Wimbledon FC 1974/75  

1974/75 was a great year for FA Cup shocks with Southern League Wimbledon FC unaware they were about to book a place in Nonleague football history when Wokingham Town visited Plough Lane in a Third Qualifying Round tie. 

Wimbledon FC had already beaten Bracknell Town and Maidenhead United in the competition and were already on their way in a cup run which would captivate the nation and make the clubs goalkeeper, Dickie Guy, a household name.  Wokingham were despatched 2-0 and a trip to Guildford & Dorking United proved to be no obstacle as the Dons recorded a comfortable 3-0 win.   

That victory saw Wimbledon FC reach the First Round proper for the ninth time in 13 years and they did so by winning their four qualifying round ties by an aggregate score of 12-1.  Hopes of a glamour draw in the First Round Proper were dashed when they were drawn at home to fellow Southern League side Bath City.   

Both teams were enjoying a successful league season but once again the Dons, who would go on to be league champions,  proved to be top dogs with a narrow one goal victory to go through to the Second Round.   

Once again the Dons were drawn at home against Southern League opposition with Kettering this time visiting Plough Lane.  A two goal win saw Wimbledon safely through and this time the draw was kind landing the Dons a dream tie away to First Division Burnley. 

Burnley, with stars such as Leighton James, Bryan Flynn and Ray Hankin were expected to make short work of the NonLeague side but the Wimbledon defence who had conceded just in six matches during the cup run were in uncompromising mood and when Burnley did create a chance Dickie Guy was in superb form.   

Goalless at the break the NonLeague side broke the deadlock just four minutes after the restart when Mickey Mahon fired a shot into the corner; a goal which, thanks to more heroics from Guy, proved to be the match winner.   

It was an amazing result which captured the imagination of football fans up and down the country and when the Dons were drawn away in the Fourth Round to Leeds United there was no such thing as a neutral.  Everyone bar the Elland Road masses were firmly in the Dons corner and hoping for yet another miracle result. 

46,000 were in the ground but saw a disappointing first-half with neither side creating much in the way of scoring opportunities.  The star packed United side were getting little joy out of their part-time opponents but there were just seven minutes left on the clock when a clumsy challenge on Eddie Gray gave the home side a penalty.   

Up stepped Peter Lorimer but the man with the cannonball shot was denied by a wonderful save from Guy and the Southern League side had defied the odds again by forcing a replay.

With the game switched to Crystal Palace another 40,000 plus crowd saw a tremendous cup tie with Wimbledon FC swarming all over their illustrious visitors and creating chance after chance.  United’s keeper David Harvey was in fine form and kept his team in the match and the visitors began to take charge after the break.   

Allan Clarke saw a ‘goal’ disallowed but the decisive moment when a Johnny Giles shot was cruelly deflected past Guy for the winner. The first goal the Dons had conceded in nearly 800 minutes of cup football.  

The Dons tried to come back and searched valiantly for the equaliser and though it never came, Wimbledon and in particular their keeper Dickie Guy, had made a great impression and had written the opening chapter in what would become the incredible story of Wimbledon FC.