Hereford United v Newcastle United 1972 FA Cup 3rd Round Replay

Southern League Hereford United took on the mighty Newcastle United from the first division in this FA Cup 3rd Round Replay. Hereford had got a draw at St James Park in the first match. The game had been postponed several times due to a waterlogged pitch and it finally went ahead on the day of the 4th Round. A tie against West Ham United was at stake.

[@rohithraman6488]

What a goal!!! rest in peace Ronnie Radford

[@MrEddipp]

Indeed. RIP Ronnie. Gone but what a goal to leave in his memory.

[@christianscazzieri]

I don't think I've ever seen anything better than this. This is what real football should be.

[@garypmcgovern2321]

This is what real football was. We have to put up with the mundane rubbish we have in top flight football. Go a few leagues down the chain and it becomes a bit more like old football

[@graeme4540]

Agreed! Even if us Newcastle fans suffered. The super league clubs and supporters should hang their heads in god damn shame

[@williamparker1085]

except for the pitch conditions

[@williamparker1085]

@@graeme4540 your the ones paying the insane ticket prices that keep the nonsense going, I cannot watch english football anymore, spoiled by too much money, too many "professional" fouls and poor officiating

[@graeme4540]

@@williamparker1085 I can't disagree with that mate. Cheers

[@rf888]

Ronnie Radford's legendary thunderbolt, after a brilliant tackle that would get him sent off now. Motty delirious. Young kids in parkas hurtling onto a muddy pitch. The romance of the once great FA Cup. Perfection we will never see again.

[@TheGarageJump]

This was the game which was John Motson's big break, which is what brings me here today. RIP Motty........Supermac scores a brilliant header (which is often overlooked) in this game. He hangs in the air for about 10 minutes.....this is overshadowed though.....when you think about the amount of mud on that pitch, Ronnie Radford's great tackle, his 1-2, the occasion and the quality of the finish....it is right up there amongst the best goals of all time...arguably right at the top.....

[@Farerets]

This is very probably my favourite club football game ever. The era... the atmosphere... the drama... the romance. The football, we have lost over the time - once and forever.

[@LaughingStock_]

Agreed. And the clothes and characters in the crowd - old men with flat-caps, boys in denim and flares, a dilapidated wooden stadium...unbelievable.

[@n.agustin113]

Fortunately, in Argentina & Brasil, mainly in the 2nd div we have that spectacular football

[@philippankhurst6680]

@@LaughingStock_ Come on, now. Edgar treet is (still) built of corrugated iron, not wood...

[@martinmalone6324]

thank god for youtube, when younger footfans can see what football was realy like

[@chrisredditch]

RIP Ronnie Radford - An FA Cup Legend forever!

[@Nuttybott]

I miss football when it was like this...

[@philipportman5680]

Been a Hereford fan who went. To both matches The Newcastle. Fans have been brilliant over the last 50 years always been gracious in the result and sent there condolences to Hereford and Ron Radfords family.Class fans from a class club

[@pflynn581]

Makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.Takes me back to how I used to feel watching football.Still the biggest shock in FA cup history and Radfords goal surely one of the greatest.

[@seltaeb3302]

Wimbledon really pips it, as a non league side who got themselves into the First Division & beat the big clubs then win the FA Cup against Liverpool. But as a match Hereford Utd wins the best Cup match ever.

[@akoznasovajusername]

I am not from UK, but I love watching old football matches from Europe and South America. I cannot stand this modern sterile football. All of these old matches had such an amazing atmosphere, that is hard to believe such times even existed in the football.

[@gavp34]

Ronnie Radford. The greatest ever FA Cup goal

[@jameshill4911]

This is when football had soul.

[@bertiescunsbutch9323]

The real magic of the F.A. cup, the whole crowd and atmosphere and children, sadly the greatest cup competition has been allowed to be diminished . And the build up on the day of the final was so exciting .

[@seltaeb3302]

We can thank Manchester United for that & Alex Ferguson who treated it as an hindrance for his Premier & Champions League goals.

[@peterrowlands6406]

​@@seltaeb3302

[@mrrockerjim]

@@seltaeb3302 .......Yes, Alex Ferguson only won 5 FA Cups, he didnt like the competition

[@rohithraman6488]

@@seltaeb3302 if he didn't like the FA cup then he wouldn't have won it five times

[@Gfresh844]

What I like about this era is that from having seen a lot of footage you realise players were a lot more technically capable than they are given credit for. Yes, there was a lot of hoofing going on, but there was plenty of ability too, even on these kind of pitches. The touch and piece of skill to get past the player at 1:35 is a great example of that.

[@weatherstationlytovchenko4794]

22 brits hoofing is better than constant sideways passes by 22 foreigners

[@Jayfive276]

@@weatherstationlytovchenko4794 it’s really not.

[@weatherstationlytovchenko4794]

@@Jayfive276 are you basing that on having been a spectator in the early 70s....

[@rangerista3933]

The FA Cup's greatest goal, Ronnie Radford always remembered by fans everywhere.

[@philippankhurst6680]

Arguably the greatest FA Cup tie in the history of the game. Ricky George often gets overlooked - he scored the winner - and the hero is always Ronnie Radford for that stupendous equalizer. but the entire team were heroic, and none more so than goalkeeper Fred Potter. Not Supermac's finest hour.

[@chrisfallon9678]

I have to agree Ricky George's goal wasnt a bad one lovely angled shot across the keeper for the winner 👌👌

[@johnrobertson8263]

The best competition in the world screwed by money men...pure pitches...prima donna players...long live the memories

[@n.agustin113]

Sad, today you know who's gonna win the Premier League 9 months earlier

[@nietzchepreacher9477]

@@n.agustin113 oh yeah? and who will that be?

[@n.agustin113]

@@nietzchepreacher9477 No, I'm sayin' that you know who's gonna win Premier 9months or 8 months cos' one team has te best team and ends premier like this 1.Manchester Utd 73p 2.Chelsea 59p

[@nietzchepreacher9477]

@@n.agustin113 oh i dont think thats likely to happen this year. i honestly couldnt say out of man u, tottenham, liverpool and city. city will need to work hard to get back into it but they can any year. the thing is, less than ten years after this hereford game, there was an entire decade, where you knew liverpool were going to probably win the league.

[@n.agustin113]

@@nietzchepreacher9477 Really?

[@chrisfallon9678]

Brilliant love the hereford fans singing you'll never walk alone .great times in the FA cup .golden era of British football sadly gone

[@crowhillian58]

Back in the 70's many a league club's fans sung YNWA as well.

[@mcguffin1971]

Number 6 Collin Addison was Celta de Vigo Coach in 1986. Enormous respect to english football from Vigo, Galicia. Those were balls.

[@stevegordon2032]

All things considered this is the greatest FA cup giant killing match ever. Ronnie Radfords goal was an absolute worldy. Fantastic.

[@Wally-H]

Fantastic strike from Radford of course, but I wonder how many people remembered that he actually won the ball in midfield first and then played a one-two. This was more than a great strike - it was fantastic all-round play from Ronnie and that makes it one of the truly great goals.

[@robharding4028]

Proper cup tie, and what a legendary fa cup goal by the late Ronnie Radford.

[@Lillylashes01]

If you want to no what football means to people in this country watch this match it says it a all . This to us tractor boys was bigger than the 1966 World Cup

[@peterfoster8674]

RIP RONNIE RADFORD... It was a fantastic goal...

[@robertosebastiani2772]

I watched this video 1000 times, and each time I get excited when people get into the pitch... What a ggoal! The best match in the football history!

[@seltaeb3302]

Yup, into the pitch is right rather than on due to the Flanders mud pie.

[@rosenpcj]

Astounding. I choked up this morning watching this youtube this morning. I was there and this is a great 15 min video summary of a football miracle. I saw Hereford play Westfield's in HFD last year on a visit from California. Not quite the same but good anyway and Westfield's have come a long way.

[@phillydirector]

I can remember that day i was a 10 year old boy watching the TV. Probably the best game of football I've seen to this day. Can you imagine any players managing to play in conditions like that now. This is what football is all about. Never seen so many green parkers! What made it memorable was the excitement of John motions voice. RIP John Motson Legend.

[@mcfcguvnors]

Wow i remember this as a little kid my dad let me stay up to watch .RIP Ronnie

[@raymondmclellan1363]

I was there! In my duffle coat, pitchside by the corner flag. So excited to see myself running onto the pitch on 'Match of the Day' when we scored and at the end of the match.

[@j.rand.miller]

Thanks for sharing, McClellan and Hodges. American here. Played football for 10 years as a youth but only saw my first Premier League match in 2000, aged 30, when they started airing in the US. The tradition, history and passion of FA football is unrivaled anywhere in the world. I have a top 5 greatest games list, and as a Liverpool fan that obviously includes Istanbul and this year's comeback against Barcelona. But this game blows everything else out. I watched these highlights, then I found and downloaded the full match. Incredible. Congrats to you both for having been there. Curious. Did a lot of clubs sing You'll Never Walk Alone back in the early 70s?

[@simonwoods8809]

@@j.rand.miller I remember this match as a five year old and I have always looked out for Hereford's results ever since although I wouldn't claim to be a die-hard fan. Celtic fans north of the border have always sung "You'll Never Walk Alone" on occasion and there is some affinity to Liverpool F.C. very possibly due to the Irish heritage in Glasgow and Liverpool. Incidentally this was an era when people here in the UK could and did refer to Association Football as Soccer and the word was indeed very interchangeable with the word Football. The younger generation in their ignorance don't seem to understand this and I still refer to the game by the S-word as do other old gits (I'm 53). This is a personal bugbear of mine so I thought I'd mention it and anyone tells the sport is not called Soccer you tell them that it has been since the late 19th century when the word rugger was also coined to differentiate between the two codes of football which evolved at that time. Kids today eh...?!

[@jibjab351]

5,000 Parkas cant be wrong

[@addigi5598]

Davey R ..mate it's 1972 all kids had a parka ..I remember this I was 12 years and had parka 😎

[@Mad619Mitch]

Rest in Peace Ronnie Radford, Always be remembered

[@robbryant52]

This game was just magic and the best goal in cup history remember these were playing with leather ball heavy wet and hit it sweet as a nut the goalkeeper is still looking for it ...football at its best

[@frankmcconnellogue3351]

Best goal by a country mile I’ve ever seen,I never tire of watching it .rip r.r

[@XVRMEDIA]

British society from the early 60s to the late 80s was amazing. Sometimes I watch Monty Python, Yes Minister and other tv shows, football games, I read the Times archive to see how life was. There was so much style and tradition in British society back then. Whenever I dive into those times I feel like I'm opening a bottle of old wine. Then globalization and the tech revolution came and killed society.

[@themanftheworld8439]

Along with overly political correctness.

[@n.agustin113]

@@themanftheworld8439 Political Correctness is the *WORST SHIT* we suffer... They robbed us Freedom of speech

[@waynewalls5033]

@@n.agustin113 it must be terrible to not be allowed to be racist anymore...how sad for you...pmsl

[@n.agustin113]

@@waynewalls5033 I'm not racist but I bet you're an idiot OLIGOPHRENIC

[@n.agustin113]

@@waynewalls5033 I'm not talkin bout being racist... I'm talkin bout exagerate all, thinking all is racism

[@r2hbizi155]

What I love about the football back then is it was Attack after attack, there was no passing the ball in your own half. They sent long balls up the field right after regaining possession.

[@pflynn581]

Long passing,not long ball.

[@weatherstationlytovchenko4794]

you can still see old school football in non leagues, i mean around 9th tier level

[@wales123100]

I watch Hereford every now and again. The ground has hardly changed

[@philippankhurst6680]

Thankfully, the pitch has...

[@deerfearer]

It doesn't get more classic FA Cup than that. RIP

[@edge78a]

I was 14 when this match took place, been a football fan all my life and this is my favourite ever football memory, I remember the following Monday at school and every kid in the play ground new who Ronnie Radford was, and was talking about this goal. Incidently Hereford keeper Fred Potter was signed from the team I still support Burton Albion. That was a proper football pitch not like the namby pamby stuff of today !

[@scrumper10]

The greatest FA Cup goal of all time. RIP Ronnie.

[@seltaeb3302]

People forget the draw they got at Newcastle Utd which was harder, but at Hereford they for me had an advantage of the pitch that Derby County had lent them! Shame we can't see the whole match. Supermac was the big name then & built like a Hereford bull.

[@eddyvideostar]

You can appreciate this anywhere in the world upon seeing the playback, but you must be in the U. K. to understand the atmosphere and the Cinderella chimera of initial impossibility indicative of a club of Hereford's standing, having no chance. But, lo and behold -- miracles do occur on the soil of this great non-league club. I viewed this video without knowing the score expecting to see Newcastle running amok, but they ran themselves into the muck!

[@XVRMEDIA]

British society from the early 60s to the late 80s was amazing. Sometimes I watch Monty Python, Yes Minister and other tv shows, football games, I read the Times archive to see how life was. There was so much style and tradition in British society back then. Whenever I dive into those times I feel like I'm opening a bottle of old wine. Then globalization and the tech revolution came and killed society.

[@yarryrob]

I'm pretty sure the Ronnie Radford goal was used on the intro to Match of the Day (BBC TV) the next season. The commentator's "Oh what a goal" was used and then goal was echoed before the traditional music started. Might be wrong. Also, I had some flip cards maybe from Shoot magazine with Ronnie's goal. Sad to hear of his passing, he was a good Yorkshire lad.

[@HRaz100]

Absolute classic - the real spirit of the FA Cup!

[@ianbennett1491]

RIP Ronnie Radford. Still tingle when he hits it. When the FA Cup meant something. LUFC.

[@HenryRaeburn367]

Great all round performance by Hereford a draw at saint James was every bit as good, as this match. it was setup for the greatest game in the FA cup history

[@CashRoadHQ]

Motty Legendary commentator. This was the match that boosted his career. RIP

[@ojwatts2647]

Rip Ronnie Radford. Forever a Hereford United jewel.

[@theflyintheointment]

Always enjoyed Malcolm McDonald quite clearly shouting "FUCK OFF" just after he scored.

[@Sandylaner63]

The Big Geordie Gorilla ,, my Dad used to affectionately call him ,,a great goal scorer and old fashioned centre forward

[@nev7711]

@@Sandylaner63 An adopted Geordie from the London suburb of Fulham. Supermax continued to be adored by Newcastle fans long after he played for them. He still has strong connections with the North East. 👍

[@mowglieneil]

I have just watched this 47 years on,it was on my 14th Birthday, what a game.

[@MrThefall1]

So pure! Therapy watching this in 2022

[@EQ2snorkle]

I always remember this even though it took place before my football watching time ( I was 2 ) Have to post this because I feel for Hereford United fans after what has happened to your club. All the best from a Tranmere Rovers fan and hope your Phoenix club gets back up there !

[@ginge2991]

EQ2snorkle me, my uncle and my dad were in the protest against changing to Hereford FC

[@digitalfootballer9032]

I'd rather watch this over and over than modern Premier league. I have been a Liverpool supporter for as long as I can remember and I didn't even watch them lift the trophy a couple years ago because the game has been ruined by politics...not to mention money, endorsements, VAR, foreign investors, etc.

[@rohithraman6488]

Surely you must have watched it on TV cause there were no fans

[@michael7286]

This is when the FA Cup was massive when giant killings were the thing, and this was certainly a giant killing. Thousands of Parka Coats worn by the young fans, 1970s was a great footballing era, much better than today's game in the year 2022.

[@JH-lt6hn]

Invasion of the Parkas!

[@kevinhall2829]

That Hereford crowd were definitely up for it that day love it .

[@Nuttybott]

70s football was SO much better than today's soulless, sanitised version...

[@LaughingStock_]

I gave up on modern football decades ago.

[@Farerets]

@@LaughingStock_ Me too. I only follow national teams, as they are still not so destroyet by money.

[@k4lashni7ov35]

@@LaughingStock_ maybe you should watch the championship or below. The football is much grittier and fans are arguably more passionate (although their arent that many of them).

[@rohithraman6488]

@@Farerets Do you not follow a club

[@rohithraman6488]

@@k4lashni7ov35 When you say fans are more passionate, I don't really get it. You can't say that a diehard Arsenal or Chelsea fan doesn't love their club as much as a diehard Birmingham or Reading fan for example

[@johnharrington501]

Those muddy fields were always a great leveller in the Fa Cup.

[@steevsmith2792]

And Rickie George has done it. What a moment for Hereford. Just don't get games like this anymore. What a Cup run for Non League Hereford Utd that year. Great old footage.

[@davehooper4498]

Probably the best giant killing game in history, that strike from Radford was sublime

[@martinhill9261]

This is why we all love football.Its just magical to watch.The greatest upset,the greatest goal and the greatest game in FA Cup history.

[@MrScumwhisperer]

Still love to watch this-even the cops are laughing during the invasion after Herefords second

[@MrDavidht]

When the FA cup was magical.

[@kevinstuart1966]

It must have been good to be a Hereford fan at this game Best pitch invasions ever.

[@philbraithwaite1316]

Youngsters today would probably wonder what all the fuss is about but the FA cup was a big deal back when I was a kid. I was at the Colchester v Leeds Utd "giantkilling" the previous season (aged 11) and had witnessed first hand the romance of the Cup. With Ronnie Radcliff's iconic hands in the air celebration and the late John Motson's commentary it's become part of football folklore. I almost teared up watching it today with John Motson's passing. Apart from the quagmire pitches it really was the best of times.

[@NickPeters-zc2ms]

Time plays tricks on you. I always thought Ronnie Radford (RIP) scored the winner, but no Ricky George did. Great to watch again after so long.

[@Timpriestley]

RIP John Motson. I believe it was this commentary that sent him on his way. Ronnie Radford's goal always sends a shiver down my spine. It's that 'croak' in Motson's voice - "What a g-o-o-o-a-a-l". Thanks John. Sleep tight.

[@andrewdrummond1244]

RIP Ronnie Radford..

[@swaldron5558]

Sad to hear about Ronnie Radford pass away today, RIP FA Cup legend.

[@pauldurkee4764]

Sadly Ronnie Radford has left us, that was one hell of a goal, in one hell of a match. RIP Ronnie. 🙏

[@sirtobyselfridge]

Had to chuckle when poor John Tudor was flattened by that clearance! Nobody even went to see if he was OK. Today he'd have been carried off for a full medical and probably been out for six weeks........

[@robogamer5384]

Remember this goal like it was yesterday, the fa Cup will always have great memories, about the underdogs beating the big boys,this will live long into football history rest in peace Mr Radford,and thanks for the great memories .

[@FanVarious]

What a game of football.

[@darren2514fv]

100 Greatest Sporting Moments

[@mikepearson3226]

What a fabulous match!!! George’s goal wasn’t too shabby either!!!

[@checkleylaneproductions551]

Omg what a goal Ronnie Radford

[@kryptomaniac6517]

@glyn hodges are you from Hereford btw? How did you felt that day if u were there?

[@kryptomaniac6517]

@glyn hodges Damn that's such amazing experience you had. I just wish I was born during that time, it seems so much more lively and intense

[@1080pAdrenalinGaming]

Being 21 years old, I really wish I could have experienced these sorts of games in the 70s. Looks like a different sport, at times.

[@thomassmith7374]

Games like this was why the FACup was so special back in the day.

[@mattchapman6807]

The most famous goal in FA Cup history, in perhaps the greatest shock in FA Cup history. RIP Ronnie Radford…

[@almal378]

That was a hard tackle on the Newcastle player just before Radford's goal. But, why did he not roll around clutching his face and then mouth off at the ref?

[@gregod806]

If ever a match epitomised the romance of the F.A Cup, then this is it.

[@robbie1527]

This is wonderful - thanks for posting it.

[@Captainblack710]

Classic from a golden age of football, that goal man 😂 fantastic, Newcastle we’re never going to win this fixture, R.I.P Ronnie, From all at Newcastle United ❤️

[@michaelcrump6192]

THE GREATEST GOAL EVER !!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YA RONNIE RIP .

[@bradwakey90]

One of the best ever FA Cup goals (Ronnie Radford), especially taking the context of the gap between the two sides into consideration

[@martinhill9261]

And the pitch

[@henrykates1907]

Thomas middleditch sent me here... by god am I thankful for it. What a game

[@johnwalsh1990]

The best ever cup goal.RIP Ronnie.

[@thebadloser]

Best football memory of my childhood hands down - and am I the only one that misses the old muddy pitches? It seemed to give it more of a sense of a real battle when the players were filthy dirty by the end.

[@Keithbarber]

It was too confusing with dirty players, I got "mud"dled up

[@The_Capri_Kid]

The Baseball Ground always seemed to be a mudbath the whole year round

[@JohnnyWitney]

Remember watching this on BBC Match Of The Day, commentator is John Motson, later in the evening on the Saturday of the match.

[@englishman1960]

RIP Ronnie Radford

[@riddlergorshin]

Rest in peace John Motson, many happy memories 😇🥰

[@braddarmphitt7067]

Real football on a real pitch....no big £500000 a week players...Ronnie Radford this goal always brings a tear of joy to my eyes. R.I.P mate 😢

[@stevenpalmer442]

Remember we never saw it live.Match of the day.Only showed highlights of 3 matches.Still brilliant !!

[@joe-vl3nd]

Happy days,👍🇬🇧

[@konstantakopoulos1]

GREAT FUNS HEREFORD. GREAT VICTORY.MANY CONGRATULATIONS FOR PLAYERS HEREFORD AND FUNS. WHERE IS THIS BIGGEST TEAM NOW?.........

[@multipleman78]

I wish we could see the guy in the tree's reaction to the Radford goal. Not sure he would see it hit the net but he would see it leave Radford's boot and know it was a rocket.

[@dickturpin4786]

Great match, pity about what happened to Hereford, I remember they went on to great things after this and at one time were top of the old second division (Championship now) but they hit on hard times in latter years.

[@alloutofbubblegum9223]

David Icke was on the bench (GK) for Hereford that day!

[@callithowiseeit5806]

...Or was he? (creepy suspense music)

[@nietzchepreacher9477]

that nutter played for us?

[@dugaldmckinnon5364]

I doubt it. They only had one sub in those days and that was Ricky George who scored the winner.

[@GrahamWalters]

Because of the delays in playing the initial game at St James park due to poor weather and poor pitches, the fourth round draw had been made, people forget that after playing this game with extra time on the Saturday, Hereford fan queued on the Sunday for the home tie against West Ham on the Monday evening, a game which Hereford drew, they were finally beaten by West Ham in a replay at the Boleyn ground where they lost 3-1, Billy Meadows scoring for Hereford, I was at all four games.

[@lostjackets4006]

Magic stuff! Mutton chop sideburns. Argy-bargy in the penalty area and the ref says 'play on'. Shirts without advertising. Passing back to the goalkeeper. Muddy goal mouths. The substitute wearing a number 12 shirt. The crowd held back by string. Those were the days.

[@bluenose622000]

Even as an evertonian this is one of my best childhood memories R I P Ronnie

[@josephreilly6328]

Nobody rolled and windged and wined. Fair play to yous