The 1976 FA Cup final was the 95th final of the FA Cup. It took place on 1 May 1976 at Wembley Stadium and was contested between Manchester United and Southampton.

United had finished third in the First Division that season, and were strong favourites, while unfancied Southampton had finished sixth in the Second Division, Southampton had more players with FA Cup final experience than Manchester United, namely Jim McCalliog (1966), Peter Rodrigues (1969) and Peter Osgood (1970). In one of the biggest shocks in the history of the final, Southampton won 1–0 through an 83rd-minute goal from Bobby Stokes. It was the first time Southampton won a major trophy, and the last time that Elizabeth II attended a final and presented the trophy to the winners. As their women's team had won the 1976 WFA Cup final a week earlier, they became the first club to win the men's and women's FA Cup in the same season.

Road to Wembley

Manchester United Home teams listed first.Round 3: Manchester United 2–1 Oxford United Round 4: Manchester United 3–1 Peterborough UnitedRound 5: Leicester City 1–2 Manchester United Round 6: Manchester United 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Replay: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–3 Manchester United Semi-final: Manchester United 2–0 Derby County (at Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield)Southampton Home teams listed first.Round 3: Southampton 1–1 Aston Villa Replay: Aston Villa 1–2 Southampton Round 4: Southampton 3–1 BlackpoolRound 5: West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Southampton Replay: Southampton 4–0 West Bromwich Albion Round 6: Bradford City 0–1 Southampton Semi-final: Southampton 2–0 Crystal Palace (at Stamford Bridge, London)

Match summary

Manchester United started stronger, and missed several early goalscoring opportunities, with Southampton goalkeeper Ian Turner making a series of impressive saves to deny Gerry Daly and Gordon Hill. Southampton in turn began to create chances; Mick Channon was put through on goal before being denied by goalkeeper Alex Stepney. As extra time loomed, Southampton's Bobby Stokes received Jim McCalliog's pass and slotted the ball across Stepney and into the far corner to score a late winner and with it his side's first major trophy.

Match details

Manchester United0–1Southampton
Stokes 83'
Manchester UnitedSouthampton
GK 1 England Alex Stepney RB 2 Scotland Alex Forsyth LB 3 Scotland Stewart Houston CM 4 Republic of Ireland Gerry Daly CB 5 England Brian Greenhoff CB 6 Scotland Martin Buchan (c) RM 7 England Steve Coppell CM 8 Northern Ireland Sammy McIlroy CF 9 England Stuart Pearson CF 10 Scotland Lou Macari LM 11 England Gordon Hill 66' Substitute: MF 12 Northern Ireland David McCreery 66' Manager: Scotland Tommy DochertyGK 1 England Ian Turner RB 2 Wales Peter Rodrigues (c) LB 3 England David Peach CM 4 England Nick Holmes CB 5 England Mel Blyth CB 6 Scotland Jim Steele RM 7 England Paul Gilchrist CF 8 England Mick Channon CF 9 England Peter Osgood CM 10 Scotland Jim McCalliog LM 11 England Bobby Stokes Substitute: MF 12 Scotland Hugh Fisher Manager: England Lawrie McMenemy
GK1England Alex Stepney
RB2Scotland Alex Forsyth
LB3Scotland Stewart Houston
CM4Republic of Ireland Gerry Daly
CB5England Brian Greenhoff
CB6Scotland Martin Buchan (c)
RM7England Steve Coppell
CM8Northern Ireland Sammy McIlroy
CF9England Stuart Pearson
CF10Scotland Lou Macari
LM11England Gordon Hill66'
Substitute:
MF12Northern Ireland David McCreery66'
Manager:
Scotland Tommy Docherty
GK1England Ian Turner
RB2Wales Peter Rodrigues (c)
LB3England David Peach
CM4England Nick Holmes
CB5England Mel Blyth
CB6Scotland Jim Steele
RM7England Paul Gilchrist
CF8England Mick Channon
CF9England Peter Osgood
CM10Scotland Jim McCalliog
LM11England Bobby Stokes
Substitute:
MF12Scotland Hugh Fisher
Manager:
England Lawrie McMenemy

In popular culture

Jasper Carrott immortalised the match in his song "Cup Final '76", which appeared on the album Carrott In Notts.

Footage from the match's winning goal was used in the 1999 one-off ITV comedy film Bostock's Cup. The viewers were under the illusion that the team in the final were the titular team Bostock Stanley, scoring the winner.

Print

  • Tim Manns (2006). Tie a Yellow Ribbon: How the Saints Won the Cup. Hagiology Publishing. ISBN 0-9534474-6-4.

Internet

External links