FA Cup - First , Worst & Best

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

First - Villa at home January 1965. Winston Churchill funeral. Kettleborough sent off.

Worst - April 3rd 1993. Wembley

Best - Everton January 1970. Although that Blackburn game with Tommy Doyle's goal is up there.

(One of the proudest was semi final against Arsenal at Old Trafford 2003. Lost 1-0 but we absolutely battered them in the second half. Very rarely they ventured into our half. Seaman save. Blades in full voice that day.)

That Seaman save. I wasn't directly behind the goal at game height, but just a little farther back, I still don't know how he saved that.

My favourite FA cup semi, as really felt we turned up, whereas against Newcastle and Wednesday it felt we were never really looking like doing anything.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Forgot the Blackburn win with Tommy Doyle’s goal. For all my memories of the wins over the years, being there with my ten year old lad and seeing him going crazy at the end puts it right up close to the top.

This is a long shot (bit like the Doyle goal) but were you and your son on the middle of the Kop for this one? I distinctly remember to my immediate left was a young lad about 10 years old and his dad. The lad was standing on the seat to get a better view and when the Doyle shot went in, I was the one behaving like a 10-year old climbing on the seats and giving random hugs to those around me, including this kid.

 

[Zero dark thirty]

That Seaman save. I wasn't directly behind the goal at game height, but just a little farther back, I still don't know how he saved that.

My favourite FA cup semi, as really felt we turned up, whereas against Newcastle and Wednesday it felt we were never really looking like doing anything.

That save was unbelievable how did he do that...you did turn up at Wembley 93

 

[Bladethebrian]

Sean Miller’s 120th minute winner at a very cold Craven Cotage in front of the shivering Blades fans was quite special

 

[Lens instep catch]

First Bolton home 3-1 1963
First Away Fulham 1-1 1967
Worse Leeds away 0-3 1968
Best now this one is difficult all F,A, cup wins are great but it is Notts County away in a replay 1999 looked like we were down and out but forced extra time and won 4-3
We then drew Arsenal away the most unsporting one

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Honourable more recent mention for the game at home v Blackburn, referenced up thread for the Tommy Doyle goal, which was pretty much the perfect way, with the perfect timing, to win a cup tie.

But which I’ll always also remember for Iliman, whose goal that day was the best I have ever seen at Bramall Lane, bar none.

Which Iliman goal?

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Which Iliman goal?

 

[Revolution]

First: 0-0 draw v Stoke at home 3rd round Jan '83. It was the first time I'd ever seen the Bramall Lane end completely full. We were in div 3 and Stoke were in div 1. We went on to lose the replay 3-2 with Terry Curran playing a blinder.

Worst: Probably Wembley '93.

Best: Coventry '98, Ireland's number 1 shining on St Patrick's Day.

Exactly the same 3 games for me, although Blackburn 1993 runs Coventry close.

Stoke were the first top division side I had ever seen. We played very well and were unlucky not to win on the day. I remember we drew Liverpool away in the next round but of course lost the replay as you say.

 

[Silent Blade]

1st - probably vs Maidstone in 1988. This was my 1st season I had a ST with my dad so would have also gone to it. Can’t remember the game, but looked it up we won 1-0, start of the Bassett era too

Bergara was the caretaker manager, His first in a 2 game spell (second was 2-1 win at Bournemouth). Bassett's forst match was the 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth in the FA Cup 4th round.

 

[Balham]

But which I’ll always also remember for Iliman, whose goal that day was the best I have ever seen at Bramall Lane, bar none.

That was the league game in August/September. Not the cup match later in the season.

Back on topic
First: I think, was United 0-0 Arsenal (Arsenal won 4-2 on penalties) in 2005. All I really remember is Jon Harley nearly scoring and Paddy Kenny being unable to dive in the shootout

Worst: United 0-3 Swansea in 2007. Shambolic performance from start to finish.

Best: Villa 1-2 United in 2014. Probably one of my best ever away days as a Blade.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

That was the league game in August/September. Not the cup match later in the season

Duh. Getting old. Too many games v Blackburn that season.

Apologies.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I thought you meant his goal v Spurs in the 5th Round, which was fantastic to be fair. See 1:40

 

[Melbourne Blade]

Can't remember the first - might have been a 3-3 draw against Colchester in 89.

Worst was that one against the unclean at Wembley. I was flat for days and had to cop abuse from their lot at work for the whole week.

Best has to be Blackburn QF replay - when Pembos penalty went in I can't recall such wild celebrations and pure relief. Glyn Hodges left foot is magic also a favourite - I rewatched the whole game about 6 times.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

never seen these extended highlights before of the Blackburn 1993 Quarter Final! What a night and atmosphere that was! Official attendance only 23,000!... Yet the ground was packed, some fiddling the books there I think.



Back to the topic:

1st - Luton Town 1992 -4-0
Worst - 1993 Semi for the obvious. 1998 and 2003 semis also stung as we did enough in both games to at least get a draw.
Best - Blackburn 1993 Quarter, Coventry Quarter Final, and the Arsenal 1-0 replay win in 1996 was brilliant, remember an electric atmosphere that night.

 

[ancientblade]

First Bolton home 3-1 1963
First Away Fulham 1-1 1967
Worse Leeds away 0-3 1968
Best now this one is difficult all F,A, cup wins are great but it is Notts County away in a replay 1999 looked like we were down and out but forced extra time and won 4-3
We then drew Arsenal away the most unsporting one

that bolton game was my first fa cup game at the lane the leeds defeat in quarter final 68 was only 1 - 0 to leeds and we should have won that day we hit the post 3 times and one kicked off the line

 

[Chezzy Blades]

Was it cold, or am I getting mixed up?

Can't remember that (I was only 5) but can remember it's the only United match my mum ever went to, and as posted above Dwight Yorke scored the winner.

It's always freezing at the Lane in January though and I think we were still rebuilding John Street at that time so I'm sure you're right!

 

[Lens instep catch]

that bolton game was my first fa cup game at the lane the leeds defeat in quarter final 68 was only 1 - 0 to leeds and we should have won that day we hit the post 3 times and one kicked off the line

Sorry ancient you of course are right must have had a memory loss I got mixed up with the league defeat the week after

 

[MKY]

Haven’t been to many fa cup games. Was at Brisbane rd (Leyton orient) about 20 years ago. They’ve got a quirky ground with blocks of flats in each corner that look directly over the pitch. Anyway i was a bit late & there was a commotion in the away end with loads of blades laughing, pointing & trying to take pics of 1 of the flats. There was a bloke in his lounge sat in his pants watching football on the telly & he’d got his back to the ground!!! There was also a blades flag draped from 1 of the balconies which didn’t go down well with the home support. We won 3:1 & the team featured young. Kyles Walker & Naughton.
Was also at the 2:1 Wembley loss to hull. I remember at 3:4 late on, maguire had a shooting opportunity on the edge of their box. Time seemed to slow. It was blocked & they went straight up the other end & scored. So deflated. 2:1 up at half time & you thought, just maybe we’re going to do it. Lost the second half 4:1.
Worst has to be 93 semi. Didn’t go but watched the match in a pub in broomhill. Hadn’t even sat down with my pint & waddle had lashed it in. How we took that to ET god only knows. Could’ve been 7:1. Awful

 

[mattbianco1]

Not sure what my first was.

Worst was probably one of these:

Blades 0-1 Barnet (2019)
Blades 0-3 Swansea (2007)

Best, there's a few:

 

[Bladesince61]

Interesting that so many best memories are replays as mine are. ( Blackburn and Coventry) Something that can never happen again thanks to the FA sucking up to the big clubs. Used to love the cup but it's been ruined by an organization that's basically run now by the Premier League.

 

[ancientblade]

Sorry ancient you of course are right must have had a memory loss I got mixed up with the league defeat the week after

no worries we completely dominated leeds that day apart from putting the ball in the net they were very lucky that day

 

[Revolution]

Interesting that so many best memories are replays as mine are. ( Blackburn and Coventry) Something that can never happen again thanks to the FA sucking up to the big clubs. Used to love the cup but it's been ruined by an organization that's basically run now by the Premier League.

Between 1986-7 and 2004-5 we were unbeaten in 15 straight replays, which I think must be a record.

 

[N20 Blade]

1st - Colchester (3-3) Colin hill scored for them
Best - Left field but loved the 1-0 v Barnsley (2nd replay) as it meant playing Man Utd. Agana got so much racist abuse that night (as did Deano) so was delighted when he slotted the pen away
Worst - Arsenal, 2003. Even to this day I think we deserved to win, and had we genuinely think we could have won the cup. Living where I do, losing to them is always a kick in the balls.

 

[mattbianco1]

Interesting that so many best memories are replays as mine are. ( Blackburn and Coventry)

How did i forget them...

Coventry on pens is probably my best

 

[mattbianco1]

Between 1986-7 and 2004-5 we were unbeaten in 15 straight replays, which I think must be a record.

Before Arsenal scored every penalty ?

 

[Revolution]

Before Arsenal scored every penalty ?

Correct. The Previous defeat was at Birmingham in 1984, when we lost 2-0 after drawing 1-1 at home.

 

[Balham]

Between 1986-7 and 2004-5 we were unbeaten in 15 straight replays, which I think must be a record.

Sounds like a question for the Guardian's Knowledge feature.

Before Arsenal scored every penalty ?

Kenny was injured wasn't he? I couldn't really see from the Kop but I was told later that he could only dive left and the Arsenal players were just putting their penalties to his right.

 

[Rudders]

Sounds like a question for the Guardian's Knowledge feature.

Kenny was injured wasn't he? I couldn't really see from the Kop but I was told later that he could only dive left and the Arsenal players were just putting their penalties to his right.

But still got closer to them than Wes did when we get knocked out of the league cup? by Blackburn (dived wrong way for every pen I recall - the worst I have ever seen)

 

[Bath Blade]

This is a long shot (bit like the Doyle goal) but were you and your son on the middle of the Kop for this one? I distinctly remember to my immediate left was a young lad about 10 years old and his dad. The lad was standing on the seat to get a better view and when the Doyle shot went in, I was the one behaving like a 10-year old climbing on the seats and giving random hugs to those around me, including this kid.

I was indeed in the middle of the Kop, so could well have been us!

It’s hard work coercing your child to support United when you live 200 miles away and his mates support Liverpool, Man Utd etc but that goal was the one that did the trick.

 

[Silent Blade]

First - Portsmouth away in 1971, lost 2-0. Hiron and Trebilcock (who scored 2 v Wendy in 1966 FA Cup final) scored. Strange that the first time I saw us win a match in the FA Cup was 2-0 at home to Bristol City in 1975. Second time was v Burscough in November 1979.

Worst was 0-5 to Arsenal in 1978.

Best- hard to pick any of the quarter final wins in 1993 (Blackburn), 1998 (Coventry), 2003 (Leeds), 2014 (Charlton) and 2023 (Blackburn).