1976 FA Cup final

The 1976 FA Cup final was the 95th final of the FA Cup. It took place on 1 May 1976 at Wembley Stadium and was contested between Manchester United and Southampton.

1976 FA Cup final
Event1975–76 FA Cup
Date1 May 1976
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeClive Thomas (Treorchy)
Attendance99,115
1975
1977

United had finished third in the First Division that season, and were strong favourites, while unfancied Southampton had finished sixth in the Second Division, Southampton had more players with FA Cup Final experience than Manchester United, namely Jim McCalliog (1966), Peter Rodrigues (1969) and Peter Osgood (1970). In one of the biggest shocks in the history of the final, Southampton won 1–0 through an 83rd-minute goal from Bobby Stokes. It was the first time Southampton won a major trophy, and the last time that Elizabeth II attended a final and presented the trophy to the winners.[1]

Road to Wembley

Manchester United

Home teams listed first.

Round 3: Manchester United 2–1 Oxford United

 

Round 4: Manchester United 3–1 Peterborough United

Round 5: Leicester City 1–2 Manchester United

 

Round 6: Manchester United 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Replay: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–3 Manchester United

Semi-final: Manchester United 2–0 Derby County (at Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield)

Southampton

Home teams listed first.

Round 3: Southampton 1–1 Aston Villa

Replay: Aston Villa 1–2 Southampton

Round 4: Southampton 3–1 Blackpool

Round 5: West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Southampton

Replay: Southampton 4–0 West Bromwich Albion

Round 6: Bradford City 0–1 Southampton

 

Semi-final: Southampton 2–0 Crystal Palace (at Stamford Bridge, London)

Match summary

Manchester United started stronger, and missed several early goalscoring opportunities, with Southampton goalkeeper Ian Turner making a series of impressive saves to deny Gerry Daly and Gordon Hill. Southampton in turn began to create chances; Mick Channon was put through on goal before being denied by goalkeeper Alex Stepney. As extra time loomed, Southampton's Bobby Stokes received Jim McCalliog's pass and slotted the ball across Stepney and into the far corner to score a late winner and with it his side's first major trophy.

Match details

Manchester United0–1Southampton
ReportStokes 83'
Attendance: 99,115
Referee: Clive Thomas
Manchester United
Southampton
GK1 Alex Stepney
RB2 Alex Forsyth
LB3 Stewart Houston
CM4 Gerry Daly
CB5 Brian Greenhoff
CB6 Martin Buchan (c)
RM7 Steve Coppell
CM8 Sammy McIlroy
CF9 Stuart Pearson
CF10 Lou Macari
LM11 Gordon Hill  66'
Substitute:
MF12 David McCreery  66'
Manager:
Tommy Docherty
GK1 Ian Turner
RB2 Peter Rodrigues (c)
LB3 David Peach
CM4 Nick Holmes
CB5 Mel Blyth
CB6 Jim Steele
RM7 Paul Gilchrist
CF8 Mick Channon
CF9 Peter Osgood
CM10 Jim McCalliog
LM11 Bobby Stokes
Substitute:
MF12 Hugh Fisher
Manager:
Lawrie McMenemy

In popular culture

Jasper Carrott immortalised the match in his song "Cup Final '76", which appeared on the album Carrott In Notts.[2][3][4]

References

Print

  • Tim Manns (2006). Tie a Yellow Ribbon: How the Saints Won the Cup. Hagiology Publishing. ISBN 0-9534474-6-4.

Internet

External links