Maybe the Last Time - FA Cup winners 1955

The Geordies verses the Gaudies

1954/55

7th May

FAC Fin

Man C [N]

Won

3-1 [1-1]

100,000

As per tradition the day was warm and sunny and the two sets of supporters created a great pre-match atmosphere. United travelled to London on the Saturday morning.

When the two teams emerged from the dressing rooms Newcastle "were content to parade in humble football strip" whereas City "had wrapped their precious limbs in gorgeous tracksuits".

And while United wore traditional attire, City had V neck shirts, shorts shorter than average, and the latest German boots.

Mitchell's High Jinks

City wore tracksuits to keep warm and loosen limbs but it was they who were caught cold. Almost straight from the kick off Newcastle won a corner. White played a nearside cross to Milburn who was waiting totally unmarked; City captain Paul having left him to look after Keeble. Milburn had an unfair reputation in the game of not being able to head the ball but he timed his leap to perfection and glanced the ball just under the bar.

Milburn had scored the fastest Cup Final goal (45 seconds) and although he was a passenger for much of the game he had made his point. United dominated the early stages with Mitchell in particular at his brilliant best. Mitchell "was completely unaffected by the solemnity of the occasion, and was obviously out for 'high jinks'".

After Hayes had missed a sitter for City - and with barely 20 minutes on the clock - City right-back Meadows went down "with a grimace of pain from a crippling injury, self-inflicted through trying to checkmate Mitchell".

He tried to carry on but broke down again and with no subs allowed the City cause looked lost. Right winger Spurdle dropped back to cover the loss with Fagan asked to alternate between both flanks. Revie was also asked to play deeper and Johnstone was almost a lone attacker.

At first it appeared they would be overrun with City's strategy in tatters and Trautmann had to be at his very best to save a succession of goalbound efforts. Particularly impressive were saves from three "hurricane shots" from White, Milburn and Mitchell and a snap header from Keeble which he parried before smothering the ball as Vic moved in for the kill. Little also cleared off the line while two long centres bounced off the top of the crossbar

Trautmann's heroics seemed to spread doubt amongst the United players and this allowed Man City to rally; indeed Batty stated "City played some of the finest football I have ever seen". For the ten minutes leading up to half time City had United on the run.

Johnstone set up chances for Fagan and Hayes which "those immature youngsters wantonly wasted" before Simpson saved with his legs from the little Scot. Then with half time approaching Johnstone headed in from a Hayes cross and City were level.

True Scoular's

In the second half the Manchester players began to tire and Newcastle used their numerical advantage more wisely. They had been holding on to the ball too long and the midfield had become increasingly congested. Scoular demanded more first-time passing and greater use of the long-ball out to the flanks to stretch the game.

In the fifty-second minute, Scoular's cross-field pass fell deep behind the defence, to leave Mitchell clear. He was acutely angled and a centre seemed his only move, but as Trautmann dived outwards in anticipation, so Mitchell hit the ball hard and straight through the narrow gap behind the goalkeeper.

Seven minutes later, Scoular put Mitchell clear again, and although Trautmann parried the shot, Hannah hit the rebound first time, "with violence out of character for so delicate a craftsman", through a crowded penalty area and into the net.

"The last half­hour was a scrappy affair. The City players were exhausted and Newcastle charitably decided not to push home their advantage. disinclined to seek too hard for further goals. Scoular was in complete control midfield, and Mitchell did much as he pleased against poor Spurdle".