1: Bert Trautmann (Manchester City)
Most players nowadays can barely walk on a pitch without rolling around after stubbing their toe, but they were made of sterner stuff back in 1956. Take Manchester City's Teutonic stopper Bert Trautmann. A recipient of the Iron Cross, Trautmann began to play in goal while captive in an English prisoner of war camp. After signing for City in 1949, the German proved himself to be a fine stopper, but his Wembley heroics saw the German enter footballing folklore. With City leading 3-1 against Birmingham, Trautmann appeared to come off the worse following a collision with Peter Murphy. After lying prostrate for several minutes, Trautmann was revived with smelling salts, but complained of a 'stiff neck' after collecting his winners' medal. Three days later, Trautmann was diagnosed with a broken neck.
2: Ricky Villa (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Argentine, signed alongside fellow countryman Ossie Ardiles by Keith Burkinshaw in 1978, majestically slalomed through the Manchester City defence to win the cup for Tottingham with a 3-2 win in 1981's Cup final replay. And what a way to mark to the 100th final of the competition. After the bearded midfielder collected the ball on the edge of the area, he twisted and turned through City's rearguard, before coolly slipping the ball past goalkeeper Joe Corrigan.
3: Sir Stanley Matthews (Blackpool)
So good, he even had a final named after him. The FA Cup conjures magical images, but perhaps none more than in 1953. At the tender age of 38, Sir Stanley made his third appearance in a final, but was yet to get his hands on football's most famous trophy. That was all to change. His beloved Blackpool were trailing 3-1 to a Bolton side featuring the likes of Nat Lofthouse with 22 minutes remaining. Cometh the hour, as they say, and Matthews turned back the clock with a vintage display of wing wizardry, fierce acceleration and never-say-die determination. Time and again, he bewitched the Bolton defence, providing the ammunition for Stan Mortenson - who scored a hat-trick - and Bill Perry, with Blackpool emerging as 4-3 winners.
4: Jim Montgomery (Sunderland)
In one of the FA Cup's classic giankilling acts, Don Revie's Leeds were put to the sword by Second Division Sunderland in the 1973 final thanks to Ian Porterfield's strike. Arguably though, it was Montgomery who won the tie with a miraculous double save. On Cup final day, Whereas the Yorkshiremen appeared tense during the build-up, Sunderland players - inspired by Bob Stokoe - laughed and joked in pre-match interviews. The mood transferred to the pitch, with Montgomery - who appeared a record 623 times for the club - leaping like a man possessed between the posts to deny both pitch-thumping Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer. After lunging to repel Cherry's header, Montgomery shot up from the floor to thwart Lorimer's strike with the assistance of his right-hand post.
5: Keith Houchen (Coventry City)
The most famous exponent of the diving header, Keith Houchen is fondly remembered by Coventry City fans for his exploits in 1987's pulsating Final. Given a cat in hell's chance against free-scoring Spurs - Clive Allen alone had notched 48 goals - the Sky Blues got off to the worst start as the poacher supreme made it 49 on two minutes. After Dave Bennett's equaliser, Spurs' name was surely on the Cup after Gary Mabbutt made it 2-1. But Houchen had other ideas. After releasing Bennett on the right wing, Houchen darted into the box, before the totemic striker launched himself at Bennett's teasing cross. Ray Clemence had no chance and the tie went to extra time. Coventry fans subsequently named a fanzine 'Gary Mabbutt's Knee' after the defender's extra-time own goal, which sealed Coventry's 3-2 victory. Two years earlier, when plying his trade at Third Division York City, Houchen's last-minute penalty put paid to Don Howe's Arsenal in the Fourth Round.
6: Paul Gascoigne (Tottenham Hotspur)
One of the most precocious talents the English game has ever produced, Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne had already spearheaded Spurs' charge into 1991's semi-final against bitter rivals Arsenal. On the hallowed Wembley turf, Gascoigne ensured he would never again have to pay for a round in N17 thanks to an audacious 30-yard free-kick. His thunderous strike curled around Arsenal's poorly constructed three-man wall, beating the despairing dive of David Seaman before nestling in the top right hand corner. The moment was beautifully captured by Barry Davies: 'Is Gascoigne going to have a crack? He is, you know. Oh I say. Brilliant! That.. is... Schoolboy's Own stuff.' Spurs went on to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the final, although Gascoigne lasted only 14 minutes after a reckless lunge on Gary Charles tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee.
7: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Ryan Joseph Giggs' extensive trophy cabinet features four FA Cup winners' medals, thanks to Manchester United's triumphs over Chelsea in 1994, Liverpool's Spice Boys two years later, Newcastle in 1999 and finally in 2004 against Millwall. But the Welshman entered FA Cup folklore thanks to his marvellous last-gasp endeavour for ten man United in 1999's semi-final replay against Arsenal. With the score at 1-1, Giggs intercepted Patrick Vieira's sloppy pass in his own half, before skipping past Vieira's sloppier tackle. Lee Dixon and Martin Keown were also left in his wake, as Giggs capped a 70-yard run with rifling drive in to the roof of the net, beating David Seaman. Ladies swooned as Giggs ripped his shirt off, launching a famous football rattle-esque celebration - and United were in the FA Cup final
8: Ronnie Radford (Hereford)
Edgar Road, 1972. After three postponements, a pitch muddied by the February rainfall and a partisan crowd greeted First Division Newcastle to a Third Round replay against Hereford, then of the Southern League. Malcolm Macdonald gave the Magpies the lead with an 82nd minute header, before being pegged back with five minutes to go thanks to one of the FA Cup's greatest-ever strikes. Over to John Motson, then a fledgling BBC commentator: 'Radford. Radford again. Oh What a goal! Radford the scorer. Ronnie Radford!' Hereford became the first non-league side since Yeovil - who knocked out Sunderland in 1949 - to beat a side from the top flight thanks to substitute Ricky George's extra-time winner.
9: Alan Sunderland (Arsenal)
With four minutes to go, Arsenal were 2-0 up and cruising over Manchester United in the 1979 final after goals from Brian Talbot and Frank Stapleton. But in the most frantic finale, United pulled level through Gordon McQueen and Sammy McIlroy's solo effort. Dejected and tired, Arsenal looked broken, beaten men. Enter Alan Sunderland. In a final foray, Arsenal broke, with Liam Brady's deep left-wing cross finding the outstretched right boot of the perm-sporting, moustachioed centre forward on the far post. Gary Bailey was helpless and FA Cup immortality beckoned.
10: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Gerrard hoists the magnificent trophy aloft following Liverpool's dramatic Fa Cup victory in 2006. With a minute to go, his side were 3-2 down against West Ham, but a last minute screamer from the trusty right boot of the Reds' skipper forced the tie into a goalless extra-time and latterly penalties. Gerrard duly converted his spot kick, with Liverpool running out 3-1 winners in the FA Cup's last appearance at the Millennium Stadium. By coincidence, Gerrard and Liverpool won the first final staged in Cardiff, with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in 2001.
01-08-2009, 09:42 AM
The FA Cup Greatest Heroes
(View-All)
Members who have read this thread : 1
Linear Mode
