Peterborough United 1956/57

Unlike the FA, we’re not self-serving, and unlike the Premier League, we don’t always go with what is favourable to us. That’s why we start our look at the magic of the cup when we were humbled. In the 1956/57 season, Lincoln City did not need to play in the first two rounds, as we were a Second Division side. In fact, we entered a reserve team in the Midland League, the same division that our FA Cup opponents, Peterborough, came from, and we’d beaten them as recently as September.

Posh beat Corby 5-1 in qualifying, then despatched Yeovil (3-1) and Bradford Park Avenue (3-0) to set up their big tie. The Imps visited, and 22,000 supporters showed up, a huge number for the Midland League minnows. City led 2-0 until late in the game when Dennis Emery bagged a double to secure a big replay at Sincil Bank.

The magic of the cup was alive and well that night, but not in City’s favour. The Echo report accuses the side of showing an air of “nonchalance and casual indifference”, with the Imps 2-1 down at half time. Recovering to 2- in normal time, Posh then bagged three in the extra 30 minutes, a time when professional players should have been fitter. A late rally saw us pull two back, but to no avail. The reward? A fourth-round tie with Huddersfield Town, a fellow Second Division side, who ended Peterborough’s brave run.

In 1959 they took Second Division Fulham to a reply in the Third Round, and in 1960 they made the Fifth round, where Sheffield Wednesday ended their endeavours. In the same season, they earned their spot in the Football League at the expense of Gateshead. In 1961, they won the Fourth Division and met us in the league as we fell to successive relegations. Their cup run was a great springboard for their success.