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Dawud Marsh's Photo Diary

Through the Lens: Photographs From The Past Part 9: FA Cup Replay Lockout

The current COVID-19 pandemic has created a unique situation that has had an impact on football throughout all levels. And now for top flight football we are seeing the season restart with a fixture schedule set to complete the 9 remaining rounds by the end of July. But in the 70s and 80s we often had a busy March and April fixture programme due to matches postponed from the Winter weather being rescheduled.

There were other reasons in the 70s that we experienced unusual kick off times and fixture dates as power cuts had an impact on home and work life across the country with the introduction of the three day working week. Does anyone remember those times? I remember how we sat for hours at night in candle light not knowing when the electricity would be turned back on.

In the early 70s West Ham United had introduced energy saving measures at the club but one of the biggest impacts was on the FA Cup 4th Round Replay with Hereford United after a 0-0 draw at Edgar Street that set up a Valentines Day replay on Monday 14th February 1974.

West Ham United Match Day Programme

Originally scheduled for an evening encounter, the Government power regulations brought the kick off forward to 2.15pm. The match was a sell out with 42,271 fans inside the ground and reportedly approximately 5,000 fans, many with tickets, turned up but were unable to attend the match and were left to find unique viewing atop buildings surrounding the ground.

There was quite a dispute about the ‘lockout’, particularly from ticket holding Hereford United fans, who accused West Ham of deliberately excluding them from the match. One account is from Jane Thompson, a factory cook who queued for 4 hours to buy her ticket, leaving home before dawn and giving up a days pay to attend the match. The accusation was that West Ham United did not want 15,000 Hereford fans creating an intimidating atmosphere that may swing the game in the Bulls favour.

Hereford United, a Southern League team, entered the FA Cup at the 4th qualifying round and progressed to play West Ham after a 2-1 victory against Newcastle United at Edgar Street on 5th February following a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park. That match had already been delayed due to the weather and the replay had also been postponed 3 times. The game was covered by the BBC and was also a trial for young match day commentator John Motson.

No doubt the many fans who turned up on Monday 14th February we eager for another giant killing performance. In fact, the Cup run has been credited for Hereford United’s promotion to the 4th Division, replacing relegated Barrow. In the following seasons the club rose to the 2nd Division for the 1976-77 season after winning 3rd Division title.

The replay was notable for the last hat trick scored by Sir Geoff Hurst in claret and blue, which he achieved in 31 minutes that ended the match as a competition, with The Bulls managing a consolation goal by their inspirational striker Billy Meadows, who is remembered for his part in the season’s giant killing FA Cup run.

But despite the result, the game had moments that could have seen a different outcome, with Ricky George, the extra time winning goal scorer against Newcastle United, saw his low shot go wide beyond the helpless ‘Bobby’ Ferguson. A goal then after the Hammers had missed a host of chances themselves, could have turned the game in Herefords favour in the first half. As it was, Hurst scored with just about a minute to go before the half time whistle after a wonderful run into the area by Clyde Best who pulled the ball back for Hurst to shoot into an open net and the rest is history.

Hereford United fans manage to find a way to watch the match

This is a terrific photo from the match where you can see the game being played out in front of a packed stadium and the many fans who were unable to get into the ground finding space on the roof tops of the flats that over look the North bank of the ground.

There are some amazing stories of fans who entered the flats, climbed the stairs as the lift struggled with the sheer number of people, to find any space on the roof from which to see the match. This will never be able to happen now and with the final rounds of the season being played to empty stadiums, we can all watch the action live through our tv or computer screens.

You can enjoy the highlights of the match here:

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