It was hard to miss the irony that in the same week as the FA Cup Fifth Round in February 1975, Steve Harley and his Cockney Rebel ensemble should be number one in the U.K. charts with ‘Make Me Smile‘ (Come Up and See Me) – ironic due to the fact that of four London clubs left in the competition, three would win through, the only one to go out exiting at the hands of a co-habitant from the capital.
To some extent these were bittersweet days for Deptford-born Harley – having a huge hit single on his hands offset perhaps by Chelsea, of whom he was reportedly an avid supporter, sleep-walking towards relegation.
Their FA Cup interest had ended in the previous round with a Stamford Bridge defeat against fellow Division One stragglers Birmingham City – the Cockney cup banner when round five was said and done left to be carried by Arsenal, West Ham United and second division Fulham.
All three had been forced to battle hard for a place in the last eight, each one of the trio defeating blue-shirted opposition to secure a quarter-final berth, although with all due respect to the faithful at Portman Road and St Andrews (where the respective blue-shirted home sides did advance), the most far-reaching result for those of blue persuasion that week was Margaret Thatcher being elected leader of the Tory party.
While ‘Make Me Smile‘ (Come Up and See Me) was a fine 45 in its own right, there was no denying the influence upon Harley of Bob Dylan – the master himself currently at number one in the U.K. album charts with the monumental ‘Blood on the Tracks.’
Even then there was a proliferation of blue, Dylan conveying sadness in song at the state of his disintegrating marriage – and has there ever been a more astounding song to open an album than ‘Tangled Up in Blue‘?
But if there was a ‘Blood on the Tracks‘ connotation with the FA Cup Fifth Round it manifested in ‘Idiot Wind‘ – this through a series of ties when, on occasion, a number of defenders were made to look foolish…………..
The FA Cup Fifth Round of 1974-75 – Saturday 15th February 1975:
EVERTON 1 FULHAM 2 (45,223):
Almost 46,000 in the crowd, a World Cup winning captain and host of international players on the field – and still referee Clive Thomas managed to put himself centrestage on a confounding afternoon in the land of Evertonia.
Fulham, who had only secured a fifth round excursion to first division leaders Everton at the beginning of the week after finally coming through a four match, fourth round marathon against fellow second tier outfit Nottingham Forest (this after needing three goes to overcome Hull in round three), were not slow to assert themselves in the salubrious surroundings of Goodison – Viv Busby tapping them ahead on 15 minutes following a defensive mix-up in home ranks that gave different meaning to tangled up in blue.
Indeed, so well were Alec Stock’s side acquitting themselves to all intents and purposes they extended the lead on the half hour when Eire international Jimmy Conway slipped around Everton ‘keeper Dai Davies to roll the ball home. The Fulham man, while in an offside position as the hosts’ clear a corner, is then played onside when the ball is deflected to him off a blue-clad opponent.
Not for the last time (ask any Evertonian), Thomas seems to react to what he assumes has happened (Conway unmarked in yards of space), rather than what actually has – Fulham skipper and former England midfielder Alan Mullery along with match commentator Gerald Sinstadt sharing a sense of bewilderment as Thomas disallows the goal.
Six minutes after half-time Everton pressure yields a leveler when Roger Kenyon scores with a powerful header in rising to meet a Gary Jones corner. The momentum, now clearly with the home side, results in Mick Lyons outjumping Fulham goalkeeper Peter Mellor to head home at the Gwladys Street end – only for Thomas to once again intervene as amid heated protests and head-scratching all-round, the goal does not stand due to a presumed foul by the Everton forward.
While Fulham could have been excused for putting a replay at the height of their intentions, with seven minutes left excellent work from Conway creates the opportunity for Busby to net his second which ultimately clinches a sixth round place – although not before continuation of a latter-day masterclass in composed defending from Bobby Moore has seen them through to the final whistle.
Evertonian exasperation with Thomas would subside with thoughts returning to their title challenge – only to return with brass knobs on following an all-Merseyside FA Cup Semi-Final two years later.
IPSWICH TOWN 3 ASTON VILLA 2 (31,297):
As one blue shirted outfit were going out of the cup to second division opposition, so another were progressing – but only by the skin of their teeth.
Division Two promotion hopefuls Aston Villa took their unbeaten eight match record to Portman Road (this sequence including two League Cup Semi-Finals, safe negotiation of which had earned a final date the following month), the belief and confidence arising from such a run seeing the visitors to the hour mark with a 2-0 lead – Bobby McDonald (10) and Alun Evans (50) on target as the Villa Park side looked on the verge of enjoying more cup success.
Had it not been for occasional lapses, (fourth in the table Ipswich losing the league games either side of this dramatic cup encounter), Bobby Robson and his players would likely have been looking down on the rest of Division One – their undoubted pedigree not revealed here until the last 25 minutes when striker David Johnson (65) and late brace (78/84) from Northern Ireland international Bryan Hamilton turned the tie on its head.
Having dispensed with holders Liverpool in the previous round and now survived a scare against Villa (whose season would return a League Cup triumph and promotion), Ipswich were shaping up to be a good bet for the cup in a season where the field looked open.
WEST HAM UNITED 2 QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1 (39,193):
Two other sides harbouring ‘Could be our year‘ thoughts met at Upton Park – a London derby taking 12th placed QPR to seventh in the table West Ham.
Having recovered from a fitful start to the season that culminated in the sacking of highly-regarded manager Gordon Jago, under former Chelsea boss Dave Sexton the Hoops had moved nicely into calm mid-table waters – and boasting talent such as Bowles, Francis, Thomas, Masson, goalkeeper Phil Parkes, future England full-backs Clement and Gillard, along with experienced central defensive pairing McClintock and Webb, QPR were an unenviable draw.
Despite being unable to call on influential skipper Gerry Francis, absent through injury, the visitors took the initiative and struck first – Dave Clements advancing to the edge of the West Ham penalty area from where he fired low past Mervyn Day in the 26th minute.
It had the effect of rousing the hosts, making steady progress in their first season with John Lyall at the helm, into life – The Hammers level nine minutes later when a Trevor Brooking centre was headed home smartly by Pat Holland.
The second half was barely 90 seconds old when the outcome was effectively decided, a deep cross to the far post from Billy Jennings found the head of Keith Robson who gave Parkes no chance from eight yards.
In a late tactical switch, Sexton sent on winger Don Rogers to replace Stan Bowles, whose dismay at being substituted produced a gesture to the Rangers bench as he headed down the tunnel that presumably meant QPR needed two goals to win the tie………..
Despite some close calls they could not manage one and West Ham edged through to the last eight.
ARSENAL 0 LEICESTER CITY 0 (43,841):
When the sixth round ties were drawn West Ham knew they faced a visit to one of this downcast duo. Initially sixth bottom Arsenal and basement boys Leicester played out an instantly forgettable stalemate enlivened only by the barracking Foxes centre-half and ex-Gunner Jeff Blockley received from a section of the Highbury crowd – the one-cap England man by most accounts the most effective player on the field.
Replay (19/2/75): At Filbert Street four days later, before a crowd of 35,009, another largely soporific 90 minutes failed to separate the sides, the deadlock finally broken in the first period of extra-time when ’71 double winner John Radford headed the visitors in front.
But just like buses, two goals virtually arrived at once, Leicester midfield man Alan Birchenall quickly restoring level terms. No further scoring necessitated a second replay, although if there was a winner of sorts it was the home side – who called correctly on the toss of a coin to host the next installment.
Second Replay (24/2/75): On the Saturday in-between their next cup meeting Arsenal went down 2-1 at Derby while visiting Leicester recorded a 3-0 triumph at Spurs, a result that reversed the Foxes lacklustre league fortunes and began an impressive climb away from the relegation zone. The third cup clash with Arsenal, however, brought little to enthuse about for the 39,025 present, for whom another long night beckoned as the tie again meandered into extra-time.
Then with five minutes of the additional half hour remaining Radford produced the decisive strike, scoring in what amounted to the 225th minute of this prolonged saga.
Facing a sixth round home tie and with their league form indifferent at best, Arsenal were suddenly embodiment of the old adage of a team playing badly enough to win the cup.
BIRMINGHAM CITY 2 WALSALL 1 (45,881):
The biggest crowd of the day converged on St Andrews where third division Walsall took a nine match unbeaten record, (that included ousting second division leaders Manchester United and last season’s beaten finalists Newcastle from the FA Cup), three junctions down the M6.
Awaiting them were near neighbours and Division One cellar-dwellers Birmingham, whose recent form, or of more pertinently lack of it, (Blues without a league win since mid-December), suggested an upset was within the realms of possibility.
In the event things took a more expected course. Goals either side of half-time from Bob Hatton and Kenny Burns afforded Birmingham control worthy of their higher status – although the road to a second FA Cup quarter-final in four seasons became bumpy when winger Brian Taylor reduced the deficit in scoring late on for The Saddlers.
While a shock result failed to occur it came as something of a surprise 50 years later to your genial host here at SAMTIMONIOUS.com the game was not chosen for regional television coverage – not least because both clubs were smack bang in the middle of the ATV (West Midlands) area.
MANSFIELD TOWN 0 CARLISLE UNITED 1 (18,293):
If anything the potential for a giant-killing was even greater at Field Mill – where Division Four leaders Mansfield Town, defending a 23 match undefeated home record, welcomed visitors whose first division status was already in peril.
Indeed, through a tense encounter it was the Stags who made the running. Their efforts in the main were thwarted by an inspired display from Carlisle ‘keeper Allan Ross and came to grief in the final analysis due to a goal from Bobby Owen – who struck for the Cumbrians seven minutes before half-time.
Mansfield recovered from the double blow of exiting the cup and losing their next league fixture to lift the fourth division title – and while Carlisle had an FA Cup quarter-final to plan for, six defeats in the next seven league games sealed their one season, top flight fate.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (25,750):
At the end of 1973-74 Carlisle had been promoted with Luton Town and runaway second champions Middlesbrough – whose current occupation of eighth place in Division One showed what a well-drilled unit manager Jack Charlton had at his disposal.
Mind you, they needed plenty of resilience at London Road to stay on their cup journey – ‘Boro having to come from behind in forcing a replay, David Mills netting a second half equaliser after Posh winger Jon Nixon opened the scoring on 14 minutes.
At Ayresome Park four days later Peterborough again provided a stern test, but most of the 34,303 in attendance went home buoyant by virtue of the brace from wide man Alan Foggon that sent Middlesbrough through to the quarter-finals.
DERBY COUNTY 0 LEEDS UNITED 1 – 18/2/75 (35,298):
Those who recall or have seen clips of the notoriously glutinous Baseball Ground pitch of the 1970s can be forgiven in thinking just how bad can it have been for a match to be postponed – particularly when a month later Derby hosted Stoke City on a surface better suited to planting vegetables than playing football.
But on failing a Saturday morning pitch inspection, their scheduled fifth round contest with league champions Leeds was delayed by three days. The tie pitched, no pun intended, the sides currently standing ninth and tenth in the table against each other (Derby the higher, the visitors on a nine match unbeaten run) – the two teams apparently well-matched on the strength of a goalless Baseball Ground draw ten days earlier.
When Tuesday 18 February rolled around, for the first hour the game lacked punch (not something to be said for their next meeting when former England internationals Francis Lee and Norman Hunter were sent off for trading blows), the combatants in this instance eventually separated when full-back David Nish inadvertently steered an Eddie Gray cross past wrong-footed Rams ‘keeper Colin Boulton.
It was sufficient in securing Leeds victory (their second Baseball Ground FA Cup success in three seasons) and a quarter-final visit to Ipswich. While the contest as a whole did not linger long in the memory, it took on greater significance at the season end – bringing together as it did the reigning title holders and their eventual successors………….
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NEIL SAMBROOK is also the author of MONTY’S DOUBLE – an acclaimed thriller now available in paperback as an Amazon Kindle book.
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