Maybe the Last Time - FA Cup winners 1955

Teams and Tactics

Newcastle

The Newcastle team did not have the class of the '51 and '52 sides but they had a fighting spirit and a tenacity which helped make the luck that they needed.

Seven players played in every game (all backs with one exception); keeper Simpson, full backs Batty and Cowell, centre-back Stokoe, captain and half-back Scoular and Jackie Milburn. The team that lined up at Wembley was as follows:

Cup Final Line-Up

Goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson was only 24, but had 10 years playing experience behind him and was playing in his second Final. He was one of three Scots in the Newcastle team.

Left-back was County Durham born Ron Batty (29) who had joined the club almost 10 years ago but had missed out on both the '51 and '52 cup finals. A player who Milburn said "cut wingers in half with his tough tackling" had started as second choice that season, but an injury to McMichael gave him his chance. A broken wrist threatened his place and he played at Wembley with heavy strapping.

On the other flank was another player from the land of the Prince Bishops who had joined the club during the War Years. Thirty two year old Bobby Cowell played in all 3 of the fifties finals (along with Milburn and Mitchell).

Mickley born Bob Stokoe (24) was at centre-half having replaced the out of favour Frank Brennan.

Midfield destroyer, Tommy Casey (25) from Northern Ireland came in at left-half for the unlucky Charlie Crowe.

Captain and right-half was Scotsman Jimmy Scoular (30) who had been a big-money capture from Portsmouth two years earlier. Scoular was as hard as nails but also had exquisite skills and a fine range of passes.

Yorkshireman Len White (25) had started the season at centre-forward but had played at right-wing for the second half of the season and this is where he (eventually) played at Wembley (following Reg Davies' illness) after Livingstone's best laid plans were scuppered.

Colchester born Vic Keeble (24) had struggled to establish himself in the United line-up, but he hit a rich vein of form during the Cup run and was leading scorer with five goals. He was nicknamed "The Camel" because of his humped posture and because he couldn't kick a ball; it was in the air that the six-footer Keeble excelled.

In contrast, Scouser and inside-left George Hannah (26) was known for his one touch football, silky skills and accurate shooting.Though he too struggled to maintain a regular slot in the first team.

Jackie Milburn had turned thirty and his season had been hampered by niggling injury problems. As a result he was no longer an automatic choice at centre-forward. Indeed Milburn was left out of Livingstone's final team before being re-instated by the directors.

Bobby Mitchell was also thirty but he had enjoyed one of his best ever seasons; missing only 2 games and ending up as United's top scorer with 23 goals; a phenomenal record for a winger.

The Unlucky Six

Londoner Ivan Broadis was an England international inside-right who had signed from Manchester City in October 1953. At 32 his best days were behind him, but his lack of success at United probably had more to do with his outspoken nature.

Inside-forward Reg Davies had vied with Broadis at inside-right during the Cup run but did not play at Wembley after he succumbed to tonsilitis in the days leading up to the final.

Half-back Charlie Crowe would have appeared at Wembley but unluckily strained ankle ligaments in the last game before the final.

Nineteen year old centre-forward Bill Curry only appeared in the fourth round game against Brentford.

Stanley Keery only played 20 times for United in his five seasons at the club. His only FA Cup appearance was in the game at Plymouth where he deputised for the injured Crowe.

Centre-forward Alan Monkhouse played in the second replay against Forest and scored both the goals and he "had visions of a Cup medal", but he was dropped for the next match "the greatest disappointment of my career".

Deep Revie Boys

Manchester City manager Leslie McDowall - inspired by the Hungarians who had recorded two famous victories over England a couple of years earlier - had developed a similar tactical formation popularly known as the "Revie Plan".

The strategy involved using a deep lying centreforward (Revie) who acted as the midfield link, leaving the inside men as the strikers. This enabled Revie to find more space and pull the centre-half out of position. It was seen as a courageous move during a period in which such continental tactics were still mistrusted.

Man City had a talented team which used the tactics effectively however before the final City lost the services of two of their star forwards; inside-left Johnny Hart and Welsh left-winger Roy Clarke. The side picked for the final was:

In goal was German 'keeper Trautman who had overcome spite and bigotry to become arguably the best goalkeeper in the world.

The City full-backs were Jimmy Meadows (who had just made his England debut) and Little.

Centre-half was Dave Ewing and Ken Barnes and Roy Paul (Welsh international and the City Captain) were the half-backs. Right-half Ken Barnes operated mainly in midfield alongside Revie while left-half Roy Paul lay back to act as a shield for Ewing.

The inside forwards were Joe Hayes and Bobby Johnstone . Scottish international Johnstone, was a "sixpennypiece dribbler" who had just arrived from Hibs and had played only nine games for his new club.