Football Leagues » Premier League » FA Cup Semis 2011
FA Cup Semis 2011
FA Cup: Semi Finals
Andy Greeves
The second FA Cup semi final between Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers on the weekend of April 16-17 might not have the same glamour and media interest of the Manchester United-Manchester City tie, but it is every bit as important for the players and supporters involved.
The meeting of two of the Premier League's more unfashionable sides conjures up memories of the FA Cup's past. Stoke City were one of the team's of the early to mid 1970's and twice got to the semi finals during this period, when they also won the League Cup. Bolton Wanderers meanwhile last appeared in an FA Cup Semi Final in 2000, but last won one in 1958, en-route to winning the trophy.
Of the two teams, it is Bolton who have the greater FA Cup pedigree, albeit one which is firmly rooted in the past. They have won the trophy on four occasions, in 1923, 1926, 1929 and 1958, appearing in a total of 13 semi finals and winning seven. Stoke City meanwhile have made three FA Cup semi finals (1899, 1971 and 1972) but lost all three.
One of the Potters' best-loved former players, home-grown hero Denis Smith, is hoping Stoke can finally lay their FA Cup semi final hoodoo to rest. He still laments over the two semi finals he lost in as a player with Stoke, both against Arsenal in 1971 and 1972, and is urging the modern day side to "not have any regrets" after taking on Bolton.
"There was a mood of obvious excitement and optimism amongst the team and around the town of Stoke-on-Trent on us making the two FA Cup semi finals in 1971 and 1972," recalls Smith. "We felt we were a very good side and having achieved some excellent results against Arsenal, including a 5-0 win earlier in the 1970-71 season, we were upbeat going into the games for sure.
"Having raced into a 2-0 lead in the first semi final, everyone around Hillsborough would have fancied us to be going through. They (Arsenal) pulled a goal back in the second half, but on 90 minutes it was our fans singing about going to Wembley. Cruelly, Arsenal got a penalty in something like the fifth minute of stoppage time - that amount of stoppage time was unheard of back then I might add - and nicked a replay right at the end. We were absolutely deflated. Going into the replay at Villa Park, Arsenal certainly had the psychological advantage given what had happened in the first game and they won 2-0.
"The semi final in 1972 meanwhile is well known for Bob Wilson's injury and outfield player John Radford having to go in goal for them. Again, we were thinking we were in the ascendancy with them not having their keeper in goal, but Radford made a string of good saves. You can't legislate for that sort of thing. We went to a replay at Goodison Park and were the victims of two poor refereeing decisions, including a goal for them which was deemed on-side, only because the linesman confused a programme seller in all-white with one of our players. Unbelievable.
"Even 39 and 40 years on, those two defeats still rankle with me as I don't think they were deserved. We won the League Cup in 1972, which was fantastic, but it didn't really make up for the semi finals. The FA Cup is the trophy you grew up dreaming of winning and while the League Cup was nice, it wasn't the one we really wanted. We were good enough to win the FA Cup in the 1970's, which makes it even more frustrating to have missed out."
Smith made over 400 appearances for Stoke City between 1968 and 1982 and forged a long and successful management career with the likes of York City, Sunderland, Bristol City, Oxford United, West Bromwich Albion and Wrexham on hanging up the boots. He has also turned the Stoke City manager job down on a number of occasions, such is his desire to maintain the fond relationship he has with the club. That relationship was highlighted recently when current Stoke boss Tony Pulis allowed Smith access to the club's medical staff and facilities as he battled with an injured ankle.
During his visits to the Stoke's training ground, Smith has picked up a positive mood around the camp and believes Stoke are capable of winning a place in this year's FA Cup Final.
"I wouldn't imagine Tony Pulis and the lads will approach this game any differently from a league game," says Smith. "Certainly in the early 1970's our manager Tony Waddington was a believer in sending us out focused on our game, not the opposition. Arsenal had some talented players like Charlie George, but we wouldn't set out to man-mark. Everyone in our team knew their role and it's the same today. Stoke are extremely well organised.
"Stoke have performed well against Bolton this season and beat them pretty convincingly at the Britannia Stadium back in January. That isn't necessarily a good omen of course, because we played well against Arsenal prior to our meetings in 1971 and 1972 and that didn't get us anywhere. My message to the players would be, don't come away feeling like I do all these years on, watching the FA Cup Final and wishing it could have been me."
Smith is full of admiration for Pulis and the job he has done at his beloved Stoke City. Like the fans, he defines Pulis as a 'living legend' - a status which would grow further of course with an FA Cup win.
"I wondered if Stoke City would ever return to the top flight after 25 years and for them have got back in and performed so well, I think you'd have to say that Tony Pulis deserves to be called a legend," smiles Smith. "Stoke is a deprived area and if Pulis could mastermind an FA Cup victory, it would mean so much to the fans and the area. It would be the icing on the cake as far as the club's fortunes have gone under him."
© Andy Greeves & Soccerphile.com
More Premier League Football News
|
|
