AMATEUR CUP DAYS

 

Watch the highlights of the glorious homecoming on Skelmersdale Heritage site at

http://www.skemheritage.org.uk/your-skelmersdale/media/skelmersdale-united-fa-amateur-cup-winners-71/

 

United were a Semi Professional side back in 61-62 but with finances tight and the introduction of Wesley Bridge as Manager the board decided to go to Amateur status for the 62-63 season and enter the FA Amateur Cup 

 

(Extracts from Article by Wesley Bridge Skem Reporter 20th April 1967)

 In that season the club finished 15th in the league and reached the 3rd Qualifying Round of the competition being beaten by Guiness Exports at a windy Bootle Stadium, the 62-63 season enabled me to find better amateur players such as Phil Jones, Ray Lloyd and Eric Pendleton but again United suffered defeat by Guiness at Bootle in the same round. 

Gates at White Moss Park were slightly higher over the season and the club began to feel the benefit of the Social club, supporters club, a ladies committee and the "Shilling" pool, the playing staff all signed again and with the influx of more new players, things looked considerably better balance sheet, not healthy, creditors were many but patient.

At that time even the Amateur Cup adventures came under review as the qualifying rounds were not paying for themselves.

Season 1964-65 was the time Skelmersdale first put its name on the record sheets. By beating Old Blackburnians 8-0 away in the 4th Qual round United made it to the first round proper. "There were stories that at Blackburn the players had to carry all their kit over muddy fields to reach the ground"

The first round took the club to Spennymoor United, it was a disapointing first draw having to travel and the team was beaten 3-0 still another milestone had been recorded.

At this stage the burden of being secretary and manager took its toll and I collapsed at the ground, the football side was taken over by Don Baker a former centre half of the club until I had recovered. The team finished 9th and again the gates were getting better.

 

In season 65-66 the financial pattern was similar but was helped by a donation for Phil McCarthy who signed for Oldham Ath at this time Charlie Jones came to the club as manager relieving me of my duties, In the 4th Q Rd we were again drawn to meet Guiness this time at Aughton, it was third time lucky. The first round draw pitted United against the renowned Alvechurch at home, it was the first taste of amateur cup football in a big way at White Moss Park but there was much disappointment as United lost 2-0, the match was played on New Years day and afterwards there was much criticism of the date, after that United went on a 23 match unbeaten run which brought many Skem people and people from the New Town to the club and gates greatly improved.

 

 

The season of 1966-67 saw United designated as a Limited company after a joint effort saw the end of the clubs debts, League matches went very well, there were no defeats up until November, apart from away at Rhyl in the FA Cup, United again met Guiness in the 4th Q rd of the Amateur Cup, it now seemed like an annual event but United the winning side. Alan Mansley scored in off the post after 18 mins and Skipper Moorcroft hit a cracker from 25 yards just before the break to set United on their way

What has happened since then is indelibly stamped on every mind in Skelmersdale and United have won through to Wembley, Chairman Bill Gregson commented “No honour is to great for these players. They have achieved what the football world thought was impossible and all glory too, to the loyal supporters who have made this cup run so memorable.There are three players who started this Amateur Cup campaign  6 years ago Colin Bridge, Wally Bennett and Derek Stephenson but to all the present team, Here's wishing the lads every success on saturday, I will be there with their thousands of supporters cheering them on.”

 

 

There was only a few hundred supporters  that saw the Guiness game, the attendance rose sharply as the first round draw brought famed Bishop Auckland to White Moss Park. It wasn’t even a match as Bennett brought in for Clark at Centre forward, the only change in the whole cup run scored twice in the first half and Alan Bermingham blasted a penalty sent the Bishops back to the North East licking their wounds. Leyton, scond round opponents received shorter shrift, Bennett, Mansley and Unsworth put Skem 3-0 up at half time and coasted the second half as Leyton were still struggling to find out what hit them. Many predicted Uniteds exit when Wealdstone the Cup holders came up north in round three, they were undoubtedly the best team United had faced as 4,000 supporters were enthralled, the vital breach came before half time as Norman Whitesides shot was deflected into his own net by the Wealdstone centre half. The holders put up tremendous pressure as time began to run out but the defence stood firm and recorded a fourth clean sheet. The record of not having conceded a goal could not last and it went in the opening minutes at Slough, even the hardiest of United supporters must have thought it was game over when Slough scored again after 58 minutes. 73 minutes on the clock, Colin Bridge struck. Then in a tremendous finale Ritchie Wade leapt to meet a Whitehead corner equalised. Hundreds of United supporters who had already crossed the greyhound track to line up behind the Slough goal, swept on to the pitch and completely engulfed the scorer. The replay at White Moss Park was a dour affair with Slough showing no compunction in taking the man if they couldn’t get the ball, after 58 minutes they committed one foul to many and paid the price, a free kick ten yards outside the box and up stepped Bermingham, with a 25 yard run up hammered the ball through the gap and into the far corner of the net with the bewildered keeper rooted the spot.

The scene was set for a showdown with Hendon, finalists in 66, winners 65 at a Baseball Ground devoid of any grass promised difficult conditions and a goalless draw ensued. The replay one week later at Birmingham a Whitehead pass found Mansley who ran and slotted past the keeper. The equaliser after 70 mins came unexpectedly and the game went to extra time. Worswick put Skem back infront  and within a minute of the final when Hendon again levelled. The 3^rd match was staged at West Brom on a Wednesday night, two first half goals by Whitehead and Bennett put United in a commanding position, Hendon did pull one back but Micky Burns made sure with 10 minutes to go and United could celebrate long into the night Wembley here we come.

350 stock image

350 stock image

350 stock image

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