Agony at Wembley for Sheffield Wednesday in 1966

On the long, arduous road to Wembley, the Owls triumphed over Reading, Newcastle United, Huddersfield Town, Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea. Apart from a two-nil win over Chelsea in the semi final at Villa Park, Birmingham, all the other games were won one-nil.

At the beginning of the 1965-1966 season, under manager Alan Brown, the club was definitely in transition and desperately trying to forget the bribes scandal that had rocked it to the core several years earlier. Brown’s honesty, integrity and burning enthusiasm for a club that gave him his first job after his playing days were palpable.

There was a new generation of players giving credence to the new era including new signing Jim McCalliog and the emerging talents of Sam Ellis and Graham Pugh along with the goal-scoring abilities of David Ford. There was also a changed strip which ditched the blue-and-white stripes long identified with the club.

Disappointing results by the end of the season saw the Owls slump to 17th in the First Division; Leeds United were runners up and Sheffield United finished ninth.

The cup run had probably surprised the most ardent of supporters and within 24 hours of announcing their arrangements, Wednesday received a staggering 80,000 applications for fewer than 9, 000 final tickets available to the general public. At the Sheffield general post office officials arranged for an extra 10,000 ten shilling postal orders to be sent from supporters as soon as they heard of the club’s ‘postal applications only’ plans.

At the time, each club received 15, 000 tickets, which meant that less than one third of the spectators at a Cup Final were actually connected with the clubs taking part. In that respect, the often repeated grouse that supporters have unfair treatment in the allocation of tickets carries a good deal of weight. Spivs were trying to cash in on a fantastic demand by offering 10s tickets for £10.

When Wednesday reached the final, officials decided that every club worker should share in the Wembley treat and on Friday, the day before the final, its charwomen and backroom boys became VIPs in the official club party of 180 which left the city’s Midland railway station for Wembley.

About 4,000 fans were going by train and another 3,000 by bus. Thousands were planning to make their way by car.

Wednesday stepped out against Everton with one of the youngest ever final sides. An 18-year-old, three 19-year-olds and seven others in the side, none of them over 30, outplayed the more experienced Everton from the start. The Merseysiders began nervously. The Owls, with slim, elegant Peter Eustace, in the game from the first whistle, gave them a lesson in poise and confidence.

With barely five minutes gone, Wednesday silenced the Everton fans. Eustace took a quick throw on the left, 21-year-old Ford shoved a good ball to McCalliog and the most expensive teenager in the land hit it first time with a lethal left foot to open the scoring.

Owls’ keeper Ron Springett, in world-class form, saved well from Alex Young, and with 17 minutes gone brought Young down as the Everton fans screamed for a penalty. But it was Wednesday calling the tune with Sam Ellis, playing his first cup game after just 10 league outings, settling from the start. Wingers Graham Pugh, baby of the side in age but not in stature, and human dynamo and Johnny Quinn switched places in bewildering fashion. McCalliog was everywhere, controlling the game, spraying passes to team mates David Ford and Johnny Fantham.

It was an exhilarating display. At half time, and Wednesday 1-0 to the good, Sheffield hearts were fit to burst with pride.

Everton began the second period with a rush and Springett made one of the most illustrious saves of a wonderful career to deny Young. Then Fantham shrugged off a couple of Everton tackles with contemptuous ease and smacked a vicious shot which West could never have held. Ford, one of the game’s best goal poachers, pounced to score Wednesday’s second.

As the Owls players jumped around deliriously, no one in the stadium could have predicted any other scenario than that the cup was heading east of the Pennines. The Everton players believed so too, but within minutes they were level at 2-2 with Mike Trebilcock netting both.

Wednesday’s Gerry Young, a wing half superb throughout, went to trap a clearance in his own half of the field. But the Mister Dependable of Sheffield became fallible. Skidding mischievously under his foot, the ball was collected by Derek Temple, who streaked away, slotting the ball past Springett to take the cup to Liverpool.

The Blues became only the second side ever, after Blackpool in 1953, to come from two goals behind to win the cup without the need for extra time. This has not been repeated since.

A side show during the final was a pitch invasion by Everton supporter Eddie Kavanagh. After various hilarious attempts by police to thwart him, he was finally rugby tackled and unceremoniously removed from the pitch.

Sunday saw Sheffield’s biggest street crowd since VE Day turn out to see the Cup finalists return.

All police leave was cancelled and around 300 officers were drafted into the city centre.

The welcome left many of the Wednesday players visibly moved.

Along the route fans were perched on roofs, clinging to the top of lamp posts or hanging out of windows.

Around 30,000 massed outside the Town Hall to see their heroes. Manager Brown told them: ‘We will try to go one better next year.”

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