Famous FA Cup Runs….Nuneaton Borough 1966/67

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

The country as a whole was still buzzing from winning the World Cup and it seemed as though everyone wanted to play, watch and talk about football.

So, when the 1966/67 season kicked-off, there was a huge amount of enthusiasm, including at Southern League Premier Division club Nuneaton Borough.

Dudley Kernick had taken over as manager in November 1965 and had managed to guide the team away from the threat of relegation without being able to strengthen his squad to any great degree.

But he made a plethora of new signings in the summer of 1966 and, despite an inauspicious pre-season which did nothing to enthuse Boro supporters very much, the new-look side made a decent start to the season, including beating much-fancied Cambridge United 2-1 at Manor Park.

Just over a week after that success over Cambridge, Nuneaton turned their attention to the FA Cup and they had to start at the very first stage – the First Qualifying Round – where they were drawn at Sheepy Road against then-West Midlands (Regional) League neighbours Atherstone Town.

A healthy number of Boro fans made the short, six-mile journey up the A444 and A5 and boosted the crowd to 2,097.

And they returned happily after a comprehensive 6-1 thrashing of the Adders, despite having to come back from being a George Awde goal down.

Tony Richards went on to complete a hat-trick, including one from the penalty spot, while Billy Hails, Tommy Crawley and Paul Cutler, a summer recruit from Crystal Palace, also joined in the fun.

After beating Cheltenham Town and drawing at Hereford United in the league, Nuneaton now faced Midland League outfit Loughborough United in the Second Qualifying Round at Manor Park.

The crowd of 3,884 saw a goal fest as Boro ended up winning 8-2.

But, after taking an early 7th-minute lead through Tony Richards, the hosts found themselves 2-1 down to goals from Richard Kalisack and Brian
Metcalfe.

However, a second successive FA Cup hat-trick for Richards, a brace for Gerry Sweeney and singles for Paul Cutler, Norman Ashe and Tommy Crawley completed the rout of a side who finished bottom of their division at the end of the season.

The draw for the Third Qualifying Round gave Nuneaton and away tie at Eton Park against league rivals Burton Albion.

And there was concern from fans leading up to the tie as Boro lost at King`s Lynn and Bath City and shared a 3-3 home draw with Chelmsford City in the three games beforehand.

This was, as anticipated, a much tougher test against a decent Brewers side who had the lions` share of the game but conceded the only goal of the game just past the hour-mark when Cutler headed what turned out to be the winner.

Between the Burton win and the Fourth Qualifying Round tie away at Cheshire County League side Macclesfield Town, Kernick`s side only played two Midland Floodlit Cup and one Birmingham Senior Cup match.

The Cheshire County League was a very strong competition in those days and in two years` time, the likes of Altrincham, Bangor City, Runcorn, Hyde United, Northwich Victoria, Wigan Athletic and then-champions Macclesfield, left to become founder members of the Northern Premier League.

Not only did the Silkmen join the new league as reigning Cheshire County League champions, but they went on to win the NPL for its first two seasons.

And they provided Nuneaton with a really tough examination at the Moss Rose.

Full-back Alan Jones didn`t score many goals in a long career with Boro, but his goal in the 35th minute earned his side a replay.

The replay really caught the public`s imagination and a terrific crowd of 7,177 turned up at Manor Park – Boro`s biggest for many years.

And they saw two fine first-half goals from Norman Ashe and some excellent goalkeeping from another long-time Nuneaton favourite, Fred Crump, triumph against a side containing several players, including Brian Fidler and Frank Beaumont, who would play a major part in not only Macclesfield winning back-to-back titles, but also help them to win the first-ever FA Trophy Final at Wembley in 1970.

The 2-0 success also put Nuneaton into the First Round Proper for the first time since 1954.

But before that draw, which paired them with an away tie at Isthmian League side Wealdstone, there was some catching up to do in the league and results were mixed, to say the least.

They included a 6-1 hammering at Romford, 5-2 and 4-3 defeats away in the Midland Floodlit and Southern League cups.

However, immediately ahead of the trip to North London, results picked up for Kernick`s side, with successive league wins against Worcester City, Bedford Town and Cambridge City.

Wealdstone came into the tie as holders of the FA Amateur Cup, having beaten Hendon 3-1 at Wembley on April 16th, 1966.

But, in front of a crowd of 5,033 at Lower Mead, goals from Tony Richards and Paul Cutler saw the `professionals` through against the `amateurs`.

The following Monday`s draw from the famous velvet bag saw Nuneaton given a home draw against Division Three side Swansea Town.

Before that game though, scheduled for January 7th, Boro had the busy Christmas and New Year period to get through.

They achieved wins against Poole Town, Hillingdon Borough and Crawley Town, a festive draw with Corby Town but suffered defeats at Yeovil Town and, in the game before the big cup tie, at Cambridge United.

The big day arrived and a new record crown of 18,000 witnessed a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win with one from Crawley and an unfortunate own goal by Swans` goalkeeper George Heyes, who pushed a back pass into his own net.

It`s fair to say that Swansea, who included a now ageing Welsh legend Ivor Allchurch in their side, were not the most fearsome opposition for Boro but it was, nevertheless, still a considerable upset and took the club into the Third Round for the first time since 1950 when they lost 3-0 at Exeter City.

Nuneaton fans were dreaming of a money-spinning tie against a Manchester United, Arsenal or even local neighbours Coventry City.

However, disappointingly, they were paired with Second Division Rotherham United but at least it was a home tie.

Before that, Kernick had to re-focus his players` minds on the league but he needn`t have worried as they warmed-up for the big game with a 5-1 hammering of Cheltenham at Whaddon Road in which Tommy Crawley bagged a brace, and then won 4-1 at home to King`s Lynn, with Paul Cutler this time being the two-goal hero.

Already having broken their attendance record in the last round, that was smashed on January 28th, 1967 as 21,118 crammed into Manor Park for the Rotherham cup tie.

And Nuneaton took a 19th-minute lead through Paul Cutler and were certainly holding their own until, in the opening minute of the second half, David Chambers equalised.

Boro`s hopes of winning the game were boosted due to an unfortunate injury to Rotherham goalkeeper Alan Hill, who came off worse after a collision with the powerful Tommy Crawley.

Hill, who later became a valued member of the Brian Clough/Peter Taylor management and coaching staff, couldn`t carry on and centre-forward John Galley was forced to don the gloves (or bare hands as the case was in those days!).

Galley actually made a couple of decent blocks with his not inconsiderable frame and in the end, a draw was a fair result.

The replay came the following Tuesday – in the days before police changed replays being taking place to the week after – and an even bigger crowd than attended the original tie – 22,930 – were at Millmoor.

Again, as at Manor Park, Nuneaton gave as good as they got and never looked like being swamped by their higher-grade opponents.

The game itself was rather disappointing with neither Fred Crump or the fit-again Alan Hill tested too often in their respective goals.

It`s a shame though that the only goal of the game in the 49th minute should be one that Nuneaton supporters who were there to witness it still talk about it today as being illegal!

Rotherham full-back Harold Wilcockson took the ball from a short corner and clipped it goalwards.

Crump attempted to flick it over the bar but seemed to be impeded by Les Chappell and the ball ended up in the back of the net.

So, it was the end of a long and successful run in the FA Cup for Nuneaton.

Rotherham went out in the Fourth Round to Second Division rivals Birmingham City after a replay.

Nuneaton now faced a bit of a backlog of games to get back in amongst the title contenders.

It ended up being one of the most exciting championship battles for years and all came down to the final day of the season on May 13th.

And as fate would have it, second-placed Nuneaton faced third-placed Weymouth at Manor Park. However, if Romford won at Worcester City, they would win the title.

Boro did their bit in front of 5,913, winning 2-0 with a Tony Richards brace, but the Essex outfit won 2-0 at St George`s Lane and finished a single point in front of Nuneaton.

Indeed, only four points separated sixth-placed Guildford City with champions Romford in the end.