It is often said there is a knack to doing something, a right way and wrong way, that process of making life easier.
When it came to winning through FA Cup semi-finals of the 1960s two clubs in particular mastered the art – albeit with far different fortunes on taking the field at Wembley – while others who made repeated excursions to the last four would rarely, if ever, be the one on whom glory would ultimately fall.
Two teams who each contested three ’60s semi-finals failed in seeing their name inscribed on the trophy (not in this decade at least, although for those in question, namely Chelsea and Leeds United, it would not be long in coming), while the most successful club when it came to arriving one game from the final would only once take the last step in playing beneath the Twin Towers.
Whether their semi-final shortcomings during this baffling period could be attributed to facing top-notch opposition, nerves or tactical naivety is open to debate. But it was not down to a lack of talent – given the abundance of high quality players available to Manchester United boss Matt Busby.
Indeed, through five successive seasons from 1962-66 Busby’s United never failed in progressing beyond the quarter-finals but only once did they prevail.
True, they did so in going on to lift the trophy but four other opportunities went begging, three of which denied the 100,000 present and the huge television audience – watching the only football match guaranteed to be broadcast live during the year – opportunity of seeing a prodigious young talent named George Best play in an FA Cup Final.
While Best was the most notable absentee from the annual first Saturday in May jamboree, he was by no means the only 60s big name to miss out.
England captains through the early years of the decade, Jimmy Armfield (Blackpool) and Johnny Haynes (Fulham), never knew Wembley for anything other than international duty. Such a fate also befell Haynes’ Craven Cottage club-mate George Cohen, although as alternatives go July 30 1966 certainly served its purpose – and while the great Martin Peters played in European and World Cup Finals in the two years that followed, missing out on selection for the 1964 FA Cup Final was always a source of disappointment.
At the start of the decade Merseyside teenagers John Lennon and Paul McCartney knew of a local thoroughfare called ‘Penny Lane‘ but were still years from setting events there to music in a Beatles song, their home city often represented in FA Cup semi-finals to come.
By the same token a 16-year-old Arsenal supporting North Londoner named Ray Davies may have seen a ‘Waterloo Sunset‘ but it would be 1967 before he described one in beautifully evocative style – Kinks front man Ray and his beloved Gunners sharing vastly differing fortunes as the 60s swung, Arsenal never once reaching the last four, Highbury not used as a semi-final venue.
When it came to emerging from ’60s FA Cup semi-finals the secret for success had been worked out elsewhere in North London, Spurs enjoying a 100 per cent record in this regard – the title of mid-60s film, ‘The Knack….and how to get it‘ applying as much to Tottenham and the FA Cup as it did to ‘Swinging London’……..
FA Cup Semi-Finals of the 1960s:
1959-60:
Saturday 26 March 1960 – Aston Villa 0 Wolves 1 (Villa Park – 55,596); Sheffield Wednesday 1 Blackburn Rovers 2 (Maine Road – 74,135):
Although these were days long, long before FA Cup semi-finals were televised live, March 26 1960 brought television coverage of the Grand National for the first time. The winner ‘Merryman II‘ also equated to Northern Ireland international striker Derek Dougan, who netted twice for Blackburn in their success over Sheffield Wednesday before a colossal crowd at Maine Road.
Despite the Owls, whose manager Harry Catterick would soon attract the notice of Everton, responding through Hillsborough favourite Johnny Fantham, 17th placed Rovers (12 first division places below Wednesday), held out to reach Wembley for the first time since 1928.
Semi-final hero Dougan handed in a transfer request to manager Dally Duncan on the morning of the final, this before playing against the club with whom he would end his professional career 15 years later.
The internal unrest being felt by the Ewood Park club made little difference in regard to the outcome, as Wolves, smarting from just failing to land a third consecutive league title in being pipped to top spot by Burnley, easily prevailed in the most one-sided post-war FA Cup Final thus far.
Wolves had won through when a goal from winger Norman Deeley proved enough to defeat second division leaders (and champions in waiting), Aston Villa in a West Midlands semi-final derby hosted at The Hawthorns home of West Bromwich Albion.
On an afternoon when fate and superior opposition conspired against them, Blackburn conceded a first-half own goal and found themselves down to ten men when full-back Dave Whelan suffered a serious leg injury (this in a time before substitutes), 90 seconds before half-time.
In the second half a brace from Deeley ensued the cup went to Molineux for the second time in 11 seasons, Wolves the last FA Cup winners of the 1940s and first of the 1960s.
1960-61:
Saturday 18 March 1960 – Spurs 3 Burnley 0 (Villa Park, 69,968); Leicester City 0 Sheffield United 0 (Elland Road, 52, 095); March 23: Leicester City 0 Sheffield United 0 (City Ground, 43,000); March 27: Leicester City 2 Sheffield United 0 (St Andrew’s 37,190):
Two days after Jaguar launched their E-type model, that many a prosperous pop star or high-profile footballer would be pictured beside in the years ahead, Spurs revealed themselves in a speeding hurry to complete the first league and FA Cup double of the century – a brace from Bobby Smith and icing on the cake effort from Welsh winger Cliff Jones easing them past reigning league champions Burnley at Villa Park.
Three weeks later Spurs succeeded the Turf Moor side as champions and a fortnight on from that added to their trophy roster at Wembley – the FA Cup paths of Tottenham and Burnley destined to cross again a little over 12 months later.
The identity of their 1961 Wembley opponents would not be established until March was almost up, by which time Spurs were racing if not quite mathematical certainties to win the league title.
After an Elland road stalemate between Leicester City and Sheffield United necessitated the first FA Cup semi-final replay since 1928, in the manner of buses two came along at once, both sides again drawing a blank on facing each other at Nottingham Forest a few days later.
The next date of the shared tour took them to the St Andrew’s home of Birmingham City – where second half goals from Scot Jimmy Walsh and Welsh international Ken Leek saw Leicester to their first FA Cup Final for 12 years.
It proved a different score line to their 3-1 reversal against Wolves in 1949, but it was the same two goal margin of defeat, Terry Dyson and Smith netting without reply as Spurs lifted the cup and completed the double on Saturday 6 May.
1961-62:
Saturday 31 March – Manchester United 1 Spurs 3 (Hillsborough, 65,000); Burnley 1 Fulham 1 (Villa Park, 59,989); April 9 – Burnley 2 Fulham 1 (Filbert Street, 35, 010):
27 months into the new decade, the growing gap between top and bottom, rich and poor in the domestic game was evident in March 1962 when over 120,000 people watched two FA Cup semi-finals – but fourth division Accrington Stanley resigned from the Football League on failing to clear outstanding debts.
Both semi-finals eventually went the way of the form book, unlike the Grand National on Saturday 30 March when outsider Kilmore came home first. While the 28/1 shot was succeeding at Aintree, cup favourites, holders Spurs, were running away with their Hillsborough meeting with Manchester United – goals from Jimmy Greaves (bought by White Hart Lane boss Bill Nicholson from AC Milan four months earlier), Jones and Terry Medwin proving too much for Manchester United, who only had a David Herd reply to show for their efforts.
Reigning champions Tottenham had been unable to find the consistency needed to defend the title (they had dropped points in both league meetings against mid-table United), saving their best displays for the FA Cup – Manchester United doing likewise the following season.
At Villa Park it was assumed title-chasing Burnley would be too strong for relegation threatened Fulham, but it needed a second half goal from England international winger John Connelly to earn The Clarets a replay, this after Scotland forward Graham Leggat had given the Craven Cottage outfit a 20th minute lead.
When the sides reconvened at Leicester City on April 9 things followed a more expected course, two goals from midfielder Jimmy Robson giving the Turf Moor men control of the game. They had to withstand some late anxiety when Fulham pulled one back in the last minute through full-back Jim Langley (who five years later would tread Wembley with third division QPR in their 1967 League Cup Final victory over West Brom), but Burnley held on to reach their first FA Cup Final since 1947.
Robson netted in the showpiece showdown against Spurs – but goals from Greaves, Bobby Smith and skipper Danny Blanchflower ensured Tottenham became only the fourth side in history to retain the FA Cup (twenty years later – 81/82 – they would also be the fifth).
1962-63:
Saturday 27 April 1963 – Leicester City 1 Liverpool 0 (Hillsborough, 65,000); Manchester United 1 Southampton 0 (Villa Park, 65,000);
Given the U.K. mainland had been gripped by the harshest winter for 70 years, it was somewhat ironic the defining figure of the 1962-63 FA Cup could be said to have come in from the cold.
In the close season of 1962 Manchester United had paid Torino a British record fee of £115,000 to bring inspirational Scottish striker Denis Law back into English football, Law having moved from Manchester City to the Italian club 12 months earlier. Old Trafford would never spend money quite so wisely, his goalscoring exploits enabling United to stave off relegation and land their first trophy of the post-Munich era.
Law had already proved his worth by the time he netted the only goal of a Villa Park meeting with second division Southampton. The two semi-finals were also affected by the unusually inclement weather to have descended on Britain in the early months of 1963, taking place three weeks beyond their original scheduled date.
While a 56th minute Law strike was decisive in a tense contest (Saints gaining their FA Cup revenge in the final 13 years later), at Hillsborough two in-form sides were in opposition as Liverpool, acquitting themselves well in their first season back in the top flight after winning Division Two, faced Leicester, who had been among the first division front-runners all season.
The records show Leicester came out on top by virtue of a first half goal from winger Mike Stringfellow, but the crux of the matter is found in the brilliant display of Foxes ‘keeper Gordon Banks, whose agility confounded Bill Shankly’s team as his ‘best in the world‘ status drew ever nearer.
Banks was the main reason Leicester appeared in a final, delayed until the final Saturday of May, in which they started as firm favaourites. But once again it proved a step too far as a goal from Law, supplemented by a brace from fellow Scot Herd saw United home, Matt Gilles’ side managing a consolation through centre-forward Ken Keyworth.
It proved the start of a golden era at Old Trafford, even if it would not include another FA Cup success, the years to come bringing repeated semi-final sorrow. Leicester, meanwhile, had one more to come during the ’60s – and in that regard alone had more success to savour.
1963-64:
Saturday 14 March 1964 – Preston North End 2 Swansea Town 1 (68,000); West Ham United 3 Manchester United 1 (Hillsborough, 65,000);
When the balls went into the hat for the semi-final draw of 1963-64, the game at large was no doubt hoping the big lads, in this case Manchester United and West Ham, were kept apart when the names were read out – thus hoping the two sides would produce an entertaining afternoon in early May after dispensing with Division Two opposition in the last four.
But the law of sod conspired to pair Preston North End and Swansea Town together – ensuring second division FA Cup Final representation for the first time since Leicester in 1949.
At Villa Park promotion chasing Preston (they would eventually finish third and miss out), came from behind to reach Wembley for the first time in ten years. Second half goals from Scot Alex Dawson (a penalty) and centre-back Tony Singleton securing safe passage after North End rallied on falling behind to a Jimmy McLaughlin goal for the Swans a minute before half-time.
Cup holders Manchester United would have travelled across the Pennines to meet West Ham at Hillsborough in positive mood, not only as they were enjoying a fine season, (a teenage George Best now integrated in the side), but also on winning 2-0 in an Upton Park dress rehearsal seven days prior.
But on their day Ron Greenwood’s side, this day a rain-lashed one that turned the playing surface into a quagmire, were a match for anyone, The Hammers finding themselves two goals to the good when midfielder Ronnie Boyce netted twice inside the first 17 minutes of the second half.
On his way to an eye-popping 46 haul for the season Denis Law pulled one back in the 77th minute, but all hope of an immediate return to Wembley was washed away, literally and metaphorically speaking, when Geoff Hurst, not for the last time in his career, struck decisively late on.
In the event spectators and viewers did have an afternoon rich in entertainment on Saturday 2 May. Twice Preston led (Doug Holden 10, Dawson 40), only for West Ham (John Sissons 10, Hurst 52) to respond, this before a last minute header from Boyce clinched their first FA Cup triumph – North End going down 3-2 just as they had done in losing to West Brom in 1954.
1964-65:
Saturday 27 March 1965 – Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0 (Villa Park, 67, 686); Leeds United 0 Manchester United 0 (Hillsborough, 65,000); 31 March – Leeds United 1 Manchester United 0 (City Ground, 46,300);
After some wild card arrivals to the semi-final stage in recent times, the 1964-65 last four was a straight flush of high-rollers with each of the quartet to be found high up the first division table.
At Hillsborough the sides standing first and second crossed swords, this Steel City contest pitting title rivals Manchester United and Leeds United against each other. While Matt Busby’s men avoided defeat at the venue where they lost at the same stage 12 months earlier, they were unable to find a way past Leeds who on coming up from Division Two last season had mounted an immediate Championship challenge.
In the City Ground replay four days later another impasse prevailed, this pair of dour contests, both defensive in nature, finally decided by an 89th minute header from Leeds skipper Billy Bremner – the Scottish international starting an impressive habit of scoring winning semi-final goals, taking the Elland Road side through to two more FA Cup Finals and Fairs Cup Final in the seasons beyond.
By way of consolation for another last four exit, Manchester United recorded a vital league win at Leeds three weeks later, a victory that would prove crucial as they pipped Don Revie’s side to the title on goal average – but there was still another imminent chapter to be written in their litany of FA Cup semi-final losses.
Although Liverpool had been unable to mount a successful league championship defence, they had still advanced to the semi-finals of the European Cup. But FA Cup progress was not a given against Tommy Docherty’s talented Chelsea side who were not only a title chasing concern but also on the verge of completing a two-leg League Cup Final success against Leicester.
Yet at Villa Park they would come up short (as they would in the league finishing third), second half goals from England international winger Peter Thompson and Scot Willie Stevenson (a penalty) saw Liverpool end a fifteen year wait to once again contest the FA Cup Final.
At Wembley on May Day they would lift the trophy for the first time, Bill Shankly’s side coming out on top by the odd goal in three, all of which were scored in extra-time. Bremner was again on target for Leeds, playing in their first FA Cup Final, but on Don Revie’s side fighting back after Roger Hunt had broken the deadlock, an Ian St John header ensured victory for Liverpool – which helped overcome a bitter European Cup exit against Inter Milan in the weeks ahead.
1965-66:
Saturday 23 April 1966 – Everton 1 Manchester United 0 (Burnden Park, 60,000); Sheffield Wednesday 2 Chelsea 0 (Villa Park, 62,000);
In a remarkable act of symmetry (obviously not for those involved), the same two clubs who fell at the semi-final hurdle in 1965 tumbled out of the cup at the exact same stage 12 months later.
Contesting a fifth successive FA Cup semi-final, there was a different venue for Manchester United to negotiate, making the short trip to the Burnden Park home of Bolton Wanderers, along with new opposition for this stage in the form of Everton – both clubs in need for cup salvation after below-par league campaigns.
Having been beaten by a last minute replay goal last term, there were just 11 remaining when their fate was sealed on this latest semi-final slip, classy Everton midfielder Colin Harvey netting the only goal in beating United ‘keeper Harry Gregg with a crisp low shot.
For Chelsea the portents were ominous in returning to Villa Park, scene of their defeat to Liverpool a year earlier, although omens aside they were still fancied to overcome 17th placed Sheffield Wednesday who they stood above by 14 places.
But like Manchester United they once again fell prey to semi-final stage fright, second half goals from David Pugh and 19-year-old Jim McCalliog (who had joined Wednesday from Chelsea, the £37,500 fee paid in October 1965 a then record for a teenager), taking The Owls through to their first FA Cup Final since winning the trophy in 1935.
At Wembley on May 14, McCalliog netted after just four minutes and when David Ford doubled the lead early in the second half the spoils looked bound for Hillsborough. Everton, however, mounted a stirring response, scoring three times in fifteen minutes (Mike Trebilcock 59/64, Derek Temple 74), as the match turned dramatically in their favour.
When Jack Taylor (destined to referee the 1974 World Cup Final) blew the final whistle the cup was again bound for Merseyside, Everton emulating the feat of neighbours Liverpool (who had already clinched the league title) from the previous year, to record their first FA Cup success since 1933 – their England international full-back Ray Wilson by no means having seen the last of Wembley for 1966…………
1966-67:
Saturday 29 April 1967 – Spurs 2 Nottingham Forest 1 (Hillsborough, 55,000); Chelsea 1 Leeds United 0 (Villa Park, 62, 738);
In a month when 100/1 outsider Foinavon won the Grand National and perhaps more astounding still Great Britain had the winning song at the Eurovision Song Contest (‘Puppet on a String‘ by Sandie Shaw), clearly anything was possible, the two FA Cup semi-finals each having more possibilities than certainties.
Enduring a trophy drought now stretching to almost four years, there was a strong sense Spurs again had what it took, taking an 18-match unbeaten league and cup record to Hillsborough in facing Nottingham Forest – who harboured ‘double’ ambitions on matching Manchester United step for step in the title race.
Anyone under the misconception Jimmy Greaves only scored tap-ins needs a shufti at the sweetly-struck 20-yarder that put Bill Nicholson’s side ahead on the half hour, winger Frank Saul netting with equal aplomb as Tottenham doubled the lad with twenty minutes left.
Welsh international midfielder Terry Hennessey nodded Forest back into contention with quarter of an hour remaining, but the City Ground outfit were fated to end the season empty-handed on eventually finishing runners-up, the Championship trophy going to Old Trafford for the second time in three seasons.
For Chelsea heading to Villa Park for a FA Cup semi-final was a three in a row experience, where it proved third time – and lucky.
While the Elland Road unit started slight favourites by virtue of higher league position (third v eighth) and having beaten the same opposition 1-0 earlier in the month, evidence fate was finally with Chelsea came when striker Tony Hateley scored what proved the only goal, his 42nd minute header coming from a rare attack.
Their good fortune was evident again in the closing stages as Leeds had two goals disallowed. The second, a trademark thunderbolt strike from Scottish winger Peter Lorimer, leaving ‘Match of the Day‘ commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme non-plussed in regard to its illegality.
On holding out to secure a place in the first all-London FA Cup Final, the Stamford Bridge side were unable to prevail on their first taste of Wembley – an 85th minute Bobby Tambling header too little too late as Spurs extended their undefeated trot to 23 matches, goals from Jimmy Robertson (40) and Saul (67), enough to ensure the FA Cup headed to White Hart Lane for the third time in seven seasons.
1967-68:
Saturday 27 April 1968 – West Bromwich Albion 2 Birmingham City 0 (Villa Park, 60, 831); Everton 1 Leeds United 0 (63,000);
After winning their first major trophy with a League Cup Final success against Arsenal six weeks earlier, Leeds had their sights on a domestic cup double on facing ’66 winners Everton at Old Trafford. But rather than make a prompt return to Wembley, Don Revie’s side joined Chelsea in the ranks of losing successive ’60s FA Cup semi-finals (Manchester United still with the unenviable record of losing three on the bounce).
Leeds lost out in a fractious fixture that was littered with infringements, the match decided somewhat appropriately by a penalty – awarded two minutes before half-time after Jack Charlton had stopped a goal bound Jimmy Husband shot with his hand, Everton winger Johnny Morrissey on target with the ensuing spot-kick.
Ironically Leeds would complete a trophy ‘double’ for the 1967-68 campaign, yet would have to wait until the early weeks of the following season in order to do so – winning a held-over, two leg Inter Cities Fairs Cup Final against Hungarian outfit Fernecvaros.
The winners of the Old Trafford FA Cup semi-final knew they would be facing West Midland opposition at Wembley, this due to near neighbours West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City facing each other at Villa Park.
After only emerging from a three match quarter-final marathon against Liverpool nine days before, Albion showed marked intent to beat Birmingham (now managed by Stan Cullis who guided Wolves to their cup triumphs of 1949 and 1960) at the first time of asking – early pressure resulting in Hawthorns goal hero Jeff Astle firing them ahead in the 14th minute.
While the Division Two promotion chasers (the St Andrew’s side eventually finishing two places shy of going up) had their moments, any hope of going further, as they had done in losing to Manchester City in the 1956 final, were finally extinguished by a second half goal from Tony ‘Bomber’ Brown, who with Astle had formed a revered strike pairing of the era.
With Everton having completed a league double over West Brom during the course of 1967-68 (including a 6-2 win at The Hawthorns in early March), Harry Catterick’s team were widely tipped to register a second FA Cup success in three seasons – yet such notions were dispelled when Astle, completing the feat of scoring in every round that season, struck an extra-time winner as Albion lifted the cup for the first time since 1954.
1968-69:
Saturday 22 March 1969 – Manchester City 1 Everton 0 (Villa Park, 65,000); Saturday 29 March – Leicester City 1 West Bromwich Albion 0 (Hillsborough, 53, 207);
When the four FA Cup semi-final participants were established there came possibility of the same two clubs contesting the final in successive years for the first time since 1885 – West Brom and Everton kept apart when the draw was conducted.
The upshot was Everton travelling to Villa Park in order to meet reigning league champions Manchester City – another side they had defeated home and away in Division One fixtures through the current term.
Yet once again four points were no pointer to how the semi-final would go – and in the week The Who released their double-album rock opera ‘Tommy‘, nineteen year-old City centre-back Tommy Booth crashed home a late, close range effort in sending Joe Mercer’s outfit to Wembley.
City, in fact, had to wait a week to learn who would be joining them beneath the Twin Towers, the West Brom v Leicester City encounter initially postponed due to a waterlogged Hillsborough pitch.
The going was still heavy on the rescheduled date, similar to Aintree where on the same afternoon Highland Wedding won the Grand National by 12 lengths. Albion’s defence of the cup fell one fence out, so to speak, when Leicester striker Allan Clarke (soo to be Elland Road bound), settled matters with a late goal that saw The Foxes through to their third FA Cup Final of the decade.
But at Wembley they suffered the first part of a double whammy – Leicester sentenced to three FA Cup Final defeats in a row following on from 1961 & 63 (four if including 1949) by a first half Neil Young goal, while ten days later they suffered the indignity of relegation.
In a decade where eight different clubs had won the FA Cup, Manchester City joined Spurs and local rivals United in defeating the Filbert Street club to secure the trophy, the Maine Road side repeating the achievement of West Brom the previous year in winning the FA Cup in each of the last two decades.
By way of continuity, ’60s perennials Manchester United, Leeds and Chelsea all appeared in the first FA Cup semi-final ties of the 1970s – the failure of the Old Trafford side to once again reach Wembley the most perplexing FA Cup tradition of these curious times…………..
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