Extract taken from the just published book : wembley: stadium of legends by Tomsett & Brand, Dewi Lewis Media 2007
The Liverpool v Arsenal FA Cup Final of 1950 was significant in being the first post war match at Wembley with a crowd of 100,000. Of course, the record breaking crowd of the 1923 FA Cup Final would never be beaten, but this was the new maximum for the nation’s top sporting venue, with crowds having been limited to the low ninety thousands for some time.
A 2-0 victory gave the Londoners their third FA Cup win, after a 14 year gap, while for the Merseyside team it was their second cup final defeat.
The match was also the final appearance of Arsenal winger, Denis Compton who somehow managed to play at the top level in both football and cricket.
(AN ORANGE ARSENAL 1950 F.A.CUP FINAL SHIRT No.6, with button-up collar and embroidered cloth badge, inscribed 1949-50 Provenance Fred Grosvenor and thence by family descent Exhibited Arsenal Football Club Museum, Highbury Lot Notes The above shirt was worn by Arsenal Captain Joe Mercer in the 1950 F.A.Cup Final. In the match played on 29th April 1950 at Wembley Arsenal defeated Liverpool 2-0. The shirt was gifted to the Arsenal physiotherapist and kit man Fred Grosvenor by Joe Mercer Please (not in the book)
Arsenal George Swindin, Laurie Scott, Walley Barnes, Alex Forbes, Leslie Compton, Joe Mercer (Captain), Freddie Cox, Jimmy Logie, Peter Goring, Reg Lewis (scored twice), Denis Compton
Liverpool Cyril Sidlow, Ray Lambert, Eddie Spicer, Phil Taylor (Captain), Laurie Hughes, Bill Jones, Jimmy Payne, Kevin Baron, Albert Stubbins, Willie Fagan, Billy Liddell Played April 29 1950, Attendance 100,000, Referee H Pearce
© Wembley: Stadium of Legends, Tomsett & Brand, Dewi Lewis Media 2007. wembleystadiumoflegends
