York City have reached the FA Cup fifth round and were drawn to meet leading First Division club Tottenham Hotspur on 19th February 1955.
York City 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Having already accounted for non-league Scarborough, Dorchester Town and Bishop Auckland, as well as achieving a stunning third round success at First Division glamour club Blackpool (who boasted legendary names Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen amongst others), the 'Happy Wanderers' were paired with London aristocrats Tottenham Hotspur in the Fifth Round.
The Spurs side were packed with star names, including 'all-time greats' Danny Blanchflower and Alf Ramsey, who went on to lead the national team to its finest ever triumph in the summer of 1966.
The crowd limit was set to an all-ticket capacity of 21,000 at Bootham Crescent following consultation with the local police authorities, although this was still some 7,000 short of the ground record at the famous old stadium.
The two clubs were already strangely inextricably linked. The previous season York's star player David Dunmore had joined Spurs and the monies subsequently received from his sale had funded the acquisition of several of the City team that day.
Also in the Tottenham squad that afternoon was Alan Woods, a talented half-back who went on to star for the Minstermen in later years.
The First Division stars had stayed overnight in nearby Harrogate ahead of the big game, though it had necessitated a major clear up operation prior to kick-off to remove snow from the pitch and so ensure that the fixture was fulfilled.
Both sides were noted for playing a very technical 'passing game' and it was a case of whether York could match their illustrious visitors.
However, the 'Happy Wanderers' were quite simply magnificent that day and went on to outplay their highly-fancied opponents.
The Londoners drew first blood when outside-left George Robb struck from close range after 11 minutes. But after that it was one-way traffic as mighty York poured forward mounting attack after attack.
Spurs were defending desperately as the Third Division side charged towards their goal in a red tidal wave, forcing a succession of corners in the process.
The visitors' resistance finally cracked on 29 minutes when brilliant outside-left Billy Fenton went on a run across the field, with Ramsay in hot pursuit. The City winger cheekily back-heeled the ball to 'wizard of the dribble' Billy Hughes on the right flank. He crossed perfectly for centre-forward Norman Wilkinson to crash home an unstoppable header.
The magnificent 'Happy Wanderers' were level, and two minutes later they were in front when 'goal-machine' Arthur Bottom tricked his way past two defenders and passed to Wilkinson, whose rasping drive could only be palmed away by keeper Reynolds. The ball ran free and was instantly seized upon by Fenton, who slammed the rebound into the net.
The crowd erupted, the tiny little club from the north of England were ahead against their high profile and much-vaunted opponents, and a place in the quarter-finals of the world's greatest cup competition now beckoned.
The City players left the field at the interval to a standing ovation from their joyous fans, who recognised that their wonderful team were on the verge of a sensation.
Spurs though clearly had other ideas and fought tenaciously at the start of the second period to redress the balance, and it took a goal-line clearance from left-back George Howe to deny a Baily header following a corner from Robb.
But York were still playing some brilliant football and looked favourites to increase their advantage.
Left-winger Fenton shot just over the bar and then Bottom's hard drive was fortuitously diverted away by the feet of keeper Reynolds.
When the Londoners did manage to threaten they were met by majestic City custodian Tommy Forgan, who saved splendidly to deny striker Len Duquemin.
With only ten minutes remaining on the clock the magnificent York side wrote another glorious chapter in their history.
Fenton was once more the architect, beating Ramsey on the left before his measured cross was guided home by club record goalscorer Wilkinson.
Moments later the big City centre-forward almost completed a memorable hat-trick, only the diving Reynolds denying the crowd favourite yet another goal.
As the final whistle sounded the York fans invaded the pitch in celebration of yet another wonderful triumph.
The 'Happy Wanderers' had done it and matched their achievements of some seventeen years previous by reaching the last eight of the F.A Cup.
York City: Forgan, Phillips, Howe, Brown, Stewart, Spence, Hughes, Bottom, Wilkinson, Storey, Fenton
Goals: Wilkinson 2 (29, 80), Fenton (31)
Tottenham Hotspur: Reynolds, Ramsey, Hopkins, Blanchflower, Clarke, Marchi, Walters, Baily, Duquemin, Brooks, Robb
Goal: Robb (11)
Ref: G. Gibson (Manchester)
Att: 21,000
