Famous FA Cup Runs….Bedford Town 1960s

The early 1960s was a terrific era for Bedford Town in the FA Cup.

Seasons 1962/63, 63/64, 65/66 and 66/67 were especially successful for the Eagles.

In 62/63 under Reg Smith, the former Millwall and England winger, Bedford`s cup adventure began in the First Qualifying Round when United Counties League side Wolverton Town were easily overcome 8-0.

Then a repeat of the previous season’s embarrassment at Athenian Leaguers Hitchin Town, who won 3-2, was avoided with a 5-3 win in the Second Qualifying Round.

Then followed one of the best efforts of the season at the start of October, when Cambridge City, another of the big-spending clubs and eventually champions the following May, were beaten 2-1 in the Third Qualifying Round in front of a 5,400 crowd.

Another league rival, Wisbech Town, were beaten 1-0 at home in the next round, so it was all eyes, or ears as it was then, on the First Round Proper draw from the old velvet bag at the FA`s Lancaster Gate headquarters.

There was more than a little disappointed with the draw which produced another Southern Premier Division outfit, Cambridge United, at home, but the derby games between the teams were growing in interest.

And a crowd of 6,700 saw a cracking tie on a grey November afternoon, won by a very late effort by Brian Wright after Arthur Hukin’s opener had been equalised late into the final stages.

The Second Round draw paired Smith`s side with Gillingham, who had won 4-0 at The Eyrie in 1959/60, but this time the game was at the Kent club`s Priestfield Stadium.

It was a slightly `better` 3-0 defeat by the Fourth Division side, although the scoreline slightly flattered the home side as Bedford played for virtually the whole second half handicapped to a bad injury to David Sturrock, who became a passenger in the time before substitutes.

Due to their run to the Second Round, Bedford were rewarded with exemption to the Fourth Qualifying Round in 63/64.

But again, it was familiar opponents as Cambridge City were paired with the Eagles at home.

Two down with 25 minutes left at The Eyrie, it looked as though Bedford`s run was over at the first hurdle. However, two goals by Sturrock earned Bedford a replay at Milton Road.

A thriller in front of just under 8,000 saw John Fahy grab a late winner to send Bedford through 3-2.

The First Round saw the Eagles drawn away to another Southern Premier outfit, Weymouth.

And it was a tough battle on a Rec mud heap when Bedford came back from conceding a 2nd-minute goal to earn a draw.

And a Steve Miles effort won the replay at The Eyrie the following Thursday.

The Second Round draw gave Bedford more familiar opponents in Chelmsford City – again away and with their poor record at New Writtle Street, Eagles` fans were not optimistic.

But a 9,000 crowd saw Miles scored the only goal of the game.

So, what would the eagerly awaited Third Round draw come up with?

Well, this time they pulled out a bit of a plumb, at least financially, in the form of an away tie against Second Division Newcastle United at St James`s Park.

Bedford were hit with the news that manager Reg Smith was leaving before the Newcastle tie.

Basil Hayward, manager of Yeovil Town who would end the season as Southern League champions, was named as Smith's permanent successor on a three-year contract which was said to make him the best-paid manager in non-League football.

But as Yeovil were also still in the FA Cup he would not start until they were out of it.

So, former boss Tim Kelly, who had been out of football since leaving Hastings United some 18 months earlier, was appointed caretaker-manager.

The team remained unbeaten in the league up to the big cup tie and, although popular defender David Skinn was injured, it was a confident side who travelled north.

It was reputed that over 3,000 Bedford supporters made the journey to the north east

Newcastle had been relegated to the Second Division in 1960/61 and although they sat modestly in mid-table, they were still a big club and 33,820 were in attendance.

Bedford were under the cosh for the opening 20 minutes and Jock Wallace, later to make a name for himself as a manager of course, made a string of fine saves before Fahy shocked the home crowd when he headed Bedford in front on the half-hour mark.

It went from bad to worse for Joe Harvey`s side when full-back Bill McKinney deflected a David Lovell cross into his own net just before half-time.

Thanks to Wallace and the Eagles defenders, the visitors managed to hold on until the 4th minute of stoppage time at the end of the game when Newcastle skipper Stan Anderson grabbed one back, but Bedford held out.

That victory earned the Eagles national headlines but there was a feeling of anti-climax when the draw for the Fourth Round paired them with Fourth Division Carlisle United. But at least it was to be at home.

Although Yeovil had lost to Bury in the Third Round, Basil Hayward remained at The Huish, saying that he didn't want to step on Kelly's toes while Bedford were still in the competition.

A new attendance record was set as 17,858 crammed into The Eyrie to see Carlisle, who were among the leaders in the Fourth Division and indeed were to win promotion as runners-up at the end of the season, put on a very professional display, and won fairly comfortably 3-0 as Bedford weren`t able to raise themselves to the same level as at Newcastle.

Hayward eventually succeeded Kelly, but the 1964/65 FA Cup run lasted just one game as once more it was Cambridge United who were paired with the Eagles in the Fourth Qualifying Round and won 4-1 at The Eyrie.

Incredibly, that same number ball popped out of the bag for the Fourth Qualifying Round draw in 65/66, but this time at the Abbey Stadium.

And a 5,800 crowd saw Bedford go through 2-1, thanks to two second-half goals from Ray Bailey.

The First Round Proper saw Bedford handed another long-distance away tie at Third Division Exeter City.

Due to the distance to travel, Bedford still had a few hundred make the long trek to Devon (pre-motorways of course). However, they also introduced live broadcast into their own ground, albeit only by radio.

So, for 2 shillings, supporters could sit in the stand and listen to the action as it happened – quite an initiative back then.

And those in the stand were celebrating as much as the fans who had made the trip as, for the second time in two years, Bedford were to triumph at St James`s Park – this time Exeter`s version - as Peter Hall give the Eagles an early lead and, although Exeter equalised early in the second half, another Bailey goal clinched the 2-1 win in front of a crowd of 6,700.

The Second Round sent Bedford away once more, this time to the Sussex coast to take on another Third Division side in Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Seagulls had hammered Southern League First Division side Wisbech Town 10-1 in the First Round, so maybe underestimated the Eagles.

The game though saw the visitors take the lead just after half-time through Bill Brown but winger Wally Gould equalised for Brighton in stoppage time.

The replay was staged just two days later and a crowd of just under 12,000 saw Bedford come back from being a David Sturrock own goal behind to win 2-1 with goals from Hall in the 72nd minute and Danny Paton in the 82nd minute.

However, it almost a cup triumph that Bedford didn`t have as two pitch invasions saw the match referee threaten to abandon the tie if it happened again!

Fortunately, it didn`t – but joy turned to disappointment as the Third Round draw failed to give Eagles fans the reward of a Manchester United or Arsenal – but a home game against league rivals Hereford United!

Before that tie though, Bedford were stunned by the resignation of manager Basil Hayward, who had accepted the post at Gillingham.

He agreed to delay his departure until after the Hereford match, and Ron Burgess, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Wales captain, who was then on Fulham’s coaching staff, was appointed to take over.

A heavy fall of snow during the week put the Hereford tie in jeopardy until an hour before kick-off and it would almost certainly not have been played today!
Peter Hall bagged a brace before a late Hereford goal brought about a nervy finale, but the Eagles held out to win 2-1 before a crowd of 14,232.

Burgess took over as the Fourth Round draw brought First Division Everton to The Eyrie!

The Eagles put up a brave showing against an Everton side who would go on to win the final 3-2 at Wembley against Sheffield Wednesday – famously coming back from behind to win, thanks to a Mike Trebilcock brace.

Trebilcock wasn’t in the team that stepped onto The Eyrie turf in front of a fantastic crowd of almost 19,000 but a brace from Derek Temple in the first half effectively ended the tie as a contest with centre-forward Fred Pickering netting a late third.

In common with football all over England following the historic World Cup Final victory against West Germany, supporters of Bedford Town began the new 1966/67 season with great optimism and excitement.

However, it turned out to be a dreadful campaign for the Eagles apart from one aspect – another FC Cup run.

The Fourth Qualifying Round draw paired Bedford at home to league rivals Romford, who earned a replay with a 1-1 draw at The Eyrie.

But the Eagles produced an excellent performance, with goalkeeper Alan Collier the star of the show in a 2-1 win against a team that, at the end of the season, would be crowned Southern Premier champions.

Results in the league continued to be poor for Bedford as the First Round Proper approached and a visit to former FA Amateur Cup winners, Isthmian League outfit Wycombe Wanderers’ Loakes Park for what was to prove to be something of a marathon tie.

A Danny Paton goal earned Bedford a 1-1 draw in the original game and the replay at The Eyrie saw Wycombe look like going through as they led 2-1 with goals from Paul Bates and Tony Horseman after David Sturrock had given the Eagles the lead with 2 minutes to go when full back David Skinn headed the leveller to force extra-time.

Les Merrick restored the Chairboys` lead, only for a disputed penalty just 2 minutes from the end of extra-time converted by Sturrock made it 3-3 and another game – this was way before penalties were brought in to settle things.

Wycombe won the toss to host the third game, which also ended all-square at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

However, the referee duly declared the pitch had become too waterlogged to allow a further 30 minutes extra-time and abandoned the tie.

So, it was back to The Eyrie for a fourth meeting, where finally the Eagles made it through against the amateurs 3-2, thanks to a Ron Fogg header 15 minutes from time.

It was Third Division Oxford United at their Manor Ground in round two for the Eagles.

And, with league form still a worry, Bedford seemed to be able to lift themselves for cup ties and, once again, thanks to a fine performance from Alan Collier in goal, Graham Atkinson`s goal for the hosts was cancelled out by Fogg to earn yet another replay.

Collier was again man of the match in the replay as the Eagles held on to a 3rd minute lead from Sturrock in front of a crowd of 11,949 who didn`t know it at the time obviously, but were actually witnessing Bedford’s last victory over Football League opposition in the FA Cup.

Bedford`s ninth cup tie of the season saw them paired at home to another Third Division outfit in Peterborough United.

But this game proved a bridge too far for a side that as struggling so much in the league.

A Tommy Watson hat-trick, a brace from John Fairbrother and one from Ollie Conmy saw Posh win 6-2, but it did see Bedford use their first-ever FA Cup substitute – they were only allowed for injuries then – when Graham Willis replaced the injured Alan Wright.

Not long after that hammering, as league results continued to be poor, Ron Burgess was sacked as manager.

Former player Ron Heckman returned as manager, but the Eagles suffered the first relegation in their history to date.