On This Day: 'Clarke, 1-0' - Leeds United lift the FA Cup before sour afternote follows

LEEDS United lifted the FA Cup for the only time in their history 49 years ago on this day.
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Arsenal provided the opposition at Wembley for Don Revie's side who had been runners up in the competition in both 1965 and 1970.

However, Leeds had recently banished the 'bridesmaids' tag by winning the 1968 League Cup and 1969 league title and a third piece of silverware as a top-flight side arrived thanks to Allan Clarke s winner at Wembley.

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The striker moved into the box to connect to a Mick Jones cross with a diving header, which was accompanied by the iconic piece of commentary of "Clarke, 1-0".

MATCH-WINNER: Leeds United striker Allan Clarke with the FA Cup after his team beat Arsenal 1-0 in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley on May 6, 1972. Photo by Roger Jackson/Central Press/Getty Images.MATCH-WINNER: Leeds United striker Allan Clarke with the FA Cup after his team beat Arsenal 1-0 in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley on May 6, 1972. Photo by Roger Jackson/Central Press/Getty Images.
MATCH-WINNER: Leeds United striker Allan Clarke with the FA Cup after his team beat Arsenal 1-0 in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley on May 6, 1972. Photo by Roger Jackson/Central Press/Getty Images.

It proved the only goal of the game as Leeds lifted the famous trophy for the first time in their history in front of 100,000 fans in the FA Cup's centenary year.

But United were then made to play their First Division finale at Wolves just two days later in which the Whites saw their bid for a first league and cup double dashed via a defeat.

Speaking to the YEP last year, Clarke said: "The FA Cup final was normally the last match of the season but they made us play our final game at Wolves on the Monday night.

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"If there was one pitch that took it out of you it was Wembley and it was sad and a great shame that we were made to play that final game two days later.

"I wonder if that would have happened if it was Liverpool or Manchester United? I don't think so.

"Normally after the FA Cup final you go to a banquet but straight after the game we had to go all the way to Wolverhampton with the FA Cup to stay at a place called the Mount Hotel.

"We only needed a point and we always beat Wolves whether it was at our place our at Elland Road but on the Sunday morning a few of us had injuries.

"We only needed a point but it wasn't to be.

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"Forty eight hours after winning the FA Cup we were driving back home to Leeds having won the FA Cup on Saturday but you could have heard a pin drop.

"We deserved to do the double but we weren't helped at all by the Football League or the FA.

"It was the last game of the season so why couldn't they have waited another 48 hours and played the game on a Wednesday night because if there was one pitch that took it out of you it was Wembley.

"It wouldn't have happened if it was Manchester United or Liverpool."

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Reflecting on the joy at Wembley - something which will always stand in United's history - Clarke said: "It was the centenary cup for 100 years and you had two very good teams clashing in the final.

"Arsenal had a very good team but we felt we were the best team and the best team in the country.

"But it doesn't always work out that way in the FA Cup and we just wanted to win it for our great fans.

"Wembley in those days used to hold 100,000 and the atmosphere was absolutely magnificent.

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"You get a lot of players who freeze when they play in front of a big crowd but I loved it and it was absolutely tremendous.

"The Queen was the guest of honour before the game and it was an honour and a privilege to shake her hand.

"I think over the 90 minutes we were the deserved winners of the match."

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Thank you Laura Collins

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