Yeovil Town v Sunderland (1949)
Encyclopedia
Yeovil Town v Sunderland was a football match played on 29 January 1949 at The Huish
, Yeovil
. The match was a tie in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup
. Yeovil Town
won the match 2–1, with Alec Stock
and Eric Bryant
scoring the goals for the winning side. The match is notable for being one of the few occasions in the history of the FA Cup where a non-league club has defeated a team in the top tier of English football.
during the 1948–49 season. The club entered the FA Cup
at the Fourth Qualifying Round, and were drawn against Lovells Athletic
. Yeovil were losing 2–0 at half time, but following an own goal
from a Lovells defender in the second half, Yeovil went on to win the match 3–2. The team won more convincingly in the next two rounds, winning 4–0 against Romford
and then beating Weymouth
by the same scoreline. Yeovil were then drawn against Bury
, who at the time were situated near the top of the Second Division
. Yeovil won the match 3–1, progressing to the Fourth Round for the first time in their history.
Sunderland was a First Division
side who had become known as the "Bank of England
club" due to the large amounts of money the club had spent, including the signing of Len Shackleton
for £20,500, a then-British record transfer fee. Sunderland entered the FA Cup in the Third Round, defeating Crewe Alexandra
2–0.
attempted to give his players a psychological edge over their opponents. He exaggerated the steepness of the sloping pitch at The Huish
, and refused to allow the Sunderland players to train on the pitch. The official attendance for the match was 17,123, although it is believed that many spectators without a ticket also made it into the ground, and it is estimated that somewhere between 18,000 and 19,000 watched the game.
The morning before the match, Yeovil's first choice goalkeeper Stan Hall was forced to drop out of the side due to a shoulder injury. He was replaced by Dickie Dyke, who had made only one first team appearance for the club. Sunderland made two changes to the side that defeated Derby County
in the league the week before, with captain Fred Hall
returning to the lineup at the expense of Ken Oliver, while Barney Ramsden
filled in for the injured Arthur Hudgell
in defence.
Yeovil started the match strongly, with Sunderland struggling to cope with the home side. After coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions, Yeovil then took the lead in the 28th minute. Sunderland failed to defend a lobbed free kick, and the ball was played to Alec Stock on the edge of the penalty area, who turned quickly before shooting towards the right hand side of the goal beyond the reach of Sunderland goalkeeper Johnny Mapson
. Sunderland began to create a few chances of their own, but a string of fine saves from backup goalkeeper Dickie Dyke maintained Yeovil's 1–0 lead as the first half came to a close.
With just over a quarter hour gone in the second half, Sunderland got their equaliser. A long ball into the penalty area was misjudged by Dyke – his one mistake in the match – allowing Jackie Robinson
to score a simple tap in. With neither side able to find a winning goal, the score remained 1–1 after the full 90 minutes were played. Under normal circumstances, the game would then have been re-played at Sunderland's home ground Roker Park
, but during the immediate post war era, extra time was used to determine a result due to travel restrictions caused by fuel shortages.
As extra time began, a dense cloud of fog descended onto the pitch, almost forcing the match to be abandoned. Towards the end of the first period of extra time, a mishit pass from Len Shackleton
fell to Ray Wright
, playing Eric Bryant
through on goal, who found the net to put Yeovil back into the lead. With 15 minutes remaining to hold onto their lead, Yeovil were now on the back foot, with the superior fitness of Sunderland's professional players beginning to tell. Three minutes from time, the referee blew for a free kick to Sunderland. The Yeovil supporters, thinking the whistle had been blown for full time, prematurely invaded the pitch in celebration, threatening to abandon the game once more. Order was eventually restored, allowing the final minutes of the game to be played.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=left>
SUNDERLAND:
|
GK
1
Johnny Mapson
DF
2
Jack Stelling
DF
3
Barney Ramsden
MF
4
Willie Watson
MF
5
Fred Hall
(c)
MF
6
Arthur Wright
FW
7
Len Duns
FW
8
Jackie Robinson
FW
9
Ronnie Turnbull
FW
10
Len Shackleton
FW
11
Tommy Reynolds
Manager:
Bill Murray
's greatest ever upsets. In 2009, Yeovil commemorated the 60th anniversary of the game with an exhibition match between former players of Yeovil Town and Sunderland.
Yeovil were drawn against Manchester United
in the Fifth Round, losing 8–0 at Maine Road
in front of a crowd of over 80,000 people. However, the club went on to earn a reputation for frequently causing upsets in the FA Cup. Before their promotion to the Football League
in 2003, Yeovil had defeated League opposition in the FA Cup on 20 different occasions – more times than any other non-league club.
The Huish
Huish was the former ground of Yeovil Town between 1928 and 1990. It was famous for an 8-foot side to side slope, and when Yeovil beat Sunderland in the FA Cup 4th Round in 1948/49.It is now the site of a Tesco Extra hypermarket.-External links:**...
, Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
. The match was a tie in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
won the match 2–1, with Alec Stock
Alec Stock
Alec William Alfred Stock was an English footballer and manager.-Career:Alec Stock was born in Peasedown St John and played as an inside-forward for Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic and QPR before the Second World War and guested for several other clubs during the hostilities...
and Eric Bryant
Eric Bryant (footballer)
Eric Bryant was a footballer who played league football for Mansfield Town, Plymouth Argyle and Leyton Orient. He is also notable for scoring the winning goal for non-league Yeovil Town in their FA Cup victory against Sunderland in 1949....
scoring the goals for the winning side. The match is notable for being one of the few occasions in the history of the FA Cup where a non-league club has defeated a team in the top tier of English football.
Background
Yeovil Town was a non-league team competing in the Southern LeagueSouthern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
during the 1948–49 season. The club entered the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
at the Fourth Qualifying Round, and were drawn against Lovells Athletic
Lovells Athletic F.C.
Lovell's Athletic F.C. was the works team for Lovell's sweet factory in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, which played professional football from 1918 until 1969.-History:...
. Yeovil were losing 2–0 at half time, but following an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
from a Lovells defender in the second half, Yeovil went on to win the match 3–2. The team won more convincingly in the next two rounds, winning 4–0 against Romford
Romford F.C.
Romford F.C. is an English football club based in Romford, Greater London. The club are currently members of Division One North of the Isthmian League, and play at Mill Field in Aveley.-History:...
and then beating Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
by the same scoreline. Yeovil were then drawn against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, who at the time were situated near the top of the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. Yeovil won the match 3–1, progressing to the Fourth Round for the first time in their history.
Sunderland was a First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
side who had become known as the "Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
club" due to the large amounts of money the club had spent, including the signing of Len Shackleton
Len Shackleton
Leonard Francis Shackleton, was an English footballer of the post-World War II period. Known as the Clown Prince of Football, he is generally regarded as one of English football's finest ever entertainers....
for £20,500, a then-British record transfer fee. Sunderland entered the FA Cup in the Third Round, defeating Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
2–0.
Match summary
In the build-up to the game, Yeovil player-manager Alec StockAlec Stock
Alec William Alfred Stock was an English footballer and manager.-Career:Alec Stock was born in Peasedown St John and played as an inside-forward for Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic and QPR before the Second World War and guested for several other clubs during the hostilities...
attempted to give his players a psychological edge over their opponents. He exaggerated the steepness of the sloping pitch at The Huish
The Huish
Huish was the former ground of Yeovil Town between 1928 and 1990. It was famous for an 8-foot side to side slope, and when Yeovil beat Sunderland in the FA Cup 4th Round in 1948/49.It is now the site of a Tesco Extra hypermarket.-External links:**...
, and refused to allow the Sunderland players to train on the pitch. The official attendance for the match was 17,123, although it is believed that many spectators without a ticket also made it into the ground, and it is estimated that somewhere between 18,000 and 19,000 watched the game.
The morning before the match, Yeovil's first choice goalkeeper Stan Hall was forced to drop out of the side due to a shoulder injury. He was replaced by Dickie Dyke, who had made only one first team appearance for the club. Sunderland made two changes to the side that defeated Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in the league the week before, with captain Fred Hall
Fred Hall (footballer)
Fred Hall was an English footballer who played for Sunderland as a defender.-Club career:...
returning to the lineup at the expense of Ken Oliver, while Barney Ramsden
Barney Ramsden
Barney Ramsden was a former professional footballer who played as a defender for Liverpool, Sunderland and Hartlepools United.-External links:**...
filled in for the injured Arthur Hudgell
Arthur Hudgell
Arthur Hudgell was an English footballer who played for Sunderland as a full back. Hudgell played for Non League side Eton Manor before signing for Crystal Palace in 1946. He made 25 league appearances for Crystal Palace scoring a single goal...
in defence.
Yeovil started the match strongly, with Sunderland struggling to cope with the home side. After coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions, Yeovil then took the lead in the 28th minute. Sunderland failed to defend a lobbed free kick, and the ball was played to Alec Stock on the edge of the penalty area, who turned quickly before shooting towards the right hand side of the goal beyond the reach of Sunderland goalkeeper Johnny Mapson
Johnny Mapson
John Mapson was an English professional football player.Born in Birkenhead on Merseyside, Mapson moved to Swindon in his youth and worked in a succession of jobs including grocer's boy, in a bakehouse and as a milk boy before signing for Reading F.C. in April 1935. In March 1936 he transferred...
. Sunderland began to create a few chances of their own, but a string of fine saves from backup goalkeeper Dickie Dyke maintained Yeovil's 1–0 lead as the first half came to a close.
With just over a quarter hour gone in the second half, Sunderland got their equaliser. A long ball into the penalty area was misjudged by Dyke – his one mistake in the match – allowing Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
to score a simple tap in. With neither side able to find a winning goal, the score remained 1–1 after the full 90 minutes were played. Under normal circumstances, the game would then have been re-played at Sunderland's home ground Roker Park
Roker Park
Roker Park was an English football stadium situated in Roker, Sunderland. The stadium was the home of the English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from 1897 to 1997 before the club moved to the Stadium of Light. Near the end of the stadium's history, its capacity was around 22,500 with only a small...
, but during the immediate post war era, extra time was used to determine a result due to travel restrictions caused by fuel shortages.
As extra time began, a dense cloud of fog descended onto the pitch, almost forcing the match to be abandoned. Towards the end of the first period of extra time, a mishit pass from Len Shackleton
Len Shackleton
Leonard Francis Shackleton, was an English footballer of the post-World War II period. Known as the Clown Prince of Football, he is generally regarded as one of English football's finest ever entertainers....
fell to Ray Wright
Ray Wright
Ray Wright was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. He started his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, making eight appearances before the outbreak of World War II. Wright joined Exeter City when competitive football resumed after the war. He spent two seasons at the...
, playing Eric Bryant
Eric Bryant (footballer)
Eric Bryant was a footballer who played league football for Mansfield Town, Plymouth Argyle and Leyton Orient. He is also notable for scoring the winning goal for non-league Yeovil Town in their FA Cup victory against Sunderland in 1949....
through on goal, who found the net to put Yeovil back into the lead. With 15 minutes remaining to hold onto their lead, Yeovil were now on the back foot, with the superior fitness of Sunderland's professional players beginning to tell. Three minutes from time, the referee blew for a free kick to Sunderland. The Yeovil supporters, thinking the whistle had been blown for full time, prematurely invaded the pitch in celebration, threatening to abandon the game once more. Order was eventually restored, allowing the final minutes of the game to be played.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | YEOVIL TOWN: | ||
| GK | 1 | Dickie Dyke |
|
| DF | 2 | Arthur Hickman |
|
| DF | 3 | Ralph Davis |
|
| MF | 4 | Bob Keeton Bob Keeton Albert 'Bob' Keeton was an English professional footballer.Keeton, a Chesterfield-born right-back began his fotball career with Gainsborough Trinity, later joining Mosborough Trinity. In June 1937 he joined Torquay United, making his debut in a 1-0 win at home to Swindon Town on February 26, 1938... |
|
| MF | 5 | Les Blizzard Les Blizzard Leslie William Benjamin Blizzard was a footballer with Queens Park Rangers.... |
|
| MF | 6 | Nick Collins |
|
| FW | 7 | Bobby Hamilton Bobby Hamilton (footballer) Bobby Hamilton was a professional footballer who played for Chester and Yeovil Town.... |
|
| FW | 8 | Alec Stock Alec Stock Alec William Alfred Stock was an English footballer and manager.-Career:Alec Stock was born in Peasedown St John and played as an inside-forward for Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic and QPR before the Second World War and guested for several other clubs during the hostilities... (c) |
|
| FW | 9 | Eric Bryant Eric Bryant (footballer) Eric Bryant was a footballer who played league football for Mansfield Town, Plymouth Argyle and Leyton Orient. He is also notable for scoring the winning goal for non-league Yeovil Town in their FA Cup victory against Sunderland in 1949.... |
|
| FW | 10 | Ray Wright Ray Wright Ray Wright was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. He started his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, making eight appearances before the outbreak of World War II. Wright joined Exeter City when competitive football resumed after the war. He spent two seasons at the... |
|
| FW | 11 | Jack Hargreaves |
|
| Player/Manager: | |||
| Alec Stock Alec Stock Alec William Alfred Stock was an English footballer and manager.-Career:Alec Stock was born in Peasedown St John and played as an inside-forward for Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic and QPR before the Second World War and guested for several other clubs during the hostilities... |
|||
Johnny MapsonJohnny Mapson
John Mapson was an English professional football player.Born in Birkenhead on Merseyside, Mapson moved to Swindon in his youth and worked in a succession of jobs including grocer's boy, in a bakehouse and as a milk boy before signing for Reading F.C. in April 1935. In March 1936 he transferred...
Jack StellingJack Stelling
Jack Stelling was an English footballer who played for Sunderland as a full back. He signed from Sunderland after being found playing for Non League side Usworth Colliery after the Second World War. Stelling made his first appearance for Sunderland on 5 January 1946 against Grimsby Town in a 3–1...
Barney RamsdenBarney Ramsden
Barney Ramsden was a former professional footballer who played as a defender for Liverpool, Sunderland and Hartlepools United.-External links:**...
Willie WatsonWillie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
Fred HallFred Hall (footballer)
Fred Hall was an English footballer who played for Sunderland as a defender.-Club career:...
(c)
Arthur WrightArthur Wright (footballer)
Arthur Wright was an English footballer who played as a wing half. A former England schoolboy international, Wright spent his entire club career with Sunderland. After retiring he joined the club's coaching staff.-References:...
Len DunsLen Duns
Len Duns was an English footballer who played for Sunderland as outside right. He was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England.-Club career:...
Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson (footballer)
John Allan "Jackie" Robinson was an English footballer player and player-coach. He played as an inside forward, and signed for Sheffield Wednesday in 1934 at the age of 16. He went on to play for Sunderland and Lincoln City, also taking up managerial duties in his brief time at Lincoln...
Ronnie TurnbullRonnie Turnbull
Ronnie Turnbull was an English footballer who played as a centre forward.He started his career in Scotland before signing for Sunderland for a fee of £10,000 in November 1947, scoring four goals on his debut for the club. He made 40 appearances, scoring 16 goals, before moving on to Manchester...
Len ShackletonLen Shackleton
Leonard Francis Shackleton, was an English footballer of the post-World War II period. Known as the Clown Prince of Football, he is generally regarded as one of English football's finest ever entertainers....
Tommy ReynoldsTommy Reynolds
Tommy Reynolds was an English footballer who played for Sunderland as a winger. He died in 1998.-Club career:...
Bill MurrayBill Murray (footballer)
Bill Murray was a football player and manager for Sunderland A.F.C.. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland.-Managerial career:...
MATCH RULES
|
Aftermath
The match is frequently cited as one of the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
's greatest ever upsets. In 2009, Yeovil commemorated the 60th anniversary of the game with an exhibition match between former players of Yeovil Town and Sunderland.
Yeovil were drawn against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in the Fifth Round, losing 8–0 at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
in front of a crowd of over 80,000 people. However, the club went on to earn a reputation for frequently causing upsets in the FA Cup. Before their promotion to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 2003, Yeovil had defeated League opposition in the FA Cup on 20 different occasions – more times than any other non-league club.