Manchester United vs Leicester City - 25 May 1963

Match 63 of 117 v Leicester City<< First < Prev | Next > Latest >>

Match 48 of 48 in 1962-1963<< First < Prev | Next > Last >>

In 1962-1963, Manchester United appeared in the FA Cup Final for the first time in five years. They had lost in 1957-1958, post-Munich. They had also lost in 1956-1957. They hadn’t actually won the FA Cup since 1947-1948, when Matt Busby’s first post-war side beat Blackpool 4-2. In 1962-1963 Manchester United’s prospects weren’t great. The 1962-1963 season had been difficult. At the end of it, they had only just avoided relegation, finishing 19th in Division One. In contrast, Leicester City had finished 4th. Leicester City were firm favourites to win the Cup.

Leicester probably had the better of the first half-hour, before Denis Law put Manchester United into the lead. Receiving the ball in the penalty area from Paddy Crerand, Law swivelled and shot past Gordon Banks. Manchester United grew in confidence and began to play some flowing football. Law was in superb form. He reckoned it was one of his best games for Manchester United. He rounded Banks and nearly scored again before half-time, then hit a post in the second half. In the 57th minute, Banks failed to hold a shot from Bobby Charlton, and David Herd made it 2-0. The match was nearly over when Ken Keyworth scored for Leicester. It was definitely over shortly afterwards. Banks dropped a cross from Albert Quixall and David Herd scored again. Manchester United won 3-1, and the FA Cup was duly presented to their captain, Noel Cantwell.

There was much rejoicing in Manchester. The 1962-1963 FA Cup was the first trophy won since the Munich air disaster. It marked the beginning of Manchester United’s five golden years of the sixties. Over the next five seasons they were League Champions twice, runners-up twice, FA Cup semi-finalists three times. They reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities’ Fairs Cup in 1964-1965, the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1965-1966 and then, five years after beating Leicester City, they were back at Wembley winning the 1967-1968 European Cup.