In a week that brought resignation of the prime minister, the return of a previous incumbent to Number Ten in a change of government, end of a near three-month period when many had experienced a three-day working week – this a consequence of industrial action by the National Union of Mineworkers (who then ended the dispute before the weekend) – U.K. newspapers had been presented with a dramatic lead story on a daily basis.
The removal of Tory leader Edward Heath from Downing Street where he has replaced by Harold Wilson, Labour returning to power following the late-February general election, had prompted rapid discussions between Wilson and the N.U.M that resulted in the miners’ strike coming to a sudden end.
Some among the populace, while no doubt gratified a degree of stability was returning to daily life, were being suitably roused by the imminent FA Cup sixth round ties taking place on 9 March 1974 – quarter-final Saturday certain to bring some resounding back page headlines for the Sunday papers of the following day.
By the spring of 1974 such was the growing spectre of crowd trouble at English grounds, accounts of terrace battles involving rival supporters, along with rampages through streets and railway stations were, sadly, not uncommon – the ‘Soccer Day of Shame‘ story now appearing with disconcerting frequency.
That a high-profile fixture could be suspended for the best part of ten minutes due to a violence-derived pitch invasion was bad enough. But now with an FA Cup quarter-final falling fall prey to such disruption – the FA Cup renowned throughout the world as a mainstay of British sport – it was sure fire proof the domestic game was in trouble.
Few would have been surprised to read declarations of ‘Cup Riot‘ and ‘Shamed by Soccer Hooligans‘ over breakfast on Sunday 10 March. Yet from memory there was genuine shock at the disturbances to have occurred the Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest tie played the previous day.
The consternation felt by many that fan disorder had become a blight on football was reinforced when action from the match appeared on regional highlights programmes that were always broadcast on a Sunday afternoon. Brian Moore, stalwart presenter of the London-region ‘The Big Match‘ referred in his introduction to ‘unsavoury scenes‘ and images that detracted from ‘one of the most dramatic cup-ties since the war‘ – that in 1974 was still being used as a parametre to measure time.
Moore was correct on both counts. Although in the immediate aftermath of a fixture where the football could be described as remarkable, the outcome of the tie and by definition the side joining three other bona fide semi-finalists was far from certain.
On losing by the odd goal in seven, Forest were in the process of lodging a written protest with the Football Association, their grievance based on the fact they were winning 3-1 when the mass incursion by Newcastle supporters onto the pitch brought a temporary halt to proceedings – the complaint going as far to say a number of their players were assaulted in the fracas prior to referee Gordon Kew sending both sides to the dressing rooms while police restored order.
So on a day when soccer was indeed ‘shamed‘ by hooligans, the real shame (not for the last time) was that footballing drama was overshadowed by marauders and mayhem.
The three other ties, played at Bristol City, Burnley and QPR, produced no shortage of excitement, a trio of clubs, each of whom had lost on their last appearance in the FA Cup Final, now had that as an added incentive with Wembley looming on the other side of one more victory – the current good form of semi-final qualifiers Liverpool, Burnley and Leicester City worth noting as they, without provisos, went into the hat for the last four.
While troublemakers marred the afternoon on Tyneside, elsewhere the names John Toshack, Frank Casper and Joe Waters came to the fore. Each was a hero for their respective side on a weekend where on top of the U.K. singles chart Billy was being implored by pop band Paper Lace not to be one.
Villains and heroes everywhere that Saturday………
The FA Cup Sixth Round of 1973-74 (Saturday 9 March 1974)
BRISTOL CITY 0 LIVERPOOL 1
Three weeks and three league games on (two draws and a 5-2 win over Millwall) from a logic-defying fifth round triumph over league and FA Cup double chasers Leeds United, Bristol City had second favourites Liverpool in their sights – Ashton Gate again packed to the rafters for the visit of more heavyweight opposition.
If they were going to emulate Sunderland from the previous season by winning the FA Cup from Division Two, the Robins could not have picked a harder route. But this particular road came to an end when Liverpool landed the decisive blow in settling a tense contest, Welsh international striker John Toshack netting three minutes after half-time to send the visitors through.
While destined for a league finish only four places above the second division drop zone, City were on the cusp of a dramatic transformation that two years later would return them to the top flight after a gap of 65 years.
Liverpool meanwhile remained an ominous presence in the competition and with only one defeat in their last 14 outings had the air of a side best avoided if hopes of heading to Wembley were to be maintained.
BURNLEY 1 WREXHAM 0
Going into the semi-final draw with Liverpool would be Burnley, whose impressive return to Division One was being supplemented by a notable cup run – the Turf Moor club reaching the last four for the first time since 1962 on accounting for third division Wrexham.
They were not given an easy ride by visitors from North Wales, who backed by 15,000 followers had their moments in a tough encounter (due to the differing nature of what lay in store for both clubs they would meet as second division equals four years later).
But the moment that truly mattered occurred just before the hour when Frank Casper was on target, thus keeping the Clarets on course to end a twelve year Wembley absence.
QUEENS PARKS RANGERS 0 LEICESTER CITY 2
On last reaching the FA Cup Final Burnley had overcome West London (Fulham) opponents at the semi-final stage, but that possible repeat of history vanished when the sole side left from the capital made a last eight exit.
Like Burnley with whom they had been promoted the previous season, QPR had acquitted themselves with distinction on returning to Division One, evident in creditable FA Cup progress and UEFA Cup qualification possibilities.
Barring their way to the semi-finals were Leicester, who themselves had built a reputation for playing with positive intent – the task of overcoming a high quality Rangers line-up including such talents as Gerry Francis, Stan Bowles and Dave Thomas made more difficult from a Foxes perspective due to heading for W12 with a team weakened by injuries.
Into one such injury breach came 20 year-old Joe Walters who was handed a first team debut – the young Irish midfielder becoming an overnight sensation in his fifth year on the Filbert Street books.
With the hour mark approaching and the deadlock still to be broken, Waters rifled a superb twenty yard left foot shot past Rangers ‘keeper Phil Parkes who was about to receive his only England cap in a forthcoming friendly against Portugal.
This eye-catching effort induced a moment of classic Barry Davies commentary – his ‘oh yes, oh yes for the youngster‘ exclamation accompanying goals scored in school playgrounds through the coming months (certainly true in the case of your host here at SAMTIMONIOUS.com).
Even then Waters was not done and on racing to meet a through pass from Steve Earle arrived just before the advancing Parkes to steer home his second, booking Leicester a semi-final place in the process.
NEWCASTLE UNITED 4 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3 (Match declared void)
If Walters was the defining figure at Loftus Road, those who went on (literally and metaphorically speaking), to define this extraordinary contest were the pitch invaders who caused second half disruption to an otherwise enthralling game – the football deserving far better publicity than was generated by the fixture.
Second division Forest quickly made it clear this was to be no jog near the Tyne for their top flight hosts, silencing the home support in a capacity St James’ Park crowd by taking a second minute lead, Ian Bowyer punishing defensive hesitancy in nodding the visitors ahead.
Bowyer was one of three players on view who would play for Forest in their 1979 European Cup Final triumph (the others being team-mate Martin O’Neill and opposing defender Frank Clark), the Newcastle man having reason to feel pleased on 26 minutes, full-back partner David Craig lashing home an equaliser when the visitors failed to clear a corner.
But shortly before half-time Forest were back in front as Liam O’Kane fired into Newcastle net through a crowded penalty area, the tie taking a significant twist eleven minutes after the break, referee Gordon Kew awarding the visitors a penalty when Craig committed a clumsy foul on Duncan McKenzie.
Before the kick was taken United centre-half Pat Howard was booked for arguing the decision and despite being given fair warning his prolonged protest had to stop, talked himself into being sent off – the central defender departing shortly before George Lyall converted from the spot to put Forest 3-1 ahead.
Newcastle, staring down the barrel of a surprise cup exit, kicked off and mounted a couple of fruitless attacks which had the effect of sending a horde of their followers onto the pitch. During the stoppage in play during 33 people were arrested, 40 more ejected for their part in the affray with over 100 of the crowd sustaining injuries.
When it was safe for the players to return the ten men of Newcastle were stirred into playing with resolve and purpose as Forest, who later claimed their concentration had been affected, came under incessant pressure.
The deficit was quickly reduced when future England international and Liverpool European Cup winner Terry McDermott scored from the penalty spot after Malcolm Macdonald had been pushed by Forest ‘keeper Jim Barron as they contested a corner – the shift in momentum clearly evident when a Terry Hibbitt centre was met by striker John Tudor, who restored level terms with a close range diving header.
With the final whistle looming it appeared a City Ground replay would be needed to determine who advanced into the semi-finals, the reset clock into the last minute when unmarked Newcastle skipper Bobby Moncur volleyed past Barron after Macdonald headed across the goalmouth.
The St James’ Park pandemonium was now of a celebratory nature, but ramifications from the rioting were soon to arrive. Forest manager Allan Brown wasted no time in voicing the belief it was misbehaving Newcastle fans and the ensuing hold-up that transformed the tie, using his post-match comments to describe the result a ‘mockery‘ while demanding The FA step in and order the game to be replayed either at the same venue or neutral ground.
In the immediate aftermath Football Association secretary Ted Croker asserted there was no basis for replaying the tie as the match had been completed. Yet as if to affirm their reputation as an organisation whose indecision was final, 72 hours later the Challenge Cup committee declared the fixture null and void (although Howard would still serve a suspension for being sent off), going against protocol by instructing the game be restaged at the Goodison Park home of Everton the following week.
Once again Kew would officiate, being adamant he had not been influenced by the atmosphere after play had restarted in the initial meeting.
The March 18 meeting on Merseyside was an altogether quieter affair and although Newcastle had the upper hand for long spells they could not manage a breakthrough, the subsequent goalless draw somewhat inevitable. When the teams reconvened at the same venue three days later on Thursday 21 March (only now with David Smith as referee), a goal from England striker Macdonald on the half hour proved sufficient in sending the Magpies through to their first FA Cup semi-final in 19 years.
They subsequently received FA sanction of being banned from staging FA Cup ties at St James’ Park through the following season, but had already escaped the ultimate punishment of being thrown out of the current competition – which many in the press had advocated as a deterrent against future spectator misconduct.
Newcastle were now clear to take their place in the last four, somewhere they had not been seen since 1954-55, the season when the trophy had last gone to Tyneside. That triumphant FA Cup run included a semi-final at Hillsborough, where they would be heading next on their quest for glory in 1974.
By hook, crooks and irony, there were those who felt it was shaping up to be their year………
FA CUP SIXTH ROUND 1973-74:
Bristol City 0 Liverpool 1 (37,671); Burnley 1 Wrexham 0 (36,091); Queens Park Rangers 0 Leicester City 2 (34,078); Newcastle United 4 Nottingham Forest 3 (52,551), match declared void; Monday 18 March – Newcastle United 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (40,685); Thursday 21 March – Newcastle United 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (31,373);
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