FA Cup Third Round: Walsall aiming to add Southampton to long list of cup upsets

“The story of how Walsall triumphed over Arsenal in 1933 will be told for many a day,” wrote the Sporting Star 91 years ago, while another publication described it as “the biggest shock of all”.

Arsenal lifted the First Division Championship five times in eight seasons between 1930 and 1938, and the Gunners were under the guidance of a serial winner in the shape of Herbert Chapman.

The North London outfit were ravaged by injuries and flu, although Walsall had their fair share of injury problems too.

On the hour, “came the greatest moment in Walsall’s football history” in the view of the Sporting Star reporter, who fittingly went by the name Sadler.

The legendary Gilbert Alsop climbed highest to head the Saddlers into the lead, and Bill Sheppard converted from the penalty spot moments later to make the unthinkable a reality.

Alsop and his team-mates were carried off the pitch amid the euphoric scenes, as over 11,000 supporters witnessed what remains one of the biggest shock results in FA Cup history.

1966: Stoke 0 Walsall 2

Walsall’s unlikely conquest over First Division side Stoke City was ranked alongside the famous 1933 victory over Arsenal by the Express & Star the next day.

The triumph was made all the more remarkable considering Jimmy McMorran had been struck by injury inside 15 minutes.

Howard Riley’s 20-yard strike set the tone for a pulsating tie, which saw McMorran miss the majority of the first half.

Meanwhile, Allan Clarke doubled Walsall’s lead in his absence, before McMorran returned as a “limping passenger” in the second half, as the match report noted, to help Walsall over the line.

1975: Walsall 3 Man United 2

“The night Walsall toppled mighty Manchester out of the FA Cup,” read the headline in the Express & Star.

The “Super Saddlers” reporter David Whinyates described them conjuring up one of the great Cup upsets to condemn the Red Devils, then sitting top of the Second Division, to a third round exit in a replay at Fellows Park.

The two teams were incredibly separated by just one division, but United were the heavy favourites with talents such as Alex Stepney, Sammy McIlroy, Lou Macari and Stewart Pearson in their ranks.

Walsall had earned a creditable goalless draw at Old Trafford, and took the lead in the replay through Bernie Wright inside 20 minutes following an inspired run by Brian Taylor.

Gerry Daly levelled up from the spot in the 36th minute after United profited from “a most harsh decision” in the words of Whinyates.

Nonetheless, the Saddlers galloped on, and reaped the reward when Alan Buckley restored their lead in the 18th minute of extra-time.

Buckley was soon at the double to extend his season tally to 20 from the penalty spot, before McIlroy reduced the deficit in the dying embers.

1975: Walsall 1 Newcastle 0

Just as supporters had assimilated the tremendous triumph over Manchester United, Walsall repeated the trick when top-flight opponents and three-time FA Cup winners Newcastle visited a rain-soaked Fellows Park in the winter of 1975.

The dream run continued with George Andrews climbing to meet Roger Fry’s floated free-kick and powering his header past Newcastle goalkeeper Willie McFaul.

But this was no smash and grab, with Whinyates eloquently noting that “the Saddlers were more skilful than Newcastle, just as they had been against Manchester United”.

Walsall were “full value” for the victory, and progressed to the fifth round for the first time in 36 years.

1987: Charlton 1 Walsall 2

“The one thing you can always rely on about Walsall is their unreliability,” wrote Express & Star reporter Chris Smith after their memorable win over Charlton at The Valley in the FA Cup third round.

Clearly some things never change, but the calibre of performance the Saddlers produced against The Addicks was one which was destined to be remembered for many years to come.

Walsall fell behind when Mark Stuart scored from the edge of the box, although David Kelly levelled proceedings to lift spirits.

And midfield maestro Craig Shakespeare subsequently drilled in a famous winner, prompting Smith to suggest that, “there is not such an enormous gulf between the First and Third Divisions as people would imagine”.

15 years later, Walsall would emerge victorious in the Cup at The Valley again thanks to Jorge Leitao’s brilliant brace to give new boss Colin Lee a flying start to his tenure.