In the days before TV schedules dictated football and penalty shoot outs became common place in English cup ties, games were replayed until a team won.
I remember three of these cup marathons which I loved – listening to radio commentaries on BBC between 1977 and 1980.
English League Cup
The English League Cup began in 1961 with Aston Villa the first winners beating Rotherham over two legs. In 1967 the format of the final was changed to a one final at Wembley.
Ron Saunders had led Norwich City to the final in 1973 losing 1-0 to Tottenham , before leading Manchester City to the final in 1974 losing 2-1 to Wolves.
Saunders led out a team for the third consecutive season, this time lifting the trophy in 1975 as manager of Aston Villa s they beat Norwich 1-0 with a Ray Graydon penalty. This is the only time a major final has been contested by teams outside the top flight with both clubs in the Second Division at the time. Aston Villa would gain promotion at the end of the season as runner up to Manchester United.
The 1976 final Newcastle managed by Gordon Lee lost 2-1 to Manchester City where Dennis Tueart scored one of Wembley’s most famous goals with a spectacular overhead kick from a Peter Barnes cross.
Aston Villa v Everton 1977 League Cup Final
Everton had sacked manager Billy Bingham in December 1976 replacing him with Gordon Lee. Aston Villa remained under the leadership of Ron Saunders.
There had not been a drawn League Cup Final although a replay date and venue had been set in advance.
The final took place on a hot sunny day at Wembley Stadium in front of a capacity 96,223 crowd on 12th March 1977 and failed to produce a goal in a very tame match. Many fans missed the kick off due to the congestion as both sets of fans travelled to London on the M6 motorway. It was a poor game with the Football League’s decision not to play extra time frustrating many fans.
The First Replay took place at Hillsborough Stadium Sheffield on 16th March as 54.840 spectators, this time on a quagmire of a pitch
Everton’s Roger Kenyon score an own goal after 79mins and the cup seemed destined for Villa Park. Everton though had their striker Bob Latchford to thank for sending the match into extra time when he equalised in the 88th minute. This led to extra time which produced no further scoring and set up a second replay.
The Football League had not planned for a second replay and with both clubs involved in the FA cup and a league fixture backlog, it was four weeks before the Second Replay was played with a penalty shoot out to decide the winner if the teams were still level at the end of extra time.
The Second Replay took place at Old Trafford , Manchester on 13th April 1977, with the crowd recorded as 54,749.
Villa were without the injured Andy Gray and Frank Carrodus through injury.
Bob Latchford gave Everton the half time lead before Aston Villa came storming back in the second half with a goal from Chris Nicholl to equalise on 80 minutes, Brian Little scored a minute later for Aston Villa but their fans joy was short lived as Mick Lyons soon levelled for Everton and again the match went into extra time.
Brian Little scored his second goal of the evening with two minutes left in extra time and Villa held on to lift the League Cup 3-2 after extra time.
FA CUP 1978 /1979
Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal
Third Round – 6th January 1979
Arsenal had lost the 1978 FA Cup Final 1-0 to Ipswich and were drawn in the Third Round of the 1979 FA Cup away to Third Division Sheffield Wednesday managed by Jack Charlton.
Arsenal were unhappy about the snowbound Hillsborough pitch as they arrived on 6th January 1979.
Sheffield Wednesday were captained by Ian Porterfield who had famously scored the winner in Sunderland’s shock 1973 FA Cup 1-0 win over Leeds Utd. There were 33,635 in attendance to see Alan Sunderland open the scoring for Arsenal, heading home Pat Rice’s right wing free kick after 9 minute.
Jeff Johnson headed home a cross from the left in the first minute of the second half to equalise for Wednesday, and send the game to a replay at Highbury.
Third Round Replay – 9th January 1979
The replay at Highbury three days later. It was Sheffield Wednesday who took a shock lead when Roger Wylde fastened on to a long ball from Jimmy Mullen to net just before half time and it took an 88th goal Liam Brady to take the game to extra time. David Price hit the post for the home side as the match ended again in a 1-1 draw after extra time in front of 37,987.
Third Round Second Replay – 15th January 1979
Jack Charlton the Sheffield Wednesday manager refused a coin toss to decide the venue of the second replay so a neutral venue of Filbert Street, Leicester was chosen to host the second replay, the following Monday. A crowd of 25.011 saw a 2-2 draw which went to extra time , and still no winner was found. Liam Brady and Alan Sunderland scored for Arsenal with Brian Hornsby scoring both Wednesday goals.
Third Round Third Replay – 17th January 1979
The teams reconvened two nights later again at Filbert Street and produced an even more astonishing game which ended 3-3 after extra time, The crowd was 17.008. Sheffield Wednesday took the lead on 59 minutes through David Rushbury. Liam Brady missed a penalty for Arsenal before Frank Stapleton levelled and Willie Young gave the Gunners the lead on 76 minutes. John Lowey equalised for the Third Division team after 86 minutes and send the game to extra time. Frank Stapleton put Arsenal ahead early in extra time but Graham Rix conceded a penalty to allow Sheffield Wednesday’s Brian Hornsby to force yet another replay.
Third Round Fourth Replay – 22nd January 1979
The teams met for the fifth time in 16 days and eventually Arsenal prevailed with a 2-0. Steve Gatting scored after 5 minutes and Wednesday’s resistance was broken when Frank Stapleton doubled the Arsenal lead after 34 minutes in front of 30.275 fans.
ARSENAL FA CUP WINNNERS 1979
The result was in the end the prelude to a long and successful cup run for Arsenal as they won the FA Cup at Wembley in May 1979. Arsenal led 2-0 late in the game before Manchester United scored two late goals and just as extra time beckoned Alan Sunderland popped up with a now famous late winner as the Gunners won 3-2 to list the FA cup. This was either side of losing to Ipswich in 1978 and West Ham in 1980 both 1-0 as they made the FA Cup Final in three successive seasons.
FA CUP 1979 /1980
Arsenal v Liverpool
The 1979/80 season began with Liverpool beating Arsenal 3-1 in the Charity Shield at Wembley in August 1979.
Arsenal had begun April losing 2-1 at Norwich on Wednesday 2nd before drawing 1-1 at home to Southampton on Saturday 5th. On Easter Monday they travelled to local rivals Tottenham and won 2-1 before drawing 1-1 with Juventus at Highbury on Wednesday 9th in the semi final first leg of the European Cup Winners Cup. As they arrived at Hillsborough for the FA Cup semi final against Liverpool it was their 5th game in 11 days.
Semi Final – 12th April 1980 – Hillsborough
The first game was a bit of a non event on a warm sunny day, with both teams playing out a scrappy 0-0 draw on a heavy pitch. The teams couldn’t produce a goal even after extra time in front of 50.174 fans.
Semi Final Replay – 16th April 1980 – Villa Park
Liverpool went into the game with Kenny Dalglish dropping back to midfield in place of Jimmy Case injured in the first game , with David Fairclough partnering David Johnson in attack. Liverpool in red shirts with Arsenal in yellow,
Liverpool’s David Fairclough headed on a Ray Clemence goal kick to David Johnson whose shot was saved by Pat Jennings. David Fairclough however followed up to score the rebound to put Liverpool ahead. Frank Stapleton had the ball in the net shortly afterwards for Arsenal but the gaol was ruled out for offside against David Price. Liverpool’s reprieve was short lived as David Price’s headed the ball through their defence and Alan Sunderland lofted over Ray Clemence from outside the area to make the game 1-1. Another half hour of extra time failed to produce a winning goal, in front of 40.679.
League Game 19th April 1980 – Anfield
The following Saturday the teams met in a league game in Liverpool where an early Kenny Dalglish goal was cancelled out by Brain Talbot as the sides drew 1-1 again.
Arsenal then won 1-0 in Turin against Juventus on 23rd April to reach the European Cup Winners Cup Final and drew 1-1 at home to West Brom on 26th April.
Semi Final Second Replay – 28th April 1980 – Villa Park
The teams played again at Villa Park with Alan Sunderland scoring a goal in the opening seconds which looked to have won the tie. Liverpool had one frantic last attack in injury time and it was Kenny Dalglish who popped up with the equaliser, knocking in from close range after a Ray Kennedy header, to take the match to extra time and ultimately a third replay. The crowd was 42.975.
Semi Final Third Replay – 28th April 1980 – Highfield Road
The Third replay was played at Highfield Road , Coventry in front of 35.335 fans as Arsenal finally booked a place in the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win courtesy of Brian Talbot who had joined Arsenal the previous summer having played in the Ipswich team who beat Arsenal 1-0 in the 1978 FA Cup Final
Season 1979/80 Summary
Arsenal would end the season trophyless losing the FA Cup Final 1-0 to West Ham with Trevor Brooking scoring and the European Cup Winners Cup Final on penalties to Valencia after a 0-0 draw.
Liverpool despite failures in the cup competitions won the league in 1979/80
Football is Academical 