Great FA Cup Semi Finals – From the Archives

We have reached the last four of the FA Cup, From the Archives series.

In recent editions we have looked over a singular match from a round of the Cup but on the Semi-Final edition we look back at two classic encounters from the great competition.

Leeds United vs Birmingham City (1972)

Don Revie’s Leeds United was one of the strongest sides in European Football during the late 60s and early 70s, and went into this Semi-Final on course for a League and Cup double.

Their opponents Birmingham City, were a second division side, and it looked a formality that Leeds would be heading to Wembley.

However, the club had endured some painful defeats in the competition in recent years. They were beaten by Chelsea in the 1970 Cup Final, which was followed by a shock exit to Fourth Division side, Colchester.

It proved quite a comfortable game for Leeds at Hillsborough. Peter Lorimer’s ball into the box found Alan Clarke, who squared it across to Mick Jones who headed the ball into an open net and put Leeds infront.

The Second Division side almost replied after an ambitious effort by their young winger, Trevor Francis. However, the future Nottingham Forest winger was denied by a brilliant save by keeper David Harvey.

The Yorkshire side went in at half-time with a two goal cushion. Eddie Gray played a ball over Birmingham’s back four which found Lorimer. The Scottish international shrugged off Blues’ defender, Gary Pendry and rifled his shot into the bottom corner.

Leeds would make it 3-0 with 25 minutes remianing. Legendary captain, Billy Bremner dispossed the Birmingham midfield and released Johnny Giles. The Irish midfielder made a darting run down to the byline and crossed the ball in. Though the angle looked tight, he was able to find Mick Jones, who chested into the net for his second.

Leeds go on to win the competition after beating Cup holders, Arsenal in the Final. Their win beside the Twin Towers was the clubs’ first, and only success in the competition. However, two days after their cup win, they were beaten at Wolves, which ended their double dreams.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford (1987)

The 1987 Semi-Final at Villa Park featured two of the best sides in the First Division.

Spurs went into this Semi-Final with the most successes in the competition (seven), and had won it back to back in 1981 and 1982.

Their squad included, European Cup Winning No.1, Ray Clemence, England Internationals, Steve Hodge, Chris Waddle, and Glenn Hoddle. The free scoring, Clive Allen and their Argentinian maestro, and World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles.

Watford were managed by future England boss Graham Taylor, who led them to a meteoric rise up the Football League. Their squad included the promising, John Barnes, future Arsenal midfielder Kevin Richardson, and Strikers, Luther Blissett and Mark Falco, who joined from Spurs that Summer.

They had not won a major honour in their history, but had finished second in their debut season in 1983, which was followed by defeat in the 84′ Cup Final to Everton. Most memorable for Pop Star, and Hornets’ fan, Elton John’s tears in the terraces at Wembley.

And once again Elton John’s Saturday Night, wasn’t alright, after a 4-1 defeat to the North London side.

Spurs took the lead after 11 minutes. Mark Plumley spilled Clive Allen’s shot into the path of Steve Hodge, who tapped it in from close range.

Two minutes later and it was 2-0, Clive Allen’s shot took a knock off a Watford defender and deflected into the bottom corner.

With ten minutes left before the break, Spurs would make it 3-0. Paul Allen drove into the penalty area and from a tight angle blasted into the roof of the net.

It was a disasterous first half for Watford, and for keeper Mark Plumley, who stepped in to the net following an injury to first choice keeper Tony Coton.

With 17 minutes left and Hodge would get his second. Ardiles laid it off to the Nottingham born midfielder, who curled it into the corner of the goal.

But Spurs wouldn’t hold on for their clean sheet. A free-kick found Malcolm Allen, who headed it passed Ray Clemence.

Spurs would not be able to add an eighth FA Cup to their trophy cabinet, after losing 3-2 in the final to Coventry City. While Watford Boss, Taylor would resign that Summer, and became Aston Villa manager.

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