It’s the cup that keeps on upsetting
Everybody loves the FA Cup, don’t they? Well, try telling that to Gary Strodder, who probably has a slightly different view of English football’s most cherished piece of silverware following events at The Hawthorns on January 5, 1991.
Strodder, a tough-tackling and no-nonsense centre-half built in the old-school mode, was marshalling the West Bromwich Albion defence on a day when an unknown part-time ‘cricketer’ from Gibraltar was busy writing his name into FA Cup folklore.
With Woking of the old Diadora League losing 1-0 at half-time in their third round tie at the Baggies, a stunning second-half hat-trick from Tim Buzaglo (below right) left the home side on the ropes before Terry Worsfold (below left) added a fourth to wrap up one of the Cup’s most famous wins. To this day, almost 27 years on, Strodder, a man who made over 500 appearances in the Football League, will be trying to piece together just how it happened. On such a result are legacies built. Brian Talbot, the Baggies boss, probably doesn’t care much for the Cup either (despite winning it with Arsenal). He was sacked within 24 hours of the defeat…
Leeds United legend Johnny Giles made no secret of his dislike for the FA Cup ‘underdog’. There was no romance! Smaller teams were only out to damage reputations. Players had to live with it, and were fearful of being part of the horror story. Forget the good times before; an early cup exit to a minnow would haunt you for the rest of your days. A top-class, pampered footballer being made to look utterly foolish by the local postman? No thanks!
Upsets are what we cling onto in the cup, and they have long been its unique selling point. But should we be so surprised. There are 20 ties in the looming first round where Non-League sides will be looking for that Football League scalp. Of those, not one would jump out at me should it come off. It’s not because the gulf between Non-League and League clubs has become smaller, but rather because football, for all the money that is thrown at it towards the very top tier, remains the most level of sporting playing fields within the bounds of the pitch.
In other sports there are many determining factors: a playing surface will suit one competitor over the other in tennis; certain courses will be set up to favour longer hitters in golf; while pitches made to order for the home team’s spinner are common practice in cricket. But in football, it’s down to hunger and desire (and skill). Anything can happen. It’s why we all love the game and it’s why we all love the FA Cup.
Well, maybe not Gary Strodder...