SOUTH WEST FA CUP FINALISTS 1970’s
1970 David Webb (Chelsea) & Terry Cooper (Leeds United)
The 1970 FA Cup final Chelsea and Leeds United would go down in history as being the first cup to be decided by a replay.
Featuring on that day were two players who would go on to manage in the South West with varying degrees of success.
Appearing for Chelsea was David Webb, who scored the winner for the Blues in the replay at Old Trafford, would be appointed as manager of Torquay United in 1984. He held the position of manager until 1985 when he became Managing Director and was replaced as manager by John Sims.
During this time, the Gulls were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League for the first time since 1927. Webb remained in his position as Managing Director for just one year before going on to manage Southend United, Chelsea and Brentford.
He returned to the South West in 2000 to take charge of Yeovil Town before returning to Southend later that year.
Starring for Leeds was Terry Cooper who, at the time, was set to feature at left back for England in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Cooper would later become manager of Exeter City in 1988 after previously managing Bristol Rovers and Bristol City. He led the Grecians to the Fourth Division title in the 1989-90 season and remained at St James’ Park for a further year before he was appointed as manager of Birmingham City.
Cooper later returned to Exeter in 1994 following the departure of Alan Ball to Southampton. Unfortunately, he was unable to stop the Grecians from being relegated from Division Two and the following season, they finished bottom of Division Three after going into Administration.
1971 & 1972 Alan Ball & Eddie Kelly (Arsenal)
The 1971 cup saw Arsenal become the second side to win the League and FA Cup double in the 20th century as they beat Liverpool 2-1 to lift the cup.
Scoring the equalising goal for the Gunners was substitute Eddie Kelly who became the first substitute to score a goal in an FA Cup final. Later un his career, he would appear for Torquay United between 1984 and 1986, making 35 appearances.
The win saw future Exeter City boss Alan Ball add an FA Cup winners’ medal to the World Cup winners’ medal he received in 1966.
The pair were back at Wembley a year later when the Gunners were beaten by Leeds United in the 1972 final.
1971 & 1974 Brian Hall (Liverpool)
On the losing side for Liverpool in 1971 was Brian Hall who would later become Plymouth Argyle’s record signing when Tony Waiters paid the Reds £50,000 for his services in 1976.
However, before his arrival at Home Park, Brian, a Mathematics graduate, would collect a winners’ medal in 1974 when Liverpool beat Newcastle United 3-0 with Kevin Keegan netting a brace.
In recent years, he was voted at Number 75 in a poll run by the Liverpool website called 100 players who shook the Kop.
1973 Mick Horswill (Sunderland)
By defeating Leeds United in the 1973 final, Sunderland pulled off one of the biggest cup final shocks ever. The Black Cats won 1-0 courtesy of an Ian Porterfield strike and had goalkeeper Jim Montgomery to thank for pulling off a breath taking save.
Their side also featured a flame-haired midfielder by the name of Mick Horswill who would join Plymouth Argyle two years later following a spell at Manchester City and made over a century of appearances for the Pilgrims’ before moving to Hull City in 1978.
1974 Bobby Moncur (Newcastle United)
After captaining Newcastle United to Fairs Cup glory in 1969, Bobby Moncur was unable lead the Magpies to FA Cup success as they were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool in the 1974.
Following his retirement from playing, Bobby managed Carlisle United and Hearts before he was appointed as Plymouth Argyle manager in 1981 where he stayed for two years before he was replaced by John Hore in 1983.
1978 Paul Mariner (Ipswich Town)
Paul Mariner first arrived at Home Park in 1973 as a 20-year old when Tony Waiters brought him to Plymouth Argyle from Chorley. In his first season with the Pilgrims, Paul helped them to reach the Semi-Finals of the League Cup where they were beaten by Manchester City over two legs.
Two years later , Paul spearheaded Argyle’s promotion from the ‘old’ Third Division with the goals scored by himself and Billy Rafferty being central to the Pilgrims’ success.
In 1976, he left Home Park to join Bobby Robson’s Ipswich Town for £220,000 in preference to a move to West Ham United. Whilst at Ipswich, Paul helped the Tractor Boys to FA Cup glory in 1978 as they defeated Arsenal 1-0 thanks to a Roger Osborne effort.
After helping Ipswich to win the UEFA Cup in 1981, Paul left Portman Road to join Arsenal and would later appear for Portsmouth before winding down his career in America where he first became involved in coaching.
Paul returned to Home Park in October 2009 as assistant to the then Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock before replacing him two months later. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent the Pilgrims’ from being relegated from the Championship in the 2009-10 season.
Paul remained with Argyle as Head Coach after Peter Reid was appointed as manager in the summer of 2010 before leaving Home Park for a second time in January 2011 to become Player Development coach with MLS side Toronto FC.
