1968 FA Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1968 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion
and Everton
at Wembley. West Brom won by a single goal, scored by Jeff Astle
three minutes into extra time. The goal meant that Astle had scored in every round of that season's competition.
The 1968 Cup final was the first final to be televised live in colour. Both teams wore away strips, with Everton wearing bright amber shirts and blue shorts and West Bromwich Albion in white shirts and shorts with red socks.
The first substitute to be used in an FA Cup final was Dennis Clarke
for West Bromwich Albion.
Albion won the cup for the fifth time and in doing so qualified for the 1968–69 European Cup Winners' Cup.
, Everton
having finished fifth during the 1967–68 league season and West Bromwich Albion
eighth. Everton were victorious in both league matches between the two sides, winning 2–1 at Goodison Park
and 6–2 at The Hawthorns
.
The teams had met on four previous occasions in the FA Cup. Everton had won three of those ties, including the 1906–07 semi-final, while Albion's sole victory was in the semi-final of 1930–31. Both teams were renowned for their attacking styles at the time so an exciting match was expected. Instead a tense rather drab affair ensued before Astle struck in extra time. This gave Astle, known as 'The King' to Albion fans, virtual hero worship from Albion supporters for the rest of his life. Despite taking part in what was then a record 10th final Albion have failed since to win the competition or indeed reach the final.
Albion's journey to the final began at lower league Colchester in Round 3. Albion sneaked a replay thanks to an equalising Tony Brown penalty though they were second best for large periods. They had no problem in the replay however, winning 4–0 in front of near 40,000 at home. Round 4 saw Albion draw at home against Southampton before prevailing in a replay 3–2 at the Dell. Next came second Division Portsmouth in Round 5 at a packed Fratton Park. Albion triumphed thanks to goals from Astle and Clark though a Portsmouth goal made for a tense finish. Albion were then drawn at home against Bill Shankly's great Liverpool side in the Quarter Final. Demand for the game was huge with eager fans queuing for hours on end. However, despite being roared on by a crowd of 53,052, Albion's largest for six years, the Baggies could only manage a goalless draw meaning a replay at Anfield. Few expected victory at a ground where Albion had been beaten 4–1 earlier in the League season, even more so when Albion went behind, but a superb Astle header took the game to yet another replay. The venue selected was Maine Road, much to the irritation of Albion fans as after all Manchester is far closer to Liverpool than Birmingham. Still despite it being a wet midweek night 20,000 Albion fans journeyed north for the game and despite being outnumbered in crowd of over 56,000 certainly made themselves heard that night. Despite being underdogs Albion triumphed deservedly 2–1 with goals from Clark and that man again, Astle.
The semi-final saw Albion drawn against local rivals Birmingham City, who were chasing promotion from the second division at the time. The clubs had met in a final back in 1931, which Albion had won, and the match was staged at the neutral venue of Villa Park. In front of a crowd of over 60,000 goals from Brown and Astle saw Albion through to a record tenth final. The result was harsh on Birmingham, who battled valiantly, but it was Albion who prevailed, sending their supporters packed into the Holte End of the ground in to utter delirium. It was Wembley for the Baggies, and Astle's strike wrote him, already a hero amongst the fans, forever into Albion folklore.
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at Wembley. West Brom won by a single goal, scored by Jeff Astle
Jeff Astle
Jeffrey "The King" Astle was an English footballer. He played 361 games for West Bromwich Albion, scoring 174 goals, and was one of the most iconic players in the history of the club...
three minutes into extra time. The goal meant that Astle had scored in every round of that season's competition.
The 1968 Cup final was the first final to be televised live in colour. Both teams wore away strips, with Everton wearing bright amber shirts and blue shorts and West Bromwich Albion in white shirts and shorts with red socks.
The first substitute to be used in an FA Cup final was Dennis Clarke
Dennis Clarke
Dennis Clarke is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender for West Bromwich Albion, Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City in the Football League....
for West Bromwich Albion.
Albion won the cup for the fifth time and in doing so qualified for the 1968–69 European Cup Winners' Cup.
Background
Both clubs were members of the First DivisionFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
having finished fifth during the 1967–68 league season and West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
eighth. Everton were victorious in both league matches between the two sides, winning 2–1 at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
and 6–2 at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
.
The teams had met on four previous occasions in the FA Cup. Everton had won three of those ties, including the 1906–07 semi-final, while Albion's sole victory was in the semi-final of 1930–31. Both teams were renowned for their attacking styles at the time so an exciting match was expected. Instead a tense rather drab affair ensued before Astle struck in extra time. This gave Astle, known as 'The King' to Albion fans, virtual hero worship from Albion supporters for the rest of his life. Despite taking part in what was then a record 10th final Albion have failed since to win the competition or indeed reach the final.
Albion's journey to the final began at lower league Colchester in Round 3. Albion sneaked a replay thanks to an equalising Tony Brown penalty though they were second best for large periods. They had no problem in the replay however, winning 4–0 in front of near 40,000 at home. Round 4 saw Albion draw at home against Southampton before prevailing in a replay 3–2 at the Dell. Next came second Division Portsmouth in Round 5 at a packed Fratton Park. Albion triumphed thanks to goals from Astle and Clark though a Portsmouth goal made for a tense finish. Albion were then drawn at home against Bill Shankly's great Liverpool side in the Quarter Final. Demand for the game was huge with eager fans queuing for hours on end. However, despite being roared on by a crowd of 53,052, Albion's largest for six years, the Baggies could only manage a goalless draw meaning a replay at Anfield. Few expected victory at a ground where Albion had been beaten 4–1 earlier in the League season, even more so when Albion went behind, but a superb Astle header took the game to yet another replay. The venue selected was Maine Road, much to the irritation of Albion fans as after all Manchester is far closer to Liverpool than Birmingham. Still despite it being a wet midweek night 20,000 Albion fans journeyed north for the game and despite being outnumbered in crowd of over 56,000 certainly made themselves heard that night. Despite being underdogs Albion triumphed deservedly 2–1 with goals from Clark and that man again, Astle.
The semi-final saw Albion drawn against local rivals Birmingham City, who were chasing promotion from the second division at the time. The clubs had met in a final back in 1931, which Albion had won, and the match was staged at the neutral venue of Villa Park. In front of a crowd of over 60,000 goals from Brown and Astle saw Albion through to a record tenth final. The result was harsh on Birmingham, who battled valiantly, but it was Albion who prevailed, sending their supporters packed into the Holte End of the ground in to utter delirium. It was Wembley for the Baggies, and Astle's strike wrote him, already a hero amongst the fans, forever into Albion folklore.
Match details
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