United had finished third in the First Division that season, and were strong favourites, while unfancied Southampton had finished sixth in the Second Division, Southampton had more players with FA Cup final experience than Manchester United, namely Jim McCalliog (1966), Peter Rodrigues (1969) and Peter Osgood (1970). In one of the biggest shocks in the history of the final, Southampton won 1–0 through an 83rd-minute goal from Bobby Stokes. It was the first time Southampton won a major trophy, and the last time that Elizabeth II attended a final and presented the trophy to the winners.[1] As their women's team had won the 1976 WFA Cup final a week prior, they became the first club to win the men's and women's FA Cup in the same season.
Manchester United started stronger, and missed several early goalscoring opportunities, with Southampton goalkeeperIan Turner making a series of impressive saves to deny Gerry Daly and Gordon Hill. Southampton in turn began to create chances; Mick Channon was put through on goal before being denied by goalkeeper Alex Stepney. As extra time loomed, Southampton's Bobby Stokes received Jim McCalliog's pass and slotted the ball across Stepney and into the far corner to score a late winner and with it his side's first major trophy.
Jasper Carrott immortalised the match in his song "Cup Final '76", which appeared on the album Carrott In Notts.[2][3][4]
Footage from the match's winning goal was used in the 1999 one-off ITV comedy film Bostock's Cup. The viewers were under the illusion that the team in the final were the titular team Bostock Stanley, scoring the winner.
References
Print
Tim Manns (2006). Tie a Yellow Ribbon: How the Saints Won the Cup. Hagiology Publishing. ISBN0-9534474-6-4.
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