Famous FA Cup Runs – St Neots Town 1966

St Neots` best-ever run in the national competition.

It was World Cup year and Geoff Hurst & co. had sent the nation mad with its devotion to the game.

Down at the then Step 5, St Neots Town had few outstanding memories of national recognition, but this was the opportunity for them to move into the spotlight and they grasped with both hands.

That season had seen them break away from the Metropolitan League and move back to their more obvious geographic environment of the United Counties League for a third spell in their history, having had two spells 1936/37–1938/39 ended by the outbreak of the Second World War, and 1951/52–1955/56.

The FA Cup run began with a First Qualifying Round home tie with Ely City.

It was a very exciting match with Ely coming back from 3-0 down to score twice and set up a grandstand finish with Steve Miles claiming a second goal to clinch the 4-2 final result.

St Neots scorers were Steve Miles (2), Ron Stevenson and Howard Kettleborough with the latter having a hand in all four goals.

For the Second Qualifying Round, St Neots had to travel to Desborough Town who had beaten them in the competition the previous year at Shortsands.

Kettleborough was on the scoresheet again in the 2-1 away victory, with Tony Sabey scoring the other St Neots goal before the home side netted a consolation goal a minute from time.

The Third Qualifying Round also away from home was at Hayden Road against Rushden Town.

This proved to be St Neots’ most comfortable victory in their memorable FA Cup adventure as they cruised to a 3-0 victory - Kettleborough was amongst the scorers again.

The Fourth Qualifying Round gave St Neots a second home tie in the competition that season.

This led to frenzied preparations for what proved to be St Neots biggest ever home crowd at Shortsands when almost 1,200 spectators packed into their modest home ground which then bragged a large temporary stand at the Cambridge Road end supported by some rather precarious scaffolding poles.

Their visiting opponents were Wisbech Town who, at the time were flying high in the Southern League – then just one step below the Football League.

A goal in each half sent the crowd home happy with a 2-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Steve Miles and Danny Nobrega.

And so on to Fellows Park Walsall to face a Third Division side in that First Round tie.

With limited private car ownership at the time, no fewer than 29 coaches transported the expectant St Neots fans to the Black Country along with a variety of other transport.

St Neots were beaten 2-0 but the cheque from the proceeds received by the club was sufficient to fund the club for eighteen months without a further pound requiring to be raised!

History will show that it was not as wisely used as it should have been, although considerable improvements were made to the Shortsands facilities.

One final footnote - manager John Gregory in his final year of management decided to drop Danny Nobrega to the bench, despite him having started in the other four-match FA Cup run - replaced by Ray Sutton, who was included for his first-ever FA Cup match for the club.

(John Walker)