Maybe the Last Time - FA Cup winners 1955

The draw gave United a long trip to the South West coast to play Plymouth who were 21st in the Second Division at the time; it was Livingstone's second game in charge. United lined up as follows:

In icy conditions the Magpies started well but failed to take any of the numerous chances they created in the first twenty minutes. After that they struggled badly and were indebted to a sterling performance by Ronnie Simpson between the sticks. A solitary Vic Keeble goal in their only worthwhile second half attack saw United luckily through.

Man City won 3-1 at the Baseball ground against a Derby team that would finish bottom of Division 2. It was the only goal they conceded until Wembley.

United were given an even easier tie as they were drawn at home to Brentford who were in 17th Place in Division 3 (South).

But once again Newcastle made heavy weather of the tie. The first half was a desperate goalless affair and despite a better second period United scraped through by the odd goal in five.

City played magnificently in beating their local rivals from Old Trafford 2-0 (5th in Div 1 at season end) in front of a 74,723 crowd at Maine Road. It was such a huge all-ticket attendance that thousands failed to squeeze in until the beginning of the second half.

In the fifth United took on another Second Division side; Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. It took three games to progress.

Forest dominated the first match which was played on a hard snow covered pitch and deservedly went ahead with only five minutes left; Newcastle were saved by a brilliant goal from Milburn in the 89th minute.

In the SJP replay United were 2-0 ahead at half-time through goals by Mitchell and Keeble, but Forest fought back gallantly to force extra time where there were no further goals.

The clubs agreed that the venue of the second replay should be decided on the toss of a coin rather than playing at a neutral venue and United gained the advantage.

After a postponement the game was eventually played after 15 inches of snow had been cleared from the pitch by local labourers.

Injury to Keeble gave reserve centre-forward Alan Monkhouse a chance and he responded with both goals in a 2-1 victory after extra time. Milburn was the star despite suffering from a stomach injury.

The Citizens came through a tricky tie against a Luton side destined for promotion to Division 1, winning 2-0 at Kenilworth Road.

Huddersfield were next; they were the only Division 1 side United met on the way to Wembley. United at last performed better but a replay and extra time was still required.

Again United spent most of the game defending and once more they needed a late equaliser (87th minute) from Len White to keep themselves in the competition; the goal coming straight after the referee had failed to award The Terriers what looked a clear penalty. Star of the show for United was Bobby Mitchell who later described it as one of his best ever games.

In the replay at SJP United fielded the same eleven in consecutive games for the only time during the cup run.

Once again needed extra-time to secure their passage with Mitchell (104) and Keeble (110) grabbing the goals that took United through to the semis. It was probably the only game during the run where United put on a decent performance.

Man City faced another away tie against the other team promoted from Division 2 that season, Birmingham. They won 2-0.

York City - from the Third Division North - had caused a sensation by reaching the semi-final and beating Blackpool and Tottenham along the way. If they had beaten United they would have become the first Third Division to reach the Final.

The 20,000 Geordies who made the journey to Hillsborough were silenced for long periods of the game as York played the better football. Torrential rain meant that the pitch was a mudbath, but it was The Minster Marvels (as they were dubbed) who adapted better.

Keeble opened the scoring after 13 minutes against the run of play, but the goal simply spurred the underdogs on and United struggled to contain Bottom and his fellow attackers whilst the United forwards were making little progress. The deserved equaliser came in the 29th minute when Bottom scored his 33rd goal of the season.

York piled on the pressure towards the end and created half a dozen chances to win in the last ten minutes whilst at the opposite end a White header crashed against the bar.

Nearly 60,000 attended the replay at Roker Park where they saw White give United the lead after only three minutes. When centre-half Alan Stewart cut his head and moved to the wing, York seemed finished. But geordie Stewart played brilliantly and the underdogs "fought with such skill and vigour that they had a chance of an equalizer right up to the last minute" when their hearts were finally broken by Keeble.

Manchester City beat Sunderland (4th in Division 1 at the season end) 1-0 at Villa Park; it is the closest we have ever come to a Tyne verses Wear Cup Final.