Spartans Cup Dream Brings Back St James' Memories!

Last updated : 14 November 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor
For Toon fans with good memories ... thirty years ago, Blyth Spartans reached the fifth round of the FA Cup and played in front of 42,157 people at St James's Park when they lost to Wrexham 2-1.

That was a full-house at the time, with a reported 10,000 turned away!

We played Bobby Robson's Ipswich at SJP the next week, and only attracted 22,264.

Even more embarrassing was the fact the Blyth 5th Round tie could (and should) have been against Newcastle, but we lost to Wrexham in the previous round ... and only 29,344 watched the game at SJP.

Blyth brightened up that particular season for Toon fans 1977/8, as we were relegated ... and I don't want to dwell too much on the similarities of this season.

Three decades later and having struggled to live with that reputation ever since, Harry Dunn's side have created a little piece of history for themselves.

By all accounts, Blyth were superb against promotion contenders Shrewsbury from League Two, beating them comprehensively and fully deserve their trip to Bournemouth in the second round.

We wish them luck ... but let's pray 1977/8 is not revisited ... for OUR sake!