Famous FA Cup Runs….Corby Town 1965/66

Exciting runs by Southern League sides in the world`s best-known cup competition.

Corby had finished sixth, seventh, fifth and fourth in the Southern League First Division under Tommy Hadden, who had replaced former Manchester United and England star Johnny Morris as manager in the summer of 1961.

But that fourth-place finish in 1964/65 was good enough to get the Steelmen promoted to the Premier Division for the first time.

However, in the summer of 1965, Hadden suffered a blow when top scorer Tommy Crawley (father of the late Ian Crawley), was offered a better deal by new Premier Division rivals Worcester City.

It would be hard for Hadden to replace a player who had netted 109 goals in just three seasons.

The league season saw the Northamptonshire side comfortably retain their Premier Division status, finishing 12th, but it was to prove to be their best-ever campaign in the famous FA Cup competition.

Before 65/66, the best Corby had achieved in the FA Cup was a 2-0 First Round defeat by Third Division (South) side Watford in 1954/55 as a Midland League outfit and another First Round loss, 3-1, at home to Third Division Bristol City in 63/64.

Since 65/66, Corby have reached the First Round on four other occasions, but never beyond it.

Their 65/66 FA Cup campaign started at the Fourth Qualifying Round stage with a home tie against Southern Premier Division rivals King`s Lynn, who were beaten 2-1.

The First Round Proper paired the Steelmen at home again against Burton Albion, who they had left behind in the Southern League First Division.

In front of just under 4,000 at Occupation Road, a thrilling tie saw the hosts triumph 6-3 with local boy Maurice Goodall and Alex Garden both bagging braces past Brewers` keeper Les Green, who was later to become an important part of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor`s Second Division championship-winning team.

That win earned Corby a place in the Second Round draw for the first time in their history.

And their ball came out of the famous velvet bag first again and paired them at home to a Fourth Division Luton Town side who, just six years earlier, had been losing FA Cup finalists.

The Hatters side at the time included some familiar names, including Barry Fry and David Pleat, who were to become renowned managers of course, John O`Rourke and future Scottish international Bruce Rioch.

Luton trailed 2-1 at Occupation Road until a late penalty, awarded for a dubious handball by Corby`s Hungarian winger Johnny Haasz, was converted to earn the Hatters a rather fortunate replay.

A crowd of over 13,000 attended the replay at Kenilworth Road and saw Maurice Goodall put the Steelmen in front after 34 minutes following a great run and cross from the impressive Alex Stenhouse.

Backed by hundreds of Corby fans, the visitors managed to hold on to that lead, although hearts were in mouths very late on when O`Rourke missed a golden opportunity to equalise.

So, into the Third Round draw, and the club and supporters were very disappointed to be drawn against Second Division Plymouth Argyle and, to make matters worse, it was away too!

Despite the five-hour plus journey (pre-motorway don`t forget), a cavalcade of cars and coaches travelled down to Home Park and many others went by train.

But the Steelmen`s historic FA Cup run came to a crashing end as Argyle hammered their weary visitors 6-0, although it was an extra special day for Corby`s Alex Garden, their two-goal hero of round one, as he was a former Plymouth player.

The following season saw another FA Cup First Round appearance - a 1–0 defeat at Boston United – but that was one of the few joys for Steelmen fans that season as it ended in relegation to the First Division.