FA Cup feature: The day we beat the holders

Today marks the 40^th anniversary of AFC Bournemouth’s 2-0 win over FA Cup holders Manchester United, a result which is still regarded as one of the greatest giant-killings in the competition.

Harry Redknapp’s team were fourth bottom in the Third Division when they hosted Ron Atkinson’s First Division high-fliers, United second and breathing down the neck of champions Liverpool.

The Red Devils arrived at Dean Court boasting a squad laced with internationals, including midfielders Bryan Robson and Ray Wilkins, both of whom captained England.

However, the formbook was turned on its head as goals from Graham and Thompson in the space of three second-half minutes sealed one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in this third-round tie.

Redknapp had arranged for his squad to stay in the Roundhouse Hotel the night before the game and they were treated to dinner at La Lupa restaurant in Charminster.

They also travelled to the game in a team coach which was delayed in getting to Dean Court as it struggled to get through the traffic and crowds on the short journey.

Graham, who signed professional for the Cherries in May 1981 after serving his apprenticeship with the club, opened the scoring in the 60th minute after United goalkeeper Gary Bailey had fumbled a Chris Sulley corner.

Now 61 and living in Peterborough, Graham, whose youngest son Jordan plays for Spalding United, was asked by afcb.co.uk whether it seemed like 40 years ago.

He joked: “My body tells me yes!

“It does and it doesn’t if that makes sense. When someone brings it up or you see highlights on the telly, it feels as though it was yesterday.

Play video

Features

AFC Bournemouth 2-0 Manchester United

“It’s a nice memory to have. I just remember turning up at the ground and seeing so many people. We had never had a crowd like that before.

“A lot of them were trying to get autographs from the United players. Deep down, you don’t really think you are going to beat them but that changed once we got a sniff of victory.

“I can’t remember too much about the game, but I can remember the goals. For mine, Gary Bailey dropped the ball and I hooked it in at the far post.

“Thommo took his goal in one movement, bounce, bang and it was in the back of the net. He was so sharp. I don’t recall them giving us a hard time and it was a thoroughly deserved win.”

Redknapp’s heroes each pocketed a £200 win bonus and Graham, who was on £70-a-week, revealed how they painted the town red in the evening and the coming weeks.

He said: “I remember Brian Tiler (Cherries director) giving me a wad of cash which I handed over to the skipper (Roger Brown).

“We went out that night and it carried on for two or three weeks. Everywhere we went, we were given freebies. You could go anywhere and not pay a penny. The town really looked after us.”

Thompson, who was in his first season as a professional having been signed from non-league Salisbury, doubled the Cherries’ lead after Robson had failed to clear Everald La Ronde’s free-kick.

Now 65 and living in Swansea, Thompson does consultancy work in education and helps run his grandchildren’s under-eight team with his son and son-in-law.

Asked by afcb.co.uk for his memories of the day, he said: “We were struggling a bit in terms of league form and had only scraped through in the previous round against Windsor & Eton, a non-league team.

“When the draw was made, I would probably say there was more hope than expectation around the town about whether we would achieve anything.

“But everything just seemed to come together and all the lads had one of those days where things went right and the United side just didn’t fire.

“All the things you would expect to conspire for a big cup shock probably happened. But there was no doubt in my mind that we were the best side on the day.

“It wasn’t as if we were camped in our own penalty box for 90 per cent of the game. We gave as good as we got and definitely deserved the win.

“Harry was a great coach but his man-management was always his greatest asset. I don’t know what he did to galvanise everybody but everything he said seemed to strike a chord with each of us. We had a good mix of people who reacted in the right way to him.

“It was a fairly even and uneventful first half. But after Harry’s half-time team talk, not one of us didn’t think we could win the game and I think that was probably the turning point.”

Asked about the goals and the post-match celebrations, Thompson said: “Milton hooked his in and it was like everybody just stood still and he reacted quickest.

“Trevor Morgan’s celebration was something to behold. He ran around the pitch like he had won the FA Cup!

“People say mine was a toe poke but, if you watch the goal, I hope you can see that, for once in my career, I caught it well and surprisingly it went where it was supposed to go!

“The only downside was that there were still 30 minutes to go and I think we thought we were going to be in for a battle, but they never really threatened. It was a comfortable victory in the end.

“I know a few of the younger lads went out to celebrate but I didn’t see any of the money Brian Tiler put on the table so will be speaking to Milton about that for my share!

“We celebrated in different ways. I had family and friends down who had travelled from all over so we had a party at our house.

“We got into the dressing room after the final whistle and it was like the whole of Fleet Street were in there. We were bombarded with people wanting to speak to us.

“It wasn’t something I was expecting because it was my first season at the club and I had only been in the professional game for about five months. 

“Having been a teacher only six months earlier, it was a totally surreal experience, It was really, really bizarre but fantastic at the same time.”

Main picture courtesy of the Daily Echo.