FA Cup Final 1973
Encyclopedia
The 1973 FA Cup Final took place on 5 May 1973 at Wembley Stadium. It was the 92nd final and the 45th to be played at Wembley, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary year. The final was contested between the previous season's winners Leeds United, who were one of the dominant teams at the time, and Sunderland
, a second division
side. The result was one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition, with Sunderland winning 1-0, becoming the first Second Division side to lift the Cup since West Bromwich Albion
in 1931.
It remains Sunderland's only major trophy since the Second World War.
Sunderland established their tactics immediately from the kick off, tackling fiercely and defiantly with an unremitting determination. Leeds looked anxious, lacking their usual composure. The match itself was decided by two crucial moments that would be talked about for years to come.
After 31 minutes Sunderland took the lead when Vic Halom
chested down a corner from Billy Hughes
. Assisted by Dave Watson between two defenders, the deflected high ball was controlled by Ian Porterfield who shot home from 12 yards. Leeds, shocked, battled back with predictable determination. Sunderland’s goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery
was outstanding, defying Leeds with a string of fine saves and preserving his team’s lead.
The turning point of the match came mid-way through the second half. Montgomery dived to palm away a close range header from Trevor Cherry. It fell into the path of Lorimer who blasted goalward from 10 yards but Montgomery managed to divert the ball on to the underside of the bar and Malone scrambled the ball clear. The save has been compared with that made by England’s
Gordon Banks
in the 1970 FIFA World Cup
match against Brazil
.
The North East team survived more pressure from Leeds to secure a notable upset.
Sunderland's triumph made them the first FA Cup winners to lift the trophy with a side featuring no full international players, although some were capped later.
Sunderland's FA Cup record, "Sunderland All the Way", was recorded by comedian Bobby Knoxall
.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
SUNDERLAND:
|
GK
1
Jimmy Montgomery
RB
2
Dick Malone
LB
3
Ron Guthrie
CM
4
Micky Horswill
CB
5
David Watson
CB
6
Richie Pitt
RCM
7
Bobby Kerr
(c)
RW
8
Billy Hughes
ST
9
Vic Halom
LCM
10
Ian Porterfield
LW
11
Dennis Tueart
Substitute:
CB
12
David Young
Manager:
Bob Stokoe
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, a second division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
side. The result was one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition, with Sunderland winning 1-0, becoming the first Second Division side to lift the Cup since West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in 1931.
It remains Sunderland's only major trophy since the Second World War.
Match summary
After 31 minutes Sunderland took the lead when Vic Halom
Vic Halom
Victor Halom is a former footballer-Playing career:Halom featured as a player most prominently for Sunderland and Oldham Athletic. He played as center forward in the Sunderland team that won the FA Cup in 1973...
chested down a corner from Billy Hughes
Billy Hughes (footballer born 1948)
Billy Hughes in Coatbridge is a former professional footballer. A forward, he appeared for Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup Final winning team, taking the corner kick that led to the winning goal. Billy joined Sunderland in February 1966, and played 304 games for Sunderland scoring 79 goals. He was...
. Assisted by Dave Watson between two defenders, the deflected high ball was controlled by Ian Porterfield who shot home from 12 yards. Leeds, shocked, battled back with predictable determination. Sunderland’s goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery
Jimmy Montgomery
Jimmy Montgomery is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made a record 627 appearances for his hometown club Sunderland with 537 of these appearances being in the league, after joining the club as a youngster in 1960.-Football career:He made his debut aged only 18 against Walsall,...
was outstanding, defying Leeds with a string of fine saves and preserving his team’s lead.
The turning point of the match came mid-way through the second half. Montgomery dived to palm away a close range header from Trevor Cherry. It fell into the path of Lorimer who blasted goalward from 10 yards but Montgomery managed to divert the ball on to the underside of the bar and Malone scrambled the ball clear. The save has been compared with that made by England’s
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks, OBE is a retired English football goalkeeper. The IFFHS named Banks the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century – after Lev Yashin and ahead of Dino Zoff ....
in the 1970 FIFA World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
match against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
.
The North East team survived more pressure from Leeds to secure a notable upset.
Sunderland's triumph made them the first FA Cup winners to lift the trophy with a side featuring no full international players, although some were capped later.
Sunderland's FA Cup record, "Sunderland All the Way", was recorded by comedian Bobby Knoxall
Bobby Knoxall
Robert McKenna MBE was an English comedian, better known by his stage name Bobby Knoxall.-Early life:Knoxall was born in the East End of Sunderland in 1933 and attended St Patrick's School...
.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | LEEDS UNITED: | ||
| GK | 1 | David Harvey David Harvey (footballer) David Harvey is a former Scottish internationalist professional association footballer. A goalkeeper, Harvey is best known for his successes with Leeds United.-Leeds United:... |
|
| DF | 2 | Paul Reaney Paul Reaney Paul Reaney was a long-serving full back with the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s.Reaney wore the No.2 shirt for Leeds and in a team renowned for its hard approach to the game, he more than held his own.... |
|
| DF | 3 | Trevor Cherry Trevor Cherry Trevor John Cherry is a former England and Leeds United footballer who also captained his country. He was a defender who also played for Huddersfield Town and Bradford City, and managed the latter club.... |
|
| DF | 4 | Billy Bremner Billy Bremner William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road... (c) |
|
| MF | 5 | Paul Madeley Paul Madeley Paul Madeley was a footballer during Leeds United's glory era of the 1960s and 1970s and the last high-profile 'utility' player.... |
|
| DF | 6 | Norman Hunter |
|
| FW | 7 | Peter Lorimer Peter Lorimer Peter Patrick Lorimer is a former footballer who formed part of the much-admired and feared Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s.... |
|
| FW | 8 | Allan Clarke Allan Clarke (footballer) Allan John Clarke , nicknamed "Sniffer", is a former footballer who played in the Football League for Walsall, Fulham, Leicester City, Leeds United and Barnsley, and won 19 international caps for England.-Early career:Clarke started his career at Walsall and made his debut aged 17, in 1963... |
|
| FW | 9 | Mick Jones |
|
| MF | 10 |  Johnny GilesJohnny Giles Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s... |
|
| MF | 11 | Eddie Gray |
|
| Substitute: | |||
| DF | 12 |  Terry YorathTerry Yorath Terence Charles Yorath is a former footballer and has been a manager at both club and international level. He is also the father of television presenter Gabby Logan.... |
|
| Manager: | |||
| Don Revie Don Revie Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977... |
|||
Jimmy MontgomeryJimmy Montgomery
Jimmy Montgomery is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made a record 627 appearances for his hometown club Sunderland with 537 of these appearances being in the league, after joining the club as a youngster in 1960.-Football career:He made his debut aged only 18 against Walsall,...
Dick MaloneDick Malone
Richard "Dick" Malone is a Scottish former professional footballer. A defender, he appeared for Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup Final winning team....
Ron GuthrieRon Guthrie
Ronald George "Ron" Guthrie is a former English professional footballer. After signing for Newcastle United in 1963, he played 56 league matches, scoring 2 goals, before joining Sunderland on 15 January 1973. A defender, he played at left back for Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup Final winning team...
Micky Horswill David Watson Richie PittRichie Pitt
Richie Pitt is a former professional footballer, born in Ryhope, County Durham, who played in the Football League as a defender for Sunderland, and was part of the club's 1973 FA Cup Final-winning team....
Bobby KerrBobby Kerr (footballer)
Robert "Bobby" Kerr is a former football midfielder who captained Sunderland to victory in the 1973 FA Cup Final versus Leeds United.-Career:...
(c)
Billy HughesBilly Hughes (footballer born 1948)
Billy Hughes in Coatbridge is a former professional footballer. A forward, he appeared for Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup Final winning team, taking the corner kick that led to the winning goal. Billy joined Sunderland in February 1966, and played 304 games for Sunderland scoring 79 goals. He was...
Vic HalomVic Halom
Victor Halom is a former footballer-Playing career:Halom featured as a player most prominently for Sunderland and Oldham Athletic. He played as center forward in the Sunderland team that won the FA Cup in 1973...
Ian Porterfield Dennis TueartDennis Tueart
Dennis Tueart was an English footballer who played for Sunderland, Manchester City, Stoke City and Burnley at club level. On the international scene, he won six full caps for England.-Career:...
David YoungDavid Young (footballer)
David Young , is an English footballer who played as a central defender in the Football League.-External links:*...
Bob StokoeBob Stokoe
Robert "Bob" Stokoe was an English footballer and manager who was able, almost uniquely, to transcend the traditional north-east rivalry between the region's footballing giants, Newcastle United and Sunderland....
MATCH RULES
|
Road to Wembley
Leeds United Home teams listed first. Round 3: Norwich City Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... 1-1 Leeds United
Round 4: Leeds United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... Round 5: Leeds United 2-0 WBA West Bromwich Albion F.C. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands... Quarter-Final: Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... 0-1 Leeds United Semi-Final: Leeds United 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
Sunderland Home teams listed first. Round 3: Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... 1-1 Sunderland
Round 4: Sunderland 1-1 Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
Round 5: Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... 2-2 Sunderland
Quarter-Final: Sunderland 2-0 Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... Semi-Final: Sunderland 2-1 Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
External links
- Game facts at soccerbase.com
- Match report in "Daily Telegraph"