FEDORA AND GOT PALACE IN HAT FOR SEMIS
England, ran Chelsea ragged, a mazy run ending with a shot which struck the bar enabling Nicky Chatterton to tap in and give the visitors a surprise lead.
Allison was ahead of his time in playing Taylor, naturally left-footed, on the right flank. He was able to cut in from the right and fire past Bonetti with his left boot to propel Palace into a 2-0 lead. But back came Chelsea with goals from Wilkins and Steve Wicks before Taylor sent Big Mal’s side into the sixth round with a stunning free-kick. Allison, back in the limelight after his earlier success alongside Joe Mercer at Manchester City, lapped it up, taking off his fedora and bowing to the crowd as he stood up in the directors box.
He had already incensed the Shed End, housing Chelsea’s most vociferous fans, by walking past them in the build up raising three fingers on one hand and just one on the other indicating a 3-1 victory for his side. He ended up just a goal out!
Allison who was never afraid to make the headlines – at Palace he invited glamour model Fiona Richmond to share the training ground communal bath with his players – had wound Chelsea up in the aftermath of the fifth round draw.
He observed: “Chelsea are a nice little team but we will enjoy going to
Wembley.” Well, not quite, although Palace did reach the semi-final losing to eventual winners Southampton.
Allison said that his idea of wearing the fedora can be traced back to just before the Second World War. Portsmouth manager Jack Tinn wore a pair of spats – shoe covers – at every FA Cup game boasting: “We’re going to win the FA Cup with these spats.” They did !
Big Mal said: “Well nobody can really see spats, so I’m going to wear a fedora.”
He wasn’t put off by the reaction of the Scarborough players before Palace’s third-round clash. Allison added: “As I was going past their dressing room I could hear them going on about ‘the big headed b ***** d with his hat’. I thought right I’m going to keep on wearing it.”
It was hats off to Palace 46 years ago.