It was, at that point, the biggest match the Blues had ever experienced, and the occasion captured the imagination of supporters in Cumbria – particularly when Bill Shankly’s United produced a superb performance to hold the top-flight giants and reigning cup holders 0-0.
To mark the anniversary of the landmark fixture, here we reproduce an edited version of the match report from _The Cumberland Evening News._
\-----
**“THEIR GREATEST HOUR”**
**_United’s players all heroes_**
By ‘The Rover’
THIS was their finest hour. What more fitting praise could one bestow on those wonderful ‘Boys in Blue’ who went to London on Saturday to meet the Arsenal at Highbury, matched them in skill and craft, and shook the football world to the core by forcing the FA Cup holders to a replay in the third round of the competition.
Come what may in the future – be it that Carlisle win, lose or draw – Saturday’s game was their finest hour and the greatest day in the history of the club and the city. There never was a game like this, and it will be talked about in the years to come as ‘Carlisle United’s classic’.
All credit, then, to the United team for their magnificent display, and to their team manager, Will Shankly, the man who never lost faith in his players’ ability to go out on the field at Highbury Stadium and make Arsenal – the mighty, glamorous Arsenal – fight every inch of the way in one of the hardest games the ‘Gunners’ have ever had to participate.
**PROUD MANAGER**
There was no prouder man on that field than Will Shankly when the final whistle blew. He rose from his seat in the trainers’ box and walked on to the field with his arms outstretched in typical Churchillian pose to greet his players as they came off the green expanse of Highbury, while the cheers of nearly 60,000 people echoed loud and long in their ears. “These are my boys,” one could almost imagine Will Shankly saying as they came towards him.
Present at the game were the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand, the Lord Mayor of London and Mr Arthur Drewry, president of the Football League, to mention but a few of the many important personages who saw the United’s magnificent performance. All were full of praise for the wonderful display Carlisle had given, and many congratulatory messages poured into the Carlisle dressing room.
The United’s well wishers were country-wide. More than 60 telegrams from places as far apart as Aberdeen and Portsmouth were received by the players and the manager before and after the game.
United captain McIntosh leads out the Blues at Highbury _(Image: News & Star)_
For me and for many thousands of spectators, the game was probably the most thrilling ever witnessed. From start to finish the tempo never relaxed. Both sides went all out from the first whistle and were still going at it when the last blast sounded.
One saw football straight from the copy-book. Any young boy with football aspirations could have learned more from this game than any text book could teach him. There were classical movements involving individuals and sections of the teams, sweet moving forward lines, determined defences, football artistry at its best, and strong shooting.
And all this was not provided solely by the FA Cup holders. Oh no! Far from it. I have watched the United in countless games, but never have I seen them play such wonderful football as they did at Highbury.
**CUMBRIAN SPIRIT**
In case anyone should get the idea that the Arsenal were having an off-day, allow me to dispel that thought from their minds. Arsenal were having an on-day. They treated the spectators to some really delightful football, that crisp, effective stuff for which they are noted and which has taken them along the long road of success. They turned out the cream of their talent for this game, and there were times, particularly in the first half, when the United made that cream look a bit sour.
The opposition: Arsenal's (left to right) Holland, Wade, Cox and Willis pictured in training in the build-up to the Carlisle tie _(Image: News & Star)_
These ‘adopted’ natives of the Border City produced that grand old Cumbrian spirit of fight and determination which often made the Arsenal players and supporters shake their heads in wonderment.
Time and time again, as the Arsenal saw many of their delicious pieces of football artistry crash against the breakwater of the United team, the home club’s supporters and players must have said to themselves, “How is it possible for a team of such class as this to be in so low a grade as the Third Northern Section. It is incredible.”
No, I should say that if there were any sign of nerves at Highbury, the home side showed them a few times when Carlisle took up the running. The defenders were only too pleased to get that ball back to their ‘keeper when the speedy Carlisle forwards were in full cry, encouraged by the blare of the hunting horns and the Tally Ho’s of their supporters.
That first half will linger for ever in the memory of the United supporters – and what a sweet memory. It was cut and thrust, cut and thrust for 45 minutes, with never a let-up.
More of our coverage of the historic cup tie _(Image: News & Star)_
**"WIZARD OF THE WING"**
Probably the finest forward on the field was United’s “wizard of the wing,” Billy Hogan. He revelled in his work and was the headache – an outsized headache – of the Arsenal defence. He gave Lionel Smith, the England left back, a roasting, and Smith must have wished for an aspirin to clear away that headache. Even when Joe Mercer, that great England wing half, went to Smith’s assistance (and he had to on several occasions), this made practically no difference to Hogan. In fact, it only seemed to inspire him to greater heights. Hogan’s ball control was superb, and his twists and turns delighted the crowd. Every trick in his box of magic was produced in this game.
Arsenal clear a Carlisle attack _(Image: News & Star)_
Not far behind Hogan in excellence was the United’s speed merchant, Phil Turner. He was dynamic and, as anticipated, his speed and bursts through the middle screamed with danger.
Turner nearly won the match for Carlisle in the second half when he raced through, leaving the Arsenal defence flat-footed and sent in a pile-driving shot for goal. The effort was only equalled by a magnificent save by Platt, who hurled himself into the air to sweep the ball over the crossbar. That effort of Turner’s will be the talking point of the Carlisle supporters for many a day.
This right wing partnership was one of the strong points of the Carlisle team, but the other forwards also contributed their portion to the grand display. There was no harder working player than diminutive Jimmy Jackson, who almost ran himself to a standstill, and ably deputised at left-half when Waters twice went off the field. Jack Billingham led the forward line in grand style and thrilled the crowd with a great drive from long range, and a header which was only preventing from entering the net by Barnes heading off the goal line.
**PALMED WRONG WAY**
Alex McCue, although not as spectacular as Hogan, played his part and caused Platt some concern with his high cross-shots which always looked dangerous. One in particular might have led to something when Platt failed to hold it. Carlisle’s luck was out when the ball was palmed onto the floor by the ‘keeper and Jackson happened to be standing on the wrong side of Platt. Had he palmed it towards Jackson it could have meant a goal.
So to the defence. First, plaudits go to Jim MacLaren, who put on a show which made him look like an international. His anticipation and handling were first-class. Two saves stand out in my mind. One when he turned a Lewis “rocket” over the bar and the other when he came out of goal to anticipate a Cox cross which could have spelled trouble.
United hero Paddy Waters denies Arsenal star Jimmy Logie _(Image: News & Star)_
Full backs McIntosh and Coupe were really grand. The former gave his best display of the season, a sound, intelligent performance, never once getting flustered, even when he banged the ball a foot or so past his own upright to concede a corner during Arsenal pressure.
Coupe continued his recent run of fine displays and was a saviour for Carlisle on at least one occasion in the second half when he was on the goal-line to block a Logie shot. Coupe’s kicking was sound and he enjoyed himself.
**GORING SHACKLED**
Coming to the middle line, we had Geoff Twentyman, Carlisle’s “Rock”, who time and again beat Goring, the Arsenal “wonder boy”, both in the air and on the ground. His positional play was terrific, and he was always there when trouble came his way. Goring rarely got a chance to show his capabilities, because Twentyman was determined that he was going to be the top-dog, not Goring.
Paddy Waters will go down as the hero of the match. He received a leg injury in the first half-hour of the game and, although twice he had to go off the field for attention and was obviously in great pain, he simply refused to give in. At half-time, he was in agony, but wild horses could not have kept him off that field. He was instrumental in checking that very dangerous right wing combination of Forbes, Logie and Cox. Like Jackson, Waters ran himself to a stand still and had to be assisted off the field at the end. Although lame, he had done his job – and what a job.
Tommy Kinloch entered into the spirit of things as well and gave everything he had. He hurled himself into the tackles in his bid to stop the Arsenal forwards from coming through. Like Waters, he, too, sustained a muscle injury but refused to give in.
Our headline tells the story of Carlisle's magnificent display against the FA Cup holders _(Image: News & Star)_
**NO BREAK DOWN**
The Arsenal produced every conceivable football tactic they could think of to break down this team. The opening quarter of an hour in the second half saw them batter away unceasingly at the Carlisle defence in an effort to score, but the United men simply would not give in. Joe Mercer and Forbes, the Arsenal wing halves, came up to make a seven-pronged attack, and even then the Arsenal could not succeed in their mission. Logie, a grand scheming player of the Alex James type, twisted and dribbled, schemed and fought, and still the Carlisle goal remained intact.
Then, to the amazement of all, Carlisle were even turning defence into attack, and Forbes and Mercer had to keep scuttling back to prevent anything happening at the other end. It was amazing the way Carlisle fought back to carry the battle to the other end of the field, where Platt was in grand form.
And so the end came with Carlisle definitely taking the honours. For the United it was a moral victory. They had shown the football public just how good they were, and their names were on the tongues of all followers of the game. What had seemed impossible had happened. The United had held the Cup-holders by sheer skill and courage. It was a great performance.
**ARSENAL:** Platt, Barnes, Smith, Forbes, Daniel, Mercer, Cox, Logie, Goring, Lewis, Roper.
**CARLISLE UNITED:** MacLaren, McIntosh, Coupe, Kinloch, Twentyman, Waters, Hogan, Turner, Billingham, Jackson, McCue.
**Referee:** Mr W R Rogers of Birmingham
**Attendance:** 57,932.
United returned to Carlisle from Highbury to a heroes' welcome, as our coverage shows. The Blues went on to lose the Brunton Park replay 4-1 in front of a 21,215 crowd _(Image: News & Star)_