In the aftermath of the National Union of Mineworkers imposing a ban on overtime working when pay talks with the government broke down in late-November 1973, Tory prime minister Edward Heath, in a bid to conserve fuel stocks (Britain a coal powered economy), responded by implementing a three-day working week – this state of affairs coming to pass on New Years Day 1974.
Along with the obvious effects on industry and commerce, professional football had also been impacted. One of the energy saving measures introduced by Whitehall was a ban on the use of floodlights, resulting in earlier kick-off times and cessation of night fixtures.
Indeed, round three of the FA Cup on the opening weekend of 1974 took the unusual form of being played across a Saturday and Sunday (January 5/6 in this case), with any replays taking place on a midweek afternoon in the week that followed.
The FA Cup third round of 1973-74 had survived these impositions and produced some memorable ties in the process. But any notion of normality being restored for round four went up in smoke, so to speak, when the National Coal Board were informed their latest pay offer to the miners had been rejected – who two days before the fourth round (not that it had any bearing on the ballot), escalated the dispute by voting for immediate strike action.
So against the backdrop of a country in chaos, cup football returned at the end of a month that had been gloomy in every respect. The Wembley hopes of some would be maintained – although for one club they would be realised just before the daylight of a dank Saturday afternoon disappeared……………..
Selected FA Cup Fourth Round ties of 1973-74 (Saturday 26/Sunday 27 January 1974):
Having disposed of cup holders Sunderland in the previous round, Carlisle United were rewarded for their efforts with a visit to Anfield – where hosts and reigning league champions Liverpool, currently hanging on to the coattails of Division One leaders Leeds, spent ninety minutes being thwarted by their second division visitors.
At Brunton Park three days later both sides drew another blank in the first half, the deadlock finally broken four minutes after the restart when Phil Boersma fired home for Liverpool – whose place in Round Five was sealed late on by a goal from Welsh international striker John Toshack.
As the opening month of the year drew to a close amid dull days and darkness, there was light at the end of the tunnel for all concerned. Referee Jack Taylor would find himself in charge of the biggest tie of all later in the year when appointed to referee the 1974 World Cup Final, while in October Liverpool, with more silverware to their name, would return to Cumbria for a league fixture on Carlisle securing promotion to the top flight at the end of 1973-74.
For Bill Shankly, it would not, however, be another return to the ground where his managerial career began – the charismatic Liverpool boss departing Anfield before 1974-75 rolled around.
There were exciting FA Cup developments on the horizon for second division Fulham and while those would have to wait until the following season, for the moment there was consolation in scoring the ‘Match of the Day Goal of the Season‘ – skipper and former England international Alan Mullery putting them ahead at Craven Cottage against first division Leicester City with a superbly struck volley.
The visitors hit back to secure a Filbert Street replay with a fine strike from winger Len Glover – who netted again when the sides reconvened later in the week, Leicester having restored level terms through Frank Worthington after Les Barrett had given Fulham an early lead.
The prospective league champions of their respective divisions faced each other at London Road – where fourth division pacesetters Peterborough United entertained Don Revie’s top flight front-runners.
Even without such talented dependables as Mick Jones, Gordon McQueen, Johnny Giles and Allan Clarke, Leeds United were still far too strong for spirited but ultimately swept aside opposition – the tie done and dusted in little over half an hour by which time Peter Lorimer, Joe Jordan (twice) and Terry Yorath had emphasised the gulf in status. After the break many of the 28,000 sell-out crowd at least had the pleasure of cheering a consolation effort from Posh skipper John Cozens.
In the bleak winter to have taken hold at Old Trafford, the only ray of sunshine during these dismal days had been a late-December 2-0 victory over visiting Ipswich Town – the only win Manchester United had managed in their last thirteen outings.
But in the main Bobby Robson had an effective, cohesive team at his disposal and the contrast between them and Tommy Doc’s dire Red Devils could not have been greater. This fourth round Old Trafford FA Cup pairing was settled by England international in-waiting Kevin Beattie who netted with a seventh minute header – Ipswich departing to chase European qualification on two fronts leaving United to front up in avoiding relegation.
For fourth division Scunthorpe United, being drawn away to Newcastle United was the best of both worlds. Not only would the lowest ranked club left in the competition score for a sizeable sum of gate money, but of late lowly non-league opposition such as Hereford and Hendon (in their case the previous round), had recently caused all manner of problems for the home team on Tyneside – which in the circumstances made The Iron comparative world-beaters.
Not even with eleven away defeats already this term could Scunthorpe be discounted, their hopes of inflicting severe embarrassment on the hosts increasing when midfielder Nathan Keeley fired them into a first half lead.
They were later breached by future England midfielder Terry McDermott, but held on to become the latest small fry opposition to leave St James’ Park able to fight another day – although a tenth minute Stewart Barraclough goal in the Old Showground replay, followed by a Malcolm Macdonald brace enabled Newcastle to make safe, if stuttering progress to the fifth round.
Those of us who these days laugh up our sleeve when the ‘magic of the FA Cup‘ phrase is used in relation to a present day tie, have their cynicism justified by long ago contests such these Arsenal v Aston Villa encounters – the original tie and replay attracting a combined attendance of nigh-on 90,000.
Over the past three seasons Arsenal had the most enviable (winners/runners-up/semi-finalists) FA Cup record in the country – and while Ray Kennedy’s late equaliser kept their interest alive after a first half Sammy Morgan goal had put second division Villa ahead, there was a sense, based on erratic league form, high times at Highbury were beginning to flatline.
Despite having nine of their 1971 double-winning detail take the field for the Villa Park replay (along with World Cup winner Alan Ball), the Gunners were outgunned in each half. Morgan and Alun Evans were on target as the home side recorded a notable triumph, Arsenal suddenly finding themselves in the unusual position of being free on forthcoming FA Cup weekends.
The lower ranked team also prevailed at Wrexham – where the third division hosts overcame runaway second division leaders Middlesbrough.
Embroiled in a promotion chase of their own, the home side won the day with a 38th minute goal from local-born striker David Smallman, who thirteen months later joined Everton in a £70,000 move for an injury-plagued three year Goodison Park stay.
This surprise FA Cup defeat was a rare blemish in a season where Jack Charlton, in his first season of management, led the Ayresome Park outfit to a decade high points tally in winning Division Two.
In opposition at the Racecourse were respective talismen Joey Jones and Graeme Souness, who four years later would together collect European Cup winners medals with Liverpool, a laurel that had already come the way of Souness’ Boro team-mate Bobby Murdoch – the Lisbon Lion unable to prevent Charlton’s men being knocked out in North Wales.
After they had humbled West Ham in round three, their latest headline-grabbing FA Cup success of the era, third division Hereford United failed in adding Bristol City to a list of the conquered – the second division side managing to edge through at Edgar Street.
The visitors advanced to round five by virtue of a first half Geoff Merrick goal, an assured defensive display from the visitors ensuring the pitch remained free of parka-clad invaders.
There was no let-up in ties of eye-catching significance the following day, Sunday 27 January pitting two second division sides against top flight clubs of renowned cup pedigree – yet those of lower rank emerged victorious in each instance.
The biggest crowd of the weekend (53,509) converged on the land of Evertonia for a rematch of the 1968 final where West Bromwich Albion, hardly short of FA Cup kudos themselves, contained a home side making steady progress in the first season of early ’60s Goodison title-winning player Billy Bingham being at the helm.
Just like the Wembley meeting of six years before, from which Everton had two survivors in John Hurst and Joe Royle, the match at 90 minutes was goalless. But rather than move to extra-time this Sunday stalemate necessitated a Hawthorns replay – where, three days later, the sole Albion veteran of their ’68 FA Cup Final triumph netted the only goal, prolific marksmen Tony ‘Bomber’ Brown striking decisively six minutes before half-time.
It was, however, not the only strike of note contained within the contest – as shortly before full-time Baggies Scottish winger Willie Johnston and Everton full-back Archie Styles were sent off for fighting.
Prior to arriving at second division Nottingham Forest for their first ever Sunday fixture, Manchester City, under recently appointed manager Ron Saunders, were in the midst of a seven match unbeaten run – but were taken apart beside the Trent by a second division team boasting a first class individual talent.
Despite containing international players such as Willie Donachie, Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee and Rodney Marsh, the visitors were torn apart by a twenty three year-old Duncan McKenzie displaying the irrepressible form that would later see him play for Leeds and Everton among others, but inexplicably never England.
By the time he created the 18th minute opener for former City man Ian Bowyer, Mackenzie was already running City ragged – and after the scoring the second himself put another on a plate for Bowyer as Forest reached the break in the remarkable position of leading 3-0.
Although they were pegged back by a Frank Carrodus goal, the outcome had long since been decided – and for good measure Forest repeated their third round feat of scoring four in a Sunday tie when McKenzie crated the opening from which George Lyall completed the rout.
Saunders would expect far more from his star-studded side in their next fixture, a midweek League Cup semi-final second leg against third division Plymouth Argyle, the two sides having drawn 1-1 at Home Park in the first meeting.
Their 4-1 City Ground calamity would have been noted with interest at Molineux. The previous day Wolves had won through their League Cup semi-final second leg against Norwich City – thus ensuring a first Wembley appearance since 1960………………
FA CUP ROUND FOUR – 1973-74:
Liverpool 0 Carlisle United 0 (R 0-2); Southampton 3 Bolton Wanderers 3 (R 0-2); Nottingham Forest 4 Manchester City 1; Luton Town 3 Bradford City 0; Everton 0 West Bromwich Albion 0 R 1-0); Wrexham 1 Middlesbrough 0; Newcastle United 1 Scunthorpe United 1 (R 0-3); Queens Park Rangers 2 Birmingham City 0;
Fulham 1 Leicester City 1 (R 2-1); Coventry City 0 Derby County 0 (R 0-1); Portsmouth 0 Orient 0 (R (I) 1-1 R (II) 2-0); Manchester United 0 Ipswich Town 1; Oldham Athletic 1 Burnley 4; Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 1; Hereford United 0 Bristol City 1; Peterborough United 1 Leeds United 4;
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