Final

If Manchester United and Wolves were the most consistent performers in the league during this period, Newcasde United were the most successful Cup side. Spearheaded by Jackie Milburn - “Wor Jackie” - and George Robledo, Newcastle won the Cup three times in five years. Blackpool were the first of tlieir Wembley victims in 1951. Two goals from Milburn won the match, leaving Stanley Matthews to rue yet another missed opportunity.

Blackpool made it to Wembley agaui in 1953, their third appearance in five seasons. Trailing 3-1 to Bolton with 20 minutes left, it looked like a third agonising defeat. But in this most dramatic of all finals Blackpool drew level. Matthews crossed for Mortensen to score, and three minutes from time Mortensen crashed home a free-kick to level. With extra time looming, Matthews weaved yet another piece of magic on the right wing and crossed for Perry to rifle the ball into the net. The 3 8-year-old maestro finally got his hands on an FA Cup winners’ medal, and the match would be forever known as tire “Matthews Final”.

Left: Lofthouse opens the scoring for Bolton after 90 seconds as the ball flies past Farm and into the net. Opposite: The winning goal: while the tremendous crowd urges him on, the "'Wizard of the Dribble”, Stanley Matthews, streaks down the wing to beat Bolton's Wheeler (4), and puts the ball across to Bill Perry who scored the fourth and winning goal giving Blackpool the FA Cup and Matthews his first winners' medal.

Below: Matthews pictured 1952, 22 years after his debut for Stoke.