FA Cup games

[Oldsmobile-88]

I will kick off this new forum with a FA Cup memory.

My first game watched under floodlights at SJP was the FAC 1st round replay against Crawley in 1971.It was only my 2nd game watching the Grecians.
I was 10 years old & nagged my mum to be allowed to go on my own,she eventually agreed.
I vividly remember the different atmosphere from the previous game I watched at the park the previous April.
A 2-0 win,Barry Rowan & Fred Binney scored in the 2nd half at the SJ Rd end.
I quickly ran to the bus station at the final whistle to catch the 187 to Exminster which departed at 9.25pm.
Little did I know that the Grecians would not win another FAC game for 6 years.
It started my great interest in the FAC which has continued until it was messed with a few years ago.

 

[Oldsmobile-88]

A few memories from the 5th round in 1981
Doubt we will ever get that far again Never got close since.

 

[Oldsmobile-88]

My memory of travelling that day was the coach leaving Dawlish at 0530,picked up the rest of the passengers at Exeter Services 0600.
We arrived at the Washington service area at 1115 !! The only stop was a 5 minute one near Derby for the Drivers to swap over(toilet on board)
That was some run from Exeter,as luck would have it a pub was near the service area on the A1 where we waited until all the other coaches & cars arrived so we could all go into Newcastle in one convoy.
I always remember 4 lads in a mini turning up at the rendezvous point.

 

[Oldsmobile-88]

3rd round report in the Football Final in the Cup run season.

 

[Oldsmobile-88]

From memory the pitch was a sanded bog.
Brian Godfrey was not happy with the state of it pre match.
Great fun day out.
You had to have your whits about you on the unsegregated terrace that afternoon.
Gillingham,Chelsea & Millwall among the locals

 

[Red Devon]

A few memories from the 5th round in 1981
Doubt we will ever get that far again Never got close since.View attachment 1537View attachment 1538View attachment 1539View attachment 1540

Me Mum and Dad went up on one of the trains to Newcastle pretty sure there was more than one?
First time I’d ever seen an electric scoreboard....Don’t think you’ll ever see the Gallowgate End rocking like that before an FA Cup match again...remember the ride home was absolutely freezing no heating on the train and one of the sliding windows getting jammed open and unable to close....still a day to never forget though.

 

[Oldsmobile-88]

Me Mum and Dad went up on one of the trains to Newcastle pretty sure there was more than one?
First time I’d ever seen an electric scoreboard....Don’t think you’ll ever see the Gallowgate End rocking like that before an FA Cup match again...remember the ride home was absolutely freezing no heating on the train and one of the sliding windows getting jammed open and unable to close....still a day to never forget though.

There were a couple of ‘Football Special’ trains that left St Davids.

There were a half dozen coaches at Washington Service area that day.

I had a crap experience on one of the Football Specials to Liverpool about 18 months before so gave that mode of transportation a miss for the visit to Geordieland.

 

[iscalad]

There were a couple of ‘Football Special’ trains that left St Davids.

There were a half dozen coaches at Washington Service area that day.

I had a crap experience on one of the Football Specials to Liverpool about 18 months before so gave that mode of transportation a miss for the visit to Geordieland.

Went on a football special. Journey up wasn't too bad. Journey home a nightmare. Went through Oxford for some bizarre reason, got home at stupid o'clock in the morning. Still....Lee Roberts goal...mental.

 

[iscalad]

 

[iscalad]