The Greatest F.A. Cup Performance of All time
Sandy Brown may not have enjoyed the same legendary status as John Goodall, G.O. Smith, R.S. McColl or some other football greats from the turn-of-the-century, but from February to April in 1901, Brown went on the most sensational scoring runs the F.A. cup history. In the process, he led Tottenham Hotspur to one of the greatest upsets the F.A. Cup has ever known.
Alexander “Sandy” Brown was a Scottish forward, who started his youth football career for Glenbruck Athletic. His early scoring prowess at the club earned him the nickname “the Glenbruck Goalgetter”. He became a professional at St Bernards and soon headed south to play for the great club Preston North End. Although he scored regularly at Preston, after a couple of years, he was off to Portsmouth and then in 1900 to Tottenham Hotspur in the Southern League with whom he would immortalize himself by having the greatest FA tournament performances of all time.
In 1901, Tottenham Hotspur were playing in the Southern League, which was semi-professional league of Southern and Midland teams. Tottenham had won the Southern League title in the 1899 -1900 year and were given automatic entry into the first round of the F.A. Cup completion. However, the competition was delayed due to the death of Queen Victoria and Tottenham didn’t play its first fixture until February 1901. While the quality of play was respectable, it was certainly considered a far cry from the top teams in Football league of the day. Despite winning the Southern League under the captaincy of John Cameron, Tottenham Hotspur were considered to be a massive underdog going up against the top teams of Football league
In the first round, Tottenham would face the formidable Preston North End, who had knocked Spurs out during the previous FA Cup. Preston took an early lead and looked to be in control of the game. However, with only 9 minutes remaining Sandy Brown saved Tottenham from elimination by scoring a goal resulting in a 1-1 draw. Consequently, the match required a replay. This time Tottenham looked strong with Sandy Brown scoring two goals before half time. While Preston managed to score a goal, Brown was too much and earned his hat trick by scoring another. The final score was 4-2 for Tottenham and the southerners had slayed their first League Goliath.
The intermediate round didn’t get any easier as Tottenham faced the defending FA champions Bury. Bury were an exceptionally strong team at this time and took a 1 goal lead early in the game and dominated much of the game. However, Sandy Brown once again came to the rescue scoring the first and then the second goal to push Tottenham through to the next round.
In the third round proper, Tottenham would face Reading who were the only other non-league team remaining in the tournament. The first game ended a 1-1 draw in which Sandy Brown didn’t score. Yet, in the rematch, Sandy Brown would net two more goals in a 3-0 victory sending Tottenham into the semi-final.
In the semi-final, Spurs would face West Bromwich Albion where Sandy Brown once again shone like no other. The game would end 4-0 for Tottenham with the Scotsman incredibly scoring all 4 goals.
However, there greatest challenge was yet to come in the F.A. Cup final where they would face the all-powerful Sheffield United who had won the cup two years earlier. Despite having a glorious run, knocking off tier 1 Football League teams, no one gave them a chance against the mighty Blades with their great captain Ernest Needham or their famous keeper William Foulkes.
Even fewer fancied Tottenham’s chances of winning after Sheffield United took a one goal lead early on in the game. However, Sandy Brown came to the rescue again with a header to even the score. Brown was not finished yet, early in the second half, he would score again giving Tottenham the lead. A very strange and controversial goal was awarded to Sheffield on a referees decision that has never been fully resolved. The game ended a 2-2 draw meaning it would need to be replayed to determine the winner.
The next game Sheffield scored in the first half to take a 1-0 lead; however in the second half Tottenham were able to score a goal in the 52nd minute and again in the 78th minute. The crowd stared in disbelief at the pitch and the nervous Tottenham fans at their watches. Could they be witnessing David slay Goliath? With only one goal between them, Sheffield frantically worked to draw even, but Tottenham continued to press. None other than Sandy Brown sealed the Tottenham win in the 87th minute with a header past the giant Sheffield keeper Wililam “Fatty” Foulkes. The Tottenham fans went mad as they knew the game and the Cup was theirs.
In only eight tournament games, Sandy Brown had scored an incredible 15 goals (a record that still stands) and had knocked off the Football League titans on his way to secure Tottenham as the first-and-only non-League team to hoist the F.A. Cup. This feat will likely never be repeated and marks one of the greatest upsets in F.A. Cup history.
Cigarette Cards of Sandy Brown
Year 1901 – Manufacturer – Ogden’s Cigarettes – Set – General Interest Tabs – Card # 45
Card Notes:
Ogden’s Cigarettes had already issued cards of the F.A. Cup winners Sheffield Wednesday in 1896 and Sheffield United in 1899. The company decided to devote a 14 card series to F.A. Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur in their Tabs A Series in 1901. The cards are easily recognized as they contain an autograph of the player on the front. In addition, Ogden’s included a card with a photo of the F.A. Cup final game as the only football card in their B Series.
Year 1901/02 – Manufacturer – F&J Smith Cup Tie Cigarettes – Set – Footballers – Card # 111
The Cardboard Junkie 