Cup triumph at Elland Road.
Leeds United 0 Bristol City 1
Bristol City enjoyed a memorable F.A. cup run in the 1973-74 season, a campaign that was otherwise less than distinguished. Alan Dicks was building the side that would eventually take City up to Division One, but in the year before that promotion the side languished near the foot of the Division Two table and could finish no higher than 16th.
The F.A. Cup, however, proved a different kettle of fish and the red half of Bristol was sent Cup crazy. The Robins were drawn at home to Hull City in Round 3, drawing 1-1 At Ashton, thanks to a goal by Geoff Merrick, before edging through with a solitary Trevor Tainton goal in the replay at Boothferry Park. Hereford United were the round four opposition and on a virtually waterlogged pitch at Edgar Street City again went through, courtesy of a goal from local hero, defender Geoff Merrick.
The draw for Round 5 took place soon after the match ended at Hereford, I well remember the excitement as we listened in on the car radio as we drove out of Hereford- Bristol City will be at home to Leeds United.
Leeds were, at that time, the top side in the country and so few but diehard City fans gave the Robins any chance of Cup progress. For a while at Ashton Gate it seemed that the prophets of doom were correct, Leeds skipper Billy Bremner gave his team the lead with a superb twenty yard shot that gave City keeper Ray Cashley no chance. However City fought back tenaciously and were
rewarded when the mercurial Keith Fear popped up to equalise and earn a replay at Elland Road.
This was the time of the three day week and power shortages and so, as floodlights were out of use, the replay kicked off at 2pm. on Tuesday 19th February 1974.
Despite the early kick off 8,000 City fans had made the trip, many on specially chartered trains.
However the gates were locked, with the ground full, 30 minutes before kick off and many travelling City fans were locked out. The young City side, average age 23, fought and hustled the ‘invincible’ Leeds side, ten of whom were full internationals,and the Champions elect found it impossible to break down the Red defensive line.Peter Lorimer came closest, his shot hit the inside of a post and bounced clear.
Then in the 73rd. minute, after absorbing tremendous Leeds pressure, the impossible became reality as City scored. Gerry Gow split the Leeds rearguard with a shrewd pass to Keith Fear, he played the ball on to Donnie Gillies who managed to reach the ball just in front of Norman Hunter and squeeze a left foot shot under David Harvey’s dive.
City held on for a famous win and gained tremendous national publicity , even in “The Times” which featured a picture of Donnie Gillies on its’ front page, the first footballer to be so immortalised.
The draw had already been made for round six and the nation, including, famously, Bill Shankly, were anticipating a tie between Leeds and Liverpool. The ‘Pool manager was at Leeds and went into the City dressing room to congratulate the side on their victory and to apologise for his presumption.
In Round Six fortune favoured Liverpool and they progressed to the semi finals thanks to a somewhat ‘flukey’ goal by John Toshack. City had held their own, however, against two of the best teams in the country and gained the confidence which would manifest itself in promotion the following season.
One postcript to the Leeds tie was that no less than three of the twelve Leeds squad on duty that day, Terry Cooper, Norman Hunter and Joe Jordan were later to become City players.
City Team- Cashley, Sweeney, Drysdale, Gow, Collier, Merrick, Tainton, Ritchie ( Rodgers ), Fear, Gillies, Hunt.
Attendance 47,182.
