With the Fifth Round draw of the FA Cup now published, why not reflect on a giant killing in 1949 when Yeovil, then a Southern League (amateur? semi-pro?) club, had a moment against Sunderland, the club then very much a full time, First Division (top) club. This time, yes 2024, Non-League Maidstone are drawn away, to either Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry, and it is worth noting that Wrexham might beat Blackburn Rovers and then would host Newcastle Utd.
Bristol City or Nottm Forest will host Manchester United and Plymouth if they beat Leeds could face Chelsea or Aston Villa...matches not yet finalised! There is a lot of excitement out there. The FA Cup never fails to "give" even if only for a day or so.
On January 29th 1949, Yeovil tickled "fancies" by beating Sunderland 2-1, bringing on a headline that reads "The Bank of England Broken". Sunderland, a First Division club, very much had a reputation for being the most ambitious club in the Football League. The club's "nickname" was "The Bank of England", spent much money in the transfer market including buying the much sought after inside forward, Len Shackleton, for £20,500, a record at that time!!
Another boost was Yeovil's player-manager, Alex Stock's egg, sherry and glucose punch that the Yeovil lads would consume before a match!! Sunderland had a slow start to this cup tie and were 1-0 down (remember Yeovil at home) by half time, the goal scored by Stock. Sunderland woke up and peppered the home goal for the rest of the match, only to find goalkeeper Dickie Dyke in top form-he had only played for the club once before! Ex-England player, Jackie Robinson eventually found a goal for with 15 minutes to go. So, on to extra time! Yeovil stayed firm and by 104 minutes, with fog drifting in Ray Wright pounced on a bizarre overhead clearance by Shackleton (an error!) and fed Eric Bryant for the winning goal. This was regarded as the greatest upset in Cup history "ever". The fact that the victory came about as a result of an error by the game's most expensive player was not lost on many. This would not be the last indignity heaped on "The Bank", Eight years later, having won nothing despite their heavy spending on transfers, they were found guilty of making illegal payments to players! The season following they were relegated for the first time in the club's history, having joined the League in 1891.
Needless to say, this was not going to last as Yeovil were trounced 8-0 by Manchester United in the next round.
On January 6th 1971, I saw Yeovil Town at their "old ground", The Huish, cosy...play Arsenal in a Cup tie.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saVmmAoZaIo worth a look.
On the other side, part time Yeovil Town (know where it is now? NO? look it up) had a weekly wage bill of about £100! Yeovil had one thing in their favour, a sloping pitch (an eight feet drop from touchline to touchline). Believe me it was remarkable; I saw Arsenal play there in a 1970-1 season (Jan 6th) FA Cup Tie-R3! Score 0-3. 14,500 saw this. Arsenal squad: Goalscorers = *
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