On This Day (15 March 1967): Tragedy is averted as Sunderland and Leeds draw in the FA Cup
Yesterday at 02:00 AM
A 50,000+ crowd packed into Elland Road for this fifth round replay, but an unfortunate off-field incident almost overshadowed another heavyweight cup clash
The Sunderland-Leeds United rivalry in the 1966/1967 FA Cup brought great fanfare and excitement. The Yorkshire side were one of the UK's best teams domestically and also in Europe, and any game involving Don Revie's men was a big occasion.
That said, Ian McColl's team was also one to watch around this time.
Despite languishing closer to the bottom of the table, his squad had some decent players in it, with a collection of Scots leading the way. Elsewhere, Neil Martin was our top goalscorer and a young player named Bobby Kerr also broke into the team during the season.
McColl's side had already enjoyed a great run in the FA Cup, having beaten Brentford 5-2 and Peterborough 7-1 in the previous rounds. This pitted us Leeds in the fifth round, and we drew 1-1 with them in a tempestuous encounter.
A howling gale that swept the length of Roker Park didn't help as tempers reached boiling point in a match during which Kerr broke his leg after a hefty challenge from Norman Hunter.
This set up a replay at Elland Road four days later and it was set to be a fascinating occasion.
On the day, the excitement was almost too much, with the stadium packed to the rafters well before kick off and thousands of fans left outside the gates — which had to be closed almost twenty minutes before kick off.
With 57,896 in attendance, it was one of the biggest crowds Elland Road had ever seen but safety concerns overshadowed the game following an unfortunate pre-match incident.
Thousands of spectators were locked out when the turnstiles were shut twenty three minutes before kick-off, with some fans, desperate to see the action, scrambling on the Scratching Shed roof.
Leeds had been unable to make the match 'all ticket' due to the time factor and it was only ten minutes into the game that a ten foot crush barrier at the corner of Lowfields Road and the Scratching Shed collapsed. Fans, many shocked and dazed and suffering from crush injuries, spilled beyond the perimeter track and onto the pitch for safety.
Referee Ray Tinkler halted the match and a fleet of ambulances took eighteen people to Leeds General Infirmary as United chairman Harry Reynolds appealed for calm on the public address system.
After fifteen minutes, United officials, police and Tinkler agreed that the match could continue with hundreds of people squatting near the touchlines.
When the game did go ahead, it didn't disappoint and we took the lead through a man who would eventually end up playing for Leeds under the management of former Sunderland player Brian Clough.
In the thirty seventh minute, Scottish forward John O'Hare latched onto George Herd's through ball and fired in a shot which looped into the net off Gary Sprake's outstretched leg.
Unfortunately, Leeds were level within a minute after winning a free kick on the edge of the Sunderland penalty box. Billy Bremner tapped it to Johnny Giles, who sent a low shot scorching past Jim Montgomery.
The rest of the game was a cagey affair and despite the home side having the bulk of possession, defences remained on top with United unable to breach the Sunderland backline, which was anchored by George Kinnell.
The game went to extra time but the closest either side came to grabbing a winner was when Jimmy Montgomery made a miraculous save to turn away a Jack Charlton shot, and another stalemate meant the tie went to a second replay.
It would have to be played a neutral ground and it was Hull City's Boothferry Park that would host this match four days later.
Wednesday 15 March 1967
Elland Road
FA Cup fifth round replay
Attendance: 57,896
Leeds United 1 (Giles 38')
Sunderland 1 (O'Hare 37')
Sunderland: Montgomery, Irwin, Harvey; Todd, Kinnell, Baxter; Gauden, O'Hare, Martin; Herd, Mulhall
Sub Not Used: Parke
