The1939 FA Cup finalwas contested byPortsmouthandWolverhampton WanderersatWembley.Portsmouth won 4–1, with goals fromBert Barlow,John Andersonand two byCliff Parker.Dicky Dorsettscored Wolves' effort.
 | |||||||
| Event | 1938–39 FA Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 29 April 1939 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium,London | ||||||
| Referee | T. Thompson | ||||||
| Attendance | 99,370 | ||||||
As a result of the suspension of the FA Cup for the duration of theSecond World War,the next FA Cup final was not until seven years later in1946,thereby enabling Portsmouth fans to claim that their team has held the Cup for the longest time.
Wolves had entered the game as clear favourites, having scored 19 goals in their five FA Cup games and lying second in the league table. By contrast, Portsmouth were struggling in the relegation zone.
CaptainJimmy Guthriewas presented with the cup byKing George VI.Portsmouth managerJack Tinnsaid afterwards that his side won thanks to the help of his "luckyspats".
Match summary
editApproaching the half-hour mark, Barlow scored Portsmouth's first goal from within the area. Portsmouth pressed their advantage, refusing to let Wolves back into the contest. Anderson hooked in a second just before half time after McAlinden's chip in from the right had left the advancing Scott in no-man's-land.
Immediately after the restart, Wolves goalkeeper Scott fumbled a shot on the goal line and only prevented the strike creeping in with an outstretched hand on top of the ball. However, Cliff Parker slid in to kick the ball from under the keeper's hand to make it 3–0. Wolves drove forward to try to mount a recovery but a solitary Dorsett strike from eight yards was their only success. Portsmouth put the result beyond any doubt when Parker headed in his second and Portsmouth's fourth from close range from a Worrall cross.
Additional history
editWhenWorld War IIbegan in September 1939, this caused the 1939 FA Cup champions Portsmouth to hold the distinction of holding the FA Cup trophy for the longest uninterrupted period - seven years - as the FA Cup competition was not held again until the end of World War II. Portsmouth managerJack Tinnwas rumoured to have kept the FA Cup trophy 'safe under his bed' throughout the duration of the war, but this is anurban myth.Because the naval city of Portsmouth was a primary strategic military target for German Luftwaffe bombing, the FA Cup trophy was actually taken ten miles to the north of Portsmouth, to the nearby Hampshire village ofLovedean,and there it resided in a quaint thatched roof country pub calledThe Bird in Handfor the duration of the war.[1]After the war, the FA Cup trophy was presented back by Portsmouth F.C. to the Football Association in time for the1946 FA Cup Final.
Portsmouth's Tommy Rowe, who died in May 2006 at the age of 92, was the last surviving player from the 1939 FA Cup Final match.
Match details
edit| Portsmouth | 4–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|---|---|---|
Barlow 29'Anderson 43'Parker 46',71' |
Report | Dorsett54' |
       Portsmouth
|
  Wolverhampton Wanderers
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Match rules
|
Road to Wembley
edit
PortsmoutheditRound 3:Portsmouth 4–0Lincoln City Round 4:Portsmouth 2–0West Bromwich Albion Round 5:Portsmouth 2–0West Ham United Round 6:Portsmouth 1–0Preston North End Semi-Final:Portsmouth 2–1Huddersfield Town
|
Wolverhampton WandererseditRound 3:Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1Bradford Park Avenue Round 4:Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–1Leicester City Round 5:Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1Liverpool Round 6:Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0Everton Semi-Final:Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0Grimsby Town
|
See also
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- Mike Neasom, Mick Cooper & Doug Robinson (1984).Pompey: The History of Portsmouth Football Club.Milestone Publications.ISBN0-903852-50-0.