After yesterday’s debacle, I tried to remember when I ever felt so despondent about our team and my thoughts turned to the mid ‘60’s and the three consecutive semi finals. Back then the FA Cup was a really important competition, arguably more so than the league because, I guess, there were more teams with a chance of winning it, or, at least, getting to Wembley which was a big deal in itself. Up until this period our season was usually over by the end of February… the league was almost a non qualifier for us and we’d be knocked out the cup by the end of the 4th round … getting to the fifth round was a cup run for us! So getting to the semi final in ‘65 was a great achievement and I travelled to Villa Park with great excitement but little expectation! So it proved … I don’t remember much about the game except that I don’t think we were ever really in it but, as they say, I was “… just pleased to be there!”

Back to Villa Park the next year, this time against Sheffield W who were a decent team back then. They had Jim McCalliog playing for them - I think he had joined them from us at the beginning of the season and whilst he’d never done much for us he played a blinder that day and, of course, contributed to our defeat. I think we should have beaten them, we were a better side and this defeat was much harder to take than the one the previous year. I think that it was after this defeat that Tommy Docherty broke up the team selling Venables , Bridges etc. Also I think we played in the Milan kit of thick blue and black stripes with a view to adopting it as our new kit but this idea was shelved after the defeat. This may have been the after the Liverpool game but I don’t remember

On to 1967 and the mighty Leeds … a grudge match if ever there was one! I think this was the game when Tony Hately scored the only decent goal he ever scored for us - a towering header in the true sense of the phrase! This was also the game when Lorimer ‘scored’ a fantastic ‘equaliser’ direct from a free kick which was subsequently disallowed as the ref hadn’t blown his whistle for the kick to be taken! This was real karma for all the nastiness and dirty play perpetrated by Leeds over the years.

So we played Tottenham in my first ever final … a great occasion where all the fans turned up but the players didn’t! We were never in it, but thankfully better times were ahead …

Does anyone here have any other memories of these games, or perhaps correct some of my misremembered facts?

My memories only go back to 1966/67

I remember watching that Spurs final and being so disappointed that we lost, and remember the name Frank Saul who scored for them ( i think) - it spoiled my day. As i recall we werent very good that day. I also remember the " liquidator" being played at home matches and the adults i was with hoping about ( dancing ) in a jaunty manner.🙂

On 15/03/2026 at 09:07, OnePeterOsgood said:

After yesterday’s debacle, I tried to remember when I ever felt so despondent about our team and my thoughts turned to the mid ‘60’s and the three consecutive semi finals. Back then the FA Cup was a really important competition, arguably more so than the league because, I guess, there were more teams with a chance of winning it, or, at least, getting to Wembley which was a big deal in itself. Up until this period our season was usually over by the end of February… the league was almost a non qualifier for us and we’d be knocked out the cup by the end of the 4th round … getting to the fifth round was a cup run for us! So getting to the semi final in ‘65 was a great achievement and I travelled to Villa Park with great excitement but little expectation! So it proved … I don’t remember much about the game except that I don’t think we were ever really in it but, as they say, I was “… just pleased to be there!”

Back to Villa Park the next year, this time against Sheffield W who were a decent team back then. They had Jim McCalliog playing for them - I think he had joined them from us at the beginning of the season and whilst he’d never done much for us he played a blinder that day and, of course, contributed to our defeat. I think we should have beaten them, we were a better side and this defeat was much harder to take than the one the previous year. I think that it was after this defeat that Tommy Docherty broke up the team selling Venables , Bridges etc. Also I think we played in the Milan kit of thick blue and black stripes with a view to adopting it as our new kit but this idea was shelved after the defeat. This may have been the after the Liverpool game but I don’t remember

On to 1967 and the mighty Leeds … a grudge match if ever there was one! I think this was the game when Tony Hately scored the only decent goal he ever scored for us - a towering header in the true sense of the phrase! This was also the game when Lorimer ‘scored’ a fantastic ‘equaliser’ direct from a free kick which was subsequently disallowed as the ref hadn’t blown his whistle for the kick to be taken! This was real karma for all the nastiness and dirty play perpetrated by Leeds over the years.

So we played Tottenham in my first ever final … a great occasion where all the fans turned up but the players didn’t! We were never in it, but thankfully better times were ahead …

Does anyone here have any other memories of these games, or perhaps correct some of my misremembered facts?

I went to the final, but listened to the semi v Leeds on the radio was heartbroken when Lorimer scored, delighted when it was disallowed. Went to nearly all home games that season so had enough vouchers from the programme to get a Wembley ticket. The team didn't really turn up.

We were up on the terrace, and can remember the terrace vibrating a second or two after each goal as their fans celebrated.

Next season was when we went to WHL when the game was briefly stopped when a bit of fighting broke out behind the goal.

I remember the cup runs previously at the Bridge. Shrewsbury, Hull, Northampton.

All brought large followings , especially Hull.

The FA cup was really a magical competition back then. Can recall everyone listening to the radio on a Monday morning when the draw was traditionally made.. Great memories.

Edited March 19Mar 19 by The Rising Sun
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Digressing slightly, however the semi final loss to Man Utd, Villa Park 96, was a bitter pill to swallow. One nil up, lost two one. Massive mob after the game on that grassy bank.

Went up in mates car. Scarves out the windows. Doing the back streets in Birmingham, before we know it there’s a mini convoy of fellow Chelsea fans following us. We ended up in a dead end street with half a dozen cars behind us.

Bloke in car behind pipes up “ We thought you knew where you were going?”

Martin “ What you going on about. I’m going to see my Aunt Mable at number six. You can’t come in”

Old league cup the Rumbelows Cup 1991 away at Hillsborough.

We lost 3-1 and 5-1 on aggregate, anyone remember Carlton Palmer.

Depressing trip home on the train, yet less than a month later we beat Utd 3-2 at Old Trafford.