Walsall were
responsible for what is still seen as one of the most incredible
FA Cup shocks of all time when, in the 1932-33 season, they beat
Herbert Chapmans' Arsenal by two goals to nil. That day Arsenals'
team was valued at £30,000, whilst Third Division Walsall were
worth a meagre £69.
Along with
players from several other league clubs, Walsalls' Ron Howells
was imprisoned for his part in a match fixing scandal that rocked
British football in 1964. The story, initially broke by the People
newspaper, eventually saw ten players convicted, including Peter
Swan, a current England international centre-half.
When losing
to Chester City in the 1975 League Cup first round, Walsall probably
didn't think that they had been knocked out by the eventual semi-finalists!
Indeed, the Aston Villa goal that finally spelled the end of Chesters'
fairytale was scored by Darlo legend Brian Little.
The 1974/75
season was notorious for big name clubs coming unstuck at the
hands of underdogs. Most media attention focussed on the exploits
of non-league Wimbledon and Stafford, Walsall managed to beat
both Manchester United and Newcastle in an incredible Cup Run.
In another
famous Cup exploit, Walsall held the then invincible Liverpool
2-2 at Anfield in the semi-final of the League Cup, the same year
Liverpool won both the League and the European Cup.
The Quakers
have a particularly bad record away to Walsall, having won only
1 of our previous 19 voyages to the West Midlands. Our last encounter
was a 2-0 defeat at the Bescot over 11 years ago.
As
ever, the Supporters Club are offering coach travel to Walsall.
Coaches
depart from Park Place at
To book your place please contact Mary or Glen Bowes on (01325)
243 911.
