1957 FA Cup Final – Aston Villa 2 Man Utd 1
When Aston Villa won the 1957 FA Cup we became the first team to win it 7 times, a feat now matched or surpassed by Liverpool (7), Tottenham (8), Arsenal (10) and Man Utd (11). Small wonder really, we’ve made it to the final just once since; the 1-0 loss to Chelsea in 2000. You’ve got to be in it to win it after all.
The game has changed a wee bit since 1957 though. Martin O’Neill was just 5 years old when Wembley hosted this final and I suspect that the overwhelming majority of you reading this now were not even born yourselves. That’s an awful long time for a club of our size and stature to go without winning this trophy. An awful long time.
The gaffer comes in for some stick here and there when it comes to tactics and strategy, but I wonder what would be said about him if he adopted a 1950’s style system and sent the team out to face Chelsea tomorrow in a 2-3-5 formation. People would think he was a stark, raving lunatic, but it was very popular in the 50’s and both teams used it at Wembley in the ‘57 final:-
Controversy
As you’ll see in the video footage at the foot of the post, the game was bathed in controversy from early on. Capping an Aston Villa “lightening counter attack” in the 6th minute, the ball was crossed from right to left for outside left (left winger), Peter McParland, to head on goal. The attempt was easily gathered by Utd goal keeper, Ray Wood, but for some reason that probably made perfect sense in the 1950’s, McParland continued his run towards goal and made what he later described as a “shoulder charge” on Wood.
Oh, that’s OK then. It was a shoulder charge everyone.
Unfortunately, it was a more a case of clashing heads and Wood was knocked out before being stretched off with what turned out to be a broken cheekbone. As this was before substitutes were introduced, Utd had to play on with 10 men, Jackie Blanchflower taking over between the sticks.
Wood came back on and finished the first half as an outfield player on the right. Obviously, if you have to field semi-conscious players with broken bones in their face, the right wing is where you’d play them. It remained goalless at the break, but McParland got the vital goals for Villa in the 68th and 73rd minutes.
Wood eventually came back on again in the second half. Perhaps he just stumbled back into the action by accident in some kind of concussed haze, but he finished the game back in goal as Utd chased the game. Centre forward, Tommy Taylor, did get one back for Utd inside the final 10 minutes, but in the end it was just a consolation and Villa won the cup.
I recently saw some footage of Villa captain Johnny Dixon making a post-match speech where he commiserated with Utd for their loss and wished them the best of luck in the competition the following year. He looked like he meant it too. Quite astounding.
Anyway, enjoy the video. It’s the last time we won the FA Cup, 53 years ago.
[Picture: Evening Standard/Getty Images]
You should follow Aston Villa Central on Twitter here.
Maybe the missing secret weapon from the Villa offense is the “Shoulder Charge”. I would perhaps not recommend this for Agbonlahor, but it could be very effective using Heskey or Carew.
surely you know that heskey would some how come off worse!!
I anticipated that response! I should have added that the key to a successful shoulder charge is to inflict a concussion without receiving one personally; perhaps Heskey is not the man for the job.
It would be interesting to see what the reaction would be – by players, managers, league, media, fans, – if McParland’s manuever were executed in exactly that manner today.
Great stuff love the bit at the end where the commentator says at least Man U. can console themselves with the fact that they were beaten by a team making soccer history.
Nice piece and sets the mood for the weekend.
Was a bit disillusioned earlier today when I was blocked from leaving comments on another so called Villa site because I asked the author who is leading a campaign against Martin O’Neill to back up some of his snide comments with facts. His response was to block me from leaving comments.
Anyway looking forward to revenge tomorrow and I believe we can do it, apparently Dunne is fit.
unfortunately i cant get the video, but i’ll see if i can grab the audio of the speech i mentioned here. it’s quite something.
i know who you refer to and all i’ll say is that he wouldn’t know a fact if it kicked him in the arse.
Would love to hear the speech, why don’t captains get to say a few words any more. It would only add to the occasion and would be either inspiring or cringe worthy
i suspect the latter more often than not.
i stuck it here for now, but i’ll embed it in tomorrow’s post too i think.
http://audioboo.fm/boos/114711-johnny-dixon-fa-cup-speech-1957