On This Day – 5th January
Only three of the 32 FA Cup Third Round ties went ahead on this day back in 1963 as ‘The Big Freeze’ took hold across the United Kingdom.
Sunderland won 4-1 at Deepdale against Preston North End, West Bromwich Albion travelled down to Plymouth Argyle and won 5-1 and Fourth Division Tranmere Rovers managed to get a 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea.
Many games were postponed over the first few months of 1963 and the final Third Round tie was played on 6th March. This was between Lincoln City and Coventry City, in a match that had been postponed a record fifteen times before the two sides were able to play each other! When the two were finally able to get out on the pitch and play each other, Coventry won 5-1.
Incredibly, fourteen of the other 31 Third Round ties were postponed ten or more times before the weather subsided and they were able to play.
About Author
