City’s Final Date with Man.U
Bristol City 0 Man. Utd 1
Saturday 24th. April 1909 dawned cloudy and windy as dozens of specially chartered trains, laid on by the Great Western Railway, transported over 30,000 excited City fans, plus my grandfather who actually supported Eastville Rovers, to London’s Crystal Palace for the final of the F.A. Cup. It was the first final for City and their opponents, Manchester United, although the latter were destined to experience many more such occasions. The City contingent in the crowd of 71,401 soaked up the atmosphere and enjoyed the festivities involved in the showpiece, but were ultimately to suffer disappointment.
In all but the third round, City had relied on replay victories to progress, the most nerve racking finish being against Derby County in the semi final at Stamford Bridge, when a last minute penalty from Willis Rippon earned City a second chance. Four days later in the replay at St. Andrews, another penalty from Rippon and a goal from left winger Hardy took City to the final by two goals to one.
In the final, however, there was no such breakthrough, City were missing Rippon and Reuben Marr through injury and made few clearcut chances, the best falling to Hardy whose powerful shot was brilliantly saved by United keeper, Moger.
United sported white shirts with a large red V, City were playing in Royal Blue as a colour clash meant both sides had to change from their traditional red, with United the bookie’s favourites because of their greater big match experience. However the league matches between the sides that season had netted City three points,with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford and a goalless draw at Ashton Gate,City finishing five places above United in the Division One table.The United goal came in the 22nd. minute when a shot from Harold Halse hit the bar
and Sandy Turnbull scored from the rebound.
Right up to the final whistle the hopes of the’Bristol Babes’ supporters were alive as City, driven on by Billy Wedlock, attacked the United goal relentlessly but were unable to pull back United’s one goal lead.
City reached the semi final again in 1920 but failed to progress and in the following 85 years, reaching the sixth round has been our greatest Cup achievement.
However, such is the magic of the F.A.Cup that next year might just be OUR YEAR.
City team:
Clay, Annan, Cottle, Hanlin, Wedlock, Spear, Staniforth, Hardy, Gilligan, Burton and Hilton.
