Wembley : Cotton Legends 3 - Arsenal F.A. Cup Final 1972

Tuesday, 22 May 2007

May 6th 1972 saw the centenary FA Cup Final take place beneath the twin towers of Wembley. This was celebrating 100 years since the Football Association’s inception rather than it being the 100th FA Cup Final. (It was actually the 91st).

Don Revie’s mighty and hard Leeds United were back at Wembley. They had drawn in their last visit for the 1970 FA Cup Final, Their opponents in 1972 were the previous season’s cup and league double winners Arsenal; back to defend their crown.

Geoff Barnet deputised for the injured Scottish international keeper Bob Wilson in the Arsenal goal and Leeds too had a deputy goalie, with their Scottish international David Harvey replacing Welsh international Gary Sprake.

Leeds sustained an injury in the match itself, with centre forward Mick Jones falling awkwardly and breaking his collar bone near the end of the match..

The result was a repeat of the 1968 League Cup Final at the stadium, Leeds Utd 1 Arsenal 0. The only goal came when an Allan Clarke header deep in the penalty area on 53 minutes beat the Arsenal defence.

A RED AND WHITE 1972 ARSENAL F.A.CUP FINAL SHIRT No.8, with crew-neck collar and embroidered badge, inscribed 1872, 1972 . The above shirt was worn by Alan Ball in the 1972 Centenary F.A.Cup Final. In the match played on 6th May 1972 at Wembley Leeds United defeated Arsenal 1-0