1968 Football League Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1968 Football League Cup Final took place on 2 March 1968 at Wembley Stadium. It was the eighth final and the second to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Arsenal
and Leeds United
.
Leeds had been Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
finalists the previous season, while Arsenal had been a mid-table side of late, and it was their first Wembley appearance since the 1952 FA Cup Final. For both clubs, it was their first League Cup Final. Leeds had conceded just three goals in six matches in their run-up to the final and their defence were on top again in a drab battle for the trophy against Arsenal. Terry Cooper scored the only goal of the game, hammering home a long range goal after 20 minutes. After that, Leeds shut up shop and a defensive performance saw them out for the rest of the match.
It was the first major trophy of Don Revie
's reign at Elland Road
and started one of the most successful periods in the club's history. Arsenal reached the League Cup Final the following year
, only to lose again (this time to Swindon Town
), but went on to win both domestic and European trophies in the following seasons.
Round 3: Leeds United 3–0 Bury
Round 4: Sunderland
0–2 Leeds United
Round 5: Leeds United 2–0 Stoke City
Semi-final:
|width=50% valign=top|
1–2 Arsenal
Round 3: Arsenal 1–0 Reading
Round 4: Arsenal 2–1 Blackburn Rovers
Round 5: Burnley
3–3 Arsenal
Semi-final:
|}
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
.
Leeds had been Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
finalists the previous season, while Arsenal had been a mid-table side of late, and it was their first Wembley appearance since the 1952 FA Cup Final. For both clubs, it was their first League Cup Final. Leeds had conceded just three goals in six matches in their run-up to the final and their defence were on top again in a drab battle for the trophy against Arsenal. Terry Cooper scored the only goal of the game, hammering home a long range goal after 20 minutes. After that, Leeds shut up shop and a defensive performance saw them out for the rest of the match.
It was the first major trophy of Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
's reign at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
and started one of the most successful periods in the club's history. Arsenal reached the League Cup Final the following year
1969 Football League Cup Final
The 1969 Football League Cup Final took place on 15 March 1969 at Wembley Stadium. It was the ninth final and the third to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Arsenal and Swindon Town.-Pre-match:...
, only to lose again (this time to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
), but went on to win both domestic and European trophies in the following seasons.
Match facts
| Leeds United White shirts/White shorts and socks |
1 — 0 (final score after 90 minutes) |
Arsenal Red shirts with White arms/White shorts/Red socks |
Manager:  Don RevieDon Revie Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977... ---- Team:  Gary SprakeGary Sprake Gareth Sprake is a Welsh former professional footballer. A goalkeeper, he played for Leeds United and Birmingham City and also won 37 caps for Wales.... (GK) Paul ReaneyPaul Reaney Paul Reaney was a long-serving full back with the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s.Reaney wore the No.2 shirt for Leeds and in a team renowned for its hard approach to the game, he more than held his own.... Terry Cooper Billy BremnerBilly Bremner William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road... (c) Jack CharltonJack Charlton John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup... Norman Hunter Jimmy GreenhoffJimmy Greenhoff James "Jimmy" Greenhoff is an English former football player. He was a skilful forward and although capped five times at under-23 level, once as an over-age player, he never played for the full side, and is labelled as the finest English player never to play for England... Peter LorimerPeter Lorimer Peter Patrick Lorimer is a former footballer who formed part of the much-admired and feared Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s.... Paul MadeleyPaul Madeley Paul Madeley was a footballer during Leeds United's glory era of the 1960s and 1970s and the last high-profile 'utility' player.... Johnny Giles Johnny Giles Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s... Eddie Gray off---- Substitutes: Rod Belfitt on---- Scorers:
|
Half-time: 1-0 Competition: Football League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... (Final) Date: 15.00 BST Saturday 2 March 1968 Venue: Wembley Stadium, London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... Attendance: 97,887 Match rules: 90 minutes. 30 minutes extra-time if necessary. Match replayed if scores still level. One named substitute. |
Manager: Bertie Mee Bertie Mee Bertram "Bertie" Mee OBE was an English football player and manager, noted for managing Arsenal to their first Double win in 1971. He was the younger brother of fellow footballer Georgie Mee.-Early life:... ---- Team: Jim Furnell (GK) Peter StoreyPeter Storey Peter Edwin Storey is an English former football player.Storey spent most of his career at Arsenal, joining the club as an apprentice in 1961 and turning professional the following year... Bob McNabBob McNab Robert "Bob" McNab is an English former footballer.McNab started out at his local club, Huddersfield Town, playing nearly seventy times in three seasons... Frank McLintockFrank McLintock Francis "Frank" McLintock MBE is a Scottish former football defender who played for Leicester City, Arsenal and QPR.-Leicester City:... (c) Ian UreIan Ure John Francombe "Ian" Ure is a Scottish former footballer. Ure began his career in his native Scotland with Dundee, before moving to England to play for Arsenal and Manchester United. After eight years in England, Ure returned to Scotland with St. Mirren; however, after two years with St... Peter Simpson John RadfordJohn Radford For the Canadian broadcaster see John Radford John Radford is a former English football player.... David JenkinsDavid Jenkins (footballer) David John Jenkins was an English professional footballer born in Bristol on 2 September 1946, he signed his first professional contract for Arsenal in October 1963 and made his League debut in Arsenal's 0-0 draw at home to West Ham in November 1967. He scored 9 goals in 25 appearances and played... off George GrahamGeorge Graham (footballer) George Graham is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his success at Arsenal, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager from 1986 until 1995.-Early life:... Jon SammelsJon Sammels Jonathon Charles "Jon" Sammels is an English former footballer.Sammels joined Arsenal, the club he supported as a boy, in 1961. He was a regular in the reserves and a successful youth international winning seven caps for England. He scored on his first-team debut for the Gunners on 27 April 1963,... George ArmstrongGeorge Armstrong (footballer) George "Geordie" Armstrong was an English football player and coach, primarily associated with Arsenal.Born in Hebburn, County Durham, Armstrong had trained as an electrician while playing in youth football, and was rejected by both Newcastle United and Grimsby Town. Nevertheless, he succeeded in... ---- Substitutes:  Terry NeillTerry Neill William John Terence "Terry" Neill is a Northern Ireland former football player and manager.-Playing career:Born in Belfast, Neill played as a youth for Bangor, before moving in December 1959 to Arsenal. He spent a year in Arsenal's youth side, before making his debut against Sheffield Wednesday... on ---- Scorers:
|
Leeds United
Round 2: Leeds United 3–1 Luton TownLuton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
Round 3: Leeds United 3–0 Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
Round 4: Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
0–2 Leeds United
Round 5: Leeds United 2–0 Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
Semi-final:
- 1st Leg: Derby CountyDerby County F.C.Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
0–1 Leeds United - 2nd Leg: Leeds United 3–2 Derby County
- Agg Score: Leeds United 4–2 Derby County
|width=50% valign=top|
Arsenal
Round 2: Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
1–2 Arsenal
Round 3: Arsenal 1–0 Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
Round 4: Arsenal 2–1 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
Round 5: Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
3–3 Arsenal
- Replay: Arsenal 2–1 Burnley
Semi-final:
- 1st Leg: Arsenal 3–2 Huddersfield TownHuddersfield Town F.C.Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
- 2nd Leg: Huddersfield Town 1–3 Arsenal
- Agg Score: Arsenal 6–3 Huddersfield Town
|}
External links
- 1968 League Cup Final at Live Football
- Game facts at soccerbase.com
- Full Results from the 1968 Football League Cup competition at soccerbase.com
- League Cup 1968 at The English Football Archive