And Smith must score… | OneFootball

The 1982/83 season was a memorable one for Newcastle United’s opponents today, Brighton and Hove Albion.

Jimmy Melia led the unfancied Seagulls on a magical trip to the FA Cup Final, where they would face Ron Atkinson’s expensively put together Manchester United.

The Seagulls had already been relegated in bottom position from the old Division One by the time the Wembley showpiece took place.

Back in 1983 the FA Cup Final was an iconic fixture and this was to be another of those David and Goliath encounters, that we had regularly served up.

Lowly Second Division Sunderland had shocked the footballing world in 1973 by beating Don Revie’s Leeds United.

Fulham had also made it to the Final from the second tier in 1975.

Lawrie McMenemy’s Southampton (also from the Second Division) then went on and beat Tommy Docherty’s Man Utd in the 1976 Final.

In 1980, John Lyall’s West Ham United from the Second Division beat their London rivals Arsenal, with a header from Trevor Brooking of all people.

The FA Cup really was a beautiful competition, so back in 1983 the whole country seemed to be willing on the massive underdogs Brighton.

This match turned out to be something of a classic with incredible late drama.

Brighton suffered a blow before the game when influential captain Steve Foster was ruled out. However, it was the Seagulls who took an early lead through Gordon Smith which they held at half-time.

Man Utd, who had England stars Bryan Robson and Ray Wilkins marshalling their midfield, were rattled alright.

It was the very reliable Frank Stapleton who drew them level from close range, 10 minutes into the second half. Wilkins then turned the game on it’s head with a superb curling effort on 72 minutes.

Albion just wouldn’t lie down though, Gary Stevens levelled the scores after a goalmouth scramble with only minutes to spare.

The game went into extra time and the action end to end, with legs tiring.

Then with literally seconds to go the ball was played out left to Brighton’s robust centre forward Michael Robinson. He muscled himself into the Man Utd 18 yard box, before unselfishly laying the ball into the path of his strike partner Gordon Smith. What happened next has become immortalised.

With the goal at his mercy Smith steadied himself by taking a touch. Radio commentator Peter Jones then gasped the unforgettable line that has since went into FA Cup Final and Brighton and Hove Albion folklore.

“And Smith must score”

Gordon Smith whacked the ball hard and low but to the sheer disbelief of millions of fans watching around the World, Man Utd’s goalkeeper Gary Bailey pulled off a point blank save, even smothering an attempt at a follow up.

You had to feel for Smith. Man Utd’s star-studded team should have been beaten by the hungrier and more spirited Albion. The lucky beggars had got out of jail and they wouldn’t be making any bones about things in the replay five days later.

Brighton’s chance of glory had disappeared in the midst of Gordon Smith’s absolute despair. Although they had Foster back in the side for the Wembley re-match, the Seagulls were crushed 4-0.

This is the only final Brighton have reached in their 123 year history.

‘And Smith Must Score’ became the title of a Brighton fanzine.

I have watched Gordon Smith talk candidly about that miss. It is very sobering and he seems such a nice bloke. It was a defining moment for the club and is almost a metaphor for his life.

I wish all Brighton and Hove Albion fans a safe journey and hope they all enjoy the pleasures of our city, without their team picking up any points today at St James’ Park.