Despite having the least amount of rainfall for an opening month of the year since 1956, giving a whole different meaning to ‘Dry January’, there was still plenty to whet the anticipation of football followers when the FA Cup Fourth Round of 1974-75 rolled around.
With January rapidly drawing to a close, gradually longer afternoons helping to banish post-Christmas lethargy, the remaining 32 clubs still contesting the FA Cup were drawn from right across the spectrum – the three clubs currently leading Division One standing at the same level of competition as three plying their weekly endeavours outside the Football League.
Indeed, through the build-up to round four on Saturday 25 January 1975, the trio from non-league echelons, in terms of newspaper and television coverage at least, usurped their big-time brethren. This in the aftermath of stunning third round achievements and possibility of what further headlines they may create at the next stage.
Both Southern League Wimbledon and Leatherhead from the Isthmian League had been well served by publicity as their next ties approached, the former basking in the glory of winning at top flight Burnley which had brought them a fourth round visit to reigning league champions Leeds United – while victory at third division Brighton in round three had earned the latter a crack at first division Leicester City.
Initially drawn to host The Foxes at their Fetcham Grove ground, The F.A. acceded to a request from Leatherhead for the fixture to be switched to Filbert Street. Nevertheless, the Surrey based part-timers travelled north in confident manner, their buoyancy exemplified in the bold assertions of striker Chris Kelly.
Scorer of their third round winning goal at the Goldstone Ground, the ‘Leatherhead Lip‘ as he had been dubbed by Fleet Street would have more to say when they faced Leicester, even if it was the home side who, ultimately, had the last word.
Wimbledon, their non-league counterparts from South West London, already had an established cup hero of the hour in the ranks, goalkeeper Dickie Guy winning huge acclaim for his display at Turf Moor that enabled the visitors to defy the odds.
Guy was about to see his standing climb to an even higher level in the two games about to ensue against Leeds – the title holders and European Cup hopefuls eventually finding a way past him by way of a somewhat fortuitous goal which decided a feisty, hard-fought replay.
These, of course, were days when nobody challenged the validity of FA Cup replays, another game, or more, accepted by all as an integral fabric of the competition. It would have been viewed as mean-spirted in the extreme to begrudge small fry a second, financially rewarding, bite at a big fish, after managing to avoid being eaten at the first attempt.
Wimbledon were rewarded for their Elland Road efforts with a money-spinning sequel they were allowed to stage at the Selhurst Park home of Crystal Palace, while to a slightly lesser extent third division Swindon Town were lauded in their efforts for taking Division One West Ham back to the County Ground after earning a draw at Upton Park.
Not even the drawn out efforts of Fulham and Nottingham Forest to decide their fourth round bun fight prompted complaint or challenge to long-standing competition rules. These two second division adversaries played through an original fixture, two replays and then fourth meeting to determine who finally advanced to meet Everton in round five.
After needing three games to overcome fellow second tier outfit Hull City in round three and four to eventually find a way past Forest, Fulham finally secured a visit to Goodison Park just four days prior to the fifth round – and in having played seven matches to reach the last 16, the Craven Cottage side had already contested more ties than played by some clubs in actually winning the cup.
By the time round five arrived the land of Evertonia carried Merseyside FA Cup hopes as those of the holders on the other side of Stanley Park had come to grief in the fourth round – non-league Stafford Rangers from the Northern Premier League reaching the end of their FA Cup journey at the same stage as Liverpool on losing to home against third division Peterborough United.
Going out after such a concerted run was of no disgrace and much to the credit of Wimbledon, Leatherhead and Stafford Rangers and with their widely-reported cup exploits now over it brought a return to the status quo of non-league commitments.
Such a phrase was chosen judiciously by your genial host here at SAMTIMONIOUS.com – as the denim-clad rockers were currently at number one in the U.K. with ‘Down Down‘ – the title pertinent in regard to another ensemble usually seen in blue, the fourth round FA Cup exit of Chelsea bringing a relegation battle into sharp focus in SW6………
Selected FA Cup Fourth Round ties of 1974-75 (Saturday 25 January 1975):
LEEDS UNITED 0 WIMBLEDON 0 (46,230): Despite having the traumatic 44-day reign of Brian Clough to contend with at the start of the season, there was still no more daunting place to visit in mid-70s English football than Elland Road.
Under Jimmy Armfield, who succeeded Clough, a first team squad including a dozen international players had reaffirmed their capacity for consistency, just two defeats in the last dozen games and four straight wins underlined expectation Wimbledon were on for nothing but a hiding.
It was not, however, until the second half when the home side began to assert their authority, most of the problems Wimbledon had so far encountered posed by Clough-signing Duncan Mackenzie, the one non-international in the Leeds starting XI.
They mustered their first genuine opening early in the second half when Wales captain Terry Yorath brought a fine diving save from Guy after his defence had been stretched, the visitors resilience then taken to the brink when future Dons boss Dave Bassett upended Scottish international winger Eddie Gray with seven minutes left – only for Guy to deny Scotland man Peter Lorimer, the player recognised as possessing the hardest shot in the game, seeing his spot-kick palmed to safety.
As the pressure of the home side grew in intensity, in front of Guy the Wimbledon rearguard, now consisting of every outfield player, blocked and battled their way to within earshot of the final whistle. Yet even then they were indebted to Guy, who inside the last 90 seconds excelled in saving from Johnny Giles and Lorimer again as the amateurs held out for an unlikely draw against the artisans.
WIMBLEDON 0 LEEDS UNITED 1 10/2/75 (45,071): After the replay was delayed due to Plough Lane twice being waterlogged, for purposes of expediency The F.A. consented to Selhurst Park hosting the tie, coupled with the fact demand for tickets had far outstripped the 6,000 capacity of a Southern League ground.
Wimbledon once again offered a spirted account of themselves, although one sweeping first half move that ended with striker Roger Connell firing inches over showed there was talent amongst the tenacity.
Blending skill and solidarity, with a touch of skullduggery thrown into the mix, had served well for over ten years at this point. Their collective experience and expertise created a shooting chance for skipper Billy Bremner who shot narrowly wide, while Guy, making his 278th consecutive Wimbledon appearance, saved well from former England striker Allan Clarke.
At the other end David Harvey had his gloves warmed by a long range effort from Wimbledon midfielder Mick Mahon, scorer of their winner at Turf Moor five weeks earlier – although this tie was ultimately settled by a 50th minute shot from Giles that wrong-footed Guy on taking a deflection off Bassett.
In the closing stages, with the visitors by now having a stranglehold on the contest, Giles had an effort strike the woodwork and while Leeds in the end would comfortably secure a fifth round trip to Derby, both clubs would eventually have cause to look back ruefully on 1974-75.
Armfield’s side battled through to the European Cup Final only to lose amid contentious circumstances against holders Bayern Munich, while Wimbledon, after winning the Southern League would fail, at this juncture, to win enough votes when seeking election to the Football League.
IPSWICH TOWN 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (34,709): In terms of a heavyweight contest the bout of the day was at Portman Road where second in Division One Ipswich (Everton being the current leaders), played host to fourth-placed Liverpool – now in the charge of Bob Paisley after Bill Shankly had brought his 15-year Anfield tenure to an end with a second FA Cup triumph the previous May.
Under Paisley they had made somewhat stuttering progress through the first six months of 1974-75, arriving in East Anglia having won just three of their last 11 league games, while making a second round exit from the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Few, however, doubted Liverpool would soon find the consistency to put them ahead of the field in what was already a wide open championship race.
Despite having beaten Liverpool with a Brian Talbot goal at Portman Road in early November Ipswich were also prone to lapses, at their most dynamic Bobby Robson’s side were capable of overcoming anyone on their day – they just needed those days to arrive with more regularity.
Indeed, seven days after losing at bottom of the table Carlisle, Ipswich had one of those afternoons when they looked for all the world trophy-winners in waiting. England goalkeeper Ray Clemence pulled off a string of fine saves with last ditch clearances from defenders Phil Neal and Emlyn Hughes taking Paisley’s men to the brink of a Merseyside replay – only for their resistance and defence of the trophy to end when Ipswich captain Mick Mills slotted home an 88th minute winner.
In the event both sides would end the campaign empty-handed in terms of silverware, although 1974-75 proved the one and only season when Paisley through his nine year reign would not guide Liverpool to at least one major prize – reward for the fluent football purveyed by Ipswich further distant on the horizon.
WALSALL 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 (19,998): At Wembley nine months before Liverpool had swept Newcastle aside in the most one-sided FA Cup Final in years, but in winning at Manchester City in the previous round The Magpies had shown serious intent based upon banishing that embarrassment.
In fact these Fellows Park combatants had completed a double over the major entities of Manchester, The Saddlers knocking out second division leaders United in a replay where as the hosts they had prevailed by the odd goal in five.
Often the most perplexing ensemble in Division One, would it be the Newcastle who had just won four games on the trot or the one who had succumbed to fourth division Chester in the League Cup fifth round who turned up in the West Midlands?
The general rule of thumb was if England centre-forward Malcolm Macdonald failed to score then Newcastle were in trouble – and so it proved. ‘Supermac’ was well-shackled by The Saddlers defence, while at the other end a 34th minute header from George Andrews was enough to send Fellows Park into rapture rarely seen since the 1933 FA Cup humbling of Herbert Chapman’s all-conquering Arsenal side.
While giant-killers Walsall had a fifth round date to excitedly contemplate, for Newcastle the season effectively ended there. Macdonald duly topped the Division One goal scoring list, but just four wins in their last 17 league outings saw Joe Harvey’s side meander to a 15th placed finish.
MIDDLESBROUGH 3 SUNDERLAND 1 (39,400): While Newcastle were exiting the cup in the Black Country, their North East rivals Sunderland had made the much shorter trip to Ayresome Park, but after their visit to Teesside the Wear, like the Tyne, was left without FA Cup representation.
With their 1973 against the odds Wembley triumph over Leeds receding further into the past, Sunderland were still trying to harness that momentum into a successful Division Two promotion challenge.
If their current standing suggested this might be the season (although again Bob Stokoe’s side would come up short), they had been beaten to the punch by Jack Charlton’s ‘Boro – the ’66 World Cup winner immediately turning them into runaway second division champions, who were now acquitting themselves well in the top tier.
Indeed, it was their newly acquired top flight status along with the award of two penalties that eventually saw them through this hard fought encounter – having to come from behind after ex-Newcastle Fairs Cup winner Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson gave the visitors a tenth minute lead.
The home side drew level five minutes before the break when Lisbon Lion Bobby Murdoch found the target, the former Celtic midfielder firing home on receiving possession from a 21-year-old Graeme Souness.
After the break long-serving ‘Boro front man John Hickton obliged with a brace of penalties, both awarded for fouls on David Mills, as the hosts advanced on round five – Middlesbrough now impressing on two fronts, FA Cup progress happening in tandem with being sixth in Division One.
ASTON VILLA 4 SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 (35,881): Under the astute guidance of manager Ron Saunders, Aston Villa had spent the time since August making considerable progress – entering this tasty fourth round fixture with Division One top half merchants Sheffield United on the back of a six-match unbeaten second division streak and recent advancement to the League Cup Final.
Their impetus was such the Blades were well and truly blunted at a rapturous Villa Park, goals from Keith Leonard (12), Chris Nicholl (50) and Ray Graydon (50) giving proceedings a done and dusted look even before Tony Field reduced the deficit with twenty minutes to go.
But this was proving a campaign when Villa could usually find that bit extra, which duly arrived when Leonard wrapped things up with his second three minutes from time.
At Wembley six weeks later a 1-0 League Cup Final victory over fellow second division side Norwich was acclaimed by the travelling Holte End – with both Villa and John Bond’s Canaries having promotion to celebrate at the end of April.
For Sheffield United, however, the term would end in the frustration of just failing short in a bid for UEFA Cup qualification.
WEST HAM UNITED 1 SWINDON TOWN 1 (35,679): After advancing through the autumn in altogether excellent fashion, the form of West Ham appeared to have gone away with the Christmas decorations – their off the boil look evident through much of this encounter, ending in the 75th minute when Billy Jennings, bought from Watford for £110,000 earlier in the season, broke the deadlock.
But it was lead they were to enjoy for just six minutes, a determined response from the visitors resulting in the third division visitors quickly drawing level – former Wolves striker Peter Eastoe firing low past Mervyn Day after slipshod defensive work gave new meaning to Hammer house of horror.
SWINDON TOWN 1 WEST HAM UNITED 2 28/1/1975 (26,749): At the County Ground three days later, Swindon picked up from they left off at Upton Park, going ahead just before the half hour mark through Northern Ireland international Trevor Anderson, the former Manchester United man ensuring reward for the hosts enterprising start.
After the break however, John Lyall’s side roused themselves into displaying their top flight pedigree, goals from Jennings and Hammers talisman Trevor Brooking turning the tie on its head – West Ham for the moment happy just to avoid another cup exit at the hands of lower division opposition rather than harbour notions of a Wembley date in early May.
COVENTRY CITY 1 ARSENAL 1 (31,165): The fourth round draw would have been hard pressed to come up with a tie between two sides more in need of a good cup run than these two combatants – the downbeat league showing of each putting a trace of desperation in the Highfield Road air.
Home anxieties were eased when Scottish forward Brian Alderson put them ahead ten minutes into the second half, but contentment was only fleeting as Alan Ball soon fired back for The Gunners, an Arsenal outfit containing World Cup winner Ball and seven of the ’71 double-winning side in their match day 12, repelling all efforts by the home side to avoid a North London rematch.
ARSENAL 3 COVENTRY CITY 0 28/1/1975 (30,867): Spurned opportunities late in the Highfield Road encounter suggested the Sky Blues had missed their chance – a notion speedily reenforced when winger George Armstrong gave Arasenal a second minute replay lead.
While Bertie Mee’s side had looked in a state of flux for the past 18 months, Highbury far from impregnable in the current climes, restoring parity proved beyond the visitors, their evening and season as a whole, hitting the buffers when Armstrong netted again four minutes before half-time.
As the match entered its latter stages young Arsenal midfield man John Matthews completed the scoring in making the journey back to Coventry feel that little bit longer for the visitors. Arsenal on the other hand had safely negotiated their way to the fifth round – although whether it was a false dawn or cause for renewed hope remained to be seen.
CHELSEA 0 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 (36,650): Across London in SW6, for Chelsea, like Arsenal, the tumultuous times of the early-70s were beginning to feel a long time ago.
These were strange days at the Bridge, the faithful still turned up in droves, but more often than not driven to distraction by a side who with the departures of Ossie, Huddy and Cookie had lost much of its lustre in losing far too frequently.
Such was their present predicament the only win registered in the last five games was a narrow third round FA Cup victory over second division Sheffield Wednesday – a home tie against fellow Division One stragglers Birmingham something of an imponderable given they had lost 2-0 at St Andrews at the start of November.
The challenge in front of the home side was made less strenuous with Birmingham unable to call upon star man Trevor Francis who was ruled out through injury. In his absence the visitors strike threat was carried by Scot Kenny Burns, who scored what proved the decisive goal three minutes ahead of half-time.
Their determination to protect the lead was reflected in Birmingham receiving five second half bookings – although from another game in which they failed to score, the warning bells were now peeling around Stamford Bridge, three wins before the end of the season too few to stave off the reality of relegation.
LEICESTER CITY 3 LEATHERHEAD 2 (32,000): Although devalued today beyond recognition (not least by The FA themselves), there was a time – this time in fact – when the allure of the FA Cup was enhanced every season by the escapades of a previously unknown entity.
Such was the case in 1974-75 when Leatherhead won through every qualifying round and then knocked out two league clubs in reaching round four – where they were paired with first division Leicester City.
On deciding their ground was not up to staging the tie, permission was granted for the fixture to be reversed, the build-up to playing at Filbert Street noteworthy for forward Kelly confidently asserting they would win the game.
But after half an hour what had made for good, if fanciful, copy suddenly looked to be based in fact. The part-time visitors in taking a 2-0 lead reduced their highfalutin hosts to a defensive shambles and group of squabbling individuals as full-back Dennis Rofe and midfielder Alan Birchenall almost come to blows.
It is not just goals from Peter McGillicuddy and Kelly that caused Leicester to lose the plot, they have been caught out by some enterprising play as Leatherhead reached half-time with a two-goal advantage – ‘Match of the Day‘ commentator John Motson unable to resist a ‘Kelly’s Heroes‘ reference as the players troop off.
On regaining their composure Leicester eventually make their superior skill and fitness levels tell, winning through with goals from Steve Earle, Jon Sammels and Keith Weller.
But fifty years later the fact mere mention of Leatherhead and Chris Kelly can trigger instant recall in a generation of football followers is testament to magic the FA Cup once had.
The FA Cup Fourth Round of 1974-75:
Bury 1 Mansfield Town 2; Walsall 1 Newcastle United 0; Leatherhead 2 Leicester City 3; Aston Villa 4 Sheffield United 1; Middlesbrough 3 Sunderland 1; Derby County 2 Bristol Rovers 0; Stafford Rangers 1 Peterborough United 2; Ipswich Town 1 Liverpool 0; Queens Park Rangers 3 Notts County 0;
Fulham 0 Nottingham Forest 0; R1 (28 Jan) 1-1 R2 (3 Feb) 1-1 R3 (10 Feb) Nottingham Forest 1 Fulham 2; Coventry City 1 Arsenal 1 R (28 Jan) Arsenal 3 Coventry City 1; West Ham United 1 Swindon Town 1; R (28 Jan) Swindon Town 1 West Ham United 2; Plymouth Argyle 1 Everton 3; Carlisle United 3 West Bromwich Albion 2; Chelsea 0 Birmingham City 1; Leeds United 0 Wimbledon 0; R (10 Feb) Wimbledon 0 Leeds United 1.
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