3/1 To Win
Whilst circumstances currently mean there’s no live football to enjoy, dcfc.co.uk is delving into the archives to feature a photograph from Derby County’s illustrious history.
For the foreseeable future, we’ll provide you an image each day for supporters to enjoy and reminisce.
Derby Crowned After FA Cup Winners After Defeating Charlton Athletic
Pictured here is Derby County captain Jack Nicholas being presented with the FA Cup by King George VI following a 4-1 win over Charlton Athletic in the Final at Wembley Stadium on this day in 1946.
After six long, war weary years, the FA Cup was back. And Derby County were on their way to making history in the first post-war Cup Final.
As clubs began to settle down again, the Football League was still a season away. Regional football was still the order of the day, and the Rams played in the League South. So did Charlton Athletic. On a balmy spring day, the sides also met at Wembley.
Derby took the lead in the 80th minute though an own goal from Bert Turner, but their joy was short-lived, however.
Two minutes later Bert Turner took a free-kick and the ball smacked against Doherty’s right shin before flying into the Rams net.
Turner, who 30 years later was scouting for the Rams, is eternally credited with being the first man to score for both sides in an FA Cup Final.
So, with the scoreline at 1-1 at full-time, extra-time was required.
With two minutes of extra-time played, the Rams went ahead again. Stamps worked the ball down the left flank before cracking in a shot-cum-centre which Sam Bartram could only parry.
The ball rolled loose and Doherty literally bowled Dally Duncan out of the way in order to slide the ball into an unguarded net to make it 2-1.
Ten minutes later, Doherty returned the compliment and Stamps took his pass and went around Oakes and Phipps before scoring with a brilliant solo effort to extend the lead to 3-1.
A few seconds after the start of the second period of extra-time, Doherty’s pass was again accepted by Stamps and the burly centre-forward put the issue beyond all doubt as he made it 4-1 to the Rams.
The 1945/46 FA Cup competition is unique: the only one to be played on a home and away basis up to and including the sixth round. Even then the Rams had to play two semi-final matches. The first one against Birmingham was drawn 1-1 at Hillsborough.
The replay lives on in football history. At Maine Road over 80,000 spectators saw the Rams win 4-0 – still the biggest midweek attendance for a domestic match between two English clubs outside Wembley.
Look out for tomorrow’s Snapshot in Time across dcfc.co.uk – and remember you can suggest an image by getting in touch via the club’s social media channels.
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