Quest for the Cup. The History of the FA Cup Finals 1872 - 2012

596 Pages·78.391 MB·English

by  Bynum М.

for the
THE STORY OF THE FA CUP FINALS, 1872 - 2012
Edited by Mike Bynum

for the
THE STORY OF THE FA CUP FINALS, 1872 - 2012
From the Sports Pages of
Cup Commentaries by Brian Barwick

eDItor’S
Note
The photos, game programmes and other memorabilia in this book
were gathered during an exhaustive seven-year research effort.
This historic collection was put together with the aid, and assistance,
of a large number of club historians whose teams had played in the FA
Cup final, sports collectors and other private sources. Some of these
items were taken off the walls of pubs and corporate offices. Others had
been stored away in boxes for many years by fanatical team supporters.
Quite a number of these unique bits of memorabilia were borrowed
from club trophy cases, Director’s Suites and boardrooms. And,
surprisingly, some of these unique items were purchased on Ebay.
And as a bonus, for the first time ever, all of the FA Cup final game
programmes, from 1920 to 2012, are being presented together.
Through the years, the size of these Cup programmes, their prices,
and their design styles, have greatly varied.
For example, the 1920 Cup final programme cost six pence. Ninety-
two years later, the 2012 programme would cost 10 GBP. The first
modern programme appeared in 1910. Prior to then, there were two-
page line-up cards – and these had been published since the mid-1880’s.
It is interesting to learn that the 1924 Cup final programme was very
difficult to locate – this is due to the fact that the 1924 final, between
Newcastle United and Aston Villa, was played in a rainstorm and very
few of these water-logged programmes have survived. The remaining
1911 to 1915 programmes are in the hands of serious sports collectors.
Overall, more than 80,000 images from the archives of Getty
Images, Corbis-Bettmann, the Press Association, Colorsport, Reuters,
Mary Evans Picture Library, Mirrorpix, the Daily Mail and many other
smaller, or private, archives were reviewed and considered during the
various editorial stages of designing Quest for the Cup.
Collectively, when viewing all of the photos and memorabilia in this
book, they form an impressive keepsake for all English football fans and
supporters to savour and enjoy.
And each one of these photos and pieces of memorabilia has its own
special story to tell.
Hopefully, the end result of this massive effort is a celebration of
England’s – and the world’s – greatest football tournament and prize.
For 140 years, it has lifted the hearts and hopes of millions each football
season.
Mike Bynum
September 10, 2012

PerMISSIoNS
The FA Cup logo and the Football Association shield are reprinted
by permission of The Football Association.
The Cup Commentaries, from 1872 to 2012, were originally written
by Brian Barwick for exclusive use in this Book.
The five “10 Greatest” sidebar stories were originally published by
ESPN and are reprinted by permission.
All of the Cup final game stories from 1881 to 2012 were originally
published by The Daily Telegraph or The Sunday Telegraph and
have been edited for use in this book. Reprinted by permission.
Copyright © 2012 by Canada Hockey LLC
All rights reserved.
ISBN: __________________
No part of this work covered by the copyright may be reproduced or used in any
form or by any means graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photographing,
recording, taping, or in electronic storage and retrieval systems without the
permission of the publisher.
Cover design: Angela Purdy, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Book design: Angela Purdy, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and
James Wilkins, Wetumpka, Alabama, USA.
Published by: Epic Sports Classics, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
8
INtroDUCtIoN
Everybody who is interested in football has Charles Alcock, based it all on a sporting extra-time or via a penalty shoot-out, playing
their favourite FA Cup moment – and, indeed, competition he had taken part in at his old public hosts to one of football’s “big names” or just
their favourite FA Cup final. school in Harrow. being in the same competition as teams filled
Whether it’s simply having been first out of Sure, it now has to live alongside some with household names.
bed to grab the best seat in the house, ahead of a other powerful, compelling, successful football Wembley Stadium provided the perfect stage
television sporting marathon that was guaranteed competitions that enjoy and deserve real financial for the 2011-12 competition’s climax, but it is
to include some of the best football, and some and broadcasting muscle, but the FA Cup still has interesting to note that Wembley FC began their
of the worst light entertainment, songs and suits its place on the football calendar, and long may assault on the FA Cup 9 months before in the
known to man. that be the case. Extra Preliminary Round. Their opponents
Or, perhaps, sitting in the best seat in the In being asked to write a short essay on were Ascot United – and their FA Cup tie was
stadium to watch the FA Cup final play out each FA Cup final to sit along the sumptuous streamed on Facebook for the first time.
before your very own eyes. photographs in this book, I have been on a Wembley got through that one, but fell victims
I’m fortunate enough to have done both. And journey that embraces three different centuries, to Hanworth Villa in the 1st Round Qualifying
my affection for the FA Cup remains genuine reflects huge social and sporting change, and the in front of 106 spectators! Mind you that was 84
and long-lasting. As a fan, as a TV man and then game’s transition from being the preserve of toffs more people than caught the Extra Preliminary
more recently, as a senior football administrator, to becoming the people’s game. Round action between Mole Valley SCR and
I’ve enjoyed a relationship with the FA Cup that From games played without crossbars, nets Lordswood.
goes back over 50 years. and penalties, to matches played in modern But that is the very democracy of the FA Cup
I watched my first final on black and white stadiums, filled with 90,000 spectators and that makes it unique.
television in 1962, attended my first final at beamed around the world to over 500 million Every fan can name their own favourite FA
Wembley in 1971, made a BBC television television viewers. Cup moment, the day when their team upset the
documentary on the 100th FA Cup final in 1981, From teams using genuine horse power to get odds, drew the favourites out of the velvet bag, or
joined a Cup-winning team on their open-top themselves, and the carriages, to the fledgling were the head-line makers on one particular FA
bus city parade in 1986, and walked out with stadiums, to these days, with tens of thousands Cup weekend.
the President of the Football Association, Prince using a different type of horse-power to speed Indeed, there have been many great FA Cup
William, to “meet the teams” ahead of the new them down both rail and road to see their upsets when non-League heroes beat teams
Wembley’s first FA Cup final in 2007. favourites contest the FA Cup final in magnificent from football’s top table: Yeovil Town beat
From watching the TV pre-match and post- surroundings. Sunderland in 1949, Hereford famously knocked
match paraphernalia from my armchair, to And from being a competition that started out Newcastle United, Supermac and all, back in
helping produce it for television, to being part with just fifteen entrants to one that, only this 1972, and in 1989 Sutton United beat Coventry
of the Cup story – it has been a slightly bizarre past season, had a record entry of 763 clubs. City in the 3rd Round, just 20 months after the
journey, but one I wouldn’t have missed. And, as well as still retaining its relevance in Sky Blues had lifted the Cup itself at Wembley.
The FA Cup remains, for me, one of sport’s the crowded modern football scene, the FA Cup Or, when the likes of Fourth Division
most enduring and endearing competitions. also deals in that wonderful sporting gift – glory. Colchester United beat the all-powerful Leeds
Simply, it is a knock-out of an idea. It is that inspiring glory of scoring the winning United side of the early 1970’s, Third Division
The man who came up with the notion, goal in the FA Cup final, managing a team to Bournemouth beat Manchester United in 1984
that historic moment, watching as a fan as your or, famously, when the Football League’s bottom
team lifts the trophy, or somewhere in their club, Wrexham, beat the reigning champions,
oNe LASt rIDe toGether ■ Bill Shankly
history enjoys their own special FA Cup moment Arsenal, in a memorable 3rd Round tie back in
brings the Cup back to Liverpool in 1974. It was the club’s last
– a giant-killing, a replay winner, perhaps in 1992.
piece of silverware won by the Scottish manager.
INtroDUCtIoN
These are results that help define a club’s We remember the man with the “tooth-pick” tradition, history and legend.
history – delivering the ultimate “I was there” – Billy Meredith – who was a winner with both And, indeed, the competition does have one
moments. Manchester City and Manchester United in of the most beautiful trophies in sport.
And its fame travels. Jose Mourinho, who won 1904 and 1909, respectively; Alex James, who in The first FA Cup trophy – “the little tin idol”
the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2007, describes it his baggy long shorts, scored for Arsenal under – was stolen from a sports outfitter’s shop window
thus: “I used to say it is the competition of the the shadow of the Graf Zeppelin in 1930; Dixie in 1895; the second Cup – a stunning replica of
people. The English FA Cup is incredible and Dean, who wore the first “No. 9” in a Cup final, the original – was later presented to the FA Cup’s
people who are in love with the game, as I am, in 1933; Jackie Milburn’s post-war Wembley first superstar Lord Arthur Kinnaird in 1911.
must have a special feeling for it.” magic for Newcastle United, and the “Matthews In recent years that stunning trophy was
And then there’s the Cup final itself, with Final” in 1953 – when Stan finally picked up his bought at auction for £478,000.
its traditions and tales of derring-do, deadly Winners’ medal. The third FA Cup, and the one whose design
finishing, dodgy goals and Didier Drogba – who We also remember Bert Trautmann’s brave has now become world-famous, was made in
is now officially an FA Cup final record-breaker. goalkeeping display for Manchester City in 1956; Bradford in 1911, and, fittingly, was won in its
And there have been unforgettable moments Ian St. John’s bullet header for Liverpool in 1965; first year by Bradford City.
like watching a marching band, hearing Abide Charlie George’s outrageous 1971 winner for Replaced by an exact replica in 1992, because
with Me sung with purpose and gusto, and the Gunners; Ian Porterfield’s goal and Jimmy of wear and tear to the original, the trophy with
watching the winners and losers wearily climb Montgomery’s save for Sunderland in 1973, and its unique shape, remains an iconic treasure. It is
the Wembley steps to receive hand-shakes, pats that “other” Sunderland – Alan Sunderland – a jewel in football’s crown.
on the back, winner’s and loser’s medals, and, of whose dramatic goal won the 1979 “five-minute I would like to personally thank publisher
course, for one team, the FA Cup itself, decked in final” for Arsenal. Mike Bynum for allowing me the privilege
ribbons. And one must not forget Ricky Villa’s of penning the words to complement the
It is also the tournament in which legends wonderful individual effort for Spurs in 1981 wonderful photographs and stunning displays
have been made, and feats of sporting drama – which is perhaps the final’s best-ever goal; of memorabilia in this book, and also to Lisa
delivered in bountiful measure. Ian Rush’s two goals to clinch the Double for Seabrook and David Barber, for checking my facts
And its history is full of surprises. Liverpool in 1986: Keith Houchen’s amazing and figures and making sure they all added up.
Who has the highest margin of victory in the flying header for Coventry City in 1987; And a special note to Billy, the White Horse,
FA Cup final – why, Bury, of course, in their 6-0 Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang upsetting the odds in for making sure the first Wembley final got
win over Derby County in 1903. 1988 to win the Cup; Eric Cantona’s imperious started without too much delay.
And who has played in the most Cup finals? strike for Manchester United in 1996; the In 2007, we re-opened the famous stadium
This honour belongs to the Hon. Arthur “Michael Owen final” in 2001; Steven Gerrard’s with the Red Arrows. Their dramatic fly-past
Kinnaird, one of the early pioneers, who played memorable captain’s performance for Liverpool marked a new era in the history of the world’s
in no less than nine finals. in 2006; Didier Drogba, who was an FA Cup best domestic football cup tournament.
Cup finals also make heroes of players – final scoring machine with three game-winning I hope you are all strapped in now and ready
and horses! Anybody who knows their English goals in four finals, which is a record, and Ashley for a journey through the years – and so let’s get
football has heard of Billy – “the White Horse” Cole, who was a FA Cup final winner (for Arsenal “Up for the Cup!”
– who helped make sure the first FA Cup final at and Chelsea) on no less than seven occasions.
Wembley in 1923 actually got started. Of course, the FA Cup has to continue to
The litany of famous names and famous work hard to succeed and survive, and also to Brian Barwick
games in the FA Cup tournament is endless, but manage change whilst respecting tradition. The September 15, 2012
the Cup final itself can define a player’s career. pages ahead of you underline the scale of that Twickenham