MOSSLEY'S FAMOUS FA CUP TIES Mossley keeper Albert Lomas saves in the 1949 1st Round tie at Witton Albion Mossley's first flirtation with FA Cup success came in their second season in the competition in 1949 when after battling through the qualifying rounds they faced Witton Albion in the 1st round proper and a solitary goal by winger Len Moss earned the Lilywhites a second round tie at Southern League giants Nuneaton Borough. A special train ran from Mossley to Nuneaton and over 1,000 supporters travelled to the midlands for the game which ended goalless. The following Saturday the replay at Seel Park saw star player Jack Shaw struggling with a flue bug. Such was his influence on the side he played anyway but struggled as the side went down 3-0. Mossley centre forward Jimmy Thorpe wins a header in the replayed 2nd round tie against Nuneaton Borough at Seel Park Mossley had to wait twenty years for their next attempt at Cup glory. A classic 4th qualifying round win over Morecambe saw Mossley face Stockport County at Edgeley Park. After going behind against the run of play early in the second half Mossley bounced back to shock the pundits with an equaliser courtesy of giant centre half Mike Batty. Mike Batty scoers Mossley's equaliser at Stockport County in 1969 The replay at Seel Park the following Tuesday afternoon was played in terrible weather conditions and a gate of 4,493 saw Mossley go down to an unlucky 1-0 defeat. Mossley keeper Malcolm Harding saves under pressure in the 1st Round replay against Stockport County at Seel Park In 1977 Mossley again reached the 1st round proper and were drawn away at Rotherham United. A poor display saw Rotherham win 3-0 after full back Gary Hull had been sent off. Eamonn O'Keefe has a shot blocked in the 1977 1st round tie at Rotherham United Two seasons later a trip to a York City side that included former Leeds United star Peter Lorimer in it's ranks was Mossley's reward for reaching the 1st round proper. Many fancied Mossley's chances but when keeper John Fitton was ruled out by injury his understudy Tommy Cavanagh had an absolute nightmare and despite looking the better side Mossley still lost 5-2. The consolation goals both coming from Ian Smith. The following season Mossley found themselves exempted to the 1st round after reaching Wembley in the FA Trophy and faced Crewe Alexandra at Seel Park. A crowd of 3,800 saw the appearance in the Mossley side of ex Manchester City & England winger Mike Summerbee and it was from his corner that veteran full back Dave Mobley scored the winning goal to give the club it's first and only success over League opposition in the Cup. Mossley number 3 Dave Moblety scores the winning goal against Crewe Alexandra at Seel Park in 1980 The second round gave Mossley another home tie, this time against Mansfield Town. A crowd of 3,680 saw Mossley go down 3-1 despite a spirited performance and a great goal by Leo Skeete. Leo Skeete hammers home Mossley's goal against Mansfield in the FA Cup 2nd Round 1980 The next season 1981-82 Mossley were drawn away to Stockport County once more but never looked like repeating the exploits of 1969 as they went down 3-1 with Dave Moore scoring a late consolation for the visitors. Season 1982-83 saw one of the most exciting and contentious games in Mossley's cup history as they travelled 'over th'ill' to face Huddersfield Town at Leeds Road. 7,599 spectators saw Mossley have two goals disallowed before a linesman's flag cost the Lilywhites a well deserved replay four minutes from time. Goalkeeper Mike Sherlock was adjudged to have taken more than four steps and the Terriors scored from the ensuing free kick. Later video analysis proved that the linesman had made a very serious mistake. Phil Derbyshire (left) and Wayne Roberts climb above the Huddersfield Town defence in the 1982 1st Round tie at Leeds Road The following season Mossley had hit financial problems and a rebuilt team travelled to Darlington for a first round game. It was keeper Andy Gray who returned the hero despite a 5-0 thrashing mainly due to the promptings of former Derby County star Roger Davies. Since then Mossley have had little FA Cup success! But as the old saying goes 'there's always next season!' The Mossley FA Cup teams 26th November 1949 Witton Albion 0 Mossley 1 (Moss) Team: Albert Lomas, David Gosling, Bob Tomlinson, Pat Quinn, Jack Shaw, Alex Warren, Eric Jenyans, Harold Stephan, Jimmy Thorpe, Len Butt, Len Moss. 10th December 1949 Nuneaton Borough 0 Mossley 0 Team: Albert Lomas, Ray Eastwood, Bob Tomlinson, Harold Stephan, David Gosling, Alex Warren, George Wainwright, Pat Quinn, Jimmy Thorpe, Len Butt, Len Moss. 17th December 1949 Mossley 0 Nuneaton Borough 3 Team: Albert Lomas, David Gosling, Bob Tomlinson, Harold Stephan, Jack Shaw, Alex Warren, George Wainwright, Pat Quinn, Jimmy Thorpe, Len Butt, Len Moss. 15th November 1969 Stockport County 1 Mossley 1 (Batty) Team: Malcolm Harding, Dave Roberts, John Bain, Kevin Burke, Mike Batty, Alan Roberts, Keith Mason, Bruce Birtwistle, Kenny Maughan, Lennie Dickenson, Billy Mercer. sub. Gordon Birtwistle. 18th November 1969 Mossley 0 Stockport County 1 Team: Malcolm Harding, Dave Roberts, John Bain, Kevin Burke, Mike Batty, Alan Roberts, Keith Mason, Bruce Birtwistle, Kenny Maughan, Lenmnie Dickenson, Billy Mercer. sub. Gordon Birtwistle. 26th November 1977 Rotherham United 3 Mossley 0 Team: John Fitton, Joe Fletcher, Gary Hull, Eamonn O'Keefe, Dick Bate, Dave Vaughan, Ian Smith, Dave Moore, Leo Skeete, Peter Wilkie, Vinny Garmory. sub. Hedy Shoar. 24th November 1979 York City 5 Mossley 2 (Smith-2) Team: Tommy Cavanagh, Alan Brown, Dave Vaughan, Kevan Keelan, Harry Pollitt, Tony Grimshaw, Ian Smith, Vinny Garmory, Leo Skeete, Jimmy O'Connor, Kevin Gorman. sub. Brian Grundy. 23rd November 1980 Mossley 1 (Mobley) Crewe Alexandra 0 Team: John Fitton, Alan Brown, Dave Mobley, Kevin Gorman, Dave Vaughan, Alex Gibson, Mike Summerbee, Kevan Keelan, Leo Skeete, Jimmy O'Connor, Vinny Garmory. sub. Tibor Szabo. 13th December 1980 Mossley 1 (Skeete) Mansfield Town 3 Team: John Fitton, Alan Brown, Dave Mobley, Kevin Gorman, Dave Vaughan, John Salter, Alan Tinsley, Kevan Keelan, Leo Skeete, Jimmy O'Connor, Vinny Garmory. sub. Alex Gibson. 21st November 1981 Stockport County 3 Mossley 1 (Moore) Team: Mike Sherlock, Phil Derbyshire, Vinny Garmory, Jimmy O'Connor, Dave Vaughan, Peter Duff, Tibor Szabo, Dave Moore, Billy Hughes, Leo Skeete, Kevin Deakin. sub. Faz Page. 20th November 1982 Huddersfield Town 1 Mossley 0 Team: Mike Sherlock, Benny Phillips, Kevin Gorman, Phil Derbyshire, Peter Duff, Wayne Roberts, Tibor Szabo, Dave Young, Jeff Tate, Jimmy O'Connor, Mal Wagstaffe. sub. Simon Gallagher. 19th November 1983 Darlington 5 Mossley 0 Team: Andy Gray, Micky Halliday, Benny Phillips, Kevin Gorman, Wayne Roberts, Simon Gallagher, Tibor Szabo, Mark Hoolickin, Faz Page, Jimmy O'Connor, Mark Onley. sub. Chris Hewitt.