THE LONGEST FA CUP TIE

Its not quite an anniversary, but FA Cup ties are being played, so on November 22nd 1971, Oxford City (now the National League South)  met Alvechurch (now Southern League Premier Central) in a Qualifying Round Four FA Cup tie and finally managed a result after a record number of FA Cup ties.

Alvechurch from Worcestershire had already played in the First Qualifying Round v More Green 4-0
Then in Qual Rd 2: away at Darlaston 0-4
Qual Rd 3: at home to Atherstone Town 3-0 on a Saturday.
Oxford had no previous ties, being exempt until the Fourth Qualifying Round.

The Qual Rd 4 ties over 17 days, went as follows:
Alv v  Oxf City 2-2, Saturday at Alvechurch
Oxf v Alv 1-1 aet, Tuesday at Oxford City
Alv v Oxf 0-0 aet (neutral) on Monday at St Andrews, Birmingham
Oxf v Alv 0-0 aet (neutral) on Wednesday at the Manor Ground (Oxford Utd)
Oxf v Alv 0-0 aet (neutral The Manor Ground)

Oxf v Alv 0-1 (neutral at a frozen Villa Park).
Manager Rhys Davies had used up all his team talk phrases, by now, so ended up with a curious phrase about using "tonk and bottle".
A refined Villa Chairman, Doug Ellis, presented both teams with champagne in the changing rooms after the game (plastic cups!).
The Manor Ground, Oxford Utd hosted two ties.
Graham Allner played in all six matches for Alvechurch on:
the Saturday, Tuesday, Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, Monday in less than three weeks...oh.... and there was a league game thrown into this period too.

Alvechurch went on to play Aldershot in the Round One proper, two days later, away at the Recreation Ground, losing 4-2. Remember most of these players had jobs to go to also!

The record will stand for ever since the FA Cup committee has changed the rules so that after one replay cup tie go to penalties.

Aldershot lost to Reading in Round 2, Reading beat Blyth Spartans 6-0 at home after a 2-2 away.
Reading lost to Arsenal 1-2 at home in Rd 4.
Arsenal beat Derby after a draw, then Orient away in Rd 6, then beat Stoke after a 1-1 draw in the semi-final 2-1.

Much later in the competition Leeds beat Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley.