Fiftieth anniversary of an FA Cup win still central to their city’s identity forms an evocative backdrop to Saints’ semi-final against Manchester City
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wo years ago, when sixth-tier Maidstone won at Ipswich to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time, their manager, George Elokobi, distilled the unique, enduring impact of an FA Cup giantkilling into five syllables: “This binds us for life.”
The same bond, only even more powerful, will be in evidence on the south coast in the next week. All connected with Southampton hope to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their only FA Cup final triumph having reached another final.
There are cosmetic parallels between Southampton’s semi-final against Manchester City and the euphoric win over Manchester United in the 1976 final. Fifty years ago, Southampton were sixth in the old Division Two and given no chance against United, third in Division One. This year Southampton are fourth in the Championship and face the Premier League leaders.
