The FA Cup with Budweiser Semi-Finals are fast approaching and Wembley Stadium welcomes Wigan Athletic, Arsenal, Hull City and Sheffield United this weekend.
And as FA Cup fever begins to build, we look back as some magic moments from Semi-Finals past...
In these days of multi-substitutions and bulging squads, there’s nearly always a ’keeper on the bench as insurance.
Radford goes in goal
The FA Cup
Semi-Final
Villa Park, Birmingham
15 April 1972
In 1972 it was a rather different matter.
When Gunners custodian Bob Wilson was injured at Villa Park with 22 minutes left against a Stoke City side looking to avenge the previous year's Semi-Final, there was no replacement.
Instead, the gloves and green shirt were handed to Yorkshire-born striker John Radford.
Tony Waddington’s charges – looking for their own Double, having already won the League Cup – were unable to find a way past the stand-in, and the game finished 1-1.
“He likes to do a bit of leaping around in training,” said skipper Frank McLintock.
Radford, returned to his scoring duties in Arsenal’s attack for the replay, then had the last word at the other end, and fired in his side’s winner.
Stoke’s vehement protests that Charlie George was offside in the build-up were ignored by linesman Bob Matthewson, who, it transpired, had confused a programme seller on the touchline with a Stoke player.
Talking of programme sellers, you can read more FA Cup Semi-Final Magic Moments in the official matchday programmes for this weekend's games at Wembley Stadium.
Buy your copy online here, or download via the Apple Newsstand.
