Hereford v Newcastle (1972)

Commentator John Motson

No game sums up FA Cup giant-killing quite like Hereford's shock victory over Newcastle in the third round in 1972.

MM

It had everything - a big name, high-flying side visiting an unheralded, provincial opponent at an undersized, over-filled ground on a pitch that looked like the home side's mascot - a bull - had been put in charge of preparing it!

MM

The action on the pitch, when it came, was equally dramatic. Newcastle's great striker Malcolm Macdonald had put the First Division side in front and a comfortable victory looked inevitable - before Ronnie Radford came up with arguably the greatest goal the competition has ever seen.

MM

Picking up the ball in the mudbath of a midfield at Edgar Street, Ronnie Radford played the ball into his forward who tapped it back first time. Running on to it at pace, Ronnie Radford unleashed a right-foot drive from 30 yards that flew past the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net, stunning everyone who saw it. Ronnie Radford's celebration - two hands held aloft - has also entered FA Cup lore, as fans from all corners of the ground ran onto the pitch to celebrate with him.

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Extra time followed (once the pitch had been cleared), before Ricky George - forever immortalised as "George the Substitute" by commentator John Motson - popped up with a winner to cue another pitch invasion and, belatedly, an historic giant-killing success.

 

Source: wikipedia.com

Images: Believed to be in the Public Domain or used with permission

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