On This Day – 10th January
“It’s a real Pea-Souper!” declared the match reporter for Pathe News, when reporting on the postponed match between Newcastle United and Swansea Town on this day in 1953.
Newcastle were holders of the competition, having beaten Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley in the previous year’s Final. Second Division Swansea Town were to be their opponents in the Third Round.
Despite a fog surrounding St James’s Park, the match went ahead as scheduled, but it quickly became apparent that the game would not be concluded. In fact, the match was only eight minutes old when the referee decided that enough was enough and called the players back to the dressing rooms.
63,499 fans had gone to the match, including several poor Swansea fans who had made the 343 miles to see their heroes play the Cup holders!
The match was replayed four days later, with Newcastle running out 3-0 winners but they went out in the following round, losing 3-1 in a replay at home to Rotherham United.
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