captain Steve Foster and his team-mates, as they disappeared down the tunnel to take them to the team’s dressing room, were cheered on by their supporters as conquering heroes. It is hopeful that the memory of how close they came to victory on Saturday may be of some consolation.

Breezing down the Brighton promenade on the top of an open-air double decker seemed a perfect way to start FA Cup final week in 1983.

I was directing a short film for BBC’s Sportsnight and with me was presenter and die-hard Seagulls fan Desmond Lynam.

Our quarry was Brighton caretaker manager Jimmy Melia and his glamorous girlfriend, Val. They had become an “item” and a news item as Brighton made their unlikely way to the FA Cup final.

Melia had become the story of that year’s FA Cup. Brighton’s Chief Scout at the start of the season, he was ending it by leading his team out at Wembley. The man with the “disco” white shoes hailed from Liverpool and had five brothers and five sisters.

The Melias could field their own football team.

Jimmy Melia had played for Liverpool and knocked them out en route to the 1983 final.

For the final the Seagulls flew to the Wembley area – by helicopter. And Brighton were up to give favourites Manchester United a real game.

And they nearly won it. Again, I was perched directly

behind the goal, and watched as Gordon Smith opened the scoring for the South Coast side. With a Cup final goal now to his name he would be more famous for missing one later.

Frank Stapleton equalised for United in the second half before going ahead through a superb effort from Ray Wilkins.

Brighton refused to lie down and equalised through defender Gary Stevens three minutes from regular time.

In extra-time, and with no

further goals until the last few seconds of the game, this opportunity provided Smith with a chance to write his name in FA Cup folklore. And he did – by missing it.

Peter Jones, that brilliant BBC Radio commentator, immortalised Smith’s close-range miss with the words: “And Smith must score ... .”

When I was CEO at the FA I spent some time in Smith’s company. He was my equivalent at the Scottish FA. It is fair to say barely a day went past when that miss wasn’t brought up by some inquisitive or mischievous football follower.

Smith would be patience personified, answer their questions, listen to their quips, and only once quietly reminded me, “I scored, too, you know.” He was a good guy.

The replay was more straight-forward for United – three goals up by half-time and a fourth in the second period, Ron Atkinson’s men were brilliant and made up for having lost the Milk Cup final to arch-rivals Liverpool earlier that year.

And to cap a great evening they did it on Matt Busby’s 74th birthday – and the United fans serenaded their iconic figure with a hearty blast of Happy Birthday.

For Brighton, it was so near, yet so far, and the season would see them also lose their place in the First Division, and Jimmy Melia would lose his job.

Afterward, Melia, and his white shoes, headed off to Portugal, Brighton went to the Second Division and Manchester United continued on their “holy grail” quest of adding League success to FA Cup glory.

FA CUP MEMORIES

LEADINGOFF

■ Bryan Robson (left) celebrates after scoring the first of two goals against Brighton in the Cup replay. His goals came at the 25-minute and 44-minute mark.

THE GOALS CONTINUE

EVERTON sTOpwaTfORd fOR 4th

CUp wINJ ust about everything went according to

script as Everton returned to Wembley to claim the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Watford – their first trophy since 1970 and

rich consolation for having lost to their city rivals, Liverpool, in the final of the Milk Cup two months ago.

Playing before a Wembley crowd of 100,000 and a televison audience of 300 million, the now redoubtable Everton defence proved strong enough, if only just at times to hold Watford’s rampant attack in check. At the other end, however, Watford were undone by the inexperience of their youthful back four and the fallibility of their erratic goalkeeper, Steve Sherwood, as much as by any generosity on the referee’s part towards Everton over their second disputed goal. TheMerseysidesquadfinallygotonthescoreboardseven minutes before half-time when Graeme Sharp scored thefirstgoal. The second goal, by Andy Gray, came six minutes into the second half. Afterwards, the Blues gradually began to control and dominate the match. Everton’sfirstgoaloccurredafterPeterReidsetKevinRichardsonfreedowntheleftside,whothenpassedtoGary Stevens. The full-back did not score, but Watford’s marking was so poor that the ball went straight to Sharp, whowasstandingfreely.Hefiredfrom10yardsandtheball hit the post and bounced into the net for a 1-0 lead. Everton’s second goal, at the 51st minute, was set up by Stevens’ centre pass, which an off-balance Sherwood

stretched backwards to reach and Gray headed out of the goalkeeper’s hands and into the net to give the Merseysiders a 2-0 advantage.

a spECIaL passION ■ Elton John, a life-long Wat-ford fan, loved his football team so much he became the team’s majority shareholder. OPPOSITE PAGE: Everton captain KevinRatcliffeandhisteam-mate,KevinRichardson(left),parade the trophy around Wembley in their lap of honour after beatingWatford,2-0,intheCupfinal.

EVERTON 2-0 WATFORD

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 19, 1984

LEadINGOff

■ After stopping burgeoning powerhouse Watford with a 2-0 Cup finalvictory,theEvertonteam poses for a group photo with the much-coveted trophy.

BLUEs BasH

Elton John had a Wembley date already in his diary when Watford’s Cup run began in January 1984.

June 30th – it was – headlining a stadium concert that also includedpopstarsKoolandtheGangandNikKershaw.

But “The Summer of ’84 Concert” was to be preceded by the1984FACupfinal,andhisWatford boys were in it.Elton,formerlyRegDwight,

hadtheFACupfinalinhisblood.Hiscousin,Roy,wasamemberof the Nottingham Forest side which beat Luton Town in 1959. Royscoredagoalinthe’59

Cupfinalandbrokealeg.Already a musical mega-star,

he was now chairman of Watford andwasseeinghisfirstCupfinalat Wembley. Touring, concerts, recording in Montserrat, oh, and getting married, had kept him busyinthefirstfivemonthsof the year.

But he was here on his club’s big day, and in the middle of the Wembley pitch I had a chance meeting with him. I was on BBC duty, but with blue blazer, blue tie and Scouse accent I probably oozed “Everton.”

Elton wished me luck for the afternoon and I returned the kind gesture in a “footballer’s kind of way!”

Graham Taylor, Watford’s manager,haddoneamagnificentjob of getting his team through the divisions, and despite some criticism of their “long ball” game, they were a credit to themselves, their area and to the many families who followed them.

Everton were a club about to emerge from being in their neighbours’ long shadow.

After being the more famous Merseyside club for many decades, they now had to sit and watch as Liverpool conquered England and Europe in equal measure.

Everton manager Howard Kendall,anFACupfinalistwithPreston in 1964, had been close to being moved on before two cup runs – the Milk Cup and the FA Cup – secured his job. He would go on to achieve great things at Everton–andthisFACupfinalwas just for starters.

Preceding the game came the traditional singing of Abide with Me – and Elton John was just one of the back-up singers, along with 99,000 others – as The Combined Bands of the Guards Divisionsteeredusalong.

There is a marvellous camera close-upfromthe1984Cupfinal,which caught Elton, overcome with the emotion of the day, with a tear rolling down his cheek.

On the day itself his new single, Sad Songs, was being plugged – and it was an appropriate ditty for a young Watford side that was swept aside by a goal apiece from Everton’s blue-hot strikers, Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray.

Taylor later contested the validity of Everton’s second score, when Gray bashed into Watford goalkeeper Steve Sherwood as he made contact with the ball. In manywaysitwasaCupfinalgoalfrom an earlier decade.

For Elton, Taylor and Watford it was a defeat but still a high-water mark in the club’s history.

fa CUp MEMORIEs

United CrUshes everton’s

hoPes & dreams

a truly heroic performance by Manchester United on a warm, oppressive afternoon at Wembley defeated Everton, 1-0, in extra-time and deprived them of their

remarkable Treble.

Everton had won the League Championship, the European Cup Winners’ Cup and had hoped to add the FA Cup to their hardware collection. What changed the whole character of the contest was the controversial sending off of Kevin Moran, one of United’s central defenders, with 13 minutes remaining in normal time for committing what is known in the business as a “professional foul” on Everton’s Peter Reid. Morangained,inthe104thFACupfinal,thedubiousdistinctionof beingthefirstplayertobesentoff thepitchinanyCupfinal.Unitedwerethenforcedtoplaywithtenmenfortheremainderof normaltimeandthethirty

minutes of extra-time. United responded to the harsh dismissal of Moran byliftingtheirgametosuchalevelof inspirationthatNormanWhiteside,theiryoungIrishinternational,wasabletoscoreawinninggoalthatnoonecouldsaythatheand his team did not deserve. Mr.Willis’sdecisiontodismissMoranfromthefieldtookeveryonebysurprise,includingMoran.TherefereemerelyappearedtobebookingtheUniteddefenderwhenhesuddenlypointedMorantowardsthebench. Atfirst,Morancouldnotbelievehewasbeinggivenhismarchingorders.Butwhenthefactwasconfirmed,theIrishmanreactedsoangrilythathehadtoberestrainedbyhis team-mates from confronting the referee. ForthefourthtimeinthelastfiveFACupfinals,anextra 30 minutes was needed to determine a winner. With 20 minutes left in extra-time, Mark Hughes beat Everton’s offside trap with a pass out to Whiteside on the rightwing.Theyoungstercarriedtheballforwardandscoredwithacurlingshotthatwentbeyondthereachof Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall’s dive – and just inside the far post.

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 EVERTON

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 18, 1985

reds rULe aGain ■ BryanRobson,theManchesterUnitedcaptain,liftstheCuptrophyattheRoyalBoxafterwin-ningthe1985FACupfinal.

GeorgeBest.Twowordsthatalwayssparktheimaginationof football fans of a certain vintage.Theword“legend”istoo

looselybandiedaboutthesedaysbutinBest’scaseitwasafittinglabel. He was that good.Hehadbeendiscoveredbythe

famous Belfast scout, Bob Bishop. A touchline guru who knew

a genius when he saw one, Bishop also knew a mere top-class prospect when he saw one, too. And that’s how Norman Whiteside ended up at Old Traffordintheearly1980’s.Bishop spotted him and sent him to the place Best had once graced.

Whiteside was a different shape and size than Best. He was a man-boy,ayoungsterwhocouldmix it up with his elders. He was also a tough nut – but a clever footballer.

Whiteside had made his debut for Manchester United at the age of sixteen.

Whiteside also knocked Pelé off hisperchbybecomingtheyoungestplayertoappearintheWorld Cup, when he was part of theNorthernIrelandteamof 1982. He was just seventeen.Ayearlaterhebecamethe

youngestplayertoscoreinboth the Milk Cup and FA Cup finals.Andnowin1985hewasoncourseforabigCupfinalperformance against Everton.

Whiteside-Best, Best-Whiteside.Thelinkwastoogoodtomiss.Andthat’swhyIfoundmyself outsideaWestLondonflatonahotCupfinalSaturdaymorning.IhadsuggestedtoBBC

Grandstand bosses that George Best would make a great studio guestatWembley.Andeverybodyagreed – but with reservations!

After all, Best had a habit of not turning up – for United, let aloneaTVdate.Still,Irangthedoor-bellof

Best’sflat–buttherewasnoanswer. A bead of sweat ran downmyneck.Irangitagain–no luck.

Now these were pre-mobile phonedayssoIwentdownthestreet and found a telephone box, whichwasthankfullyinworkingorder,andrelayedthebadnewstotheBBCguysatWembley.“Toldyouso”camethe

unhelpfulreply.Thiswentonforaboutanhour

and a half – ring door-bell, no answer, use phone-box. Repeat again.Finally,justasIwasreadyto pack it all in and head to Wembleyforadressingdownandan uncomfortable afternoon, the curtainsintheflattwitchedandasmiling George Best looked out. “I’vebeenwatchingyouforthe

pasthour!Justwindingyouup!”he said. “Let’s get going.”AsmanybeforemeIaccepted

Best’splayfulnesswithgoodgraceandtriumphantlylandedhimatWembley–justintime.

On-air, he was charm personifiedandexactlytheright man to have with us when United’sIrishman,KevinMoran,becamethefirstplayertobesentoff intheFACupfinal,andwhen Best’s fellow-Belfast man, Norman Whiteside, scored a glorious extra-time winner. Itwasawonderfulgoal–agoal

even Best would have been proud of.

Manchester United had won the Cup again, Everton were deniedaremarkableTreble–andI’dgotGeorgeBest,who’dneverplayedintheFACupfinal,toWembleyintime.Yes–itwasamemorableday.

Fa CUP memories

LeadinGoFF

■ United’s Norman Whiteside (with the Cup) leads the post-match celebrationatWembleyafter the Red Devils had crushedEverton’sTrebleambitions.

OPPOSITE PAGE: GoalkeeperGaryBaileyoutjumps Everton striker AndyGraytopunchtheballawayfromtheRedDevils’ goal.

CUP sPoiLers

LiverpooL Win MerSeYSiDe Cup to CoMpLete DoubLe

i t was almost as though fate had decreed long before today’s tumultuous events at Wembley that Liverpool should defeat cross-city rival Everton, 3-1, and become only the third club

this century to complete the classic Double of the League Championship and the FA Cup.

In a thrilling match of curious shifts and changes, Liverpool won the first ever all-Merseyside Cup final after appearing to be at the point of taking a heavy beating from their old rivals. The refusal of a legitimate penalty claim by Everton was perhaps crucial. Gary Lineker gave Everton a 1-0 lead at the 28th minute. Ian Rush’s goal at 12 minutes into the second half

evened up the score at 1-1. Rarely have Liverpool been so outplayed as they were most of the first hour. What saved the day was the determined Jan Molby, their bulky Danish international, who stamped his influence on this showpiece occasion. Freeing himself from the dominance of Peter Reid and Paul Bracewell, Molby constructed Liverpool’s two goals for Rush and Craig Johnston and also contributed significantly to the third goal, which finally crushed Everton’s spirit. Lineker’s goal came on a rebound of his first shot that Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar had stopped. But Lineker was too quick on the second shot and got the ball past Grobbelaar for the match’s first goal.

Liverpool’s equaliser came after Rush fielded Molby’s pass and the deadly Welshman went wide of Everton’s Bobby Mimms to find a narrow scoring angle for his shot from the left. The goal came 57 minutes into the match. Six minutes later, Molby sent a centre pass to Kenny Dalglish, which he couldn’t reach, but Johnston was there and he powered it inside the far post to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead. It was Molby who put Liverpool on top for good with a searching pass from midfield to Ronnie Whelan. The Irishman then floated a pass across to the far side of the penalty area, where Rush lurked unmarked. He took the ball forward a few steps, then drove it firmly into the net and beyond all hope for Everton.

LIVERPOOL 3-1 EVERTON

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 10, 1986

In 1986, the first all-Merseyside FA Cup final took place. Sure, they had met at Wembley in the 1984 Milk Cup final and also later that year in the FA Charity Shield but this was the FA Cup final. The one the whole world watched.

My Cup final week was spent in Liverpool garnering the thoughts, both red and blue, on this momentous occasion, and there was no end of takers – and talkers. Everybody had a view.

Liverpool had just been crowned Champions on the final day of the League season.

Indeed, player-manager Kenny Dalglish had actually scored the decisive goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The team Liverpool pipped were Everton.

The FA Cup final represented different challenges for the two Merseyside teams.

For Liverpool it was a chance to be only the third team thus far in the 20th century to win the Double. For Everton, it was a chance to land a major consolation prize after the crushing disappointment of losing the League title at the “last fence.”

I spent the night before the final at the Liverpool team hotel, a coach ride from Wembley. Not unnaturally I had been given the Reds as my responsibility for BBC’s Cup final coverage.

I had a good relationship with the club and its players, which my bosses felt may prove helpful later in the day.

I went down to breakfast on Cup final morning, allowing myself a silly childhood dream that I was preparing for the big afternoon ahead, but a hearty plate of eggs and bacon probably

gave the game away to any neutral observer!

The game itself was a good one. Gary Lineker, who had spent all season scoring at will for Everton, got the opening goal for the Toffees, outstripping Liverpool centre-back and future broadcast colleague, Alan Hansen, with a first-half flourish.

Liverpool hit back in the second half, with the big Dane, Jan Molby, directing affairs in midfield.

First, Ian Rush, then Craig Johnston and, finally, Rush again put Liverpool out of sight and they became the first team since Arsenal in 1971 to win the domestic Double.

Rush would be a constant thorn in the Everton side throughout his Liverpool career, a point not lost on his close mates and fellow Welshmen, Everton’s Kevin Ratcliffe and Neville Southall. He was also be a scoring sensation in the FA Cup final itself, scoring no less than five goals in domestic football’s annual showpiece in just three appearances.

For Dalglish, and Liverpool, the season had been a big move in the right direction after the damaging affairs of the previous season.

For Howard Kendall and Everton it was a case of putting behind a “nearly not quite” season and bounce back. They accomplished this the following season by winning the League Championship.

On the day after the 1986 Cup final, both teams shared the same plane back to Liverpool. After their arrival, they took an open-bus tour of the city, which brought both red and blue supporters out on the streets to welcome their heroes.

FA Cup MeMorieS

LeADinGoFF

■ Denmark’s Jan Molby celebrates one of Liverpool’s three goals scored in the Merseyside Cup Derby.

OPPOSITE PAGE: After winning the Cup, Jim Beglin (left) and Alan Hansen parade the FA Cup trophy around Wembley.

priDe oF LiverpooL

C oventry City’s name really was on the FA Cup, just as they said it would be. The claim may have started out as bravado, or a bit of crude psychology, but it turned

out to be perfectly true as the Midlands side upset the odds and defeated Tottenham, 3-2, in extra-time and won the Cup on their first trip ever to Wembley, which was played before a crowd of 100,000 and millions more watching on television.

It was Tottenham’s first loss in the Cup final in eight appearances. Coventry carried the Cup away in deserved triumph, because Tottenham’s Gary Mabbutt was unfortunate enough to deflect a Lloyd McGrath centre pass into his own net six minutes into extra-time – this was the deciding difference after 90 minutes of one of the most exciting finals in many years. Yet that stark statistic does scant justice to the powers of recovery displayed by Coventry on a cool, but sunlit, afternoon. A goal down almost before they had time to take in the twin towers, the Sky Blues twice had to hit back to even up the score at 1-1 and 2-2. Spurs made the perfect start by taking the lead after only two minutes when Clive Allen headed in his 49th goal of the season. Such an early setback would have been enough to crush the spirit of some teams. Coventry, however, simply pulled themselves together,

gritted their teeth and evened up the score at 1-1 seven minutes later, with a lovely bit of skill by Dave Bennett, who tucked the ball into Spurs’ net after sidestepping their goalkeeper, Ray Clemence, inside the six-yard area. Spurs controlled most of the first half, so it was fitting that they should have gone in after 45 minutes, leading by one goal. It came five minutes before intermission, when a Glenn Hoddle free-kick was stabbed home by Mabbutt for a 2-1 advantage. Keith Houchen evened up the score at 2-2 after 63 minutes with a diving header from a centre pass that Bennett curled beautifully behind Spurs’ defence. Coventry were forced to face the extra 30 minutes without Brian Kilcline, their injured centre-half. But the man who replaced him, the young substitute, Graham Rodger, played with real authority on defence, and also provided the pass that led to Coventry’s winner six minutes into extra-time. It was McGrath, who was clear running down the right, who connected with Rodger’s pass. Mabbutt then raced back to intercept as McGrath drove the ball in the direction of the goal, but succeeded only in tipping the ball, sending it looping over Clemence’s straining fingers and into the net.

SKY BLUES UpSEt SpUrS IN EXtrA-tIME to WIN

FIrSt CUp

BLUE tHrILLEr ■ Coventry’s Cyrille Regis proudly holds aloft the Cup trophy at the end of their 3-2 win against Spurs. opposiTe pAge: The Sky Blues celebrate the biggest win in their club’s history.

COVENTRY CITY 3-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 16, 1987

The unlikely sound of the Eton Boating Song was the musical inspiration behind Coventry City’s surprise win over Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 FA Cup final.

The song that began its life in the famous English public school, Eton College, had seen its words adapted by that great football and broadcasting character, Jimmy Hill, when he was the innovative manager of the Sky Blues in the early 1960’s.

Tottenham Hotspur were playing in their eighth FA Cup final – and had yet to lose one. Coventry were playing in their first.

Spurs had David Pleat at their helm; Coventry had a management duo of George Curtis and chief coach, John Sillett. Essentially it was The Sillett & Curtis Show.

The two main strikers in the spotlight on Cup final afternoon were contrasting figures. Spurs’ Clive Allen, a Cup finalist with QPR in 1982, had just been awarded both the PFA and FWA Player of the Year Award.

He went into the game having scored a remarkable 48 goals.

Within two minutes of the game starting it was 49, as he brilliantly got on the end of a Chris Waddle cross to head home. Great goal.

Coventry equalised through Dave Bennett before centre-back Gary Mabbutt put Spurs ahead again.

Middlesbrough-born, Keith Houchen led the line for the Sky Blues.

His career would ultimately be played out in the shallow waters of lower profile clubs, but on May 16, 1987, Houchen had his “fifteen minutes of fame.”

He had once scored a critical penalty in an FA Cup-tie against Arsenal when playing for York City. In Coventry City’s 1987 Cup run he scored a winner at Old Trafford and goals in both the quarter- and semi-finals.

The journey-man footballer was hot.Starting the second-half move himself from midfield,

he saw the ball reach winger Dave Bennett. His cross was inch-perfect and Houchen dived horizontally to thunder a header to the left of veteran Spurs goalkeeper Ray Clemence. It nestled in the corner of the net.

Houchen later called it the “perfect” header and thousands agreed with him as it was awarded the BBC’s prestigious Goal of the Season Award.

Ironically, the man who scored it had nearly missed the game through food poisoning, after eating a dodgy trout. A biography of Houchen’s career was later called “A Tenner and a Box of Kippers.” All very fishy!

Houchen’s career would gradually drift away but he left it as a Cup-winner, whilst Mabbutt joined Charlton’s Bert Turner and Manchester City’s Tommy Hutchison by scoring for both clubs.

Mabbutt deflected a Lloyd McGrath cross past Ray Clemence in extra-time to key Coventry’s victory. It would be the great goalkeeper’s final match.

Coventry’s post-match celebrations were long and lusty and television images of Sillett and Curtis walking along the touch line arm in arm became iconic, especially as Sillett gave everybody the clear indication they should have a good old drink to mark the Sky Blues’ great success.

FA CUp MEMorIES

LEADINGoFF

■ Coventry City’s Keith Houchen (10), while on the ground, watches as his spectacular diving header, evens the score at 2-2 with only 27 minutes remaining in regulation time.

BLUE HEAVEN

F rom now on, Wimbledon will be known to 500 million television viewers around the world for much more than its tennis. Dave Beasant, the captain of the unpretentious

Southwest London club, and his team-mates saw to that at Wembley.

Wimbledon’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool was the biggest FA Cup final upset since Sunderland beat Leeds United by the same score in 1973. This feat allowed them to make post-war history by claiming the oldest, and most coveted, trophy in the world only 11 years after coming out of the Southern League. No one can begrudge Wimbeldon of their famous victory. They deprived Liverpool of a second League and FA Cup Double in three seasons, with Lawrie Sanchez’s first-half goal, then, working like dogs in the oppressive spring afternoon heat, denied Liverpool the space they needed to fashion any sort of counter-strike. Beasant played a true captain’s part in this win. The 6-foot, 4-inch goalkeeper not only saved a second-half penalty kick by Liverpool’s John Aldridge – the first ever save in a Wembley FA Cup final – but thwarted Liverpool time and again. Sanchez finally got his goal at the 37th minute that settled a tense absorbing final. Aldridge had not missed in 11 penalty kicks this season. Following the kick and save, Beasant’s team-mates mobbed him in relief and jubilation. Beasant made five first-half saves, including a memorable one against Aldridge in the 25th minute. Frustrated Liverpool fans point to the disallowed goal

by Peter Beardsley in the first half as one that should have counted. But the referee had blown his whistle for a foul by Andy Thorn on the little Liverpool striker long before he delicately chipped the ball over Beasant. However, it was Beasant’s fine goalkeeper play that gave Wimbledon the confidence to attack Liverpool and take the lead after 37 minutes. Before Sanchez scored, John Fashanu had already alarmed Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar by meeting a Dennis Wise centre pass and sending a shot sliding narrowly wide of the far post. Then, as Wimbledon attacked down the left, Terry Phelan was fouled by Liverpool’s Steve Nicol. Wise took the kick and floated it in to the near post. In what looked like a well-rehearsed set-piece move, Sanchez’s head went up between those of Nicol and Gary Ablett to flick the ball beyond Grobbelaar and into the far corner of the net for a 1-0 lead. Liverpool almost evened it up two minutes before the end of the match with a diving header by Nicol. But the Merseysiders were unable to raise their game enough to deprive Wimbledon of the most wonderful moment in their short history as a Football League club.

Wimbledon

upsetloFty liVeRpool

WIMBLEDON 1-0 LIVERPOOL

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 14, 1988

Wimbledon RoAR ■ Vinnie Jones raises the FA Cup trophy for Dons’ supporters in the town of Wimbledon to see following their 1-0 Cup final win against Liverpool. A crowd of 50,000-plus attended this celebration.

leAdinGoFF

■ Princess Diana chats with Wimbledon’s Dennis Wise before the 1988 Cup final is played.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Dons captain and goalkeeper, Dave Beasant, holds aloft the newly-won FA Cup.

RoyAl WisHes

Wimbledon is a name synonymous with strawberries and cream, hot late June afternoons, beautifully-tendered grass courts and, of course, the best tennis players in the world.

But, for a brief moment in the late 1980’s, the name and game that flashed around the world was Wimbledon FC and football.

Unfashionable, quirky, unique – the Dons of Plough Lane became the toast of English sport when they had an unlikely FA Cup final win over hot favourites, Liverpool.

But Wimbledon were beautifully different. Their ramshackle ground had a capacity of just 16,000; their chairman, Stanley Reed, was a wonderful old English gentleman, and his side-kick, Sam Hamman, was an eccentric Lebanese businessman who drove the club forward.

Bobby Gould and Don Howe had put together a set of players drawn from all over English football’s wide canvas. Some were first-chancers and some last-chancers.

This, after all, was a club that had won the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley in 1963 and had been a non-League club as recently as 1977.

And then there was Vinnie Jones, who had come off a building site and had a role in part-time football at Wealdstone before joining Wimbledon less than two years before their big day at Wembley.

Jones had already made a big impression on English football – not least because of his ferocious tackling in midfield and his “up and at ’em” attitude. He was part of the inner spirit of the Dons.

Of course, everybody wanted a photo of when, tough as teak,

Jones met the elegant Princess Diana, the day’s Royal Guest, before the game. It was a special moment.

Liverpool, the League Champions, had prepared properly for the final. Indeed their Cup final record, The Anfield Rap, had reached the dizzy heights of No. 3 on the UK pop charts.

They were up for it.Wimbledon, however, were

determined to give the Reds the needle and put them in a spin. They were “sledging” in the tunnel and then Jones crashed into his midfield rival, Steve McMahon, in the opening minutes.

The match itself turned on three key incidents.

Firstly, Liverpool’s Peter Beardsley had a goal disallowed by referee Brian Hill, who brought the game back for a free kick to Liverpool.

A minute later came the only goal of the game. The Dons diminutive winger, Dennis Wise, floated a free-kick into the Liverpool penalty area and Lawrie Sanchez deftly headed it home.

Into the second half, Liverpool applied a Champions’ pressure.

Wimbledon resisted bravely until Clive Goodyear upended Liverpool striker John Aldridge in the penalty area.

Aldridge got up and took the penalty-kick himself but Dons keeper and captain, Dave Beasant, saved it brilliantly.

It was the first penalty saved in an FA Cup final and Beasant became the first goalkeeper to lift the trophy.

Liverpool had been beaten.And Wimbledon partied ... and

partied.

FA Cup memoRies

LiverpooL triumph in mersyside Cup

shoot-outL iverpool did today what they had made

up their minds to do some weeks ago, and won the FA Cup against cross-city rival, Everton, 3-2, for the 96 fans who

died so tragically at Hillsborough at the start of the Merseyside club’s ill-fated semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

But it was not achieved without a titanic struggle or several jarring notes. Just when Liverpool appeared to be coasting to victory on the strength of John Aldridge’s early goal, Everton evened up the score at 1-1 on a goal by Stuart McCall, a substitute, just one minute before the end of regulation time. Obligated to play an extra half hour in heat that made 90 minutes alone an exhausting business, the teams responded with a flood of goals attributable as much to tiredness as to the undoubted skill of their scorers, Ian Rush and McCall. Rush, the Liverpool striker who has been looking for his form ever since he came from Juventus, got the one that mattered at the 104th minute, and only the magnificence of Everton’s Neville Southall’s goalkeeping in the last 15 minutes prevented a real rout. Aldridge’s goal in the fourth minute – his 30th of the season – was produced by a delightful four-man move that split Everton open right down the middle. Peter Beardsley laid the ball back to Steve Nicol, he pushed a long through pass on the end of Steve McMahon’s penetrating run, and Aldridge wafted the midfielder’s devastating early pass into the top corner of the net.

the Best oFWemBLey

■ A remote camera inside the goalmouth shows Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall lying on the ground after failing to stop Ian Rush’s extra-time shot, which hit the back

of the net for Liverpool’s winning goal.

A KodAK moment ■ Ronnie Whelan with the Cup after receiving it from the Duchess of Kent at the Royal Box.

LIVERPOOL 3-2 EVERTON

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 20, 1989

In the second half, Everton were considerably enlivened by the introduction of the bustling McCall for the flagging Paul Bracewell after 58 minutes. Liverpool no longer had things all their own way in midfield and McCall helped his team step up the pace in the last ten minutes. Bruce Grobbelaar, the Liverpool goalkeeper, dealt successfully with a header from Graeme Sharp, and a wicked centre kick from Trevor Steven, but he could only push out Dave Watson’s low centre blast, which whipped across from the right in the 89th minute. McCall then prodded the loose ball over the line – and the blue end of Wembley went bananas. But not for long. Just four minutes into extra-time Rush showed the doubters that he had lost none of his old

skill by controlling a centre pass from Nicol, turning past Everton’s Kevin Ratcliffe quite beautifully and driving the ball into the far corner of the net for a 2-1 lead. McCall’s second equaliser, which came eight minutes later, was equally thrilling. When Liverpool’s Alan Hansen powerfully headed out a Ratcliffe free-kick, McCall volleyed the ball straight back and into the Liverpool net from 25 yards out to even the count at 2-2. This time, Everton’s elation lasted only two minutes. John Barnes floated a centre pass to the near post for Rush to demonstrate his heading ability with a flick of the neck muscles that sent the ball gliding into the net’s far corner, putting Liverpool on top for good at 3-2.

LeAdinGoFF

■ The victorious Liverpool team enjoy an open-bus ride through the city with the FA Cup held high for all of their fans to see. More than 200,000 attended the parade.

WeLCome home

The Hillsborough Disaster was the darkest day in English football, when 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives – just for going to watch a football match.

It remains an unbelievably sad fact that those supporters, who had attended the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium, were lost to their loved ones forever.

Justice is still being sought for those that died – and will be until it is delivered, but the people crushed to death at the stadium’s Leppings Lane End were the innocent victims of poor decision-making by the senior police officers in charge of operations that day.

Liverpool Football Club, the city of Liverpool itself, and football, in general, was the centre of a huge outpouring of grief. Indeed the pitch at Anfield became a sea of flowers, spread from and on the Kop, down to the halfway-line. It became a shrine.

The FA Cup final itself came five weeks after the tragic events at Hillsborough. Before proceeding with the Cup final, the FA and Liverpool Football Club had spent considerable time deciding whether the competition should be completed. They finally decided it should go ahead.

In a re-arranged semi-final with Nottingham Forest, Liverpool came through in a suitably subdued atmosphere at Old Trafford.

Their opponents at Wembley would be their neighbours, Everton. It was a fitting occasion, because the Everton fans had joined their Liverpool

counterparts in reflecting Merseyside compassion for those lost at Hillsborough and those loved ones left behind.

The Cup final itself was different than many that had gone before. Fences came down and supporters were allowed to sit on the outskirts of the pitch. Gerry Marsden led the whole crowd in an emotional rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and a minute’s silence was observed for the Hillsborough victims.

The game itself was a fitting memorial to those lost football fans, because it was a match brimming with exciting football, marvellous goals and plenty of twists and turns.

Liverpool went ahead after just four minutes when Scousers Steve McMahon and John Aldridge combined with Aldridge, to score a brilliant goal.

The game was in its closing moments when Blues substitute, Stuart McCall, scrambled a late equaliser.

In extra-time and Liverpool’s own substitute, Ian Rush, turned in a virtuoso display of finishing. He put Liverpool ahead, only to see McCall hit an unlikely, and brilliant, equaliser – again.

Finally came the game’s decisive goal, with John Barnes’ cross and Rush heading it home with marvellous precision.

The Liverpool captain, Ronnie Whelan, later lifted the trophy and the triumphant Merseysiders went on a lap of honour around Wembley, which was punctuated with celebrating fans, many of whom had surrounded the pitch.

It was a fitting ending that Liverpool had won the final.

FA Cup memories

LeAdinGoFF

■ Liverpool fans brought flags and other items to Wembley to remind the crowd of the 96 who had died and 766 who were injured during the FA Cup semi-final accident at Hillsborough Stadium on April 15, 1989.

siLent memories oF hiLLsBorouGh

W hen the definitive history of Manchester United leaves the presses, there will always be a chapter for Lee Martin, Les Sealey,

Alex Ferguson and a balmy night at Wembley.

When United moved into the record books tonight, two players who cost them nothing, on a team that cost them millions, secured their seventh Cup final success with a 1-0 replay victory over Crystal Palace, before a crowd of 80,000. United now joins Aston Villa and Tottenham with the most number of Cup wins. Martin, a local boy and a rare graduate from the Old Trafford youth scheme, arrived in Crystal Palace’s penalty area to ensure that a season of trauma ended in glory. Five days earlier, the two teams had played to a 3-3 draw in front of 80,000 in Wembley’s first all-seater Cup final. Tonight’s Cup win belonged mostly to Sealey. On loan from Luton Town, United’s back-up goalkeeper suddenly discovered that he would receive the replay’s starting assignment ahead of Jim Leighton, who had started at goal for United in Saturday’s draw with Palace. It could have been a costly decision born out of

desperation, but it proved to be a master stroke by Ferguson. During the first 32 minutes of the match, 16 fouls were called – mostly by Crystal Palace. It appeared that Palace’s strategy of controlling Mark Hughes, United’s most dangerous player in Saturday’s match, was to lure him into petty squabbles and distract him from footballing matters. But Hughes managed to keep his temper until the 62nd minute, when he was booked for kicking at Palace’s Andy Thorn. Referee Allan Gunn criticised in some quarters for his leniency on Saturday, may have to shoulder some of the blame for giving the players too much rope. With it, Palace attempted to strangle United. They took their man-to-man marking system to extremes. Mercifully, it was spectacularly unsuccessful. As the shackles fell away, United emerged from the Stone Age brawl to deliver the only glimpses of skill. Neil Webb’s 59th-minute, cross-field pass cut Palace’s defence open. Martin, venturing forward from his full-back position, took it cleanly on his chest, brushed aside John Pemberton and sent the ball flashing into the Palace net for a 1-0 lead. Thirty-one minutes later, Bryan Robson – who for a few heart-stopping moments lay on the Wembley turf, clutching his shoulder after another Palace foul – climbed the 39 steps to Cup glory.

Martin & SEaLEY LEaD UnitED

tO SEvEnth CUP

viCtOrYMANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE

By Colin Gibson at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 17, 1990

LEaDinGOFF

■ After tying the record for most Cup final wins with Aston Villa and Tottenham, United captain Bryan Robson receives the Cup trophy from H.R.H. The Duke of Kent.

rEPLaY MaGiC

LEaDinGOFF

■ Jubilant Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson hugs his goalkeeper, Les Sealey, as they celebrate their 1-0 FA Cup replay win over Crystal Palace.

thE BaCK-UP PLan

Mark Robins would probably not be named amongst the top twenty players who’ve graced the Manchester United shirt since Sir Alex Ferguson took control of the club, way back in 1986.

Well, on ability and number of games maybe not. After all, the competition is really tough but, on sheer impact, perhaps think again.

It all began on January 7, 1990, in the FA Cup 3rd Round. Nottingham Forest v. Manchester United. It was a Sunday afternoon and a pivotal game for Alex Ferguson. United were 15th in the League, without a win in eight games, out of the League Cup and the Scotsman to date had delivered no trophies to Old Trafford.

The game at the City Ground was tight but ended in a narrow 1-0 win for United, courtesy of a Robins second-half headed goal. Forest even had a goal disallowed in injury time.

Robins would score two more FA Cup goals that season, including the winner in a replayed semi-final against Oldham to set up the FA Cup final with Crystal Palace.

The Eagles were managed by ex-United star Steve Coppell. He was making headway as a young manager, who had gained revenge for a 9-0 League defeat at the hands of Liverpool by surprisingly beating them in an epic semi-final, 4-3.

United’s semi-final tie against Oldham, played later that afternoon, followed high-scoring and ended, 3-3.

A month later, the lively 1990 FA Cup final kept up the high-scoring averages, ending 3-3 after extra-time.

Coppell’s team had gone ahead through Gary O’Reilly on 19 minutes, before Robson’s deflected header restored first-half parity.

Mark Hughes put United ahead just after the hour before Coppell introduced his scene-stealer, Ian Wright.

Wright, a late entrant to professional football, had been carrying an injury, and was brought on with just over 20 minutes of the final left. Within three minutes he’d equalised for Palace, following a brilliant mazy run.

The game went into extra-time and the ebullient Wright put Palace ahead. It was Glad All Over at Wembley as the Palace song goes. But United weren’t finished just yet, and deadly Mark Hughes scored his second, and United’s third, goal to square things up and take the final to a replay.

The replay game five days later, on Thursday, saw United back in their traditional red shirts and Crystal Palace in black and yellow stripes. Ferguson made the big news by dropping his Scottish international goalkeeper, Jim Leighton, and replacing him with much-travelled Les Sealey.

The game did not have the drama of the first match. Sealey played well and the only goal of the game was scored by another less-celebrated United player, Lee Martin.

Martin, 22, a local lad, failed to make a long-term slot at Old Trafford – but one of his only two goals while at United was a Cup final winner.

Afterwards, Sealey graciously gave his Winners’ medal to a distraught Jim Leighton.

Fa CUP MEMOriES

Brave SpurS Shrug off Bad luck to Shatter

clough’S cup dream

W hat had begun as the last act of a rather tiresome football soap opera, ended as an epic performance by a doomed team. Tottenham won the FA

Cup in the manner of men determined to leave an entry in the history books.

HavingstartedthisCupfinalunderthreatof dismembermentbecauseof theclub’sparlousfinancialstate,Spurshadtoovercometwoearly,shatteringsetbackswhenPaulGascoignewascarriedoff seriouslyinjuredsoonafterNottinghamForesthadgoneahead. WhenGaryLinekerwasthendeniedwhatlookedlikeaperfectlylegitimateequaliserandmissedapenalty,itseemedthiswasnottobetheirday. Grittingtheirteeth,however,theLondonsideeventuallyfoundthetargetinthesecondhalf andwonthematchinextra-time. IthardlymatteredthatthewinninggoalwasputintohisownnetbyForest’sEnglanddefender,DesWalker.Tottenhamhadtakensuchagripandgivenadisplayof suchcharacter,thattheydeservedtowin. SoBrianCloughwasagaindeniedtheonetrophythat

hadeludedhimthroughouthisdistinguished,25-yearcareerasamanager.Presumably,hewillhavebeenasdisappointedasmostForestsupportersatthefailureof histeamtoplaytotheirnormalform. Forest’spassinggamedidnotstanduptoSpurs’quicknesstocoverandtackle.Accuracyeludedmostof theirplayers,andtheneutralisingof NigelCloughbyDavidHowells’close-markingremovedtheirattackingfocalpoint. Tactically,thematchwasatriumphforTerryVenables.StickingtothesameteamthathadbeatenArsenalsomemorablyinthesemi-final,heaskedLinekertooperateasalonestriker,supportedbyafive-manmidfield. Themostinfluentialmemberof thatquintetwasPaulStewart.SaidtobeonhiswaybacktoManchesterCityinthenearfuture,theformerstrikergaveamidfieldperformancetoremember. Stewartcomplementedhisnaturalstrengthandpowerwithadelicacyof touchandsharpnessof visionthatenabledhimtowincontrolof thevitalcentralareaforhisteam.Withthehelpof theperceptiveVinnySamways,hemadeupsuperblyforthelossof Gascoigne. WhatmadethatblowworseforTottenhamwasthatit

wasself-inflicted.Gascoignedamagedtheligamentsinhisrightknee,whilebringingdownGaryCharlesjustoutsidetheSpursareawithawild,scythingtackle. Apartfromanythingelse,thefoulcouldhardlyhavebeencommittedinamoredangerousplacewhenyouareplayingagainstStuartPearce. Takingthefree-kickontheouteredgeof thesemi-circle,theForestcaptaindroveacurvingshotof awesomepowerandaccuracyintothetop,left-handcornerof thenettoputhissideaheadafter15minutes. AstheForestendof thestadiumeruptedincelebrationof thegoal,andplayrestarted,Gascoignewentdowninpain,clutchingtheinjuryforwhichhehadreceivedtreatmentbeforePearce’sfree-kick. AstretcherwascalledandGascoignedeparted,intearsoncemore.Whileitisneverpleasanttoseeaplayercarriedoff inanymatch,letaloneaCupfinal,itwasdifficulttofeelmuchsympathyforthemanwhohadcarriedTottenhamtoWembleyalmostsingle-handed. Gascoigne’stackleonCharleswasnothisonlyindiscretion.InsidethefirstminutehehadkickedrightthroughtheballandfinishedwithhisbootinParker’schestastheForestplayercameintochallengehim.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Daily Telegraph, May 18, 1991

the BeSt ofWemBleY

■Spurscelebratetheir2-1CupfinalwinastheytraveltoNorthLondononanopen-topbusfollowingtheirFACupfinal

victoryagainstNottinghamForest.

RefereeRogerMilfordchosenottoshowGascoigneacardof anycolour.Tothedetrimentof thegame,hemaintainedthatexcessivelytolerantattitudeuntilHodge’snastytackleonNayim,wellintoextra-time,lefthimwithnooptionbuttotakeaname. AlthoughGascoigne’sdepartureforahospitalX-raybroughtahushtotheTottenhamfans,hislossseemedtohavehadagalvanisingeffectonhisteam-mates.Threetimesintheremaining28minutesof thefirsthalf theycameclosetoequalising. Theywerewronglydeprivedof agoal,itseemed,whenalinesmanflaggedLinekeroffsideafterhehadfinishedoff aclevermovebetweenPaulAllen,amajorforceontherightflank,andSamways. ThenAllendivedtoheadaLinekercentreintoMarkCrossley’shands,afterErikThorstvedthadkeptSpursinitwithasavefromCrosby. Pressingforwardattheriskof leavingthemselvesopentothesortof counter-attackinwhichForestspecialise,Spurscuttheiropponentsopenagaininthe32ndminute,withStewartsendingLinekerclearwithashrewdpass. TheEnglandstrikerknockedtheballwideof Crossley,butwasbroughtdownbytheForestgoalkeeperashedived

athisfeet.Itwasaclearpenalty,andperhapscauseforfurtherpunishmentbythereferee,butLinekerwasunabletobringTottenhamlevel. Crossleymayhavemovedalittleearly–whatgoalkeeperdoesnotthesedays–andLineker’sshotmayhavebeenhitinexactly,buttherewasnodenyingtheexcellenceof thesaveasheturnedtheballawayforacorner. Venables’half-timetalkmusthavebeenquitesomething,becauseTottenhamtookoveralmostcompletelyaftertheinterval.Stewart,setfreebyAllen,smashedinaright-footedcross-shotinthe53rdminute. Onlyaone-handedsavebyCrossleyandthehelpof ParkerstoppedHowells’scoringinthelastminuteof normaltime.Whatismore,Tottenhamhitthebarearlyinextra-timewhenWalsh,whowasonforSamways,beatCrossleywithaloopingheader. Spurswerenowrampant.AcornerfollowedandNayimtookitfromtheright. Stewart,influentialtothelast,headedthekick onacrossgoalandWalkerheadedspectacularlyinto hisownnetashedivedtostopMabbuttfromdoingthe samething.

Welcome home ■ASpurssupporter,wearingaPaulGascoignemask(right),celebratesTottenham’sreturnhomefollowingtheirvictoryintheCupfinalagainstNottinghamForestatWembley.RIGHT: TeamcaptainGaryMabbutthoiststheCuphighsothattheTottenhamfansatWembleycancelebratetheirgreatsuccess.

PaulGascoigne–Gazza–remainsoneof post-warEnglishfootball’smostfamouspersonalities.Aone-off.Aherotosome,afoolto

others.Agiftedindividual,awastrel?Gazzasplitsopinionslikehediddefences–andalwayswill.PaulJohnGascoignewas

borninMay1967–themonthandyearTerryVenableswontheFACupasaplayerwithTottenhamHotspur.Twentyfouryearslatertheywereintandem as manager and star playeratTottenham.Andtheywerealsointhe

FACupfinal.Off thepitch,Venableshadguidedthemwithshrewdtacticalknow-howand,onthepitch,GascoignehadelectrifiedtheirRoadtoWembley,withmatch-winningperformancesaplenty.He’dbeenunstoppable.Gazzahadmadehimself

anationalherotheprevioussummeratthe1990WorldCupinItaly.Withthenationonthe

edgeof theirseatsthroughoutEngland’sgallantjourney,theloveableGeordiebecameoneof themostfamouspeopleinthecountry.Histears,shedonrealisingasemi-finalbookingagainstGermanyhadtakenhimoutof anypotentialfinalappearance,wasatragicmomentof Shakespearianproportions.Hewasafootballgenius

wrappedupinapersonalitythatwasbothtroubledandabundleof fun–andoftenbothatthesametime.AsGazzapreparedtogoout

ontotheWembleypitchagainstNottinghamForest,Venableswastryingtocontainhisplayer’s

high-octaneexcitement.HavingmetPrincessDiana

beforethegame,GascoignepiledintoForest’sGarryParker,catchinghimhighinhischest.RefereeRogerMilfordlethimoff withalecture.Itwasn’tenough.Minuteslater,Gascoignetook

outGaryCharlesontheedgeof Spurs’box,againabadtackle.Onceagain,nofirmactionwastakenbythereferee,butGazza’srashactionhaditsowncomeuppance.Heneededtreatmentfor

aninjurysustainedinfellingCharles,andwhenthegameresumedForestcaptainStuartPearcecrashedtheballhomefromtheresultantfree-kick.Gazza’sCupfinal,however,

wasover–hehadseverelydamagedhiscruciateligaments.Itwouldbealongrepairjob.Hewasoff tothehospital

andultimatelySpurswontheCupwithouthim–despiteGaryLinekerhavingapenaltysavedbyForest’sMarkCrossley.PaulStewartlevelledinthe

secondhalf forSpurs,andinextra-timeDesWalker,anotherof Gazza’sEnglandcolleagues,putthroughhisowngoaltoclinchvictory.ForestbossBrianClough,

anotherfootballinggenius,hadshownthemoreeccentricsideof hisnaturewhenrefusingtogivehisplayersateam-talkbeforeextra-timestarted.Hespenttherestperiodinconversationwithsomepoliceofficers.Afterthefinal,Gazza’s

team-matestooktheCuptohishospitalbed.HisvisitorsincludedLazioofficials,whohadbeenonthevergeof takinghimtoItaly.

fa cup memorIeS

THE BEST OFWEMBLEY

■ Bruce Grobbelaar, the Liverpool goalkeeper, dances with the Cup trophy and an umbrella after the

Reds won their fourth Cup final by defeating Sunderland, 2-0.

LivErpOOL puT an End TO SundErLand΄S

WEMBLEY cup drEaM

S underland’s hopes of recreating their famous giant-killing act against Leeds in the 1973 FA Cup final were blown away by two magnificent goals from Michael

Thomas and Ian Rush in the second half of an entertaining match.

The Second Division side was at least the equal of their First Division opponents in the first half, but they found it impossible to sustain their game at that high pitch once Thomas had opened the scoring soon after the restart. From then on, there were going to be only one result. The key to the change was the switching of Steve McManaman from left flank to right late in the first half. The young winger, who came back from a knee operation to replace the injured John Barnes, sparked the victory with a breathtaking display of old-fashioned dribbling skills. It was a vitally important win for his club, too. At the end of a season that has seen the smooth-running Anfield machine in danger of falling apart for a number of reasons, Liverpool desperately needed the revenue and the prestige that comes from qualifying for

playing in Europe. It was certainly the best possible get-well present the Liverpool players could have given their manager, Graeme Souness, who took the risky step of sitting on the bench only a day after emerging from the hospital and only a month after undergoing triple-heart-bypass surgery and suffering two relapses. Souness wisely allowed Ronnie Moran to lead the team out, but was clearly determined not to take a back seat. Emerging from the tunnel shortly before the kick-off, dressed in a dark blue tracksuit and mobbed by photographers, the Liverpool manager plonked himself down on the front row of his club’s benches. The club doctor was in attendance to make sure Souness did not get too worked up, and it was just as well considering how Liverpool gradually lost control of the first half after dominating the opening 10 minutes with the confident flow of their familiar passing game. Making light of the odd puddle and greasy spot left by a steady morning downpour, the Merseysiders should have scored in the second minute. An inspired through pass from Ray Houghton, flicked with the outside of his right foot, sent Michael Thomas running clear, but he shot over as Tony Norman, the Sunderland keeper, came out at him.

Most of Liverpool’s early attacks saw Steve Nicol getting forward so dangerously from left-back that McManaman, who was playing his first senior game since chipping a kneebone during the first semi-final against Portsmouth, was rendered almost redundant. The matter ceased to have any further relevance until shortly before the interval. In between, Sunderland began to play with such vigour, determination and skill that Liverpool had the utmost difficulty in keeping them at bay, especially the experienced Peter Davenport and John Byrne. The Wearsiders might have scored four times between the 12th and 19th minutes as they probed at Liverpool’s aerial weakness in defence, compounding their discomfort by moving the ball quickly and incisively on the floor. Bruce Grobbelaar, soon after banging his head painfully on a post, turning a 30-yarder from Anton Rogan for a corner, was relieved to see the unmarked Byrne, a scorer for Sunderland in every previous round, miskick completely six yards out when Kevin Ball headed a corner back to him. Then, with Jan Molby becoming too casual inside his own penalty area and passing to Paul Bracewell instead of Rob Jones, only a last-second deflection by Mark Wright

LIVERPOOL 2-0 SUNDERLAND

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 9, 1992

Back in the spring of 1992, “Barwick Towers,” our humble family home was having a bit of a make-over. “About time too,” I can hear my wife, Gerry, saying.

In charge of the electrical repairs was a lovely chap, Paul, who had been born in Sunderland, but like many, before and since, had followed the work down South.

And he was a big football fan – a big Sunderland fan really. And so, as he fed wires behind walls and into sockets (I hope that makes sense!) we talked football – and specifically about that year’s FA Cup because both our teams were making good headway in the competition.

Sunderland were still on course for their first Cup final since that famous win over Leeds United, in 1973, and Liverpool were still hoovering up trophies, although now under the management of Graeme Souness.

The semi-finals soon loomed, Sunderland against Norwich City and Liverpool against Portsmouth. Tea-break conversations in our house eventually turned from sockets to tickets – Cup final tickets!

The Black Cats edged through to Wembley with a 1-0 win, as did the Reds – with a penalty shoot-out win in a replay against Pompey.

Alas, Liverpool and Sunderland were in the FA Cup final.

At the same time, our “sparks” work started to slow up. After all, Paul didn’t want to finish the job before the odd ticket might land on our doormat.

As it happened I would be at the final for certain as I was one of the key editorial figures working on the BBC’s coverage of the big match. I would be at

Wembley – or rather outside it, in one of the big TV trucks.

A work force of something like 170 people would be working on the televising of the game in all manner of presentation, commentary, production and technical capacities. It was a small army really.

The UK audience for the final would be around 15 million, the world-wide audience something like 500 million!

Nerves were always around on big days like these, but once in the TV van it was business as usual.

As it was for Liverpool. Two second-half goals, first

from Michael Thomas, the man whose goal for Arsenal had denied the Reds the Double three years before, was followed by the clincher from that man Rush again – his fifth in Cup finals, a record.

Souness watched his team’s success while draped in a blanket and with the club’s doctor close-by. He had undergone major heart surgery in the weeks leading up to the final and was under orders to take things sensibly. His assistant, Ronnie Moran, proudly walked out ahead of the Anfield team.

Sunderland were mistakenly acknowledged as winners as they collected their medals. They received the Winners’ medals rather than their losers’ medals and a quick swap had to be made on the pitch before the two teams went on their respective laps of honour.

And my mate, Paul? I got him a ticket – but I did keep him waiting.

After all, I wanted that electrical job done and dusted just as much as he wanted the ticket. It was a deal and we rounded off a decent day by going for a pint!

Fa cup MEMOriES

sent the Sunderland midfielder’s firm shot spinning inches wide. Davenport’s ability to turn on a sixpence enabled him to wriggle past Wright on the by-line soon afterwards. Indeed, Liverpool were probably fortunate not to concede a penalty when Jones, otherwise a model of skill and good judgment, crashed into the Sunderland striker as he sought to make something of the chance. Philip Don, the referee, waved play on, as he did again a minute before the interval in the face of an even more clear-cut case for a penalty. Television showed beyond all doubt that Bracewell had taken McManaman’s legs from under him as the youngster drove dangerously into the Sunderland area. Liverpool were entitled to nurse a sense of injustice during the half-time break, but it was soon forgotten as McManaman quickly began to tear apart the left side of the Sunderland defence with his refreshing willingness to run at, and waltz, past opponents. He did precisely that to Brian Atkinson and Gordon Armstrong a minute after the restart. Atkinson got nowhere near him, but Armstrong’s challenge was late and heavy. Even so, McManaman contrived to chip the perfect pass to Thomas. Standing just inside the right-hand corner of the Sunderland penalty area, Thomas let the ball bounce before hooking it violently into the far top corner of the net. Norman got a hand on the shot, but there was no way he was going to stop it. The Sunderland goalkeeper was more successful with the dipping volley with which Molby, the majestic hub of Liverpool’s game, suddenly tested him, but it proved merely a question of delaying the inevitable. A minute after Saunders had headed a Nicol centre against the bar, it was all over as a contest. Saunders began the move with a run and pass through the middle. Thomas, finding his route blocked, sensibly passed short and square to Rush, who buried the ball carefully in the bottom corner of Norman’s net with the inside of his right foot. Sunderland sent on both of their substitutes, Paul Hardyman and Warren Hawke, in a desperate attempt to turn things round, but Liverpool might easily have scored again in the remaining 22 minutes. Houghton nearly found an empty net with a spectacular, 40-yard lob and Norman had to beat a Saunders shot over the bar as Sunderland’s bright ambition was reduced finally to keeping the score down.

MErSEYSidE MadnESS ■ (Left to Right): David Burrows, Dean Saunders, Rob Jones, Mark Walters and Mark Wright of Liverpool stand on the top deck of the tour bus while holding the Cup trophy aloft during their Merseyside homecoming after winning the 1992 Cup final.

Linighan’s Last- minute RePLaY CLinCheR

sets new CuP ReCoRd

a rsenal’s Andy Linighan, suffering from a broken nose and broken finger after a first-half clash, provided the most unlikely twist to the longest Wembley

final in FA Cup history tonight. The Cup final took a total of 240 minutes spread out over two matches in less than six days. In their initial Cup final meeting, on May 15th, before a Wembley crowd of 79,347, Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday played to an extra-time 1-1 draw.

Five days later, the Arsenal defender, whose Highbury career has been threatened since the February acquisition of £2 million Martin Keown, chose what could be his last appearance to be his most memorable. WithonlysecondsseparatingArsenalandSheffieldWednesdayfrombecomingthefirstsidestodecideaCupfinalonpenalties,Linighanburstthroughtoembracegloryand a 2-1 victory. Paul Merson’s 120th-minute corner hung invitingly for the towering defender to send his powerful header goalward.ThenextsecondwilllivewithLinighanandChrisWoods,theEnglandgoalkeeper,forever.

Woods, not as assured as David Seaman, his opposite number and a rival for his international place, fumbled the ballagainonthissoakingWembleyevening. He had escaped in the closing moments of normal time, when he recovered to prevent Merson’s shot from tricklingintothenet. This time there was to be no reprieve. The ball spun into the air above Woods’s head and the despairing efforts of ChrisBart-Williamscouldnotkeeptheballout. TheCuphadslippedthrough,whataregenerallybelievedtobe,thesafesthandsinEnglishfootball. Thejoyof Arsenal,Cupwinnersforthefirsttimein14years,wasalreadyechoingtoEastAnglia. ForLinighan,whohasseemedamisfiteversincehis£1.3 million move to the Gunners three years ago, had not onlywontheCupbuthadsenthisoldclub,Norwich,intotheUEFACup. ItwasacruelendtoSheffieldWednesday’sWembleyexperience.Afterfiveandahalf hoursof footballtheywere left with nothing but losers’ medals. UntilLinighan’scontribution,however,itseemedthatif anyonewasgoingtoclinchthisfinalwithouttheaidof penalties it would be Wednesday, who had been inspired

byagoalfromChrisWaddleafter68minutes. Waddle had been a fringe performer on the Wembley stageonceagain,untilWednesdayshookoff theirlethargywith 20 minutes of another undistinguished game remaining. While there was a little more ingenuity in tonight’s matchtherewasstillthefrenzythatwreckedSaturday’sspectacle and an aggressive undertone that, at times, threatened to get out of hand. Arsenal, though, always appeared the more measured team, especially after Wednesday seemed to lose their discipline in the rugged opening. From the moment that MarkBrightplantedanelbowintothefaceof Linighan,Wednesday were distracted. Bythetimethemajorityof theWednesdayfanshadescapedthetrafficjamsof London,theirsidewereagoalbehind. It was, predictably, Ian Wright, while playing despiteabrokentoe,whoscoredtheopeninggoal. George Graham’s decision to replace the youthful exuberance of Ray Parlour with the experience of Alan Smithworkedperfectly.Inthe34thminute,Smiththreaded a pass into the path of the galloping Wright. Foramoment,PaulWarhurstandCarltonPalmer,who

ARSENAL 2-1 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAy

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 20, 1993

the Best oFwemBLeY

■ David Seaman, the Arsenal goalkeeper,beginstheWembley

post-matchcelebrationwiththeFACuptrophyfirmlyinhandafterthe

Gunners’ 2-1 replay win.

was replacing the injured Viv Anderson as both central defender and captain, were lost. Wright punished the slip withadelightfulfinish. ItwasWright’sfourthgoalinFACupfinals–oneshortof IanRush’srecord–his10thinthecompetitionthisseason and his 30th in all matches for Arsenal. But,asbefore,ArsenalcouldnotbuildontheleadWright had given them. Twice it appeared Smith, who was laterbookedforthefirsttimeinhiscareer,wouldscoreand twice he failed. Wednesday, while only a goal behind, sensed, despite

theirlackof attackingintent,thattheystillhadachanceof arevival.Itcameintheirfirstmenacingattack.JohnHarkes,whohadswitchedtotherighttoallowWaddletooccupytheadventurousLeeDixon,squeezedoveracrossing pass, which fell deep in the Arsenal penalty area. Dixon,amajorattackingforceforArsenalinthefirsthalf,failedtodealwiththeoriginalcrossandthendeflectedWaddle’ssubsequentshotbeyondSeaman. SuddenlyWednesday,withRolandNilsson’sstaminaoutstandinginhissecondgamein24hours,lookedthestrongerside.GrahamHyde’sterrier-liketacklingin

midfieldhelpedWednesdayriptheinitiativeawayfromJohnJensen,who,onanothernightwithastricterreferee,mighthavebeenatleastbooked. WithWrightforcedtoleavethefieldArsenalwerehappiertotakeaWembleyreplayintoextra-timeforthefirsttime. And then, with the stadium bracing itself for penalties, Linighanemergedtoscorethewinnerinthe120thminute. ItwasvictoryforArsenal,aplaceinEuropeforNorwichandtearsandfrustrationforWednesday.Atleastthere was some drama this time.

siX and Counting ■ TheGunnersgatherforapost-matchCupvictoryphoto.ItwasArsenal’ssixthCupfinalwin.TheyalsotookhomeEngland’sgreatestfootballtrophyin1930,1936,1950,1971and1979.OPPOSITE PAGE:IanWrightscoredArsenal’sfirstgoalintheCupfinalreplay.

Steve Morrow and Andy Linighanarenottwoof football’s most famous names, but they were to be Arsenal’s unlikelymatch-winnersatapairof five-starWembleyfinalsplayed in the space of just six weeks.And,uniquely,theiropponents on both occasions, theLeagueCupfinalandtheFACupfinal,wereSheffieldWednesday.AndwiththeFACupsemi-

finalsalsobothbeingstagedatWembley that season and the finalitself goingtoareplay,the two clubs played each other three times at football’s headquarters–andalsothey each played their near-neighbours,SheffieldUnitedand Tottenham Hotspur in their respectiveWembleysemi-finals.It was deemed only fair that if theNorthLondonclubsplayedtheir game at Wembley so shouldthetwoYorkshireclubs.

Phew ... got all that? We are about to go on a statistician’s dream ride. Strap yourselves in.Firstly,theLeagueCupfinal.

It ended 2-1 to Arsenal, the winning goal coming mid-way through the second half from SteveMorrow.ANorthernIreland international, it was a raregoalforhim–andwhenArsenalskipperTonyAdamscelebrated after the game by lifting, then dropping him, it was painful business. Morrow’s armwasbrokeninthefallandhe had to be rushed to hospital.

And that is why he created history when he was presented with a Winners’ medal before aCupfinal–hereceivedhisLeagueCupmedalbeforethekick-off of theFACupfinal!TheFACupfinalequaledthe

1970contestasthe“longest-

ever”–becauseboththeoriginal game and the replay wenttoextra-time–andonlya penalty shoot-out would have stretched it further. It was also thelasteverFACupfinaltogotoareplay–beginningin1999theFAdecidedthefinalhadtobe decided on the day it was played.ItwasthefirstFACupfinal

in which squad numbers were used, continuing the experiment that had been carried out in thatseason’sLeagueCupfinal.SheffieldWednesday’sJohn

HarkeswasthefirstAmericantoplayinaWembleyFACupfinalanditwastobeDavidO’Leary’slastappearanceforArsenal.ThefirstmatchonCupfinalSaturdayended,1-1.with Ian Wright scoring for the Gunners and David Hirst equalising for the Owls.

The replay was played in rainy conditions, and the kick-off hadtobedelayed30minutesduetoSheffieldWednesday fans being not able to get to Wembley on time becauseof trafficproblems.

The replay was watched by justover62,000.IanWrightopened the scoring before ChrisWaddle’sdeflectedeffortsquared things up. Waddle had scored a wonderful goal for Wednesdayintheirsemi-finalwin over neighbours, United.Extra-timewasinitsdying

moments,andtheFACupfinal’sfirstpenaltyshoot-outwas looming when, from a Paul Mersoncorner,AndyLinighan,one of four footballing brothers, headed home from close range.Hisnosehadbeenbrokenin

the game, but now it was his turntobreaktheWednesdayfans hearts.

Fa CuP memoRies

THE BEST OFWEMBLEY

■ Manchester United captain Steve Bruce proudly escorts the Cup from the Royal Box after their impressive

4-0 win against Chelsea.

CanTOna’S 2 pEnaLTY kiCkS in CUp ROUT OF CHELSEa LEad UniTEd

TO dOUBLEM anchester United made their own

bit of history today with a second-half display that destroyed Chelsea, 4-0, and confirmed their right to

become only the fourth club this century to win the coveted League and FA Cup Double – after Tottenham (1960-61), Arsenal (1970-71) and Liverpool (1985-86).

Up to half-time, the London club had looked eminently capable of frustrating United’s ambitions; after that, though, they could not keep up with the best team in the land at full throttle. Chelsea were undone by an irresistible burst of attacking in which United scored three times in nine minutes. Two of the goals were penalties – as many as Alex Ferguson’s side have had in the previous 62 games of their all-conquering season – and calmly converted by Eric Cantona. The others came from the boot of Mark Hughes, the attacking partner with whom Cantona has shared 47 goals in this remarkable season, and Brian McClair. Sadly, because the day had begun with the warm, summery weather traditionally associated with this event, the game kicked off under heavy cloud cover and in a steady downpour. At least the rain took some of

the mugginess out of the atmosphere and lowered the temperature to a level more appropriate for an intensely competitive encounter. As if relishing their escape from an afternoon of suffocating heat, the two teams quickly got down to business. Not much more than a minute had elapsed when Frank Sinclair suggested that he did not intend to spend all of his time in defence, matching Andrei Kanchelskis for pace. Bursting between the Russian international winger and Roy Keane, Chelsea’s left-back found the dangerous Gavin Peacock in space to his left and ran on to accept the return pass. In the end, only a clutch of United bodies, in which Paul Ince’s was the most prominent, kept out Sinclair’s firmly-struck shot. United responded with a counter-attack that carried the promise of a goal until Erland Johnsen sent Ryan Giggs spinning through the air with a body-check that was quite deliberate and disturbingly brutal. Fortunately, the United prodigy’s remarkable balance and athleticism saved him from injury, but referee David Elleray had no hesitation in reaching for the yellow card. As a statement of intent Johnsen’s challenge could not have been clearer. Chelsea’s tackling carried real bite as they strove successfully to contain United’s early attacking surge. At the very least, the London side were determined

not to be intimidated physically by the favourites. A measure of Chelsea’s success in riding the storm and coming out to do some attacking of their own was the booking of Steve Bruce after 18 minutes for a late tackle on John Spencer. Glenn Hoddle had pinned his faith on the tiny strike force of Spencer and Mark Stein, rather than using the height of Tony Cascarino, and it looked like a good decision as the first half unfolded on a pitch made slick and treacherous by the rain. Stein very nearly made something of the low centre spot that Sinclair aimed for, at the near post, after 22 minutes; and he was ready to pounce again shortly afterwards until Gary Pallister rescued United with a tumbling clearance after Spencer had a shot blocked. Under this kind of pressure, the United defence began to exhibit unexpected signs of nerves. In the 27th minute, for instance, Pallister cleared the ball straight to Peacock, then held his breath, along with everyone else in red, as Chelsea’s danger man struck the bar with a shot guided carefully over Peter Schmeichel. Jakob Kjeldberg, one of Chelsea’s impressively sound Scandinavian centre-backs, was less successful in evading United’s Danish international goalkeeper when he tried to finish off a free-kick attack. There was no doubt, though, which team had enjoyed the better of the opening 45

MANCHESTER UNITED 4-0 CHELSEA

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 14, 1994

minutes as half-time approached. United rallied in the closing minutes of the half, but their only attack of any real consequence had been launched by a right-wing centre from the lively Giggs. Cantona made a rare contribution to the proceedings by heading the ball back invitingly for Hughes, but Dmitri Kharine got there first with an athletic leap and catch. The statistics of the first half were revealing. They showed that United had managed not a single shot on target, while Chelsea had had three. Giggs remedied that situation a little by letting fly from 25 yards with his left foot early in the second half, but Kharine clutched the ball comfortably to his midriff. A Kanchelskis centre pass also threatened danger as it became clear that United, stimulated no doubt by Alex Ferguson’s half-time team talk, were mounting a major offensive. Challenged by Eddie Newton, Cantona could not get enough power into his header as he tried to angle the ball

away from Kharine – but consolation was waiting just around the corner. Chelsea’s resistance finally cracked on the hour. Marvellous work by Giggs, who beat two men in a determined run, opened a gap for Denis Irwin. Running into the Chelsea area, the United full-back was upended by Newton. Even the Chelsea man, who held his head in horror, knew the only decision the referee could give was a penalty. Cantona stepped forward and sent Kharine the wrong way with a carefully judged spot-kick – something the Frenchman was to repeat six minutes later. This time, Sinclair was the offender. He knocked Kanchelskis off balance as they chased a finely-judged through ball from Hughes and again Mr. Elleray pointed to the spot. It looked a harsher decision than the first, but the referee was deaf to Chelsea’s vociferous protests. That goal effectively killed any chance Chelsea might

have had of winning this game. So the angled shot Hughes drove past Kharine after 69 minutes, following a slip by Sinclair, was just an embellishment. There could have been more had Kanchelskis and Giggs not wasted a wonderfully promising break and Cantona not rolled the ball into the side-netting after running clear from the halfway line. But these were minor details alongside an achievement of towering proportions. Hoddle’s introduction for Craig Burley after 67 minutes led eventually to a Chelsea revival so spirited that Schmeichel had to make three fine saves to deny Peacock, Tony Cascarino (a substitute for Stein) and Spencer. As if that were not bad enough, United then broke away in injury time for Ince to present Brian McClair (substitute for Kanchelskis) with a fourth goal on a plate. Chelsea chairman Ken Bates must now wait a little longer to end the club’s 23-year spell without a major trophy, though they have the consolation of a place in the European Cup Winners’ Cup next season.

dOUBLE dOSE ■ After the Cup final win over Chelsea, Manchester United became the sixth English football club to win the Double in the same season. The other Double winners were: Preston North End (1889), Aston Villa (1897) Tottenham (1961), Arsenal (1971) and Liverpool (1986). OPPOSITE PAGE: A victorious Eric Cantona carries the Cup to the Manchester United dressing room.

After twenty-five difficult seasons, when League Championship success had evaded them, Manchester United were off and running again. Fergie’s men had won the inaugural Premier League title in 1993, and a year later had retained it. Now they had the Double in their sights.

Only Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool had achieved that footballing landmark to date in the 20th century and United were keen to be part of that very elite group.

They had actually been on course for the Treble but caught Aston Villa on a hot streak in the League Cup final and left well beaten. Now, their FA Cup final opponents were Chelsea – not yet the potent Chelsea that would follow in years to come, but still potentially tricky opposition.

United had actually been minutes away from going out of the Cup in their semi-final against Oldham, at Wembley, but Mark Hughes had scored a marvellous individual goal to earn them a replay, which they duly won.

Hughes enjoyed playing at Wembley that season. He had scored in the season’s curtain-raiser, the FA Charity Shield, notched in the League Cup final and had got that vital semi-final goal. He would complete the set by scoring against Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

Along with Mark Hughes up front for United was the imperious Frenchman, Eric Cantona.

Cantona’s impact on life at Old Trafford was immense. He had won a Championship medal with Leeds United before joining Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

Another title followed, and then another one. And Cantona was in the midst of all the magic. He had arrogance only the very best players are entitled to have. He knew he was that good and we knew he was that good.

His stay at Old Trafford was relatively short, November 1992 to May 1997, but his impact there was profound.

In his first FA Cup final in 1994, he scored twice, both from the penalty spot, both “passed” into the net, both in the same bottom corner.

Mark Hughes added his “Wembley” goal, and in injury time Paul Ince unselfishly laid in Brian McClair for a fourth United goal.

The margin of victory was probably a little heavy, but the Red Devils were enjoying their elevation to football peerage.

And King of the Hill was Cantona.

In due course, he would serve a long suspension for jumping into a stand, and kung-fu kicking a fan. His talk of seagulls, trawlers and sardines bemused us all. He played with his collar up and his shoulders proud, won more titles with United, scored a future FA Cup-winning goal and would leave the Old Trafford faithful begging for more. Life with Cantona was never dull.

In 1994, some nineteen months after leaving Elland Road he had helped their rivals at Old Trafford build on the progress that Alex Ferguson was working towards with his United side.

Cantona had already become the on-field ring-master, conjuror, magician, and occasional clown rolled into one person.

He was a brilliant footballer and an enigmatic man.

Fa CUp MEMORiES

EvErton’s Cup of Joy plungE unitEd's hopEs

into doublE dEspair

M anchester United’s worst fears were realised today, when they were left empty-handed at the end of the season to which they have contributed

so much. Desperately missing the guile of the suspended Eric Cantona, the deposed English champions had no answer to Paul Rideout’s first-half goal for Everton or the tenacity with which the Merseysiders clung to the FA Cup − their first trophy in eight years.

United certainly worked hard enough to break down Everton, especially in the second half, but on the few occasions they did pierce a defence that has let in only onegoal throughout the Cup run, they found Neville Southall in no mood to let his 650th appearance for the Goodison Park club be spoiled by having to pick the ball out of his net. Southall, 36, was outstanding, as was Dave Watson in central defence and Anders Limpar in attack. Limpar’s speed of thought and movement was the key to the counter-attacks with which Everton won this absorbing,

EVERTON 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 20, 1995

thE bEst ofWEMblEy

■ Everton captain Dave Watson receives the Cup trophy from H.R.H Prince

Charles and his son, Prince Harry, after the Merseyside team’s 1-0 defeat of

Manchester United. OPPOSITE PAGE: An euphoric Everton squad poses for the

newspaper photographers.

though unremarkable final, and he probably deserved the Man of the Match award even more than Watson, who got it. Limpar was one of a number of players who did not last the whole of a bruising contest. The most serious loss was that of United’s Steve Bruce for the second half. Yet the enforced departure of their captain and defensive linchpin enabled them to introduce Ryan Giggs, whose ability to beat a man and take the ball into dangerous places threatened to undo Everton at times. Like Everton’s Duncan Ferguson, Giggs was not risked from the start because he had just recovered from injury. While Ferguson had played only 45 minutes’ football since undergoing an operation for a double hernia a month ago, Giggs had not played at all since pulling a hamstring in the FA Cup semi-final replay against Crystal Palace five weeks earlier. So, as both were confined to the substitutes’ bench, Everton kept faith with the team who had pleased manager Joe Royle by sweeping aside Tottenham in the semi-finals with a quality of football that surprised a few people. Rarely in this game, though, did Everton reproduce the fluency, imagination and efficiency of that performance. The discrepancy is unlikely to worry Royle, whose only concern must have been not losing to Alex Ferguson at a late stage of this competition. At the very least, this hard-earned victory will more than make up for the two semi-final defeats Royle’s Oldham Athletic suffered against United in recent years. It also projects Everton into next season’s European Cup Winners’ Cup, an unlikely achievement considering they have spent most of the season fighting for their Premiership lives. That they pulled off that little Double of their own is a testament to the leadership qualities of Royle, who inherited a team anchored to the bottom of the table. The secret of his success has been imbuing his old club with the will to overcome adversity. Their play has not always been pretty to watch, but they are devilishly difficult to beat, as United discovered today. Above all, Everton played with the self-belief of a united team. They were slightly slower from the blocks than Manchester. Lee Sharpe headed a centre from Nicky Butt, Gigg’s young replacement, over the bar. Only a minute later, however, Peter Schmeichel was desperately shovelling Limpar’s low shot for a corner when the Swede and Graham Stuart smuggled the ball through a crowded United penalty area. United had another chance to score when a shot by Paul Ince spun off Watson’s heel and left Sharpe with an uninterrupted view of Southall from 10 yards. The winner snatched at the ball, though, and sliced his shot

fan's ChoiCE ■ Paul Rideout celebrates with an excited crowd of Everton fans after scoring the game’s only goal.

badly. Even more worrying for the United camp was the realisation that, without Giggs and the injured Andrei Kanchelskis, there was no width to their play. All of their attacks were driven through the middle of the field by the combative central midfield unit of Pail Ince and Roy Keane and the makeshift attacking partnership of Mark Hughes and Brian McClair. Worse still, this was a day on which Ince developed an unfortunate habit of giving the ball away. When the England international did that after half an hour, Everton streaked away to the end of the field. Since Limpar had Stuart in space to his left as he carried the ball deep into Everton territory, he looked to have chosen the wrong option when he played the ball out to Matthew Jackson, overlapping on the right. However, the right-back wrong-footed a depleted United defence by checking back inside the lunging Gary Pallister and rolling the ball across the penalty area to Stuart. He took careful aim, but somehow swept the pass against the underside of the crossbar from 10 yards. Stuart held his head in his hands only briefly, because Rideout spared his blushes. Leaping higher than Denis Irwin, Everton’s leading scorer headed the rebound back past Bruce, who was vainly trying to guard the goal on his own after Schmeichel had dived to his right in an attempt to anticipate Stuart’s shot. Stuart nearly scored again seven minutes later when Ince presented the ball to Everton once more and Limpar scampered away down the left. This time the Swedish international delivered a perfect pass into the path of Stuart, who failed to beat Schmeichel with a shot on the run. Giggs’s arrival at the start of the second half galvanised United. His was the centre that offered Butt a shooting chance at the far post after 46 minutes, but Southall saw to it that the ball did not enter his goal. It was also a Giggs pass that enabled Everton’s goalkeeper to cover himself in more glory later in the half. Paul Scholes, who was on for Sharpe, seemed to have the Everton goal at his mercy until Southall blocked the substitute’s first shot with his hands, then kicked away the second with his right leg. And when both Pallister and Schmeichel went forward to see what their height could do, Southall flung himself to his right to hold a header from the England defender. Southall did not stand alone as Everton fought to keep United’s increasingly insistent attacks at bay. When McClair beat him with a looping header from a Griggs centre, the ball rebounded from the crossbar and Joe Parkinson had to be brave and strong to head over his own goal as Hughes closed in hungrily. With Ferguson on for the injured Rideout, and the United defence short of height in the absence of Bruce, it seemed likely the Cup holders would be destroyed in the air. Yet Ferguson was more effective on the ground.

When you talk about English football’s nice guys, Joe Royle perfectly fits the bill. Born in Liverpool, Royle went to the same senior school as I did – Quarry Bank High School – although another alumnus, John Lennon, was just a little bit more famous than either of us!

Royle was a great footballer but the school’s headmaster wouldn’t allow him to play for other teams. He was restricted to playing for Quarry Bank High.

The headmaster was keen that studies came first.

A handicap to Royle’s footballing progression perhaps, but he still made it into Everton’s record books and, indeed, into their first team at the tender age of sixteen.

Royle, an England international, won a Championship medal with the Toffees in 1970 and was an FA Cup finalist in 1968. Twenty-seven years later, he was back at Wembley with Everton, now as their manager.

His highly successful management time at Oldham Athletic included top division status, a League Cup final appearance and two losses in 1990 and 1994 to Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

But when he returned to Goodison Park to take up the reins of a struggling Everton team as their manager in November 1994, he was back at home.

The club’s Latin motto: “Nil satis, Nisi optimum” – “nothing but the best is good enough” – suited the Quarry Bank lad, whose school’s Latin message had been “Ex Hoc Metallo Virtutem,” which translates as

“From this rough metal we forge virtue.”

Enough Latin? Interestingly, both thoughts helped shape some of Royle’s thinking.

At Everton, Royle quickly put together a side, which was extremely difficult to beat and pulled away from any relegation problems, conceding only one goal – a penalty – on their Road to Wembley.

For Everton, it was their first FA Cup final since being beaten by Liverpool in 1989, and on the Blues’ Wembley team was Gary Ablett, who’d played for Liverpool, in that earlier game.

A Cup winner in 1989 and 1995, Ablett died in 2011 after a long illness. He was another one of football’s good guys.

Everton’s FA Cup final opposition was Manchester United – who had been Double-winners the previous year, but now were potentially trophy-less for the season, having been pipped to the Premiership by Blackburn Rovers.

Royle hit on a phrase – Dogs of War – to describe his tenacious midfield in which Barry Horne and Joe Parkinson excelled. Sometimes that phrase worked against the Everton boss, but on Cup final day an all-round team effort got them over the line

Paul Rideout got the all-important goal following up a header from Graham Stuart that had hit the bar, and Everton’s experienced Neville Southall made some telling saves.

For Royle, the final whistle was sweet music, and 13 years would go by until the next English manager lifted the famous old trophy – Harry Redknapp, with Portsmouth in 2008.

fa Cup MEMoriEs

lEadingoff

■ Everton’s Paul Rideout scores the game-winner against Manchester United during the Cup final at Wembley.

onE striKE

THE BEST OFWEMBLEY

■ Manchester United’s Eric Cantona and his team-mates celebrate receiving the Cup at the Royal Box. The 1-0 win

against Liverpool gave United their second Double.

CanTOna CrOWnS UniTEd΄S SEaSOn OF

dOUBLE dELigHT

H istory was made at Wembley today by the Frenchman who seems to do nothing else. Eric Cantona, the newly crowned Footballer of the Year, scored the goal

that won this severely disappointing FA Cup final for Manchester United, 1-0, and conferred upon them the unique honour of becoming the first club to complete the coveted League and Cup Double twice.

Cantona also made a handsome contribution to United’s winning of the Premiership title, of course. His return last October, after serving an eight-month suspension for attacking an abusive Crystal Palace fan, was rightly seen as the catalyst that enabled the Old Trafford club to overhaul Newcastle United after being 12 points behind. The very fact that today’s clinching goal was Cantona’s 19th of the season indicates as clearly as possible his determination to make up for an avoidable absence that probably cost United the Double last season. Little wonder he ran like a man demented to celebrate his winner with

the United fans and bench. The self-control which has enabled the volatile French international to resurrect his career was also in evidence. As captain in the absence of the injured Steve Bruce, he climbed the 39 steps to collect the Cup from the Royal Box. En route, someone – a Liverpool supporter presumably – spat in his face. For one terrible moment it looked as though he was going to react, but much to his credit, he quickly regained control of his emotions. United deserved their victory because they were always the better side in a match that failed miserably to live up to its billing as a celebration of two of the youngest and most talented sides in the land. Liverpool, crowded out in midfield and unusually sloppy with their passing, were unrecognisable as the team who had twice troubled United severely in the Premiership this season. It was, essentially, a triumph based on hard work and sound tactical planning. Although there were very few flashes of the inspired football everyone had expected from such a plethora of talent, one could not help but admire the unflagging industry and concentration of men like Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs in United’s midfield. Together with Nicky Butt and David Beckham, Keane

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 LIVERPOOL

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 11, 1996

The chaps will be wearing Emporio Armani Suits, with red-and white-striped ties, light blue shirts and white Gucci shoes. On their lapel will be a small floral display.

“The chaps” were Liverpool Football Club’s players; the occasion the 1996 FA Cup final, the outcome – a sartorial blunder, and a duff performance.

Yes, along with the traditional FA Cup final song, the FA Cup final team hotel, the FA Cup final ticket row and the FA Cup final homecoming, the FA Cup final suits was a hardy perennial.

Every year players would arrive at Wembley in their brand new suits, shirts and ties – and it was also obvious who hadn’t “made the cut” in the suit distribution as the odd fringe player, or member of the backroom staff, would be very self-consciously in “last year’s fashion.”

For completeness Liverpool’s on-pitch apparel would be “Green and White Shirts, Green Shorts, Green and White Socks.” Oh, and red faces, because this was a final where the men from Anfield, cruelly dubbed “The Spice Boys,” barely turned up.

And to make it worse, their opponents were their arch-rival, Manchester United, who had just bagged their third title in four years and were on course for an unprecedented “Double Double.”

Victory in this, their third successive FA Cup final, would secure that remarkable achievement and Alex Ferguson, no doubt, felt it was another building block in

tearing down the long-held supremacy of his main rivals from down the M62.

Captaining Manchester United was the mercurial Frenchman, Eric Cantona, who had threatened to walk away from English football the previous summer whilst serving his eight-month suspension for his conduct at Crystal Palace the previous January. Ferguson used all his persuasive powers to keep him on board despite many believing he should let him go.

Cantona’s scoring comeback on Sunday, October 1st, had been against Cup final opponents, Liverpool, and his influence throughout the season had been a major reason why United had won another League crown.

To round off an unlikely story, he was also the scorer of the only goal in the Cup final.

The game itself had been a damp squib, with no goals and little memorable action. Both sides played within themselves.

But that changed five minutes from regular time, when a Denis Irwin corner was punched clear by Liverpool’s erratic goalkeeper, David James, and it fell to Cantona on the edge of the penalty area.

His volley was a difficult art brilliantly executed, and the resultant shot steered its way through a group of Liverpool defenders into the net.

The United end of the stadium went crazy as they sensed the game only had one goal in it – and Cantona had just scored it.

Captain Cantona had indeed secured victory for United and the Double Double.

Fa CUP MEMOriES

and Giggs prevented John Barnes, Jamie Redknapp and Steve McManaman from establishing any kind of hold over the area of the field where most of the Merseysiders damaging moves begin. McManaman, harried at every turn, never looked like he was getting the time and space to be Liverpool’s match-winner, as he has so many times before. Stan Collymore and Robbie Fowler were no more impressive up front. Fowler, the scourge of United until today, was not allowed even the sniff of a chance and could count himself lucky, perhaps, that it was Collymore, and not he, who was taken off when manager Roy Evans decided to introduce Ian Rush for the final 16 minutes. In addition to his ineffectiveness all over the field, Fowler became involved in an unpleasant scuffle with Keane during the first half. The fiery Irishman thrust his head into Fowler’s face when the little striker tapped his ankles and Fowler responded by angrily pushing Keane away. Collymore was certainly more effective than United’s Andy Cole, another expensive striker who suffered the disappointment and indignity of being substituted in this final. Preferred to Paul Scholes because manager Alex Ferguson thought his pace might unhinge the Liverpool defence, Cole failed abjectly to build on his crucial, first-touch goal in the Premiership decider against Middlesbrough. Had the £7 million striker not lapsed back into the

erratic finishing which has plagued him all season, United might have gone into the lead quite early in the game. Three times in the first 16 minutes he was the recipient of chances that a striker of his value really ought to have turned into at least one goal. Instead, he miskicked horribly when David May, again an impressive deputy for Bruce in defence, headed forward powerfully and Cantona’s head flicked the ball on. Then Cole contrived to waste all the space Beckham had given him with a crossfield pass that curved quite wonderfully from right to left. Cole was in even more space when the Liverpool defence unwisely chose to wait for an offside flag that was never raised, but again he lost the advantage Gary Pallister’s long ball over the top had offered him. It must have seemed like blessed relief to the United fans when Ferguson admitted his mistake and sent on Scholes to replace Cole with 27 minutes still to play. Despite Cole’s failings, United might still have taken an early lead. But for an exceptional save by David James, Beckham would have blasted his side ahead from the square pass Giggs rolled invitingly across the penalty area. With that sensational flying leap alone, James underlined the vast improvement in his form this season. There was more evidence of the value of Joe Corrigan’s coaching at the start of the second half, when James got down very quickly for such a big man to keep out a Cantona volley at the far post. Already renowned as

a shot-stopper, James also dominated his area with great authority – especially in the air – until that fatal moment for Liverpool near the end. Only twice in the whole game did Liverpool really look like scoring. Early in the first half, Collymore tested Peter Schmeichel at his near post after rounding Phil Neville on the outside. Then, just before the interval, Redknapp blazed a shot over the bar after McManaman had wriggled free on the left and Mark Wright had laid his low centre back to Redknapp. Once James had saved from Cantona soon after the restart, the match seemed to be drifting inexorably towards extra-time with only the substitutions of Scholes for Cole, Rush for Collymore and the bookings of Phil Babb and Neville to relieve the tedium. Then, five minutes from the end, United won a corner out on the right. Beckham took it, but the kick seemed destined to end in frustration for United when James came majestically off his line to claim the ball. This time, though, the goalkeeper had misjudged things slightly and could only punch away weakly towards the edge of the penalty area, where Cantona was waiting. A moment later, a crisp, right-footed volley flew into the net through a crowd of players and the rest, quite literally, is history. United may not have made it in style, but there is no denying the magnitude of their achievement. In any case, the major trophies are won over the course of a season and not just in one showpiece match at Wembley.

THE HigH and LOWS OF ViCTOrY ■ United team-mates gather to rejoice after Eric Cantona’s game-winning goal, which came with five minutes left to play in regulation time.

Chelsea Win Cup on Di Matteo΄s Bolt FroM

the BlueChelsea won the FA Cup for only the

second time with two excellent goals but not a lot else. The London team was so superior on the day, they ought to have

won a disappointing final with far more style and authority. Middlesbrough, perhaps exhausted at the end of their long and trying season, offered little resistance.

The game was over almost as soon as it had started, with Chelsea’s Roberto Di Matteo striking a knockout blow with a stunning goal in record time. Middlesbrough never really recovered from the setback and rarely threatened Ruud Gullit’s achievement of becoming the first foreigner to manage an FA Cup-winning team. Sadly, Gullit’s Middlesbrough counterpart, Bryan Robson, is left to pick up the pieces of a shattered and shattering season. It will take a considerable feat of management by him to renew the ambition of the Teesside club after losing two Wembley finals and being relegated to the First Division. The battle of the two little geniuses, Chelsea’s Gianfranco Zola and Middlesbrough’s Juninho, did not live up to expectations but was clearly won by Zola. While Juninho struggled to escape the midfield attentions of Di Matteo, who was rightly voted Man of the Match, Eddie Newton and Dennis Wise, Zola set up his side’s second goal and nearly got one himself. When the teams were finally announced shortly before the kick-off, Mikkel Beck, Middlesbrough’s Danish striker,

was probably the most disappointed man in the stadium. Bryan Robson chose to sacrifice Beck’s striking power for the sake of having Phil Stamp’s battling qualities in the crucial, ball-winning area of the field. The good news for the Middlesbrough fans, of course, was that Fabrizio Ravanelli was regarded as having recovered sufficiently from the back problem which had threatened his appearance in this match. Even so, there had to be an element of risk in selecting someone who had not played since limping out of his club’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford, less than a fortnight earlier. Like Beck, Chelsea’s Gianluca Vialli had nothing to smile about. He, too, was relegated to the substitutes’ bench, though that was fully expected after the Italian international’s failure to keep Mark Hughes out of the side all season and his well-publicised differences of opinion with Gullit. Even Vialli’s face must have lit up, though, at the sensational start Chelsea had on this hot, humid afternoon. They took the lead in the first minute with a searing shot from Di Matteo. Picking up a pass from Wise, who had won the ball from Robbie Mustoe, the Italy midfielder ran unchallenged from inside his own half before beating Ben Roberts from 25 yards with a shot that dipped wickedly over the young Middlesbrough goalkeeper and went in off the crossbar. It was a stunning blow made possible not only by Di Matteo’s mastery of technique but also the clever, diversionary run by Hughes that removed Nigel Pearson as

the last line of a defence. The goal was timed at 42 seconds, which made it the fastest scored in an FA Cup final this century. It beat by three seconds the goal with which Jackie Milburn put Newcastle ahead against Manchester City in 1955. Juninho raised Middlesbrough’s hopes of an equaliser with a typically astute through-ball, but Frode Grodas beat Stamp to it with a well-timed dash from his goal. Middlesbrough suffered another severe blow after 21 minutes when Ravanelli limped off the field following his unsuccessful attempt to beat Frank Sinclair to a through ball. Obviously, the Italian’s recovery had been far from complete in the short time available for convalescence. Only five minutes after Beck had replaced Ravanelli, Middlesbrough made another substitution: Steve Vickers replacing Mustoe. It was not entirely clear whether Mustoe was injured or simply replaced. Afterwards, Vickers went into the back-four alongside Pearson, thus releasing Gianluca Festa to take over from Mustoe as the midfield anchorman. Chelsea’s domination of the midfield brought them other scoring chances in the first half. Pearson needed to be at his most alert and determined to head a Dan Petrescu lob off the goal-line, while Roberts had to fling himself across his line to stop Zola increasing Chelsea’s lead with more Italian virtuosity at a free-kick. Yet another of the many Italians on show, Gianluca Festa, climbed well at the far post to head Stamp’s centre past Grodas in stoppage time at the end of the opening 45

CHELSEA 2-0 MIDDLESBROUGH

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 17, 1997

the Best oFWeMBleY

■ More than 100,000 Chelsea fans line up along Fulham Road for the open-top bus parade to celebrate the team’s 2-0 Cup final win against Middlesbrough.

Sometimes an FA Cup final just can’t live up to its billing as the annual showpiece of the English game.

The 1997 final between Chelsea and Middlesbrough was one of those occasions.

Middlesbrough had lost the Coca-Cola Cup final after a replay earlier in the spring and had ended the season relegated from the Premier League.

The FA Cup final, their first, was a consolation in a difficult season, but once again they were to leave Wembley empty-handed.

Roberto Di Matteo’s 42-second strike had broken existing records as the fastest FA Cup final goal and Eddie Newton’s second-half goal clinched victory for the London side.

The game was mundane, but it had been earlier in the Cup tournament that both teams came through memorable “squeaky bum” matches.

Chelsea were two-nil down at half-time in their 4th Round home tie with Liverpool when they introduced that old FA Cup war-horse, Mark Hughes, to the game. That afternoon he scared the Liverpool defence to death with his tough, committed approach. He was the game-changer.

Hughes reduced Chelsea’s arrears shortly after coming on and then watched as the Blues Italian striking duo shared a further three goals – Gianni Vialli scoring twice after Gianfranco Zola had popped up with the all-important equaliser.

It was a come back that

inspired a Cup run – and Hughes would claim his fourth Winners’ medal. And Ruud Gullit would be the first foreign manager to claim FA Cup-winner status.

Middlesbrough’s route to the final included one of the Cup’s greatest semi-finals and one of its most controversial incidents.

Their opponents were Chesterfield, who were attempting to become the first team from outside the two top divisions to make it to the final.

Under manager John Duncan, the Spireites were playing in the third tier of English football but they were on a great quest to get to Wembley.

Unbelievably, a semi-final win against Middlesbrough would put them in the record books and on a coach to Wembley – and the game didn’t disappoint.

Chesterfield got two goals ahead at Old Trafford – and the dream looked real!

’Boro got one back, then Chesterfield’s Jonathan Howard fired a shot against the underside of ’Boro’s cross bar and it bounced down over the goal-line. However, the ball bounced straight back out into play and a goal wasn’t given. In that moment, Chesterfield’s bubble was all but burst.

The game went into extra-time via a ’Boro equaliser and then the Teessiders went ahead. Chesterfield equalised in the final moments of extra-time to make it 3-3, but they were decisively beaten, 3-0, in the replay staged at Hillsborough.

Fa Cup MeMories

a DaY to reMeMBer ■ The win over Middlesbrough earned Chelsea a second Cup final crown – their first since 1970. The Blues would also win the Cup in 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

minutes, but the defender-turned-midfielder was reduced to arm-waving frustration by the referee’s correct decision to disallow the goal for offside. The second half began unpromisingly, with only the booking of Chelsea’s Di Matteo and Middlesbrough’s Festa to relieve the tedium. Not until Frank Leboeuf failed to cut out Beck’s back-header from Clayton Blackmore’s long throw, after 64 minutes, was there even the sniff of a scoring chance. But Pearson prodded the ball wide. Chelsea’s strange unwillingness, for a long time, to go in search of a second, clinching goal encouraged Middlesbrough to go forward but they could not attack with sufficient co-ordination to pierce the Londoners’ defence. Now and again, too, Chelsea reminded their opponents of the damage they were capable of inflicting when the spirit moved them. In one marvellous little cameo, Zola beat three men before cutting back inside from the by-line and striking the sort of shot that had sunk England here not so long ago. This time, Roberts avoided the embarrassment suffered by Ian Walker and stopped the ball beating him at his near post – seemingly with his face. Juninho did not have any impact on the match until, perhaps losing his temper, he began a running feud with Leboeuf in the last 20 minutes. Fouled by the French defender, the little Brazilian used a quick free-kick to release Vickers on the left for a shot Grodas saved with his legs as he came off his line. But Middlesbrough’s final, desperate attempt to draw level cost them dear as Chelsea hit them on the break at the 83rd minute. The ball shuttled between Newton and Petrescu before the Romanian chipped a pass to Zola, who was running in at the far post. It looked to be going behind him, but the diminutive Italian improvised brilliantly by flicking the ball back with the outside of his right foot. It was a perfect pass to Newton, who was following up in the middle of the goalmouth, and all the midfielder had to do was steer the ball into the net with his left foot as it bounced up in front of him for a 2-0 lead. That was the signal for Gullit to let Vialli have his two minutes of fame as a substitute for Zola, and for the stadium to come alive with the overwhelming sound of Blue is the Colour.

THE BEST OFWEMBLEY

■ Martin Keown and Tony Adams (right) bring the Cup trophy over to Arsenal fans to give them a close-up look at the prized silver hardware. OPPOSITE PAGE: Adams, the Arsenal captain (left), proudly

holds aloft the Cup as he celebrates with goalkeeper David Seaman and Lee Dixon after the trophy

presentation at the Royal Box.

ARSENAL’S CUP WIN EARNS A

RICH REWARdI n the end, it was all so predictable. Arsenal

won the FA Cup and completed the fabled Double just as easily as everyone had expected. There may have been only two

goals in it, but the shots planted in the back of Newcastle United’s net by Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka were scarcely an accurate reflection of the Londoners’ overall superiority as they became only the second club to twice win both of English football’s major trophies in the same season.

Newcastle, to their credit, never stopped trying to take something from the game. But they lacked the creative spark and the cutting edge to disturb Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger’s well-organised and self-confident side. The Magpies must have known there was to be no escape from a thoroughly miserable season when, in the second half, Nicolaos Dabizas and Alan Shearer hit the woodwork with the score at 1-0. Arsenal, it has to be said, rarely played with the fluency and driving intensity which had brought them 10 consecutive Premiership victories and the title: but the truth is that they did not need to. All that was required from them was the defensive solidity for which they are famed and a shrewd exploitation of the Newcastle rearguard’s chronic lack of pace. Both goals came from balls hit over the top for the speedy Overmars and Anelka to outstrip the Newcastle defence, which they duly did. Indeed, it was surprising Arsenal did not score any more goals today, such was the amount of space left between Shay Given and his defenders. Ray Parlour, who was voted Man of the Match, did some clever and useful things, but he was no more influential than either of Arsenal’s midfield powerhouses, Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit.

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 16, 1998

ARSENAL 2-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED

As the 1-4 booking-count indicates, Newcastle clearly felt that their best chance of victory lay in trying to muscle Arsenal out of their normal rhythm. Shearer had his name taken for a reckless late tackle on Tony Adams at the end of the first half, while Newcastle’s Warren Barton, Dabizas and Steve Howey and Arsenal’s Nigel Winterburn were shown the yellow card during the second 45 minutes. His caution was obviously the product of the mounting frustration he felt at being unable to make any impression on Arsenal’s cast-iron back-four. Arsenal suffered much less from the loss of an influential player than Newcastle did from the absence of winger Keith Gillespie. The hamstring injury that kept Dennis Bergkamp on the sidelines might have unsettled some sides, but not these cohesive Gunners. Resisting the temptation to bring back Ian Wright, Wenger continued to rely on Christopher Wreh, who has deputised for Bergkamp before this season with an impressive competence. Anelka, in the 20th minute, had the first clear scoring chance of the game. Fractionally mistiming his run onto the box, the young French striker headed over the bar from no more than six yards after Parlour had taken Lee Dixon’s

clever through pass, accelerated outside Howey and cut back a perfect, head-high centre. Arsenal’s disappointment did not last long. Three minutes later, Petit hoisted a pass up the left wing for Overmars to chase. The little Dutchman got there before Alessandro Pistone headed the ball forward and then held off a challenge from the tall Italian defender. All Overmars had to do then was prod a shot past the advancing Given to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead. There was not much more to the first half than that. Wreh and Parlour wasted reasonable scoring chances by shooting over the Newcastle bar, while David Seaman pulled down a shot from Temuri Ketsbaia at the other end. The real excitement started after 63 minutes, when Dabizas won a free-kick on the left by diving as he was challenged by Adams. Rob Lee flighted the kick carefully enough for the Greek defender to rise above everyone at the far post and clip the Arsenal bar with a header. A minute later, Martin Keown trod on the ball as he was about to clear it and gave Shearer exactly the chance for which he had been waiting. Swooping on the gift, the

England striker broke left before a powerful, left-footed shot across Seaman, which flew past him from the base of the far post. Arsenal were rocking at that point, yet they still managed to increase their lead five minutes following their narrow escape. Again it was a long ball that did the damage. At the 70th minute, Parlour launched it for Anelka, looking suspiciously as though he might have been offside to accelerate away from Howey and belt a right-footed shot into the far corner to make it 2-0. That goal decided the game, to all intents and purposes, but Newcastle refused to accept the fact. Bringing on Steve Watson for Warren Barton and Andreas Andersson for Stuart Pearce, they launched a frantic late assault on the Arsenal goal which brought a number of near misses. A free-kick from Shearer and a shot by Gary Speed both whizzed a foot wide, but the clearest chance fell to Shearer when a shot from Ketsbaia was blocked. Seaman’s goal was at the mercy of one of the world’s finest strikers, but Winterburn suddenly came from nowhere to nick the ball away from him and make sure that Arsenal and Wenger took their place in history.

STILL A FAN’S GAME ■ The Gunners take an open-bus victory tour through North London to celebrate their Double. Arsenal previously won the magical “Double” in 1971. OPPOSITE PAGE: Arsenal’s most enthusiastic supporters came dressed for the big day at Wembley.

In October 1996, Arsenal introduced their new manager to an expectant football world. A slim, bespectacled, unknown Frenchman was their surprising choice – and the sceptics were onto it quickly.

Undoubtedly, his first name “Arsène” was promising, but a track record which included spells as boss at Nancy, Monaco and the Japanese Nagoya Grampus Eight was hardly headline-making stuff. And Monsieur Wenger had been only a so-so player.

What transpired over the next sixteen years was the stuff of legend. “Le Professeur,” as he was quickly dubbed, was to become one of the most celebrated figures in the long and illustrious history of the North London club.

League titles, FA Cup wins, stylish players, intelligent football, great rivalries and a recent drought in trophy lifting have all been features of the Wenger reign.

But no one can doubt his ability to find and improve footballing raw material and turn it into world-class performance.

Some of the football played by the Gunners over the past few years has been simply sublime. And it has set new standards in terms of fluency and flair.

C’est Magnifique!And it started quickly. Built on the famous Arsenal

back-four with the English oak, Tony Adams, at the helm, Wenger was able to bring new talents to the club like Frenchmen Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit and up front, the world-class Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.

In his first full season, Arsenal overhauled front-runners, Manchester United, to win the Premier League and made it to Wembley to meet Newcastle United and clinch the Double.

Their Road to Wembley, however, was a bumpy trip, with penalty shoot-out wins over Port Vale and West Ham, in the 3rd and 6th Rounds, respectively, and tight wins over Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and finally, Wolves, in their semi-final at Villa Park.

As the VIP guests at Wembley enjoyed a pre-match glass of Sauvignon Blanc, 1996, Wenger put his 1998

vintage through final pre-match paces.Amongst them was a young French teenager destined

for a big career in England and elsewhere, 19-year-old Nicolas Anelka. His thin frame, fast pace and deadly finishing would make him a transfer target for European powers for the next decade or so – on this day he scored Arsenal’s second goal.

Marc Overmars had scored Arsenal’s first, and outside of the Geordies’ favourite, Alan Shearer, striking a post, Newcastle were disappointing.

And they rarely threatened.Wenger had finally emulated the famous Arsenal

side of 1971 in landing the Double, and he would do it again, even more spectacularly, in 2002.

The football world were soon off to France for that summer’s World Cup tournament. During that tournament we saw the early international strides of a certain young French player: Thierry Henry.

He, we, and Arsenal were all about to be better acquainted very soon.

FA CUP MEMORIES

T here is just no stopping Manchester United. Newly crowned as Champions of England, they brushed aside Newcastle United’s challenge for the FA

Cup today with something approaching disdain. Now, having made history by becoming the first club to complete the fabled Double three times – and all in the space of five years – they now seek an unprecedented Treble, and sporting immortality, when they play Bayern Munich for the European Cup in Barcelona on Wednesday.

This 2-0 victory was all the more meritorious because it was achieved, in effect, without Roy Keane, Manchester United’s captain and major driving force. Keane had to go off injured early in the game because of the fierce tackling by Newcastle, which amounted almost to attempted intimidation. Ironically, it was Teddy Sheringham, Keane’s replacement, who opened the scoring and gave United a grip on the game they rarely relaxed in. Once Paul Scholes added a second goal early in the second half, we might as well all have gone home. United put out a stronger team than had been

expected. There was no place for the suspended Denis Irwin, of course, and wisely it was decided not to risk Jaap Stam’s sore Achilles tendon four days before the European Cup final, but the Champions were below full strength in only one other respect: the choice of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in attack to replace Dwight Yorke, who was said to be under the weather. With Stam on the bench – an encouraging sign in itself for Wednesday’s game in Barcelona – United must have been relieved that Duncan Ferguson was also among the substitutes. Ruud Gullit obviously decided it was too big a risk to start the game with the big Scottish striker, who is about to undergo surgery on his troublesome groin injury. But Gullit’s really big decision was to prefer the Peruvian, Nolberto Solano, to Warren Barton as Didier Domi’s partner down the left flank. Newcastle’s determination not to freeze on this occasion, as they had against Arsenal here last year, was clear from the opening moments of the game. Not much more than a couple of minutes had gone when Scholes and Keane were flattened with crushing tackles by Dietmar Hamann and Gary Speed, respectively. Hamann’s challenge was so fierce that he hurt his thigh, but the damage Speed inflicted on Keane was much more significant.

After limping around in obvious distress after Speed’s clattering tackle had damaged the Irishman’s ankle, Keane had to take his leave of the match in which, having been suspended from the European Cup final, he had intended to make his last hurrah of the season. With Nicky Butt in cotton-wool for the European Cup final and without another central midfielder on the bench, Alex Ferguson had to do some quick thinking. His answer was to send on Sheringham after only eight minutes to play up front. That meant pulling Solskjaer back to play wide on the right so David Beckham could switch inside to take over for Keane. This decision yielded dividends more quickly than the United manager could have hoped. Just two minutes after the substitution, Sheringham put United ahead at the end of a sharp, slick, three-man move that sliced open the heart of the Newcastle defence. Andy Cole started it by winning the ball with his back to the goal, wheeling to the right and finding Sheringham with a short pass. Sheringham then played the ball back to Scholes before moving cleverly into space for the return pass, which he dispatched neatly past Steve Harper with his right foot for a 1-0 lead. From then on, Manchester United controlled most of the first half. Sheringham was only inches away from

UniTed’s RUnaway TRain Goes sTRaiGhT

ThRoUGh newcasTle

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 22, 1999

MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED

The BesT oFweMBley

■ Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson attempts to get his players’ attention during the Cup final. The 2-0 win over Newcastle gave United

their ninth Cup final win.

heading a Beckham free-kick at goal and Nikos Dabizas had to scuttle back desperately to hack the ball away, when Cole lobbed Harper and the ball was seen bouncing slowly towards an empty net. Newcastle’s response to all this had been fairly limited, with Nolberto Solano forcing Peter Schmeichel into a diving save with a first-time volley and then floating a free-kick harmlessly on to the roof of the United net. In fact, not until Hamann found his shooting range, late in the first half, was Schmeichel under serious threat. Taking a square pass from Temuri Ketsbaia, the tall German midfielder ran the ball across the face of the United penalty area until he discovered enough space to strike a low, swerving shot that taxed Schmeichel as he threw himself to his left to turn it away for a corner. Even then, United had the last word before the interval, with Sheringham heading a Gary Neville cross only a foot wide. As at the start of the game, Newcastle began the second

half with real determination. Only four minutes after replacing Hamann at the interval, Duncan Ferguson was bearing down on the goal. He was foiled by Schmeichel, who threw himself on the ball after Scholes had swung at it and missed. But the next time the little red-headed midfielder was within striking distance of the ball, he made no mistake. Coming late into a move constructed by Solskjaer and Sheringham with crisp, short passes, Scholes beat Harper comprehensively with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area to give United a 2-0 margin. Most of the credit for the goal had to go to Solskjaer, who had intercepted an ill-judged clearance Dabizas made under pressure. Newcastle did come back at their tormentors with a shot from Ketsbaia that glanced off the foot of a post after Schmeichel had made a rare mistake and dropped the ball near the edge of his penalty area, but it was little more

than a gesture of defiance. Yorke, who was on for Cole after an hour, should have put the result beyond all doubt a few minutes later, after he headed Ryan Giggs’ centre over the bar from a couple of yards range because he had got himself slightly under the ball. Giggs, with a volley, and Solskjaer, with a mis-hit shot, also caused Harper some concern as United began to take aim at their opponents’ goal at will. Typical of the finesse that they were now able to demonstrate was the careful chip by Sheringham that beat Harper completely, but bounced on top of the bar. Newcastle could not even grab a consolation goal when the opportunity arose eight minutes from the end. When a mistake by the otherwise blameless David May allowed substitute Silvio Maric, on for Solano, a clear sight of the goal, the Croatia international pulled the ball wide of goal with Schmeichel struggling to intervene.

The winninG looK ■ Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left), David Beckham (middle) and Gary Neville (right) – all have big smiles following their 1999 Cup victory against Newcastle. OPPOSITE PAGE: Alan Shearer of Newcastle (right) duels with Manchester United’s Ronny Johnsen during the Cup final.

leadinGoFF

■ Manchester United players celebrate at midfield after their 2-0 Cup final win against Newcastle, which gave the Red Devils the Double for the third time in five years. Four days later, United would win the 1999 European Football Championship and achieve the vaunted Treble.

GReaTness achieVed

haRRy’s cUP ■ With Prince Harry (left) watching in the Royal Box, Teddy Sheringham of Manchester United holds the Cup aloft to celebrate the Red Devils’ fourth Cup final win in ten years.

The 1999 FA Cup competition marked the end of semi-final replays. From that point forward the semi-finals would be one game with extra-time and penalties, if needed. So it was fitting that the last semi-final replay went out with a triumphant bang rather than a whimper.

Manchester United and FA Cup holders, Arsenal, ended in a scoreless tie at Villa Park, and the battle re-convened between these major rivals at the same ground three days later.

That game’s key players were a “Who’s Who” of the time: David Beckham put United ahead, Dennis Bergkamp scored a deflected equaliser, Roy Keane was injured, Peter Schmeichel, who was due to retire from English football at the end of the season, made a crucial penalty save and Welsh wonder Ryan Giggs scored one of the FA Cup’s most famous winning goals as the game’s extra-time reached its closing stages.

Racing down the left, he twisted and turned, leaving Arsenal defenders in his wake and thrashed the ball past David Seaman. Giggs then ripped his shirt off and waved it above his head in wild celebration. It was truly memorable.

The FA Cup final itself was a tamer affair. Once again Newcastle United were the other finalists, this time under the control of Dutch superstar Ruud Gullit. But, once again the Geordies came up short.

Manchester United, already League Champions, had their eyes on two other targets: the FA Cup and, four days later, the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Barcelona.

Suspended from the European final, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane filled central midfield for the Mancunians at Wembley and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was paired with Andy Cole up front.

Teddy Sheringham had been disappointed to be left out – but not for long. He came on early in the game for the injured Keane and scored just ninety-six seconds later, with Scholes providing the clever telling pass. Eight minutes into the second half, Sheringham returned the favour by setting up Scholes, who scored United’s Cup-clinching goal.

Two down and one to go.Four days later, on an

unforgettable evening at the Nou Camp, Fergie’s men turned their attention to trying to win an unprecedented Treble. The wily Scotsman made five changes from Saturday’s Wembley line-up and then watched as his team trailed by an early goal to the Germans.

It was not a classic match and seemed to be petering out to a mundane Bayern victory when football fate took a hand. With two late throws of the dice, Fergie sent on substitutes, Sheringham and Solskjaer. But still nothing.

Then, in injury-time, United unbelievably turned the game on its head with two late goals.

Firstly, Sheringham steered in an unlikely equaliser and then, moments later, Solskjaer poached the winner. An absolutely astonishing turnaround.

“Football. Bloody hell!” was Fergie’s famous post-match comment, before he and the team went off to a hotel in the upmarket Barcelona marina to celebrate long into the night and prepare for a triumphant return to Manchester.

Fa cUP MeMoRies

THE BEST OF WEMBLEY

■ Roberto Di Matteo scores the game-winner in the packed penalty

area to give Chelsea a 1-0 Cupvictory against Aston Villa.

T hese two famous clubs could not make the 72nd, and last, FA Cup final at the old Wembley Stadium one of the best; but at least they prevented it from being

remembered as the worst. Even that did not seem possible following a first half of quite dreadful quality. Thankfully, however, a vast improvement after half-time brought a more acceptable level of entertainment and a deserved winning goal by Chelsea’s Roberto Di Matteo for a 1-0 victory.

That strike by Di Matteo, who also scored the quickest goal in an FA Cup final when Chelsea beat Middlesbrough, 2-0, in 1997, was enough for his club to take the trophy and qualify for next season’s UEFA Cup. But, in truth, the Londoners’ collection of classy foreigners were toying for most of the second half with Aston Villa, whose dubious consolation prize is an entry into the InterToto Cup. It was not difficult before the start to tell the rival supporters apart, and not just by the colours they were wearing. Having not attended this event since 1957, when their team overcame the emerging Busby Babes of Manchester United, 2-1, Villa fans were much noisier

and more excited. By comparison, the sophisticates of Chelsea, here only three years ago to see their heroes beat Middlesbrough, 2-0, seemed positively blasé. There was certainly a marked difference between the two starting line-ups. While Villa’s included eight Englishmen, there was only one: captain Dennis Wise – in the Chelsea ranks. The London club compensated to some extent by naming three others – Jody Morris, John Terry and Jon Harley – as substitutes on a bench that, rather surprisingly, did not contain a fourth – £10 million striker Chris Sutton. Equally surprising was the decision by Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli not to start with his regular attacking partnership of Tore Andre Flo and Gianfranco Zola. Zola was there for the kick-off, but he had veteran Liberian international George Weah alongside him instead of Flo, who was on the bench. Perhaps it was seen as a last chance for Weah, 33, and on loan from AC Milan, to play in an FA Cup final. George Boateng, one of the few foreigners on the Villa side, had given advance warning of his intent to match the aggression and industry of Wise in midfield. So it should have come as no surprise when, after only two minutes’ play, the powerful young Dutchman shook the Chelsea

Di MaTTEO’S gOaL BRiNgS THE CUP

BaCK TO CHELSEa

By Colin Malam at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 20, 2000

CHELSEA 1-0 ASTON VILLA

captain with a crunching tackle that referee Graham Poll felt deserving only of a warning. The first serious attack of a poor first half, coming after 10 minutes, showed that the little England international had suffered no serious damage. When Gareth Southgate headed out a Zola centre, Wise met the clearance with a ferocious volley that goalkeeper David James clutched to his midriff. That, sadly, was just about the only moment of real excitement the packed house was offered before the interval. There were plenty of bookings, but very few other scoring attempts. Villa’s Gareth Barry and Chelsea’s Mario Melchiot were cautioned for fouls on each other and Wise – surprise, surprise – was shown the yellow card for a spot of sly retaliation on Boateng. But, with both sides giving the ball away with depressing regularity and the defences on top, Paul Merson’s volley curled speculatively past the right-hand angle of the Chelsea goal after 25 minutes was the only other scoring attempt that carried any kind of threat. The start of the second half was much more promising. Whatever the two managers said during the break – and

one cannot imagine it was very complimentary to their players – produced three scoring chances in the first four minutes. Almost immediately, Ian Taylor and Southgate headed wide from crosses by Alan Wright and Merson, then Weah shot a foot wide at the other end. The Liberian was given a sight of the goal, first by Didier Deschamps, and then by Zola, who threaded the ball through to him in a shooting position. It was the beginning of a period of Chelsea supremacy, during which they put the ball in the Villa net without reward, Weah being ruled offside after Wise had been quick to punish James’ fumble as the goalkeeper tried to deal with a pass from Di Matteo. Weah had two chances to atone quickly for his unfortunate part in Chelsea’s disallowed goal. However, he was guilty of poor finishing from six yards out at the far post as he met the centre Zola curled cunningly in from the right; then, when the ball sat up kindly for him in a goalmouth tussle with Ugo Ehiogu, James came rushing off his line to block the Chelsea striker’s attempt to flick a shot over the goalkeeper. The lead the London club took after 73 minutes was

deserved. Again James erred, again the ball was put away from close range, but this time there was no infringement of the rules. When James came roaring off his line to deal with Zola’s free-kick from the left, he fumbled the ball against Southgate’s chest and they could only watch in horror as Di Matteo blasted the rebound into the roof of the net. Benito Carbone should have equalised three minutes later in a situation similar to the one from which Di Matteo had scored, but he failed abysmally. Ed de Goey’s inability to catch a Merson free-kick cleanly left Villa’s little Italian striker with a clear view of the goal. He struck the ball so weakly with his left foot, though, that Frank Leboeuf was able to clear off the line quite comfortably. Villa manager John Gregory rang the changes in the last 12 minutes as his team searched desperately for an equaliser. But the introduction of Steve Stone, Julian Joachim and Lee Hendrie for Taylor, Carbone and Wright yielded just one more scoring chance, with Ehiogu heading the ball over the crossbar when he needed to direct it across goal to the better-placed Dion Dublin.

CRiES OF gREaT JOY ■ Chelsea celebrate their third Cup final win. RIGHT: An emotional Marcel Desailly, the Ghana-born French midfielder, enjoys his brief time with the Cup.

LEaDiNgOFF

■ In a tribute to Wembley’s last Cup final before construction begins on the new stadium, a large quantity of red, white and blue balloons are released to commemorate the occasion.

THE FiNaL CURTaiN aT WEMBLEY

Seventy-seven years after staging the first FA Cup final to be held at the brand spanking new Wembley Stadium (in 1923), English football’s spiritual home was to host the latest chapter of this tournament’s remarkable history.

But this time it was different, as the stadium was due to close later that year for much needed renovation – so the first FA Cup final of the new millennium was to be the last under the imposing Twin Towers.

This year’s competition had been thrown into controversy when current Cup holders, Manchester United, opted out of defending the trophy to take part in FIFA’s World Club Championship in Brazil.

This was part of an attempt to help England win their bid to stage the 2006 World Cup.

The bid ultimately failed and United, in a no-win situation, had a poor time in Brazil and were heavily criticised for not competing in the FA Cup. Some people have never forgiven them.

The 2000 Cup final featured Chelsea, in their third appearance in seven years, against Aston Villa, a team with a rich background in the competition, who were playing in the FA Cup final for a tenth time.

So, the scene was set for the last final at the “old” Wembley, and despite its historic nature, the match didn’t live up to the occasion.

As a sign of the influx of foreign players and their growing influence on English football, and the Premier League, in particular, Chelsea fielded no less than ten overseas players. The only Englishman in the starting

line-up being their captain, Dennis Wise.

The game in England was now truly international.

If Chelsea had a potential match-winner in the mercurial Gianfranco Zola, Villa had their own Italian magician, Benito Carbone.

Carbone would play for no less than 16 clubs in his colourful career but his brief spell at Villa Park included a match-winning hat-trick in their 5th Round Cup win over Leeds United.

The final itself was decided by a single goal.

Scored in the 73rd minute, Villa goalkeeper David James, late of Liverpool, fumbled a corner and Roberto Di Matteo scored from close range.

He, of course, was the man who had opened the scoring inside the first minute of the 1997 FA Cup final and was on target again in the following year’s League Cup final.

James, himself, would have better luck in the FA Cup final eight years later with Portsmouth.

Walking up those famous 39 steps for the last time at an FA Cup final as winners at the old Wembley were Chelsea.

And, in one of those wonderful acts of footballing fate, when the famous stadium re-opened for business seven years later, in 2007, it was Chelsea who walked up those historic steps to receive the FA Cup, but this time the journey would be up 107 steps.

The final itself was to go on the road and, for the next six years, it would be played at a new temporary home at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Fa CUP MEMORiES

MillenniuM big MoMents

■ It was despair for Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman as Michael Owen’s goalat the 88th minute sealed Liverpool’svictory at the Millennium Stadium.

unluckyArsenAl stung by owen’s

Double-tAke

M ichael Owen just becomes more astonishing by the game. Today in sun-kissed Cardiff the young man, who enthralled the whole of England

with his spectacular 1998 World Cup goal against Argentina, and has offered other delights since, brought Liverpool back from the dead in the dramatic closing minutes of the first FA Cup final to be staged at the magnificent Millennium Stadium and outside of England.

Arsenal,deservedlyleadingbyafinegoalfromFredrik Ljungberg 18 minutes from the end, looked to be coasting to a comfortable victory when Owen suddenly demonstrated in full measure that gift he has for putting theballinthenetwhenitmatters.Inthefinalsevenminutes of the game, a classic, close-range volley and then an eel-like run through the remnants of a previously imperious defence punished the Gunners for the criminal wastefulnessof theirfinishing. Those two goals took Owen’s haul from Liverpool’s last

four games to an extraordinary eight goals, with seven of them coming in the last three. With the Worthington Cup already in the bag, Liverpool became only the second club, after Arsenal, to win both domestic Cup competitions in thesameseason.NowitisontotheUEFACupfinal,andthe possibility of a unique Treble, against Spanish side Alaves in Dortmund on Wednesday. Arsenalhaveonlythemselvestoblameforfinishingtheseason without any kind of silverware. Although they were most unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty early in the game, that decision would not have mattered had Thierry Henry, in particular, taken some of the numerous scoring chances that came his way as the many Frenchmen, and one Swede, on the Londoners’ team combined to overrun Liverpool in a thrilling, spectacle-saving second half. But the Merseysiders are nothing if not resilient under the inspired management of Gerard Houllier. Gritting their teeth, riding their luck and responding to the introduction of three substitutes, Liverpool simply refused to be beaten. Their attitude was epitomised by the Merseyside captain-for-the-day, Sami Hyypia, who twice cleared off the line when his defence was cut to pieces by

By Colin Malam at The Millennium Stadium, The Sunday Telegraph, May 12, 2001

LIVERPOOL 2-1 ARSENAL

the speed and imagination of Arsenal’s attacking moves in the second half. The 45 minutes after the interval came as blessed relief followingadisappointinglysterileanduneventfulfirsthalf. Caution was the watchword as these evenly-matched teams struggled to get the measure of each other, and only twicewasthereahintof agoal.Thefirstcameinthe17thminutewhenLjungberg’sfinely-judgedthrough-passdowntheinside-rightchannelenabledthefleet-footedHenrytobeat Liverpool’s offside trap. Sander Westerveld’s speed off his line forced Henry wide to the right, but it was the left hand of Stephane Henchoz that stopped the French international from squeezing a shot inside the near post. The interception by the covering Swiss international as he sprawled across the goal-line was accidental, but a penalty nonetheless. Liverpoolwerealsoconfinedtojustonescoringchanceduringthattediousfirst45minutes.Needlesstosay,itfelltoOwen,whowouldhavescoredwithafierceshotontheturn from close range but for the anticipation and blocking foot of Martin Keown. Happily, there was much more of that to come on the other side of the interval. Only three minutes after the restart, for instance, David Seaman barely managed to parry Emile Heskey’s header from a Danny Murphy free-kick. But it was the last Liverpool saw of the Arsenal goal

forquitesometime.Poorasthefirsthalf hadbeen,Henryand Robert Pires, backed by Patrick Vieira’s control of midfield,hadoftenthreatenedtotakeLiverpoolapart;andnowtheydidsowithaflourish. Aided by an Henry air-shot, Westerveld managed to smother the danger, as he did so often yesterday for his team. Then Hyypia came to his aid on the line when Ashley Cole closed in for a killing shot. The Dutch goalkeeper, stranded well out of goal after sprinting off his line once more, owed the strapping Finnish centre-back another debt of gratitude when he headed away the cunning chip with which Ljungberg strove to embarrass and undo Liverpool. But the Swede with the curious puce streak in his dyed hair was not to be denied. Released through the middle after72minutesbyPires’spiercingpass,Ljungbergswerved neatly round Westerveld and cut a shot back into the far corner, past Jamie Carragher’s desperate attempt to intervene. Arsenal should have gone further ahead a couple of minutes later, when Henry wriggled deep into the Liverpool penalty area. Again Westerveld’s challenge foiled the Frenchman. The goalkeeper did not take the ball cleanly, by any means, but Henry miscued horribly when the chance immediately presented itself again. The tide had been turning slowly in Liverpool’s favour, though, since the introduction, on the

hour, of Gary McAllister for Dietmar Hamann. Houllier had left the Scottish veteran on the bench in an attempt tocounterVieira’spowerinmidfieldwiththatof youngSteven Gerrard, but the move had not worked. Now, McAllister’s ability to pass the ball accurately and control the tempo of a game began to bring Liverpool some hope. It was Gerrard’s through-ball, though, that sent Owen sprinting towards the goal after 80 minutes, only to be dispossessed at the last by the watchful, pursuing Keown. Then it was McAllister’s turn, delivering a free-kick of such accuracy that Marcus Babbel was able to head the ball down for Owen to volley Liverpool level seven minutes from the end. Having brought on Ray Parlour for the disappointing Sylvain Wiltord in an attempt to increase Arsenal’s chances of holding on to their lead, manager Arsène Wenger now sent in Nwankwo Kanu for Ljungberg in a desperate bid to regain the advantage. But it was Liverpool who scored the decisive goal with Owen running on to the long ball out of defence that PatrikBergersentwingingupfield. Switching into overdrive, the little striker easily evaded Lee Dixon’s clumsy attempt to foul him, swerved round the covering Tony Adams and then rolled the ball past the left hand of a subsiding Seaman and just inside the far post with enviable accuracy and sangfroid.

An eMotionAl DAy ■LiverpoolinternationalMarkusBabbelreactstoteam-mateMichaelOwen’swinninggoalduringthe2001FACupfinalattheMillenniumStadium. ABOVE MIDDLE: Gerard Houllier, the Liverpool manager, happily carries the Cup back to the dressing room. ABOVE RIGHT: A joyous Stephane Henchoz lifts the Cup.

leADingoFF

■ A father and son, both Gunners fans, walk down the Cardiff City Centre streets, hoping to buy two tickets to see the Liverpool v. Arsenal match.

2 tickets to pArADise

I was sitting at Selhurst Park watching an end of season game between Wimbledon and LiverpoolinMay1997whentheMerseyside visitors made a late substitution.A17-year-oldyoungsterbythe

name of Michael Owen came on to make his Liverpool debut. I had heard a lot about him from those who followed the club’s junior sides.

He had scored at all the levels of the game he played in to this point.

And he was about to do the same. Within minutes of coming on he broke through the Wimbledon defence and scored a typical “Owen goal” – a combination of pace and precision.

An FA National School graduate, Owen, the son of a former Everton player, became aLiverpoolfirst-teamregularthe following season and, then, in the summer of 1998, at the tender age of 18, he scored a goal for England against Argentina in the World Cup that sent his name spinning around the world.

It was a goal from the Gods, and Michael Owen became world-famous overnight.

Three years later, he was part of a Liverpool team en route to a Treble. With the Football League Cup already won, Liverpool were back in Cardiff toplayArsenalinthefirstFACupfinaltobestagedoutsideof England. It was the hottest I couldrememberonCupfinalday for many a year.

And Arsenal were red-hot, too. They started well against Liverpool and should have been ahead by half-time. But they missed their chances and were

denied a clear penalty.Eventually the Gunners got

ahead with Freddie Ljungberg’s goalat72minutes.AndThierryHenry should have put the game beyond Liverpool but missed an easy chance.

Then Michael Owen took over. At 83 minutes, Liverpool were back level, after Gary McAllisterflightedafree-kickinto the box and Robbie Fowler laid it into the path of Owen, who steered the ball home.

Arsenal were suddenly on the backfootand,fiveminuteslater,were sensationally behind as Patrick Berger found Owen and the young superstar outstripped Tony Adams and Lee Dixon to hit the ball wide of David Seaman.

Arsenal were stunned. Liverpool and Owen were

jubilant. Having gone from certain losers, they had suddenly won the game.

The sign of making a massive impactinafinaliswhenyourname is forever linked with the occasion.The2001Cupfinalbecame known as the “Michael Owenfinal”–anditstillis.

Owen and Liverpool went on to win the UEFA Cup and, later that year, added the European Super Cup and FA Charity Shield, and the young striker also scored a hat-trick for England in their famous 5-1 win over Germany in Munich. His year was rounded off by his winning of the Ballon d’Or, which is given to the European Footballer of the Year. Owen’s career would take him to Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United and his England career, wrecked through injury, saw him win 89 caps and score 40 goals.

FA cup MeMories

A reAlly big surprise ■TocelebratethefirstCupfinaltobeplayedoutsideof England,alargereplicaof theCup was hidden inside an oversized football and revealed to the Cupfinalaudiencebeforethekickoff.Thiswasastunning,yetmarveloussightforallthoseattendingthefinalinCardiff toview.

MillenniuM big MoMents ■ A jubilant Arsenal squad celebrates winning the Cup after their 2-0 victory

against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium, in Cardiff.

gunners steal the glory, now look to

win DreaM Double

n ow Chelsea know what Arsenal must have felt like when Liverpool’s Michael Owen pinched the FA Cup from under their noses here in Cardiff last year.

Having been largely outplayed by their fellow Londoners, Arsenal won this poor final with two goals so superb that they belonged to another, more entertaining match. But Arsène Wenger and his men will not worry about that when the first half of the Double is already theirs.

Now, thanks to two wonderful strikes by Ray Parlour and the remarkable Freddie Ljungberg – scorer of seven goals in his last six games – Arsenal will go marching up to Old Trafford on Wednesday believing they can clinch the Premiership title on the ground of their great rivals, Manchester United. There were two surprises when the teams were announced. Arsenal preferred Parlour to Eduardo Cesar Daud Gasper as Patrick Vieira’s partner in central midfield and Chelsea put John Terry on the substitutes’ bench. No doubt Parlour’s battling qualities and greater experience of

these kind of occasions were responsible for his selection, while the frightening pace of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry made the fleet-footed William Gallas more valuable in central defence than Terry. Predictably, Chelsea also took a chance on the fitness of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who had been fighting all week to recover from a calf injury. The theory, presumably,was that although their leading scorer might break down at some point, his deadly finishing could get them a goal before it came to that. There was a place on the left of midfield, too, for Graeme Le Saux, another player who had shaken off a calf injury. The experience had clearly not lessened the former England international’s penchant for recklessness. The match was less than two minutes old when Le Saux was rightly booked for a challenge on Lauren so high and venomous that he nearly cut the Arsenal full-back in half. Indeed, the referee, Mike Riley, had to step in and warn Lauren to behave when he obviously threatened Le Saux with retribution. Chelsea’s gamble on Hasselbaink began to look ill-advised as early as the fifth minute, by which time the

striker had the sock rolled down on his troublesome right leg and was not moving as freely as usual. Even so, he still managed to initiate the game’s first dangerous attack, floating a diagonal pass towards Eidur Gudjohnsen that David Seaman came out to intercept. The Arsenal goalkeeper was certainly the busier of the two in the opening phase of the game. Twice – in the 17th and 18th minutes – Frank Lampard let fly from long range with powerful shots Seaman saved with difficulty. Chelsea’s Carlo Cudicini, by comparison, was virtually unemployed. The marvellous Marcel Desailly saw to that by blocking a fierce shot from Sylvain Wiltord and intercepting a dangerous pull-back by Henry. When Cudicini was finally called into action, after 22 minutes, he was nearly found wanting. The Chelsea goalkeeper got himself into no man’s land as Ashley Cole picked out Dennis Bergkamp at the far post with an accurate diagonal centre, and was spared the embarrassment his indecision deserved only because Bergkamp’s looping header dropped outside the post. Disappointingly, the first half did not offer much in the way of entertainment. The play was scrappy, largely

By Colin Malam at The Millennium Stadium, The Sunday Telegraph, May 4, 2002

ARSENAL 2-0 CHELSEA

The beauty of the FA Cup is the opportunity it gives for small community clubs to play in the same competition as some of the iconic names of English football.

It adds a unique element to the oldest knock-out tournament in world football – and means that clubs from football’s shallower waters can have their moment of FA Cup glory.

Another wonderful aspect is that the tournament itself starts as summer is drawing its last breath – and won’t be completed until nine months later.

The Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup begins in mid-August and in early May the competition reaches its annual climax.

The season of 2001-02 was no different. Arsenal and Chelsea would contest the final at The Millennium Stadium but back in August it was teams like Walton Casuals, Prescot Cables and Newcastle Blue Star who were making their local headlines.

Twelve ties, twenty-four teams and an average attendance of just 142 across the matches. Small but beautiful – and it is the very essence of the FA Cup.

And it is now a tournament with prize money. Large TV fees have given the FA the opportunity to spread some of its cash-fall across the game.

The winners of the FA Cup in Cardiff would have earned £2 million by the time they lifted the famous silver trophy.

Serious money but at the very top of the game not necessarily life-changing.

It was a different story further down English football’s family. Brigg Town of the Northern Counties East League had entered the competition in August and survived until the 1st Round Proper – a remarkable achievement which boosted by a prize-money cheque of £46,500.

At the business end of this season’s tournament two London clubs had made it to Cardiff – Chelsea and Arsenal.

The Gunners, smarting after their defeat at the hands of Liverpool last year, had added Sol Campbell to their ranks following a controversial move from neighbours, Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea were back in their third final in six years – this time with Claudio Ranieri leading them as team manager.

Arsenal had beaten Watford, Liverpool, Gillingham, Newcastle and Middlesbrough to reach the Cup final. The winning goal in their semi-final against Middlesbrough was an own-goal scored by the Sardinian, Gianluca Festa.

Chelsea meanwhile had made their way to the final via wins against Norwich City, West Ham, Preston, Tottenham and neighbours, Fulham, in the semi-final. A young John Terry scored the game’s only goal.

The Road to Cardiff was just that – the M4 – and 70,000 fans took it to see the season’s showpiece.

The game was won by two stunning individual goals by Arsenal’s Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljundberg – and the Gunners took home the top prize money and the top prize, the Cup itself.

Fa CuP MeMories

because of the fierce tackling by both sides that broke up attacking moves almost before they had started. Commendably, the referee tried to be as tolerant as possible, but he could not ignore the foul by Vieira on Gudjohnsen that earned the Arsenal midfielder a yellow card after 27 minutes. The best move of the first half came 10 minutes before the interval. Wiltord, who was playing to the left of goal, twisted and turned before making enough space to float a centre to the far post, where Etame-Mayer Lauren had stolen up unnoticed. The Cameroon international looked certain to score as he dived to head the ball, but he sent it over the crossbar. Chelsea made an enforced change at the start of the second half, with Terry replacing Celestine Babayaro, who had pulled up in pain only six minutes into the game with what looked like a groin strain but had soldiered on. Terry moved to centre-back while Gallas switched to left-

back. They were soon tested. Henry collected a delicately chipped pass from Vieira and poked a shot at Cudicini. But, as in the first 45 minutes, Chelsea gradually became the more dominant side. As a result, Gudjohnsen almost caught Seaman napping with a shot curled in cunningly from the left. It was going in until, at the very last moment, the England goalkeeper reached up to push the ball over the crossbar. Le Saux, though, should not have given Seaman an earthly on the hour. Found in space by Jesper Gronkjaer’s centre from the right and centrally positioned just inside the penalty area, the left-footed midfielder elected to have a go with his weaker right foot and succeeded only in wafting the ball high over the crossbar. Similarly, at the other end, Wiltord sliced his shot horribly wide when a pass from Henry offered him a clear view of the goal.

It was in the 68th minute that Hasselbaink finally gave up the struggle against his injured calf, with Gianfranco Zola coming on. To make matters worse for Chelsea, Arsenal scored two minutes later. A spectacular goal it was, too, Parlour joining a neat Arsenal move through the middle, picking the ball up midway inside the Chelsea half, taking a few steps and then thumping it so hard into the roof of the net from 25 yards that Cudicini’s straining fingertips were no match for the shot. Arsenal sent on Edu for Bergkamp after 72 minutes, but, if that was intended as a defensive move, it had the opposite effect, the north Londoners surging further ahead. Cudicini made a fine save to keep out Henry’s curling shot before Ljungberg scored Arsenal’s second goal in the 80th minute with a shot the Swede bent round the Chelsea goalkeeper with awesome accuracy.

gliMPses oF glory ■ Arsenal’s Sol Campbell (left) and Tony Adams celebrate winning the Cup. OPPOSITE PAGE: Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry share a post-match victory hug.

A rsenal won the FA Cup, 1-0, over Southampton with the sort of gritty, focused performance that might have

brought them the Premiership title as well if they had played like this more often in the closing months of the season. There was none of the flamboyance in the Millennium Stadium that had led to Southampton’s destructive 6-1 loss at Highbury 10 days earlier; nevertheless the Gunners fully deserved their hard-fought victory.

With Arsenal unable to score a second, clinching goal, Southampton, who were much more determined and combative than they had been at Highbury, did not concede defeat easily. In fact, only another of the wondrous reflex saves that defy David Seaman’s veteran status, and a goal-line clearance by Ashley Cole, made sure that Robert Pires’ goal retained the Cup for Arsenal. This final certainly had novelty value. With the stadium roof closed against the rain, that dratted public address announcer the Football Association should have left at Wembley, to be demolished along with everything else, hailed it in suitably reverential tones as the first FA Cup final to be played indoors. That was something of an overstatement considering this was only the third to be staged in Cardiff. Arsenal, lacking two of the pillars of their side, Patrick Vieira because of injury and Sol Campbell because of

suspension, were much as expected in terms of selection. Ray Parlour took over from Vieira in central midfield and Oleg Luzhny was drafted in to replace Campbell in central defence alongside Martin Keown, whose recovery from injury was timely given the goal-scoring threat represented by Southampton’s James Beattie. The Saints, however, did spring a surprise. They left out Fabrice Fernandes, the Frenchman, who has been such an attacking threat down the right this season, and brought in Chris Baird, a Northern Ireland Under-21 international full-back. The intention, with Paul Telfer playing in front of Baird, was clearly to stiffen the team’s resistance to the potentially devastating attacks launched down Arsenal’s left by Pires, Cole and, not least, Thierry Henry. But it was down the inside-right channel that Henry very nearly began the game sensationally by scoring inside 30 seconds. Having run on to Freddie Ljungberg’s perfectly judged through-ball, Henry shook off Claus Lundekvam’s crude attempt to drag him back but was unable to squeeze his shot past Antti Niemi as Southampton’s Finnish goalkeeper got his angles right at the near post. Henry made another dangerous run down the same channel shortly afterwards and this time Niemi could not hold the striker’s shot. Dennis Bergkamp pounced on the loose ball to the right of goal and drilled a low centre into the goalmouth, but Baird hacked the ball clear. Arsenal were finding Henry at will, but another chance went begging when, freed by Bergkamp’s marvellous pass, he

shot tamely at Niemi. Relieved to have survived Arsenal’s opening onslaught, Southampton gradually regained their composure and began to look dangerous themselves. A couple of half-chances fell to Michael Svensson at set-pieces and Baird had Seaman scrambling anxiously across his goal to keep out a shot, deliberately curled from long range, of which Henry or Bergkamp would have been proud. Beattie brought roars of delight from the yellow half of the stadium when he drilled Brett Ormerod’s pass into the bottom corner of the net after 21 minutes. A linesman’s offside flag cut the celebrations short, however. The referee, Graham Barber, also had to intervene, with yellow cards, when Keown brought down Ormerod with a heavy tackle and Beattie jumped into Luzhny. Then, seven minutes before half-time, Arsenal took the lead, 1-0. It was not one of their most beautiful goals, in that the ball did not flow smoothly. It began well enough, with Henry slipping a short pass to Bergkamp on the edge of the area. Bergkamp hooked a pass to Ljungberg and it was a mis-hit shot by the Swede that ricocheted to Pires, who rammed the ball into the bottom corner. Arsenal ended the first half as rampantly as they had begun it, and only another goal-line clearance by Baird prevented Bergkamp from scoring with a low cross-shot. Arsenal could have scored twice early in the second half, first when Niemi, diving to his left, could do no more than palm away a Bergkamp shot he should have held.

ArsenAl show True GriT

To silence sAinTs’ roAr

By Duncan White at The Millennium Stadium, The Sunday Telegraph, May 17, 2003

ARSENAL 1-0 SOUTHAMPTOM

MillenniuM biG MoMenTs ■ David Seaman, the Arsenal captain and goalkeeper, savours his moments

with the FA Cup following the Gunners’ 1-0 victory over Southampton. Seaman’s efforts all afternoon kept Southampton

off the scoreboard.

A few days after their 2002 FA Cup win, Arsenal went on to win the Premiership title. As they approached the 2003 final they had been pipped at the post for a “Double Double” by arch-rival Manchester United.

It put a Cup final win into even sharper focus. Manager Arsène Wenger needed no encouragement.

“For me the whole day captures the essence of English football.”

Wenger’s Cup record looked good – two wins in three finals in five years – and his team were in for another one.

Their opponents were the South Coast’s Southampton, the surprise winners in 1976, and facing a big task in unseating Cup holders, Arsenal.

At their helm was the canny Scotsman, Gordon Strachan, who had been in finals himself, both as a favourite and an underdog.

“It doesn’t matter which point you start from. If you get beat it is a horrible experience.”

Southampton’s captain, Chris Marsden, was the type of footballer an FA Cup final was made for. Thirty-four-year-old Marsden had scored a spectacular goal in their 6th Round tie with Wolves.

Self-effacing, he told the local newspaper, “It wasn’t the cleanest hit in the world but by later that night it had turned into an overhead scissors of Ronaldo proportions!”

A semi-final win over Watford at Villa Park had given

the Saints fans South Coast bragging rights – and once again underlined that the FA Cup, with the serendipity of its draw and knock-out nature of its football, made the tournament unique and gave everybody a chance to have “their day in the sun.”

The Millennium Stadium was not Wembley but located in the heart of the city of Cardiff it provided lots of eating and drinking establishments for the travelling fans – and Arsenal were getting there so often the Gooners had their own local pub!

Arsenal had a total of eight FA Cup final wins in the bag – and their opponents, Southampton, had that single win under Lawrie McMenemy. The Saints had finished in their highest place in the Premier League – eighth.

David Seaman was captaining Arsenal at Cardiff, in the absence of the injured Patrick Vieira. The England goalkeeper had made a brilliant match-winning save against Sheffield United’s Paul Peschisolido in the semi-final at Old Trafford.

Later that year Seaman would turn 40. And he would go out of Highbury as a Cup winner – again – as a 38th-minute shot from inside the Southampton penalty area by Frenchman Robert Pires sealed things for the Gunners.

I was at the game and, like so many others, felt that a single goal would be enough – and it was.

FA cuP MeMories

The ball ran loose to Ljungberg, unmarked to the right of goal, but he drove his angled shot high into the side-netting. Then Henry, sent clear by Pires, saw Niemi divert his low shot inches wide with his fingertips. That was the Southampton goalkeeper’s last contribution to the game. Having sent a free-kick from inside his area a long way downfield, Niemi collapsed with a calf injury and had to be carried off on a stretcher and replaced by substitute Paul Jones after 64 minutes. They also brought on Jo Tessem for Anders Svensson soon after, and the substitute had a great chance within seconds. Telfer’s ball in from the right was only hopeful, but it broke to Tessem on the left and only Lauren’s speed across the goalmouth area prevented the shot from testing Seaman. With the Gunners, too, seeming to run out of ideas, manager Arsène Wenger sent in Sylvain Wiltord to pep up the attack. Strangely, he took off Bergkamp, who had been at his liveliest for weeks. But it was Southampton who nearly got the goal both sides were looking for. Turning on Tessem’s flick-on, Ormerod struck what looked certain to be an equaliser until Seaman made a marvellous reflex save to divert the ball away. When Arsenal struck back in response, Jones excelled, too, with a good save from Henry. In the final minutes, Arsenal ran down the clock.

ForeVer MeMories ■ Arsenal’s Robert Pires jumps over Chris Baird of Southampton during the FA Cup final. Pires scored the Gunners’ goal. LEFT: A young Arsenal fan arrives at the Cup final dressed in full Gunners gear. It was Arsenal’s ninth Cup final win.

MilleniuM big MoMents

■ United’s Ruud Van Nistelrooy (10) fires a penalty kick past Millwall’s goalkeeper,

Andy Marshall (middle), as teammate Paul Scholes watches during the 2004 Cup final.

C ristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese boy of war, mesmerised Millwall with the sort of sleight-of-hand football that was never much appreciated down at the

old Den, let alone the new one. But after all his legerdemain had unnerved the clawless and often clueless Lions, it was the most straightforward of headers from Ronaldo that ensured the Cup would be delivered into Manchester United’s grateful hands.

It was the sort of goal that Alan Shearer scores, not a player famed for endless stepovers and artistic footwork. Fitting all the same, it was an artisan goal befitting an artisan final, and even though this was a record fifth triumph for United’s manager, Alex Ferguson, it offered further evidence of why this season has been one of the most disappointing of his reign. United, 10-1 favourites, were unbackable for punters without pockets as deep as the Aga Khan. But, for long periods, they stumbled through a final that only turned into the walkover everyone had predicted after Ruud van Nistelrooy dispatched a second-half penalty into the top corner following David Livermore’s clumsy challenge on Ryan Giggs for a 2-0 lead. There was, as one would expect, a chasm in class between the two teams and, most noticeably, between the two most decorated players on the Millennium Stadium pitch, United captain Roy Keane and Millwall’s player-manager, Dennis Wise. Keane, only the second man to play in six FA Cup finals, offered us a reprise of his days of

majesty by dominating the midfield, while Wise, in his fifth final, did his best, or rather worst, to turn a predictable coronation into a bar-room brawl. If it had not been the FA Cup final, which tends to see referees at their most merciful, his crude tackles and attempts to wind up opponents might well have ended in a sending-off. As it was, referee Jeff Winter, hoping to keep his cards in his pocket in his last match before retirement, was forced to show a yellow to Wise, who drew boos from every United fan when he was substituted in the final minute. Ferguson brought off Ronaldo late in the game to enable him to take a deserved salute from supporters. And, with only a few minutes remaining, United’s manager showed his caring side by sending in substitute goalkeeper Roy Carroll, having agonised for days whether he or Tim Howard should get the jersey. For the first time in their lives, Millwall might have carried the hopes of the majority of the nation, even if it would be stretching things to describe them as the choice of the romantics. But when the little guys do not perform, it makes for the type of tedious final we saw here, devoid of drama and uncertainty. Still, the Cup final needs underdogs to maintain that special air of wonderment from supporters who never expected to be here. And so it was that Millwall supporters, like Southampton fans last year, were in their seats hours before kick-off to eke the most out of an experience that is unlikely to be repeated. United fans ambled in only minutes after the Royal Corps of Engineers band had finished performing the pre-match music. These were fans who have very much been

united roar past Millwall, Ferguson wins

a FiFth Cup

Field general ■ Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, while on the sideline, attempts to get his team’s attention during the Cup final.

By Roy Collins at The Millennium Stadium, The Sunday Telegraph, May 22, 2004

MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 MILLWALL

“No one likes us and we don’t care” – it was the familiarly ironic chorus from the supporters of the South London club of Millwall, and it was was well known around the grounds of English football.

And in May 2004 their fanatical followers found a new place to air a rendition – the home of song itself, Wales. Yes, Millwall, who had finished 10th in the second tier of English football that season, were in the FA Cup final, which for the fourth year was being held in the Millennium Stadium.

Semi-finalists three times before in their history. Millwall had gone one better this time, helped by a series of draws which allowed them to avoid any Premier League opposition.

And getting to the final itself delivered another first for the Lions – a European adventure the next season.

Their Cup final opponents, Manchester United, had already qualified for Champions League football so a place in the UEFA Cup was Millwall’s regardless of the result of the big match.

Millwall’s boss was a young man with a big FA Cup pedigree. Dennis Wise, the player-manager at The Den, which had enjoyed big success in the Cup tournament in his time at Wimbledon and Chelsea. And Wise would be donning his shirt and shorts again as Millwall had been hit by a series of suspensions and injuries.

Manchester United, meanwhile, had finished third behind Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League, and

indeed had to watch Arsenal go through the League season unbeaten.

United were smarting and ready to do battle with Millwall’s men.

A new star was on the rise at Old Trafford. His name was Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro – or Cristiano Ronaldo to his new adoring fans. The 19-year-old from Funchal, Portugal, had taken fans’ breath away with his prodigious talent and flair. He had been signed from Portuguese giants, Sporting, and would play for United for six seasons before moving on to Real Madrid.

Ronaldo opened the scoring in the Cup final with a header, which caught his marker Wise flat-footed.

Two more goals followed in the second half – both from free-scoring Ruud Van Nistelrooy, the first a penalty.

His time at Old Trafford ended in 2006, having scored nearly a hundred goals in 150 appearances. He, too, went to the Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

Millwall were outplayed but not outsung as their followers enjoyed a fabulous Cup final. And Wise delivered another first for FA Cup history when bringing on substitute Curtis Weston, who at the tender age of just 17 years and one hundred nineteen days, became the youngest player ever to appear in the Cup final.

When United received the trophy, they had all changed their match shirts to a new set all bearing the number 36 – a tribute to former colleague Jimmy Davis who had died in a car crash the previous year.

Fa Cup MeMories

there, done that, and purchased the replica shirt. United’s players began with the same nonchalant air, stroking the ball around midfield, inspired by Keane, who instantly found immaculate line and length with his passing. The confidence oozing through United was evident from their youngest members, Ronaldo providing an impudent cross with his heel that almost produced an early goal for Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher back-heeling a pass into Giggs’ path. There was a swagger, bordering on arrogance, in United’s play, Keane giving a further demonstration when, with the air of a golfer on the practice range, he delivered a casual chip from almost 30 yards that required Andy Marshall’s white glove to direct it over the bar. The white flag was not far behind. Wise’s one significant moment in the opening half-hour

was a malevolent kick at Ronaldo to punish him for a sublime pirouette, a foul that led to a mass pushing match between players of both sides, but thankfully no riot. Despite limiting himself to a narrow area in central midfield, Wise kept pointing his team forward and they finally plucked up the nerve to test United’s defence after 36 minutes, when Paul Ifill burst through. But, with two Millwall players taking up promising positions in the box, he thudded a shot against John O’Shea. Five minutes from half-time, Darren Ward made a remarkable clearance from Ronaldo a yard from the line. But Ronaldo seemed destined to leave a memorable mark on this final and so it proved in the 44th minute when he ghosted into the box to head in Gary Neville’s right-wing cross for a 1-0 lead.

Wise’s dream of becoming the first player to win the FA Cup with three different teams died at that moment. And after he used his return to the big stage to remind us of his most unsavoury qualities, few neutrals will shed a tear. He was lucky to escape being booked for a tangle with Scholes just before half-time and, early in the second, he finally persuaded Winter to flash a yellow card after a high challenge on Giggs. After Van Nistelrooy’s penalty kick in the 65th minute, it was merely a question of damage limitation for Millwall, who did not force a single save from either of United’s goalkeepers. Nine minutes from the end of play, Giggs skipped inside Matt Lawrence and laid on a sitter that Van Nistelrooy duly tucked in to make it 3-0. Unfortunately, it was a routine finish to a sadly routine game.

perFeCtion ■ Manchester United captain Roy Keane kisses the Cup with great respect and reverence. OPPOSITE PAGE: A Millwall fan cheers his team on during the 123rd FA Cup final, but Manchester United’s crushing 3-0 win would eventually turn those big smiles into frowns.

I t was so nearly the Wayne Rooney Cup final. Rooney – the boy branded a poor role model for his swearing and yobbish behaviour, who for once was concentrating

on what he does best, doing sublime things with a football. Although he tormented Arsenal to the point of psychosis and surrender, they somehow survived 120 minutes to force the final into a penalty shoot-out for the first time in its 133-year history.

It was a miserable way to end the Cup battle between the country’s two most attack-minded teams, producing a goalless draw in the final for the first time since 1912 and brought one of the most turbulent periods in Manchester United’s history to a miserable end, one etched in black. The two hours of football at The Millennium Stadium ended in shame when Arsenal’s Jose Antonio Reyes was sent off in the final seconds for a second bookable offence. Although he is one of their more reliable penalty takers, they scored all five to win the shoot-out, 5-4. Jens Lehmann decided it with a brilliant save on Paul Scholes’ kick. At least it was not marred by United fans, who were demonstrating against the sale of their club

to American sports magnate Malcolm Glazer. The odd black balloon was the only visible sign of any protest. If we could also welcome the sight of these warring teams for once keeping their hands and, as far as we know, their food trays to themselves, it was a deeply unsatisfactory final that highlighted the reasons why the two clubs who have dominated English football over the past 10 years have suddenly been eclipsed by Chelsea. United’s £70 million strike force, in which Rooney was at times breathtaking, once again failed to score in a game they dominated. And Arsenal, without Thierry Henry, were completely impotent, forcing United goalkeeper Roy Carroll into just one save – and that a free-kick from substitute Robin Van Persie in the 98th minute. For all the bad blood between these teams, there is still also an enormous respect, certainly far more than Prime Minister Tony Blair can ever hope to instill in England’s feral youths. It showed in an opening passage of play in which both teams enjoyed spells of lengthy, careful possession. As the football started to develop a more cutting edge, so did the tackles. United’s Darren Fletcher took out Patrick Vieira on the blind side, Reyes slid into Fletcher and Scholes made one of his wild lunges at Dennis Bergkamp. Referee Rob

Styles rightly allowed those to go unpunished before correctly booking Arsenal’s Ashley Cole for cynically taking out Rooney. It seemed to have a galvanising effect on Rooney, who produced five scintillating minutes of football around the half-hour mark which might easily have settled the game. First, he delivered a thunderbolt that Lehmann stopped with his right foot. United’s Rio Ferdinand was standing offside when he rolled in the rebound. Then Rooney, suddenly moving into bull-in-a-china-shop mode, muscled through for a shot that Lehmann pushed over the bar and, most outrageously of all, met the resulting Scholes corner with a volley from 20 yards that whistled over the bar and might have done some serious danger to any Arsenal fan behind the goal. Arsenal, in such breathtaking form in the final weeks of the Premiership season, struggled to make an impact at the other end, with their five midfield players causing an M4-style traffic jam in the centre and Dennis Bergkamp, alone up front, struggling to bring the arriving cavalry into play. Arsenal were desperately missing their star player, Henry, not just for his goals but for the manner in which he links up the play and eats up the ground, quickly turning defence into attack.

ArsenAl’s lehmAnnsAves DAy As unIteD

Crumble In shoot-out

By Roy Collins at The Millennium Stadium,The Sunday Telegraph, May 21, 2005

ARSENAL 0-0 MANCHESTER UNITED(Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties)

mIllennIum bIg moments

■ Freddie Ljungberg holds the Cup after the Gunners’ 1-0 victory over Manchester United. Arsenal have won the Cup final

three times in the past four years.

Without that threat, United were able to continue pushing forward, with Rooney continuing to set the agenda. Arsenal’s Philipe Senderos managed to block a shot off his knee and Kolo Touré threw himself to the ground to steal the ball from his boot. An agitated Arsène Wenger, who had removed his pre-match tie, prowled the touchline wondering how much longer he dared to maintain a formation that was clearly not working. Never quick to make changes, he pulled Bergkamp off with fully 25 minutes to go, sending on Freddie Ljungberg in search of width and pace. It coincided with Arsenal’s first shot, a right-foot effort from Robert Pires that comfortably cleared the bar. For a side who nearly always score and who recently put seven goals past Everton, it was a curiously tepid, even dull, performance. Ljungberg at least got busy, immediately freshening up the attacking lines, but not before Rooney squeezed a shot past Lehmann that came back off a post. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had scored in last year’s final, also gave Etame-Mayer Lauren one of his most uncomfortable afternoons of the season. Ljungberg offered Arsenal hope, playing a one-two with Reyes and almost forcing Carroll into his first save. But Reyes, enjoying the extra support and, showing no signs of any mental scars from the battering he took in that infamous Premiership game at Old Trafford in October, stupidly got himself booked for a challenge from behind on Mikael Silvestre. Senderos almost gave away all Arsenal’s hard work when he carelessly stroked a would-be clearance to Scholes, who lifted it straight back into Rooney’s path. Fortunately for Senderos, a flurry of red shirts, led by Gilberto Silva, wrestled him to the ground. Lehmann, who has partially redeemed himself for some dreadful mistakes earlier in the season, brought all the uncertainty flooding back through his defence when he dropped two successive crosses in the final five minutes, allowing Roy Keane to hit a shot that Vieira blocked and Ruud Van Nistelrooy to head against the bar. United brought on Ryan Giggs for extra-time, a player hoping, like Keane, to become the first player in more than a century to win five Cups. But even he could not break the deadlock.

InsPIrIng moments ■ Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira (4) scores the winning penalty against Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll in the shoot-out.

In January 2005 I joined The Football Association as their Chief Executive, a significant professional turn in the road from my stints as the Head of Sport at BBC Television and later a similar position at ITV.

I had moved from broadcasting to football but one thing remained a constant – the FA Cup final.

I had seen every final since 1962, either on the television or live at the event itself, and now I was going one step further. I was the FA Executive in overall responsibility for the event itself.

From security to silverware, from protocol to programmes, my name was now across the top of the shop and so I walked out onto the Millennium Stadium as part of the VIP party to be introduced to the teams.

A pre-match tradition I’d watched many times before, it was now part of my own routine. I went down both lines of players wishing them well for the action.

Arsenal were returning for their fourth final in five years, but this time without injured Thierry Henry – and Patrick Vieira was playing in his last game for the Gunners, but that was the stuff of the forthcoming summer transfer window – not a Saturday in late May.

Manchester United had begun their campaign with an undistinguished home scoreless draw against Nationwide Conference side, Exeter City. A replay win followed and they were off and running.

Roy Keane was captaining the United side and playing in his seventh FA Cup final. The ultimate competitor, he was nearing the end of his career with the Red Devils and by the end of

the year had left. Keane and Vieira had been

involved in a lively exchange in the Highbury tunnel before their League meeting in February and there was no love lost between the sides.

One of the other players we wished good luck to was the young United superstar, Wayne Rooney. Signed from Everton in July 2004, this was his first FA Cup final.

He had become famous very quickly – for a combination of his exquisite skill and his quick temper. But one member of the VIP party still seemed a little confused, when he noted: “He’s really fired up that MICKEY Rooney, isn’t he?”

Well, there was no Hollywood star on the pitch that afternoon – and no goals either as somehow Manchester United failed to convert their dominance in the game into that vital substance – goals.

If Arsenal had been hood-winked by Liverpool in 2001, this time the Gunners did the same to United, despite having Reyes sent off on the final whistle.

The game went to penalties and only Scholes missed, which left Patrick Vieira to step up and take Arsenal’s fifth penalty. He scored and won the game for the Gunners.

It turned out to be his last competitive kick for Arsenal. In the summer he moved to Juventus in a £20 million transfer.

Arsenal and Manchester United were to continue their sporting feud for several seasons, but they now had a serious new contender for the game’s top prizes – Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

It wasn’t going to be dull, that’s for sure.

FA CuP memorIes

I f this really was the last FA Cup final in Cardiff, it will have proved a parting of such sweet sorrow for winners and losers alike. It was not so much a case of bringing

the curtain down on The Millennium Stadium’s tenure of the Cup final as bringing the roof down during one of the most memorable and dramatic finals in history, certainly the most outstanding of the past 20 years, with Liverpool defeating West Ham, 3-1, on penalties after a 3-3 thriller through regulation time.

West Ham and Liverpool both deserved victory for restoring some of the gloss to the old trophy on its 125th day out. But there could only be one winner and, when none of the creative football was enough to produce one, fate pointed a finger of reprieve at Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, at fault for two West Ham goals, by making him the hero of the penalty shoot-out.

How ironic that, after Arsenal last year became the first team to win on penalties in the Cup’s 134-year history following a turgid goalless draw against Manchester United, this brilliantly colourful affair should produce a second in succession.

No one could begrudge Liverpool captain Steven

Gerrard the right to lift the Cup after his two brilliant goals and his driving influence on his team. Yet Hammers captain Nigel Reo-Coker, who looked destined to become the youngest to lift the trophy since the great Bobby Moore lifted it for the club in 1964, would have been as fitting a winner because Moore himself would have been proud of the way this West Ham team played in what can only be described as the “Upton Park way”.

All their players were a credit not just to the wonderful tradition of the old West Ham football academy but to manager Alan Pardew, who has overcome so much criticism to cement his own place in the club’s history with his dignity and his credentials intact.

One feared that West Ham might have allowed their professional preparations to be undermined by the occasion when, as soon as the opera singers had finished straining for the high notes of Abide With Me and Michael Ball had delivered the National Anthem, they sprinted to dance in front of their supporters as if, like the Cockney Boys on their day out, they, too, had arrived in a stretch Hummer.

But, once the action began, it became clear that they had been simply plugging into the energy of their supporters and that they had not come to fulfil the role of plucky underdogs. Having allowed Liverpool to dominate the early possession, they began mounting swift, dangerous

’KEEPER REIna lEads lIvERPool

to dRamatIc

vIctoRyBy Roy Collins at The Millennium Stadium, The Sunday Telegraph, May 13, 2006

LIVERPOOL 3-3 WEST HAM UNITED(Liverpool won 3-1 on penalties)

mIllEnnIum bIg momEnts

■ Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard celebrates with the Cup after receiving it from Prince

William. The Reds were impressive in winning the 2006 final, 3-1, on penalties.

counter-attacks, a feature of their game under Pardew, mostly orchestrated by the quick, intelligent feet of Yossi Benayoun. Many of the West Ham banners were dipped in homage to their past, with tributes to their late former managers, Ron Greenwood and John Lyall, who died just days before this year’s semi-final. The pair would have nodded in approval from the heavens at an opening Hammers goal that reflected everything they believed and preached about how the game should be played.

Liverpool had been surprisingly careless with possession and when Xabi Alonso knocked the ball to Benayoun just inside the Liverpool half, the mistake proved fatal. The ball was instantly transferred to Dean Ashton, whose ball over the top released Lionel Scaloni, arriving at the speed of the cavalry, to deliver a right-wing cross that Jamie Carragher turned into his own net, which gave West Ham a 1-0 lead.

Bubbles drifted gently around the stadium and, within seven minutes, Hammers supporters were ready to float away with them when Reina, the man brought in to replace the accident prone Jerzy Dudek, dropped Matthew Etherington’s snapshot and Ashton, with a predator’s instinct, clipped it in to boost West Ham’s lead to 2-0.

West Ham fans, though, are ever aware of the second verse of their famous anthem – the one that warns of fortune always hiding. So they should not have been surprised that, with fortune offering them a big sunny day after 32 minutes, their team instantly squandered half their advantage by allowing Djibril Cisse to latch on to Gerrard’s ball and fire it past Shaka Hislop and into the top of the West Ham goal, cutting the score to 2-1.

Liverpool, of course, came from 3-0 down against AC Milan to win last year’s Champions League final on penalties, so they were not about to panic. And when Gerrard equalised nine minutes into the second half, West Ham looked like becoming the first team since Sheffield Wednesday, in 1966, to lose an FA Cup final after leading, 2-0. But then came a shot of pure impudence by Paul Konchesky 30 yards out on the left, which dipped over the head of the despairing Reina. Just as it was announced that there would be four minutes of time added on, Gerrard struck his second equaliser from just outside the box.

Then came the cruel penalty shoot-out drama, with Reina saving from Benayoun, Konchesky and Anton Ferdinand.

We may never see the like again, but no one would bet against a return here next year for another finale.

a HERo In tHE HEat oF battlE ■ Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina stretches to block a shot near the far corner of the net. Reina later made three penalty saves.

My first FA Cup final whilst in charge at the FA pitched together two footballing juggernauts in Arsenal and Manchester United.

It later presented a more personal problem: How to retain my neutrality whilst watching my team, Liverpool, in the final against three-time winners West Ham.

It was a question our Guest of Honour, the President of the FA, Prince William, raised himself at he joined us at the pre-match lunch.

Mind you, he posed the same question to Sir Trevor Brooking, a West Ham legend, and the scorer of a Cup-winning goal and now a member of the FA senior staff. We both made all the right noises about “being neutral” and then waited to see what transpired.

The final was once again played at Cardiff. The new Wembley Stadium was falling behind every deadline set for it. I took Prince William down into the tunnel area ahead of the start of the game.

The game’s new FA President caught Steven Gerrard’s eye as the brilliant midfielder emerged from the Liverpool dressing room. And there was a little self-conscious exchange of smiles between the future heir to the throne and the Liverpool captain.

They were two famous young men with the world before them.

The game itself was an absolute cracker. It was the best final for twenty years and both teams played their part. West Ham got two goals ahead through a Jamie Carragher own-goal and a Dean Ashton tap-in.

Djibril Cissé got one back before half-time and Gerrard scored a captain’s goal early in

the second half to square at 2-2.Paul Konchesky, a future

Red, later put West Ham ahead again with a cross-shot, which bamboozled the Reds’ Spanish goalkeeper, Pepe Reina.

The vibrant sound of I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles filled the stadium as the Hammers fans counted down to an unlikely but deserved win against the 2005 European Champions.

Then, in injury-time, Steven Gerrard produced a moment of absolute magic with his greatest Liverpool goal – a fierce volley from outside the box into the corner of the net. Sensational. It was a goal to win any match – any final – anywhere.

It didn’t win this one, but it saved the game for Liverpool. West Ham had deserved to win the match but couldn’t close it out. Extra-time in the sunshine of Cardiff brought no more goals and the game had to be settled from the penalty spot for the second year running.

The previous year Liverpool had also beaten AC Milan on penalties in their memorable Champions League final in Istanbul. This year it was Shaka Hislop, who was between the posts for West Ham, and Spanish penalty-saving expert, Reina, for Liverpool.

And once again the Merseysiders successfully came through in the most nerve-shredding way to settle a game – the penalty shoot-out. West Ham’s Anton Ferdinand missed the critical spot-kick.

It was the Millennium Stadium’s last staging of the FA Cup final. And, fittingly, Prince William handed the famous old trophy to Steven Gerrard – himself a king for a day.

Fa cuP mEmoRIEs

lEadIngoFF

■ A massive crowd in Liverpool watches and celebrates the Merseyside club’s Cup victory parade.

a sEa oF REd In lIvERPool

The BesT of WemBley

■ Didier Drogba (right) scores the Cup-winning goal at 26 minutes into extra-time to give Chelsea its fourth FA Cup. Drogba

would also play a prominent role in Chelsea’s Cup final wins in 2009, 2010 and 2012.

N o dream final, just a dream finish, at least for the followers of Chelsea, who took 116 minutes to produce the one coherent piece of football that turned

out to be all that was needed to win the 126th FA Cup by a 1-0 margin in extra-time on the day the old trophy finally returned to its spiritual Wembley home.

After all the problems and spiralling costs of the new stadium, the only glitch of the day was the timing of the Red Arrows to deliver the promised fly-past just before kick-off. And though it would be cruel to say to say that the Red Devils also failed to turn up, the occasion fell way short of the all-action, hard-hat final that we had anticipated. Chelsea’s players, their Premiership and Champions League misery temporarily forgotten, performed synchronised sliding dives on the lush grass in front of their supporters at the end, continuing long after the disappointed hordes of Manchester United followers had disappeared into the sun-lit evening. But the modern game conducts its business at such a grinding, unmerciful pace that by the time Chelsea’s team dragged themselves to the dressing rooms, manager Jose Mourinho and his assistants were already shaping plans for next season. The arrogant Mourinho, who made history himself by becoming the first manager to lead out a Cup final team with his hands in his pockets, must also have set a managerial record for the amount of time he hung on to the trophy afterwards, which completed a full set of

English domestic honours. One would not have been surprised if he had suddenly produced his missing pooch from the inside the trophy’s lid. These occasions are meant to provide historical perspectives and if United fell short of a record fourth League and Cup Double, Chelsea’s Cup final win came wrapped in an extra ribbon. They were only the second team since Arsenal in 1993 to win both domestic cups. That was also the last year the Cup final would be decided by an extra-time goal. Arsenal’s winner by Andy Linighan was the latest final goal, at 119 minutes and 16 seconds. Drogba’s arrived with four minutes remaining to play and, though there seemed no initial danger when he collected a through ball from John Obi Mikel, he swiftly knocked it right to Frank Lampard, whose cushioned volley set up a virtual tap-in. If anyone was going to win it in normal time, it was Ryan Giggs, who was pushing at history’s door, attempting to become the first player since Blackburn’s Jimmy Forrest, in 1891, to win a fifth Winners’ medal. He thought he had done it as the first period of extra-time came to a close, when his shot from Wayne Rooney’s crossing pass was carried over the line by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech. But referee Steve Bennett ruled it neither a goal nor a foul. Back in 1923, when Wembley staged its first FA Cup final, it needed just a single white horse to control the crowds. This grand reopening was a massive securityoperation and had a flying exclusion over North London, which the Red Arrows believed included them, thus causing the confusion over participating in the stadium’s

AfTeR 116 mINUTes, DRogBA fINAlly lIghTs

Up WemBley

A TeAm effoRT ■ John Terry, Michael Essien and Wayne Bridge celebrate Chelsea’s first Cup final win since 2000.

By Roy Collins at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 19, 2007

CHELSEA 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED

pre-game celebration. The new Wembley was so long in the rebuilding that we were bombarded with a plethora of stats about the number of toilets and restaurants and the number of beers that could be poured (and downed) every minute. We were hoping these facts would end up buried under an avalanche of exciting match statistics, glorious goals, imaginative build-up play and individual brilliance. It was not to be. Part of the blame lay with a pitch reminiscent of the stodgy surfaces at the old stadium, which prompted Giggs’ surprising pre-match claim that he had never enjoyed playing there. We needed a downpour to freshen up the grass but the day stayed dry – much like the teams’ powder until long into extra-time. Mourinho may be incapable of admitting his faults but one of his finer qualities is a decisiveness in correcting his selection errors. True to that nature, he courageously replaced Joe Cole

with Arjen Robben at half-time to give his side a more cutting edge. Even then, Giggs continued to be the man most likely to provide the decisive moment, but a great clunking fist of a tackle by Michael Essien denied him when clean through. Predictably, the pass again came from the elegant foot of Paul Scholes, the man whose career was under threat by a mysterious eye injury last season, but who was now showing that he still has 20-20. Strange as it may seem, the season ended in disappointment for both clubs, given their vaulting ambitions. United, who had dreamed of a repeat of their 1999 Treble, had to make do with a single shot of Premiership triumph, while Chelsea, chasing an unprecedented Quadruple deep into spring, had to settle for a Double. But to Chelsea and their fans, it still seemed that their cups were overflowing tonight.

mIXeD emoTIoNs ■ ABOVE LEFT: A confident, but without showing a hint of emotion, Jose Mourinho lifts the Cup for the first time. ABOVE RIGHT: John Terry and Frank Lampard, two of the keys in Chelsea’s Cup win, enjoy this special moment.

leADINgoff

■ Prince William (right), the President of The Football Association, is handed the FA Cup by Private Johnson Baharry before the start of the 2007 Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium.

A NoBle ReTURN

At last! After seven years the new Wembley Stadium was open again and its beautiful Arch was now its stand-out feature – and the Twin Towers were now a warm memory.

The construction of the new Wembley Stadium had taken longer – much, much longer – than expected. Delay after delay. But all that was now behind us as Sir Norman Foster’s magnificent design and Australian builders, Multiplex, had come together to produce one of the most magnificent sporting stadiums in the world.

After a couple of trial events, the new stadium was deemed safe and ready; the 2007 FA Cup final was chosen as the event to fully mark its official opening.

It was an event that drew huge interest from an expectant media and public alike. Finally, the wait was over.

In 1923, the opening of the first Wembley Cup final resulted in a stampede from the 200,000-plus fans and a place in FA Cup final legend for “Billy,” the white horse. Now the new Stadium with its 90,000 capacity was open for business.

I’d had some nervous days throughout my long career in broadcasting and sport but this was by far my most nerve-wracking. I proudly accompanied the President of the Football Association, Prince William, on to the pitch as he delivered his speech to formally open the stadium and looked around at the magnificient sight, which was full to the rafters with expectant football fans.

It was a spine-tingling moment – one of the best of my career.

The pre-match celebrations ended with a marvellous sweep

across the sky above the stadium by the famous Red Arrows. This brilliant team of pilots flew at 400 mph and at an altitude of 1,000 feet, leaving a patriotic trail of red, white and blue smoke.

Soon after, the pictures were sent around the world.

Yes – Wembley was open for business.

After all the pageantry the match itself struggled to live up to the occasion. That 2006-07 tournament had produced the “perfect” final: Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea against Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. Chelsea had won the Premiership in 2005 and 2006 and Manchester United had claimed it in 2007.

Mourinho had simply exploded onto English football as manager of Chelsea. Charismatic, opinionated, witty and super-confident, Portuguese Mourinho, who was backed by Roman Abramovich’s billions, was making the West London club one of the most powerful in world football.

And the “Special One” had great respect for the FA Cup.

“We are ready to fight to lift this beautiful Cup,” he noted before the match.

Ferguson also spoke warmly of the competition. He noted, “The Cup has been special to Manchester United and me over the years.”

The match was ultimately resolved four minutes from the end of extra-time by Chelsea’s man from the Ivory Coast, Didier Drogba. His goal, the only one of the game, was captured on the many cameras focused on the game.

It was a red-letter day for Wembley but the ribbons on the Cup were blue.

fA CUp memoRIes

leADINgoff

■ The Red Arrows soar over the new Wembley Stadium before the start of the 2007 FA Cup final. After a 7-year period to tear down the old Wembley and build the new stadium, this majestic facility, which seats 90,000-plus, is ready to become Britain’s Football Cathedral again.

NeW BegINNINgs

Kanu anD PORTSMOuTHPuniSH CaRDiff CiTy

in CuP Winn wankwo Kanu scored the goal that gave

Portsmouth a 1-0 victory and the FA Cup and believes his strike should be rewarded with an improved contract at

Fratton Park. The Nigerian striker, 31, is on a one-year rolling deal at the club but after scoring the winners in the semi-final against West Bromwich and in this victory, he said: “I have got a one-year contract already and you never know what’s going to happen. What I’m saying is that after scoring a winner like this you have to say ‘thank you very much.’ ”

Kanu has infuriated and entranced in equal measure throughout his career in England. At times he is a footballer who can display the balance and agility of a tightrope walker and, at others, looks as though he only has two left feet so as to double his chances of tripping over one of them. But no one in the game would begrudge him the goal that decided the 127th FA Cup final, which could have been labelled the “Underdog final,” since neither club comes from the fashionable, big-money side of the tracks, and Cardiff were still fighting off court action from creditors that threatens their existence. It was Kanu’s third FA Cup Winners’ medal but in the first occasion, having played a total of only 14 minutes in three appearances for Arsenal, he was an unused substitute when he last walked up the steps to the Royal Box a winner at The Millennium Stadium in 2003. This time he was already practising his dance moves on the sidelines, having been substituted late on, when he glanced up at the big screen and saw his name flash up

as Man of the Match, his goal having earned him legend status at Pompey, winning them their first FA Cup since 1939, after which Hitler invaded Poland and the trophy stayed locked up a pub in Portsmouth’s for seven years. The afternoon did not get off to a foot-perfect start, as guest of honour Sir Bobby Robson slipped on the red carpet as he was presented to the two teams and Pompey fans let themselves down by booing the first FA Cup final rendition of Land Of My Fathers by Katherine Jenkins. The match was not a classic, either, though compared to the dreadful fare served up by Manchester United and Chelsea last year, the first at the new Wembley, it was a feast of football. It even looked as though Championship side Cardiff City would boost neutrals’ hopes of one last upset in this season of Cup surprises by scoring an early goal, but England goalkeeper David James was able to push a Peter Whittingham shot wide when it took a huge deflection off another Cardiff player. In Cardiff ’s last appearance in an FA Cup final, in 1927, they secured a 1-0 win over Arsenal thanks to a horrendous mistake by Welsh goalkeeper Dan Lewis, whose error haunted him to his grave. This time it was a fumble by Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, which produced the Cup final’s only goal. Enckelman is still trying to live down a mistake at Aston Villa five years ago, which gave Birmingham City the victory and which is still a favourite on YouTube. His error here was not quite so bad but when Enckelman failed to hold on to John Utaka’s right-wing cross in the 37th minute, Kanu, with a striker’s instinct, was on hand to boot it home. Afterwards, he performed a little victory jig in front of the goal. With his team ahead, Portsmouth manager Harry

Redknapp could afford to sit quietly in his dugout in his pinstriped suit, topped by a flower in his buttonhole in club blue. His opposite number, Dave Jones, was far more restless, as losing managers generally are, standing for long periods with his hands on his hips, weighing up his options. Just after the hour, he signalled to the fourth official that he was ready to make his big play, pulling off Whittingham and sending in teenager Aaron Ramsey, who is apparently the subject of a £10 million offer from Manchester United. It might well have proved an inspired substitution if young Ramsey had not hesitated for a split second when presented with a scoring opportunity later on, allowing Pompey defenders to close the gap. As referee Mike Dean infuriated Pompey fans by adding four extra minutes of stoppage time, Cardiff sensed that they might still have time to write one more giant-killing story into this extraordinary season. One more opportunity did fall the way of Roger Johnson but his shot was deflected to safety and within seconds, Jones was walking to congratulate Redknapp as the final whistle blew. If no one begrudged Kanu his day in the sun, not that there was much of it in north-west London, many in the game will also be happy to see Redknapp pick up his first trophy after 25 years in football management. Redknapp had already warned the club’s Russian owner, Alexandre Gaydamak, that life could not get any better than this, which led to speculation that he would announce his retirement after this match. But as Redknapp donned a blue and white scarf and cradled the Cup, he looked like a man who fancied his chances of another big day out.

By Roy Collins at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 17, 2008

PORTSMOUTH 1-0 CARDIFF CITY

THe BeST Of WeMBley

■ Portsmouth’s Glen Johnson (left), Icelan-dic player Hermann Hreidarsson (middle) and Ghanaian player Sulley Muntari enjoy a victory lap with the Cup around the pitch at Wembley following the 1-0 win against

Cardiff City.

leaDinGOff

■ All of Portsmouth appeared to have turned out to welcome home the Pompey team and celebrate their FA Cup final success. Portsmouth’s previous Cup final win occurred in 1939.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, who pushed his team to great success, lifts the Cup for the first time in his managerial career. A few months later, Rednapp would depart to take the manager’s job at Tottenham.

a ReTuRn Of THe HeROeS

Nwankwo Kanu made a controversial entrance into FA Cup football in February 1999.

In a 5th Round tie at Highbury, Sheffield United’s goalkeeper, Alan Kelly, had put the ball into touch so an injured player could get treatment.

Protocol required the resulting throw-in to be returned to Sheffield United. But when Arsenal’s newest acquisition, Kanu, received the throw his natural inclination was to cross it and Overmars scored from close range.

The Sheffield United players were furious – and Arsène Wenger and Arsenal Football Club, who won the game 2-1, were so embarrassed by this perceived lack of on-field integrity that they offered to replay the game.

The offer was accepted – but Arsenal were again too good for Sheffield United in the unprecedented second game.

Kanu, who claimed he wasn’t aware of the context of the throw-in, went on to play nearly 200 times for

Arsenal, winning League and Cup honours to add to the Champions League Winners’ medal he won with Ajax and the Olympic gold medal he earned with Nigeria in Atlanta 1996. From Arsenal, Kanu went to West Brom and then to Portsmouth.

There in 2008, under Harry Redknapp, Pompey reached first the semi-final of the Cup and then the final itself. In both games – the semi against West Brom and the final against Cardiff – were 1-0 wins for Portsmouth and Kanu scored both goals.

The 2008 Cup final featured the first non-English side in the final since 1927 as Cardiff beat Barnsley to clinch their slot in the season’s big day out.

And, in recognition of two countries being represented in the match, two anthems were played before the game. Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the Welsh anthem was sung by Welsh songstress Katherine Jenkins and God Save the Queen by Yorkshire-born Lesley Garrett.

Before the game, I had the privilege of leading Sir

Bobby Robson onto the pitch before the game to be introduced to the teams. He was the Guest of Honour and the crowd rose as one for a man steeped in football and a Cup-winner as manager of Ipswich Town.

Sadly it was the last time he visited Wembley but he sent a letter saying how much he had enjoyed being part of the second FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium.

For David James it was third time lucky, after losing Cup final appearances with Liverpool and Aston Villa, and the keeper had secure games in both the semi-final and final.

Sol Campbell had been a Cup-winner with Arsenal twice but enjoyed a special moment captaining Portsmouth to their famous 2008 win.

Pompey’s Cup win gave the South Coast side qualification for Europe for the first time. Afterwards, Wembley had a marvellous post-match rendition of famous sea-faring songs by the fanatical Pompey fans.

fa CuP MeMORieS

Bittersweet CUP wiN FOr

Chelsea as GUUs hiddiNk deParts

e ven in triumph, following a 2-1 victory against Everton, he was modest, dignified. Having climbed the 107 steps, Guus Hiddink seemed almost reluctant

to lift the Cup trophy, but ushered on by Ray Wilkins he took the adulation of the Chelsea support, a flourish that brought to a glorious end a whirlwind affair between the Dutchman and this club. Once he got going though, amid the champagne spray, the emotions poured out and the wise man of world football celebrated with childish enthusiasm. “He’s a great manager and a great man,” said Frank Lampard, who scored the spectacular winning goal. “It’s a great send-off for him and we’re delighted to give him a trophy.”

As ever, Lampard was exceptional. He has played with metronomic excellence in a season when Chelsea have often lacked stability and it was fitting that he scored such a fine winning goal, his 21st of another productive campaign. Didier Drogba again scored in a big game at Wembley – he scored here in the semi-final against Arsenal and when Chelsea won the Cup in 2007 – but it was Lampard who was the difference today, with his expertly

judged passes releasing the rampant pair of Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda on the Chelsea left.

“He wins big games,” was David Moyes’ pithy assessment.

There was no doubt that this was a big game for Everton. This was supposed to have been a dull, attritional game, but Everton soon saw to it that this would be an open, compelling final. Stephen Pienaar picked up the ball on the left and sent in an in-swinging cross that John Obi Mikel failed to properly clear. Marouane Fellaini got his head to the follow-up and, with John Terry having let Louis Saha pull away from him, there was a chance. With Mikel closing, Saha set himself and, whipped a volley in at the near post, with Petr Cech unable to see the ball after his vision was blocked by his defenders.

Chelsea’s response to that stunning setback was emphatic. Malouda managed to get in behind Tony Hibbert on seven minutes and the Everton full-back tripped him. Howard Webb produced the yellow card. Whether he feared being sent off, was carrying an injury or was just plain overwhelmed by the occasion, Hibbert’s game went to pieces.

Malouda and Cole surged down the Chelsea left at will and, with Hibbert being given negligible protection by Leon Osman in front of him, chance followed chance.

Tim Howard managed to make a key intervention with Cole pushing into the box, and Malouda sent in a couple of ominous crosses.

So thoroughly did Malouda have the beating of Hibbert that he even tried the old playground favourite of pushing the ball to one side of the full-back and scooting round the other. It was humiliating for Hibbert that it nearly came off.

No surprise then that the equaliser came down the Chelsea left. Nicolas Anelka drifted in from the right, leaving the ball for Lampard who chipped it delicately to Malouda out wide. Hibbert and Osman stood rooted, giving Malouda all the time he needed to steady himself. The France winger’s cross was met by Drogba, leaping above Joleon Lescott, and his powerful header was simply unsaveable. It was a superbly-executed piece of centre-forward play: Drogba had tracked across the box, just out of Lescott’s eye-line before cutting back across.

It didn’t get any better for Hibbert. When Fellaini’s tackle looped off Malouda, he was caught on his heels, with Cole sprinting in behind him. The Chelsea full-back was wild with his attempt to finish, though. Moyes feared Fellaini would get sent off and replaced him with Lars Jacobsen at half-time.

It was from excellent work by Leighton Baines that

By Duncan White at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 30, 2009

CHELSEA 2-1 EVERTON

the Best OF wemBley

■ (Left to right) John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and the Chelsea victors bring

Wembley fans to their feet to celebrate their memorable Cup win against Everton.

leadiNGOFF

■ The Chelsea players are congratulated by the Wembley crowd as they make the journey up 107 steps to the Royal Box to receive the FA Cup after beating Everton, 2-1, to win the 2009 FA Cup final.

a JOUrNeytO GlOry

Everton almost re-took the lead midway through the second half. The Everton left-back had started pushing forward encouragingly and when he got the opportunity to cross he delivered an outstanding one, all pace and bend, that Saha contrived to head over the bar. What a chance for the French striker.

There was an element of scrappiness creeping into Chelsea’s play, so Hiddink decided to send on Michael Ballack, who had heavily strapped his calf, for Michael Essien.

The Ghanaian was having a poor game and had been fortunate to escape without a card for a pretty brutal foul on Fellaini in the first half. Chelsea were continuing to exploit their left wing and almost got a second goal when Malouda’s driven cross clipped Fellaini and hit Drogba, going behind.

Chelsea were pushing and probing, with Lampard at the hub of their best work. With 19 minutes to go, Nicolas Anelka fed the ball into Lampard’s feet and the England midfielder shimmied right to try and make space for a shot. Phil Neville, ever alert, swept across to try and block him but over-ran Lampard as he cut back. For a moment Lampard lost his footing but he popped straight back up and hit a fading shot with his left foot that Howard got gloves to but couldn’t keep out.

Chelsea were ahead, 2-1.Lampard was imperious, a minute later giving Malouda

a clear sight of goal with a disguised pass. Malouda's shot hit the bar and should, in fact, have been

flagged offside. If he benefited he was unfairly denied a wonderful goal just minutes later.

Picking the ball up midway in the Everton half he teed himself up and hit a superb long-range shot that arched over Howard, hit the bar and bounced over the line before spinning back into play. The assistant referee, probably as surprised as Howard by Malouda’s audacity, was far from ideally positioned and the “goal” was not given.

Everton rallied and prepared for one last assault on the Chelsea goal. Moyes sent on James Vaughan for the tiring Saha and the substitute was soon in the thick of it, sprinting down the left and floating a cross to the far post. Cech had to stretch to his limit to push the ball away from the waiting Cahill. Their spectacular start aside, Everton could never quite get on top of Chelsea.

“We deserved to be in the final and have performed ever so well over the course of the season but Chelsea were just a hurdle too much for us today,” Moyes said. “They were the better team and used the conditions better than us. But then if Chelsea had gone into the game without Drogba, Terry and Lampard, would it have given us a big lift? A better chance? I think it would. We have gone in without Yakubu, Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta and they are the equivalent of those players.”

So, Moyes will take a break before returning doggedly to his Sisyphean task, trying to break the top four Premier League hegemony on budget, incrementally pushing Everton beyond even their own expectations.

When the FA Cup final returned to the new Wembley Stadium, the semi-finals also assigned to an annual slot at football’s headquarters as well.

This was broadly a commercially-driven decision based on the on-going financial health of the expensive new Stadium and its long-term attraction to investors of 10-year tickets and the short-term buzz of “your” team getting to Wembley.

Of course, the traditionalists spoke out in volumes against commerce heading off Cup history.

But others were happy to be swept along in the fun of their team getting a chance to play “underneath the Arch,” to have their photo taken by the impressive Bobby Moore statue and to sample the delights of the new stadium.

And also staging the semi-finals there gave some teams an early chance to make their mark at the new Wembley. One of those teams were Everton.

Cup-winners last in 1995 against Manchester United, the Toffees were “up for it” when they met the Red Devils in their semi-final clash.

United were channelling their forces carefully, fighting for honours on three fronts and their team selection reflected that.

Everton, meanwhile, saw FA Cup success as a chance to put a major trophy on the sideboard – and an opportunity to come from under the shadow of their neighbours over at Anfield.

This was a semi-final, not a final, but try telling that to the hordes of Evertonians, who were up for putting one over their M62 rivals – albeit by having to use

the M6 and M1 to get to their destination.

The game was an exciting one and went to extra-time and penalties. And when Everton’s Phil Jagielka scored the winning spot-kick the explosion of noise was simply amazing. It was Blue Heaven.

A savvy DJ then fired up Z-Cars, Everton’s long-time theme tune, and all was well in their world. Semi-final or not.

The final itself was a slightly quieter affair, although Everton got off to a flier against Chelsea with a goal in 25 seconds from Louis Saha.

It surpassed Roberto Di Matteo’s 1997 goal against Middlesbrough as the fastest FA Cup final goal scored.

Chelsea, under temporary boss Guus Hiddink, got back in the game through Didier Drogba – who once again was on target in the final and then went ahead with a goal by the dependable Frank Lampard.

Florent Malouda seemed to have scored a third goal for Chelsea, when his 30-yard drive hit the underside of the bar and dropped behind the goal-line before spinning out and into play. Future World Cup final referee Howard Webb didn’t give a goal, but Chelsea still got safely over the finishing line.

A year later Frank Lampard, now in England colours, would famously have the same thing happen to him against Germany in a World Cup knock-out match in South Africa.

On that occasion, Lampard wouldn’t go on to be a winner – and the debate about goal-line technology would reach fever-pitch.

Fa CUP memOries

leadiNGOFF

■ Manager Guus Hiddink hoists the Cup for all Chelsea fans to see and let loose a joyous burst of excitement.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Frank Lampard and his team-mates celebrate after being awarded their second Cup in three years.

sPOils OF the ViCtOrs

drogba's kick give chelsea third cup in

four Yearst hey could lay a swamp for a pitch at

Wembley and not stop Didier Drogba from scoring. The brave last stand of this motley group of Portsmouth players

could not prevent the Ivory Coast international from scoring his third FA Cup final goal – a 1-0 winner against Portsmouth – and his sixth in six Cup tournament games at the new Wembley. His superb free-kick, struck just before the hour, was his 37th goal of the campaign, and brought Carlo Ancelotti the Double in his debut season.

John Terry was furious about the state of the pitch but it was a Cup final full of compelling incident, played out in a raucous atmosphere. Chelsea hit the woodwork five times in a game containing superb saves, heroic blocks, nasty challenges, two missed penalties, an outstanding free-kick and probably the worst miss in FA Cup final history. It was extraordinary stuff from the beginning. Portsmouth’s defending varied between the desperate and the inspired, with the courageous Aaron Mokoena leading by example, hurling his body in the way of shot after shot. It was a fine swansong. And it is unlikely a single Portsmouth player who appeared today will be at the South Coast club next season. Chelsea were dangerous from the whistle. With Michael Ballack sitting deep and controlling the distribution, Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard were free to work between the lines. The pair combined well after four minutes, with Lampard putting Anelka through only for Mokoena to

block the Frenchman’s shot. The rebound fell to Lampard whose effort faded just wide. He went even closer 10 minutes later. Again Lampard found space 25 yards out and this time hit a dipping out-swinger that hit the outside of the post. David James could only watch it. James denied Anelka at the near post before Mokoena’s defiance stopped a potential goal. Branislav Ivanovic played a one-two with Lampard and got down towards the by-line, pulling back for Florent Malouda who helped it on to Drogba. Mokoena was knocked to the ground by his block, got up and threw himself down the barrel of the second, again taking the blow to his body. Suddenly, there was a gap in the siege and Portsmouth charged forward. Aruna Dindane scooted past Ashley Cole, down the right and crossed to the far post, where Kevin-Prince Boateng volleyed back across the goalmouth. It hit Frédéric Piquionne on the shin and flew up to the left of Petr Cech’s ear, where the Chelsea goalkeeper instantly clawed it away. The television cameras focused on a harassed Ancelotti in the technical area. Could Portsmouth defy the odds? It was followed by the obligatory cut to Roman Abramovich looking glum in the gloom of his private box. His mood would not have been improved moments later when Malouda sent Ashley Cole free down the left. The England full-back breezed past Mokoena and cut back for Salomon Kalou to surely tuck into an open goal. Humiliatingly, Kalou managed to shin the ball on to the bar from four yards out. It was an astonishing miss, destined for YouTube immortality. The inevitable was refusing to happen. Malouda sent in a deep free-kick from the left touchline and Terry, soaring

between Ricardo Rocha and Kevin-Prince Boateng, sent the ball arcing high and against the top of the bar. Meanwhile, a nasty little sub-plot was beginning to unfold. Portsmouth’s players were obviously eager to ruffle Chelsea in whatever way they could, with Michael Brown doing his characteristic best to get under Lampard’s skin as he tailed him around the pitch. With the treatment of Michael Ballack, though, they crossed the line. The Germany captain had already been forced to hurdle a wild challenge from Jamie O’Hara earlier in the half, when he got into a contretemps with Dindane, inadvertently slapping him as he struggled for a header. It was hardly clean from Ballack and Boateng got into his ear. That was no excuse for the terrible foul Boateng perpetrated on Ballack minutes letter, flying in late and hard and planting his studs in his right ankle. A hobbling Ballack had to be replaced before half-time. Boateng, born in Berlin, is a Germany youth international who has recently declared for Ghana – whoare in Germany’s group in South Africa – and his actions will not have gone down well at home, especially if a scantomorrow shows Ballack’s ankle ligaments are damaged. Boateng was booked but the karmic forces would reserve greater punishment for him later. As half-time approached it was Drogba’s turn to be frustrated by the woodwork. From a 30-yard free-kick he seemed to have deceived James with the ball’s flight, but the Portsmouth captain just managed to palm it against the crossbar. It came down via the post before spinning out. Replays showed the ball had not quite crossed all the way

By Duncan White at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 15, 2010

CHELSEA 1-0 PORTSMOUTH

the best of WembleY

■ Didier Drogba poses with the prized trophy following victory in the 2010

FA Cup. Drogba has scored in each of Chelsea’s past three Cup victories. Two

of these goals were game winners.

leadingoff

■ Portsmouth goalkeeper David James dives for the ball, which bounced on his goal line, giving Chelsea the winning goal in the 129th Cup final.

not close enough

over the line. Three minutes later, Kalou’s cross drifted over Mokoena and Drogba flicked the ball under the advancing James with the outside of his boot, hitting the outside of the post. After Drogba attacked the frame of the goal in frustration – was someone looking out for benighted Pompey? Ten minutes into the second half and it opened up for Avram Grant’s side. Juliano Belletti, who was on for Ballack, was beaten by Dindane in the box and clumsily conceded a penalty. Up stepped Boateng. He sent his effort pretty much down the middle, and while Cech had dived to his right, he managed to save with his legs. It took just four minutes for the disappointment to deepen. Mokoena chopped down Drogba 20 yards from the goal. The Ivorian got up and sent a precision free-kick strike, which dipped over the wall and in off the far post for a 1-0 advantage.

Even the woodwork was turning on Pompey. Chelsea, however, just could not finish the game off. Kalou missed another good chance, pulling his shot across the face of goal, and Drogba was denied by James at the near post. Portsmouth kept admirably at it. Nadir Belhadj replaced Hayden Mullins and with his first touch the Algerian volleyed a cross into the Chelsea box, which Terry just managed to steer away from Dindane behind him. Dindane got on the end of another Belhadj cross moments later, with the ball rather comically hitting him on the head as he tried to volley. With two minutes to go Lampard was felled in the box by a tiring Brown. England’s first-choice penalty taker stepped up and sent his low effort wide of James’ right-hand post. Bad news for the watching Fabio Capello? Depends which way you look at it – maybe it was James’s imposing presence that forced him to miss.

victors again ■ Frank Lampard (left) and team-mate John Terry celebrate Chelsea’s 1-0 FA Cup final win against Portsmouth. It was Chelsea’s third Cup final win in four years – and their sixth overall in the team’s stellar history.

leadingoff

■ Chelsea’s captain, John Terry, and team-mates put on display their Double hardware – the Barclays Premiership Trophy and the FA Cup – during their victory parade, in London, on May 16, 2010.

double glorY

Chelsea were back at Wembley for the 2010 FA Cup final, their seventh in seventeen years – an impressive record, and each time the team had been led by a different manager.

Glenn Hoddle, Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialla, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and now Carlo Ancelotti. Three Italians, two Dutchmen, an Englishman and a rather “special” Portuguese gentleman!

And, bizarrely, their FA Cup final opponents, Portsmouth, were being managed by an Israeli, Avram Grant, who himself was late of Stamford Bridge, having replaced Mourinho. Indeed, he had taken the club to their first UEFA Champions League final in 2008 and watched as his team were a converted penalty away from lifting the trophy.

John Terry slipped as he stepped up to take the kick, missed and rivals Manchester United went on to win the shoot-out in Moscow.

Grant was now at the helm of Portsmouth, who had already been relegated from the Premier League after taking a nine-point hit for the club having to go into administration. They were the first Premier League club to be hit with such financial difficulties and penalties.

With their League status diminished, the club and its fanatical supporters had still made good progress in the Cup – famously winning, 4-1, at near neighbours Southampton in the 5th Round and then beating well-fancied Tottenham in their Wembley semi-final. Former Pompey boss, Harry Redknapp, fumed as the then-notorious Wembley pitch played into his former club’s hands.

The final itself saw Chelsea dominate proceedings in the first half, as stalwarts Frank Lampard and captain John Terry both hit the woodwork.

And Didier Drogba saw a 30-yard free-kick spectacularly turned onto the underside of the crossbar by veteran David James, who was playing in his fourth final. The ball just bounced to the right side of the line for Portsmouth.

And to round off a half of near things, Salomon Kalou unbelievably missed an open goal from four yards out.

You know how football works, so it was Portsmouth who got the first major chance of the second-half, but Kevin-Prince Boateng, who had scored in the semi-final, had his penalty saved by Petr Cech.

A few minutes later, the magnificent Drogba rifled in a free-kick low past David James.

It was the decisive moment in the game – and it was Drogba’s third goal in three finals and his second winning goal. The gifted African player, a star from the Ivory Coast, had now permanently stamped his name on the history of the FA Cup final.

In the 89th minute, Frank Lampard was brought down in the penalty area and got up to take the penalty. He uncharacteristically put the spot-kick past the post.

It was the first penalty to actually be missed in a final since Charlie Wallace did it for Aston Villa in 1913.

The final whistle followed shortly and Chelsea had clinched the Double. Ancelotti celebrated, but would only stay at Stamford Bridge for one more season.

fa cup memories

Touré’S GoAL EndS CITY’S 35-YEAr TroPHY

drouGHTC ity players wore specially-printed

T-shirts, proclaiming the figure “O” – a reminder that the 35 years of hurt were over. City supporters had that number

ingrained in their psyche, written into their chants. No longer. They can now open the trophy-cabinet, release some ancient moths and put the Cup on display for all to see.

At the end of an average 1-0 victory, but majestic occasion, the eye was drawn briefly to the magnificent Stoke fans, who sportingly stayed on to applaud the victors, but the attention was swiftly drawn to the swaying light-blue masses. City fans did the Poznan, they sang Blue Moon and held up their cameras and phones as Carlos Tévez & Co. climbed the steps to collect the Cup. City fans revelled in this moment. They have waited so long, endured so much pain. They hardly needed reminding that today was the 30th anniversary of their Cup final defeat to Ricky Villa’s Spurs. The past two decades have been particularly riddled with anguish. City’s fans have spent so much time in the shadow of United yet they kept the faith. This season they have kept chanting “35 years and we’re still here,” signalling a devotion that has bordered on masochism at times. As if their summer was not full of enough joys after this, City fans also have a feisty-looking fixture with United here in the Community Shield. The hysteria can wait. History clung to this final like ivy at a stately home. Great names from yesteryear looked on benignly as City’s present finally matched some of the

deeds of the past. Mike Summerbee, Franny Lee and Tony Book were there as their club became reacquainted with excellence. City officials even urged their life president, Bernard Halford, a hugely popular figure at the club, to follow Roberto Mancini up the stairs to receive a Winners’ medal. Lovely touch. It showed that the world’s wealthiest club has not lost touch with its roots. Halford, who has been involved with City for half a century, flew up the steps. It meant everything. City invited many members of their footballing family to this date with destiny. Bert Trautmann received a letter from their chief executive officer, Garry Cook, but sadly did not realise it was an invitation. The widow of the late, great Joe Mercer was present. So was the widow of Neil Young, the scorer of their Cup final winner in 1969. When Young passed away from cancer in February, Book urged the City players to go and win the Cup as a fitting tribute to the former player. Mancini’s chosen ones delivered on that promise. For the likes of Cook, Brian Marwood and Khaldoon al Mubarak, today’s big day out, following on from qualification for the Champions League, vindicated their vision. Huge sums have been invested but there is tangible reward. For Mancini, the Cup was a personal triumph for his assertive tactics, his decision to start Mario Balotelli and a second-half tweak that allowed Yaya Touré the opportunity to make unmarked runs such as the one that brought his 74th-minute winner. So this is why Coronation Street is in Manchester? United’s record-breaking title success had heaped

pressure on City. Vincent Kompany and his City team-mates emerged into the Wembley sunshine with news filtering through from Ewood. City knew that the intense crowing from the new Champions would be unbearable if they slipped up. City had certainly started confidently enough, unleashing their threats. Mancini is often accused of cautious tactics but the front-four he selected at Wembley brimmed with movement and menace. The spearhead of Mancini’s 4-2-3-1 system, Carlos Tévez, buzzed around like a hornet in overtime, bringing a magnificent save from Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen. David Silva darted around promisingly but missed badly after 34 minutes, shooting down into the ground and up over the crossbar when well placed. Balotelli was often involved, withstanding Robert Huth’s elbow but then being frustrated by Sorensen’s right hand. Touré, operating in the hole behind Tévez, shot wide but took his second-half chance brilliantly. If City’s attackers impressed, it was still a surprise that Mario Balotelli was named Man of the Match. Nigel de Jong was comfortably the best player on view. Just as the City fans relished this, so De Jong must have felt deep satisfaction. The Dutchman had returned from the World Cup final with a kitbag full of controversy, following that studs-up challenge on Xabi Alonso. Mischievous souls in the City dressing room pinned a photograph of the incident on the wall of the training ground at Carrington. De Jong took it well, knuckling down and enjoying a good season, culminating here, in particular, with one sliding dispossession of Jermaine Pennant.

MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 STOKE CITY

By Henry Winter at Wembley, The Sunday Telegraph, May 14, 2011

THE BEST of WEmBLEY ■ Manchester City’s Ivorian

footballer Yaya Touré (left) scoresthe game-winning goal againstStoke City in the FA Cup final.

LEAdInGoff

The Scots Guards perform the national anthem prior to the 2011 FA Cup final.

OPPOSITE PAGE: When Manchester City manager RobertoMancini lifted the Cup, it signaled the end of City’s 35-year trophy drought.

A GrEAT PArAdE:

In 1961 the Polish supporters of Lech Poznan invented a new celebration for when they scored their goals. It involved turning their backs to the pitch, joining arms and jumping up and down on the spot.

Fifty years later, the “Poznan,” as it has been christened, had been adopted by Manchester City fans – and, boy, did they get a chance to show it off in the closing stages of the 2010-11 FA Cup tournament.

Manchester City, for so long in the shadows of their illustrious neighbours, United – and without a trophy for 35 long years, had seen a dramatic turn in fortunes when they became the target for super-rich Sheikh Mansour, a member of Abu-Dhabi’s ruling family.

Sheikh Mansour, one of the world’s richest men, bought the club in 2008 and immediately set about helping build both a squad and a structure to rocket them up the Premier League and make a big impact in Europe.

It’s still a work in progress, but the FA Cup in 2011 gave City their first moment of glory since a Wembley victory in the League Cup final against Newcastle

United back in 1976.In the semi-final, they were pitted against their

neighbours and arch-rival, Manchester United. City fans feared the worst, having already been beaten by the Red Devils in the Carling Cup semi-final the previous season.

But this time in a one-off match at Wembley, City came through winners with a goal by midfielder Yaya Touré. The Ivory Coast star, and brother of Kolo, had been signed from Barcelona in the summer of 2010.

Kolo had joined the City revolution a year earlier from Arsenal, but missed the closing stages of the 2010-11 season after being banned for six months for drug-related charges.

The final itself would also feature Stoke City, which was thriving under manager Tony Pulis and chairman, Peter Coates. The Potteries club were winning matches, and friends, by there hard but fair approach to the game. And on the flanks, Stoke had real flair in Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant, plus a game-changer in Rory Delap, a veteran with a sling-

shot throw-in.Their big Wembley moment came in the semi-final

against Bolton Wanderers, when they hammered the North-West side, 5-0. Sadly, they couldn’t carry that form into the final and were eventually beaten by a single goal, again scored with venom by Touré. For the third time in five years, the FA Cup final was settled by a goal scored by a star from the Ivory Coast.

The Cup final’s broadcast reach had always been worldwide – an estimated 400 million. Now its scorers also regularly had a global stamp. The world’s original knock-out tournament was still proving to be the best.

And the fans of both Manchester City and Stoke City created a marvellous atmosphere inside Wembley, making the match truly stand out as some Premier League games were unusually being held on the day when the FA Cup final traditionally had the stage to itself.

And as Manchester City captain Carlos Tévez lifted the Cup, 35 years of pain ended and the “Poznan” began!

fA CuP mEmorIES

LEAdInGoff

Now boasting one of Europe’s most expensive teams, City’s FA Cup victory made Manchester a two-football team City again after United had won the Premiership crown.

VICTorY AT LAST

Lucky cheLsea WINs 4Th cuP IN sIx yeaRs

The BesT of WemBLey

■ Liverpool striker Andy Carroll (right), who had scored the Reds’ first goal, sends a header toward the Chelsea net. In a contro-versial ruling the referee stated that the ball

had not crossed the line.

I t was the moment Liverpool had dragged themselves back into a game that they had all but lost. Luis Suarez crossed from the right and Andy Carroll met it with a firm

header. Carroll ran off in celebration, Kenny Dalglish leapt up and punched the air. Liverpool were level. Only they weren’t. The cheers from the red end suddenly went stereo as the blue half realised what was happening; referee Phil Dowd had not given the goal.

It had not crossed the line. Liverpool’s players were in disbelief and Dalglish seemed to indicate it had gone about three feet over. It was much closer than that. Replays could not clarify if the whole ball had crossed the line. One thing was sure: Petr Cech had done superbly to push the ball up on to the bar and create the doubt in Dowd’s mind. It was only from the over-head camera that it looked like the ball might have gone far enough. In the semi-finals Chelsea had been credited with a goal that did not cross the line and in the Cup final it looked like they had been spared one that had. Chelsea were relieved. They had dominated this game for over an hour and then nearly thrown it away as Liverpool belatedly awakened. Ramires Santos do Nascimento had punished Liverpool’s early mistakes and then Didier Drogba had scored his eighth Wembley goal, becoming the first player to score in four different FA Cup finals. Roberto Di Matteo made history in becoming the last player to score in the FA Cup at the old Wembley; today, Drogba tightened his grip on the new. The game ended frantically but it had begun almost sedately. Then, with 11 minutes played, Chelsea pounced. Jay Spearing gave away the ball in midfield and Juan Mata was on to it. The Spain midfielder rolled the ball out to Ramires on the right and Enrique de Lucus was caught between going in for the challenge and holding off. Ramires slipped past him and his acceleration left the Liverpool left-back in his wake. Pepe Reina should not have been left so easily exposed but the Liverpool goalkeeper should have offered greater resistance. He seemed to anticipate Ramires shooting across him towards the far corner and, off balance, could only deflect the Brazilian’s shot in at the near post. He pounded the turf in anger as Ramires wheeled away in celebration. Liverpool sought a response. Glen Johnson twisted and turned on the right before putting in an excellent low

a fooTBaLL PaLace ■ A blimp watches from overhead as Wembley comes to life prior to the Cup final.

CHELSEA 2-1 LIVERPOOL

By Duncan White at WembleyThe Sunday Telegraph, May 5, 2012

A record number of entries in the Cup tournament, a controversial new kick-off time and an individual scoring landmark in the FA Cup final itself.

That was the FA Cup in 2012 – as always, there was plenty to get excited about. A well as, a record number of teams competing in the Cup tournament, there was an aggregate attendance of well over 2 million spectators.

Many things have changed about the world’s most famous domestic cup tournament, but it can still deliver a headline and a headline maker.

The name in lights this time was Chelsea’s Didier Drogba. In scoring the game-winner in their 2-1 win over Liverpool, he continued a remarkable record-breaking sequence.

Drogba has now scored in four different FA Cup finals. His goal against Liverpool could be added to the one against Manchester United in 2007 in the first Cup final at the new Wembley – and those against Everton in 2009 and Portsmouth in 2010.

Three of these four were Cup-winners.

Alongside other goals he’s scored in the national stadium, Drogba treats Wembley as his very own.

The FA Cup final was match No. 915 in a competition that attracted a record number of entries – 763.

The Cup final brought together two footballing giants with proud FA Cup records – seven-time winners, Liverpool, against six-time winners, Chelsea. It was North v. South – and had the classic ingredients for a Wembley confrontation.

Under Kenny Dalglish’s

previous stewardship of the club, the Reds had won both the 1986 and 1989 finals. Whilst Chelsea’s “interim” boss, Roberto Di Matteo, had scored for the Blues in two of their previous finals.

A new kick-off time of 5:15 p.m. for the Cup final raised collective eye-brows and disappointed traditionalists, but within minutes of the game getting underway Chelsea were ahead.

The Brazilian midfielder, Ramires Santos do Nascimento (Ramires), scored a goal to match the importance of the one he scored in their UEFA Champions League semi-final in Barcelona.

Chelsea dominated the first hour of the game, and watching from my seat in the stadium, I could see no way back for Liverpool.

The introduction of Andy Carroll, a Wembley match-winner for Liverpool in the semi-final, galvanised a reaction from the Reds. He scored a cleverly-worked goal, and then nearly added a second. Petr Cech’s miraculous save kept Chelsea in front, although the “did it cross the line” arguments raged well into the night.

Over the many decades this wonderful Cup final has been played, incidents like Carroll’s header have been the stuff of mystique and legend.

However, even without the much-vaunted goal-line technology, regular camera coverage gave convincing weight to the argument that the ball had NOT crossed the line.

Chelsea successfully saw the game out, their fourth FA Cup final win in six years – seven in all. They were now amongst the modern FA Cup giants.

fa cuP memoRIes

LeaDINGoff

Didier Drogba (left) and his Chelsea team-mates have plenty to celebrate after winning their fourth Cup final in six years.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Bolton Wanderers’ Fabrice Muamba, who had a heart attack during a Cup quarter-final match, was well enough to attend the game.

foReVeRmemoRIes

cross, which Branislav Ivanovic had to dive low to head clear. The Serb sprang back to his feet and blocked Craig Bellamy’s volleyed follow-up. That attack aside, the Chelsea defence were barely troubled for much of the first half. Liverpool were being suffocated by Di Matteo’s team in midfield and, under that pressure, started misplacing passes and falling out of sync, with huge gaps opening between the lines and Suarez isolated up front. Liverpool needed Gerrard in the game but Chelsea’s players were not making it easy. Chelsea began to dominate. Ramires and Salomon Kalou were full of confidence, running with the ball at their feet while Liverpool’s midfielders were struggling to track the movement of Mata, playing centrally. Kalou almost put Lampard through and then had the Liverpool defence backtracking as he went dribbling into the area. Drogba, full of confidence, was shooting on sight. The urgency to close down Gerrard went too far as half-time approached, when John Obi Mikel went in late on the Liverpool captain, his studs catching Gerrard’s boot after he had struck the ball. Phil Dowd, after making sure Gerrard was not injured, booked Chelsea’s holding midfielder. Dan Agger followed Mikel into the book shortly after, clumsily sliding into the Chelsea player after the ball had gone. There were some flickers of improvement from Dalglish’s side as half-time approached – Stewart Downing and Craig Bellamy put in crosses that required astute defending – but Liverpool needed to find substantial improvement in the second half. It came in the game’s final third but by then it was too late.

There was momentary optimism they could get back into it quickly. Gerrard went surging forward, past two men and into the Chelsea box, where he crashed into Ivanovic. Was he obstructed? Or did he simply run into the Chelsea defender? Dowd took the latter view. Moments later, the game looked out of Liverpool’s reach. Lampard spun away from Spearing and fired the ball into Drogba’s feet. The Chelsea striker controlled with his right, let the ball run out of his feet and then shot low with his left foot through Martin Skrtel’s legs and into the far corner. It was a superb clinical finish and Drogba celebrated with gusto. Chelsea were full of confidence now. Kalou curled one shot over after a fine series of passes and then Lampard hit a crossfield pass, Mata juggled and passed to Drogba, whose volleyed smashed into the side-netting. Liverpool were floundering and needed a change – Dalglish sent on Andy Carroll for Spearing and switched to a more aggressive 4-4-2 and then, in one moment, the whole complexion of the game changed. Liverpool were making progress down the left but it looked like Jose Bosingwa would clear. Downing got his boot in, though, and the ball flew straight to Carroll. The big Liverpool No. 9 completely wrong-footed Terry with a sort of step-over, bringing the ball back on to his left foot and thumping it high into the net, the speed of the ball giving Cech no chance. Chelsea were on the back foot. Liverpool were adamant Carroll’s header was over the line but the referee ruled in Chelsea’s favour. It was a controversial Cup final triumph.

LeaDINGoff

Chelsea interim manager Roberto Di Matteo completed a dramatic story in leading his team to a 2-1 Cup victory.

OPPOSITE PAGE:Michael Essien, wearing a white wig, and his team-mates begin their hearty post-match celebration. It was a party that went late into the night.

PaRTy TIme

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Didier Drogba scores the game-winning goal against Liverpool at the 52nd minute. It was his third game winner in four finals.

ToP shoT

By Jeremy Wilson The Sunday TelegraphLondon, Wembley StadiumMay 5th, 2012

The Liverpool substitute had already scored once and thought he had equalised in the 82nd minute when Petr Cech clawed the ball out of his goal via the crossbar.

Video evidence was inconclusive but suggested that referee Phil Dowd had made the correct decision, sparking fresh debate over the issue of goal-line technology in football.

“I thought it was over the line,” said Andy Carroll. “I thought it was in. I thought it came off the other side of the bar, which means it is in.”

Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, said that Dowd and his assistants should be congratulated if they got the decision right.

But he added: “It seems some people would have given it and some people would not have. I thought it was in.”

Cech and Chelsea captain John Terry, however, were adamant that Dowd had made the right decision.

“If the ball was behind the line, I wouldn’t have been able to put it outside,” said Cech. “I’m sure it was not behind the line.

I’m 100 per cent persuaded it was not in.”Cech also repeated calls for goal-line technology to be

introduced.“Football is the only sport at the highest level that doesn’t

have help,” he said. “It should have started ages ago. We have been saying it for 10 years.”

It was the second goal-line controversy involving Chelsea at Wembley this season after they benefited in their 5-1 semi-final Cup win against Tottenham with a Juan Mata goal that clearly did not cross the line.

Today’s triumph was Chelsea’s fourth FA Cup victory in six years and continued their remarkable turnaround this season.

Ashley Cole also became the first man to win the FA Cup seven times, Didier Drogba the first player to score in four Cup finals and Terry the first to captain the same club to four victories.

He lifted the trophy today with vice-captain Frank Lampard, who intends to return the compliment if Chelsea win the Champions League final against Bayern Munich when Terry is suspended.

“People said we were too old or past it,” said Terry, “but when the chips are down, we come together. Moments like that will go down in history. I feel privileged and fortunate to be part of that dressing room.”

DRoGBa & co. TRIumPh IN

coNTRoVeRsIaL

WemBLey

cuP fINaL

LeaDINGoff

RIGHT: Drogba (left), Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and Paulo Ferreira pose for a photo with the Cup.

OPPOSITE PAGE:A Chelsea fan shows his support for his favourtie player, Didier Drogba.

sPecIaL momeNTs

a seasoN To RememBeR ■ Chelsea celebrate their unforgettable 2012 Champions League and FA Cup crowns with an open-top bus parade in West London on May 20, 2012.

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FA CUP FINALS: YEAR-BY-YEAR

DATE WINNER OPPONENT SCORE VENUE

March 16, 1872 Wanderers Royal Engineers 1-0 Kennington Oval

March 23, 1873 Wanderers Oxford University 2-0 Lillie Bridge, London

March 14, 1874 Oxford University Royal Engineers 2-0 Kennington Oval

March 16, 1875 Royal Engineers Old Etonians 2-1* Kennington Oval

March 18, 1876 Wanderers Old Etonians 3-0** Kennington Oval

March 24, 1877 Wanderers Oxford University 2-1 Kennington Oval

March 23, 1878 Wanderers Royal Engineers 3-1 Kennington Oval

March 29, 1879 Old Etonians Clapham Rovers 1-0 Kennington Oval

April 10, 1880 Clapham Rovers Oxford University 1-0 Kennington Oval

April 9, 1881 Old Carthusians Old Etonians 3-0 Kennington Oval

March 25, 1882 Old Etonians Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Kennington Oval

March 31, 1883 Blackburn Olympic Old Etonians 2-1 Kennington Oval

March 29, 1884 Blackburn Rovers Queen’s Park (Glasgow) 2-1 Kennington Oval

April 4, 1885 Blackburn Rovers Queen’s Park (Glasgow) 2-0 Kennington Oval

April 10, 1886 Blackburn Rovers West Bromwich Albion 2-0*** The Racecourse, Derby

April 2, 1887 Aston Villa West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Kennington Oval

March 24, 1888 West Bromwich Albion Preston North End 2-1 Kennington Oval

March 30, 1889 Preston North End Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Kennington Oval

March 29, 1890 Blackburn Rovers Sheffield Wednesday 6-1 Kennington Oval

March 21, 1891 Blackburn Rovers Notts County 3-1 Kennington Oval

March 19, 1892 West Bromwich Albion Aston Villa 3-0 Kennington Oval

March 25, 1893 Wolverhampton Wanderers Everton 1-0 Fallowfield, Manchester

March 31, 1894 Notts County Bolton Wanderers 4-1 Goodison Park

April 20, 1895 Aston Villa West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Crystal Palace

April 18, 1896 Sheffield Wednesday Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Crystal Palace

April 10, 1897 Aston Villa Everton 3-2 Crystal Palace

April 16, 1898 Nottingham Forest Derby County 3-1 Crystal Palace

April 15, 1899 Sheffield United Derby County 4-1 Crystal Palace

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* After 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time in 1875. ** After 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time in 1876. *** After 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time in 1886.

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DATE WINNER OPPONENT SCORE VENUE

April 21, 1900 Bury Southampton 4-0 Crystal Palace

April 27, 1901 Tottenham Hotspur Sheffield United 3-1* Burnden Park, Bolton

April 28, 1902 Sheffield United Southampton 2-1** Crystal Palace

April 18, 1903 Bury Derby County 6-0 Crystal Palace

April 23, 1904 Manchester City Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Crystal Palace

April 15, 1905 Aston Villa Newcastle United 2-0 Crystal Palace

April 21, 1906 Everton Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace

April 20, 1907 Sheffield Wednesday Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace

April 25, 1908 Wolverhampton Wanderers Newcastle United 3-1 Crystal Palace

April 24, 1909 Manchester United Bristol City 1-0 Crystal Palace

April 28, 1910 Newcastle United Barnsley 2-0*** Goodison Park

April 26, 1911 Bradford City Newcastle United 1-0**** Old Trafford

April 24, 1912 Barnsley West Bromwich Albion 1-0***** Bramall Lane

April 19, 1913 Aston Villa Sunderland 1-0 Crystal Palace

April 25, 1914 Burnley Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace

April 24, 1915 Sheffield United Chelsea 3-0 Old Trafford

1916 No FA Cup

1917 No FA Cup

1918 No FA Cup

1919 No FA Cup

April 24, 1920 Aston Villa Huddersfield Town 1-0 Stamford Bridge

April 23, 1921 Tottenham Hotspur Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Stamford Bridge

April 29, 1922 Huddersfield Town Preston North End 1-0 Stamford Bridge

April 28, 1923 Bolton Wanderers West Ham United 2-0 Wembley Stadium

April 26, 1924 Newcastle United Aston Villa 2-0 Wembley Stadium

April 25, 1925 Sheffield United Cardiff City 1-0 Wembley Stadium

April 24, 1926 Bolton Wanderers Manchester City 1-0 Wembley Stadium

April 23, 1927 Cardiff City Arsenal 1-0 Wembley Stadium

* After 2-2 draw at the end of regulation time in 1901. ** After 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time in 1902. *** After 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time in 1910. *** After 0-0 draw at the end of regulation time in 1911. ***** After 0-0 draw at the end of regulation time in 1912.

DATE WINNER OPPONENT SCORE VENUE

April 21, 1928 Blackburn Rovers Huddersfield Town 3-1 Wembley Stadium

April 27, 1929 Bolton Wanderers Portsmouth 2-0 Wembley Stadium

April 26, 1930 Arsenal Huddersfield Town 2-0 Wembley Stadium

April 25, 1931 West Bromwich Albion Birmingham City 2-1 Wembley Stadium

April 23, 1932 Newcastle United Arsenal 2-1 Wembley Stadium

April 29, 1933 Everton Manchester City 3-0 Wembley Stadium

April 28, 1934 Manchester City Portsmouth 2-1 Wembley Stadium

April 27, 1935 Sheffield Wednesday West Bromwich Albion 4-2 Wembley Stadium

April 25, 1936 Arsenal Sheffield United 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 1, 1937 Sunderland Preston North End 3-1 Wembley Stadium

April 30, 1938 Preston North End Huddersfield Town 1-0 Wembley Stadium

April 29, 1939 Portsmouth Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 Wembley Stadium

1940 No FA Cup

1941 No FA Cup

1942 No FA Cup

1943 No FA Cup

1944 No FA Cup

1945 No FA Cup

April 27, 1946 Derby County Charlton Athletic 4-1 Wembley Stadium

April 26, 1947 Charlton Athletic Burnley 1-0 Wembley Stadium

April 24, 1948 Manchester United Blackpool 4-2 Wembley Stadium

April 30, 1949 Wolverhampton Wanderers Leicester City 3-1 Wembley Stadium

April 29, 1950 Arsenal Liverpool 2-0 Wembley Stadium

April 28, 1951 Newcastle United Blackpool 2-0 Wembley Stadium

May 3, 1952 Newcastle United Arsenal 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 2, 1953 Blackpool Bolton Wanderers 4-3 Wembley Stadium

May 1, 1954 West Bromwich Albion Preston North End 3-2 Wembley Stadium

May 7, 1955 Newcastle United Manchester City 3-1 Wembley Stadium

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DATE WINNER OPPONENT SCORE VENUE

May 5, 1956 Manchester City Birmingham City 3-1 Wembley Stadium

May 4, 1957 Aston Villa Manchester United 2-1 Wembley Stadium

May 3, 1958 Bolton Wanderers Manchester United 2-0 Wembley Stadium

May 2, 1959 Nottingham Forest Luton Town 2-1 Wembley Stadium

May 7, 1960 Wolverhampton Wanderers Blackburn Rovers 3-0 Wembley Stadium

May 6, 1961 Tottenham Hotspur Leicester City 2-0 Wembley Stadium

May 5, 1962 Tottenham Hotspur Burnley 3-1 Wembley Stadium

May 25, 1963 Manchester United Leicester City 3-1 Wembley Stadium

May 2, 1964 West Ham United Preston North End 3-2 Wembley Stadium

May 1, 1965 Liverpool Leeds United 2-1 Wembley Stadium

May 14, 1966 Everton Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 Wembley Stadium

May 20, 1967 Tottenham Hotspur Chelsea 2-1 Wembley Stadium

May 18, 1968 West Bromwich Albion Everton 1-0 Wembley Stadium

April 26, 1969 Manchester City Leicester City 1-0 Wembley Stadium

April 29, 1970 Chelsea Leeds United 2-1* Old Trafford

May 8, 1971 Arsenal Liverpool 2-1 Wembley Stadium

May 6, 1972 Leeds United Arsenal 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 5, 1973 Sunderland Leeds United 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 4, 1974 Liverpool Newcastle United 3-0 Wembley Stadium

May 3, 1975 West Ham United Fulham 2-0 Wembley Stadium

May 1, 1976 Southampton Manchester United 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 21, 1977 Manchester United Liverpool 2-1 Wembley Stadium

May 6, 1978 Ipswich Town Arsenal 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 12, 1979 Arsenal Manchester United 3-2 Wembley Stadium

May 10, 1980 West Ham United Arsenal 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 14, 1981 Tottenham Hotspur Manchester City 3-2** Wembley Stadium

May 27, 1982 Tottenham Hotspur Queens Park Rangers 1-0*** Wembley Stadium

May 26, 1983 Manchester United Brighton and Hove Albion 4-0**** Wembley Stadium

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* After 2-2 draw at the end of regulation time in 1970. ** After 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time in 1981. *** After 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time in 1982. **** After 2-2 draw at the end of regulation time in 1983.

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DATE WINNER OPPONENT SCORE VENUE

May 19, 1984 Everton Watford 2-0 Wembley Stadium

May 18, 1985 Manchester United Everton 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 10, 1986 Liverpool Everton 3-1 Wembley Stadium

May 16, 1987 Coventry City Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Wembley Stadium

May 14, 1988 Wimbledon Liverpool 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 20, 1989 Liverpool Everton 3-2 Wembley Stadium

May 17, 1990 Manchester United Crystal Palace 1-0* Wembley Stadium

May 18, 1991 Tottenham Hotspur Nottingham Forest 2-1 Wembley Stadium

May 9, 1992 Liverpool Sunderland 2-0 Wembley Stadium

May 20, 1993 Arsenal Sheffield Wednesday 2-1** Wembley Stadium

May 14, 1994 Manchester United Chelsea 4-0 Wembley Stadium

May 20, 1995 Everton Manchester United 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 11, 1996 Manchester United Liverpool 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 17, 1997 Chelsea Middlesbrough 2-0 Wembley Stadium

May 16, 1998 Arsenal Newcastle United 2-0 Wembley Stadium

May 22, 1999 Manchester United Newcastle United 2-0 Wembley Stadium

May 20, 2000 Chelsea Aston Villa 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 12, 2001 Liverpool Arsenal 2-1 Millennium Stadium

May 4, 2002 Arsenal Chelsea 2-0 Millennium Stadium

May 17, 2003 Arsenal Southampton 1-0 Millennium Stadium

May 22, 2004 Manchester United Millwall 3-0 Millennium Stadium

May 21, 2005 Arsenal Manchester United 0-0*** Millennium Stadium

May 13, 2006 Liverpool West Ham United 3-3**** Millennium Stadium

May 19, 2007 Chelsea Manchester United 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 17, 2008 Portsmouth Cardiff City 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 30, 2009 Chelsea Everton 2-1 Wembley Stadium

May 15, 2010 Chelsea Portsmouth 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 14, 2011 Manchester City Stoke City 1-0 Wembley Stadium

May 5, 2012 Chelsea Liverpool 2-1 Wembley Stadium

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* After 3-3 draw at the end of regulation time in 1990. ** After 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time in 1993. ***Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties in 2005. ****Liverpool won 3-1 on penalties in 2006.

FA Cup WinnersManchester United 11 : 1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004

Arsenal 10 1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005

Tottenham Hotspur 8 1901, 1921, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1981, 1982, 1991

Aston Villa 7 1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957

Chelsea 7 1970, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012

Liverpool 7 1965, 1974, 1986, 1989, 1992, 2001, 2006

Blackburn Rovers 6 1884, 1885, 1886, 1890, 1891, 1928

Newcastle United 6 1910, 1924, 1932, 1951, 1952, 1955

Everton 5 1906, 1933, 1966, 1984, 1995

Manchester City 5 1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011

Wanderers 5 1872, 1873, 1876, 1877, 1878

West Bromwich Albion 5 1888, 1892, 1931, 1954, 1968

Bolton Wanderers 4 1923, 1926, 1929, 1958

Sheffield United 4 1899, 1902, 1915, 1925

Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 1893, 1908, 1949, 1960

Sheffield Wednesday 3 1896, 1907, 1935

West Ham United 3 1964, 1975, 1980

Bury 2 1900, 1903

Nottingham Forest 2 1898, 1959

Old Etonians 2 1879, 1882

Portsmouth 2 1939, 2008

Preston North End 2 1889, 1938

Sunderland 2 1937, 1973

Barnsley 1 1912

Blackburn Olympic 1 1883

Blackpool 1 1953

Bradford City 1 1911

Burnley 1 1914

Cardiff City 1 1927

Charlton Athletic 1 1947

Clapham Rovers 1 1880

Coventry City 1 1987

Derby County 1 1946

Huddersfield Town 1 1922

Ipswich Town 1 1978

Leeds United 1 1972

Notts County 1 1894

Old Carthusians 1 1881

Oxford University 1 1874

Royal Engineers 1 1875

Southampton 1 1976

Wimbledon 1 1988

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0 ■ The official attendance for two 3rd Round replays that were played behind closed doors. The first match was between Norwich City and

Bradford City at Lincoln City’s Sincil Bank ground in March 1915. Supporters were banned so as not to disrupt production at a nearby armaments factory. The second was between Leicester City and non-League Burton Albion at Coventry City’s Highfield Road in 1985 when fans were banned because a missile had been thrown at the Burton goalkeeper in the first game.

1 ■ The number of times the FA Cup has been won by a non-League club, in 1901, when Southern League Tottenham Hotspur beat First Division

Sheffield United in a replay at Bolton.

1 ■ The number of non-English clubs who have won the FA Cup. Cardiff City became the first and only club to do so when they beat Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley

in 1927.

1 ■ The number of Scottish clubs who have played in an FA Cup final. Queen’s Park were runners-up in 1884 and 1885.

2 ■ The number of clubs who have won the FA Cup in three successive years. Wanderers did so in 1876, 1877 and 1878. Blackburn Rovers repeated the feat

in 1884, 1885 and 1886.

3 ■ The number of successive years (1956, 1957, 1958) in which Leeds United were drawn at home to Cardiff City in the third round. Cardiff won all

three matches, 2-1.

3 ■ The number of weeks between Wanderers winning the first FA Cup final in 1872 and being presented with the trophy at their annual dinner.

3 ■ The number of players who have scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup final: Bill Townley, Blackburn Rovers (1890); Jimmy Logan, Notts County (1894)

and Stan Mortensen, Blackpool (1953).

4 ■ The number of times in seven seasons Aston Villa and Manchester United were drawn together in the third round.

4 ■ The number of FA Cup finals that have finished goalless. The last final without a goal was the 2005 contest between Arsenal and Manchester United,

which Arsenal won, 5-4, on penalties. The three previous goalless draws were in 1886, 1911 and 1912.

5 ■ The number of players who have represented three different clubs in an FA Cup final. They are Harold Halse (Manchester United, Aston Villa and

Chelsea), Ernie Taylor (Newcastle United, Blackpool and Manchester United), John Barnes (Watford, Liverpool and Newcastle United), Dennis Wise (Wimbledon, Chelsea and Millwall) and David James (Liverpool, Aston Villa and Portsmouth).

5 ■ The number of FA Cup final winning teams that have been managed by Alex Ferguson. This total is more than any other English manager.

5 ■ The number of occasions Tottenham Hotspur have won the FA Cup when the year has ended in a “1” − Spurs lifted the trophy in 1901, 1921,

1961, 1981 and 1991 (with their three other winning finals coming in 1962, 1967 and 1982).

5 ■ The number of FA Cup final goals scored by Ian Rush, which is more than any other player in England.

6 ■ The number of games it took for Alvechurch to beat Oxford City in the fourth qualifying round in 1971, the scores being 2-2, 1-1, 1-1, 0-0, 0-0 and

(finally) 1-0. It was the FA Cup’s longest ever tie and lasted for an aggregate of 11 hours.

6 The number worn by Manchester United’s Kevin Moran when he became the first player to be sent off in a Cup final, against Everton in 1985.

7 ■ The number of years Portsmouth were the FA Cup holders between 1939 and 1946, because of the Second World War.

8 ■ The number of times the FA Cup has been won by a club playing outside the top flight of English football. The last time was in 1980 when West

Ham United beat Arsenal thanks to Trevor Brooking’s rare headed goal.

9 ■ The number of finals in which the Honourable Arthur Kinnaird, who would later become president of the FA, played. It is a feat that remains

unsurpassed. Kinnaird won three times with Wanderers, scoring in the 1873 and 1878 finals, and twice with Old Etonians.

9 ■ The number of goals Ted MacDougall scored when Bournemouth beat Margate 11-0 in a first-round match in 1971. MacDougall’s feat is still an

individual goalscoring record for the competition proper.

11 ■ The number of times the FA Cup has been successfully defended − three times each by Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, twice by

Tottenham Hotspur and once each by Newcastle United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Fa Cup by the

NumbersBy Christopher LylesThe Daily Telegraph

11 ■ The number of times Manchester United have won the FA Cup. This total is more than any other club. United have also reached a record 18

finals.

11 ■ The number of years between Wimbledon being elected into the Football League in 1977 and winning the FA Cup in 1988.

13 ■ The number of successive finals between 1911 and 1927 in which the losing finalists failed to score.

15 ■ The number of clubs who entered the first FA Cup tournament in 1871-72. Wanderers would win the inagural Cup tournament.

15 ■ Fifthteen years and 233 days, the age at which Gillingham striker Luke Freeman became the youngest player to appear in the Cup

tournament, when he featured in a 1st Round match at Barnet in 2007.

17 ■ The number of penalties that have been awarded in FA Cup finals. The first player to miss in a final was Charlie Wallace, for Aston

Villa against Sunderland at Crystal Palace in 1913. The first player to miss a Cup final penalty at Wembley was John Aldridge, for Liverpool against Wimbledon in 1988.

17 ■ Seventeen years and 119 days, the age at which Millwall’s Curtis Weston became the youngest player to appear in a final, when he

came on as a late substitute for Dennis Wise in the 2004 final against Manchester United.

18 ■ Eighteen years and 19 days, the age at which Norman Whiteside became the youngest player to score in a final when he netted Manchester

United’s second goal in their 4-0 replay victory over Brighton in 1983.

19 ■ The number of FA Cup goals scored by Preston North End’s Jimmy Ross in a single season (1887-88), a competition record.

Preston’s 26-0 win against Hyde in the first round − a game in which Ross scored eight times − is also the biggest ever FA Cup victory.

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20 ■ The cost of the original trophy − in pounds − which was made by Messrs Martin, Hall & Co.

20 ■ The number of times Yeovil Town, as a non-League team, have beaten Football League clubs in the FA Cup.

22 ■ The number worn by the Manchester City goalkeeper Len Langford in the 1933 final against Everton, the first in time numbers were

featured. Everton wore numbers 1-11, while City wore 12-22. Langford was powerless to prevent Dixie Dean scoring Everton’s second goal on their way to a comfortable 3-0 victory.

23 ■ Twenty-three years and 20 days, the age at which the late, great Bobby Moore became the youngest FA Cup-winning captain, when West

Ham United beat Preston North End, 3-2, at Wembley in 1964.

27 ■ The number of times Manchester United have reached the Cup semi-finals.

42 ■ The number of different clubs who have won the FA Cup. The last first-time winners were Wimbledon, in 1988.

44 ■ The number of years that have elapsed since the 1968 final between West Bromwich Albion and Everton was the first to be

televised in colour.

44 ■ The number of years since West Bromwich Albion’s Dennis Clarke became the first substitute to be used in a final.

48 ■ The number of goals Henry (Harry) Cursham of Notts County scored in the FA Cup proper between 1877 and 1887, a

record that still stands. Cursham, who also played two first-class cricket matches for Nottinghamshire, recorded seven FA Cup hat-tricks.

57 ■ The number of years since an FA Cup match was first played under floodlights. The first time was when Kidderminster Harriers

played Brierley Hill Alliance in a preliminary round replay in 1955.

59 ■ The number of years since a hat-trick was last scored in a final, by Blackpool’s Stan Mortensen in the “Matthews Final” of 1953.

66 ■ The number of days that it took to complete the third round in 1963, the year of the “Big Freeze” that led to the formation of

the Pools Panel.

98 ■ The number of years since King George V became the first reigning monarch to attend a final. He watched Burnley beat

Liverpool, 1-0, at Crystal Palace in 1914.

130 ■ The number of years since an amateur team − Old Etonians − won the FA Cup.

140 ■ The number of years since the first final was played. A total of 55 teams have played in the Cup final since 1872.

2,000 ■ The number of spectators who attended the first Cup final − at

Kennington Oval in 1872. The price of admission was one shilling per person. Wanderers beat Royal Engineers, 1-0.

74,924 ■ The record crowd for a 3rd Round tie, who packed into Old

Trafford for Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in 2007. United substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sneaked in a late winner after Henrik Larsson had marked his United debut with the game’s first goal.

126,047 ■ The official crowd figure for the first Wembley

final, between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United, in 1923. In reality, more than 200,000 made their way into the stadium after barriers were broken down.

750,000 ■ The cost − in pounds − of the original

Wembley Stadium, which was built in 1923.

750,000,000 ■ Pounds, the cost of the new Wembley Stadium, which opened in 2007.

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uNderCOVer passeNGer ■ West Ham United manager Ron Greenwood holds the F.A Cup, which is covered by his jacket, as he waits for a train on the London Under-ground on May 5th, 1964. West Ham won the Cup the previous Saturday, when they defeated Preston North End, 3-2, at Wembley.