Spurs in History - 9th March

9th March, 1953

Spurs 1 Birmingham City 0 F.A.Cup 6th Round 2nd Replay at Molineaux

Today everything must be instant - coffee, fast food, connection to the internet, mobile phones, penalty shoot-outs - but in 1953 there was time for replays and second replays and third replays or as many as were required to settle the tie. No quick fix as we have today - extra time and a penalty shoot-out.

While the League Cup in all its forms has already lost replays and Arsene Wenger may want rid of them in the FA Cup so that he can concentrate on other things of greater importance, 'the Arsenal end of season party' - the replay brought an added something to the competition as clubs battled it out over a number of games for the right to progress to the next round.

This tie against Birmingham City who were in the 2nd Division went to three games before Spurs went through to the semi-finals. The original match was at St Andrews where Spurs earned a 1-1 draw with a goal from Les Bennett. In the replay at White Hart Lane Bennett again scored and with Len Duquemin ensured a 2-2 draw after extra time. The third game was played in the Midlands at the neutral venue of Molineaux, Wolves ground, and Spurs won with a goal from Sonny Walters.