Nuneaton’s downfall is so sobering

NUNEATON BOROUGH have led a turbulent existence but it has not stopped them becoming one of the most recognisable of non-League football clubs, be it as FA Cup giantkillers or developer of top-flight players such as Trevor Peake, Kirk Stephens and Trevor Morley, or managers such as David Pleat and Graham Carr. There was a time when they regularly attracted more than 3,000 to the old Manor Park ground, and one occasion in 1967 when more than 22,000 turned up for an FA Cup tie against Rotherham United. Last week, though, the Boro resigned from the Southern League with liquidation looming for a third time in their long history, victims of a dispute between owners of the club and owners of the stadium. A sobering reminder of the fragility of our non-League clubs.

SELDOM do I make it through FA Cup replay week without thinking back to the classic saga between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal in 1979. Five games, nine hours of football and 16 goals across 16 days in January. It started in the snow, with Arsenal keeper Pat Jennings enduring a barrage of snowballs from the Hillsborough Kop as Jack Charlton’s team, then in the third division, fought back to draw 1-1. Liam Brady saved Arsenal with a late equaliser (1-1) at Highbury three days later before two thrilling draws (2-2 and 3-3) at Leicester’s Filbert Street, where it was then settled, 45 years ago today. Steve Gatting and Frank Stapleton scored in a 2-0 win and four months later Terry Neill’s team somehow won the FA Cup at Wembley without travelling to the United Arab Emirates for a rest.

ARSENAL, who smashed seven past Crewe in the third round of the FA Youth Cup, were hit for seven by Liverpool in the fourth round. Lewis Koumas, son of former Tranmere forward Jason, scored three, with two for Jayden Danns, son of much-travelled midfielder Neil, who is now assistant manager at Tranmere. Trent Kone-Doherty scored the others for Liverpool in a 7-1 win. Manchester United’s Under 18s, meanwhile, were knocked out last week by Swindon Town.