In 1961 Spurs side became the first team to achieve the domestic double in the twentieth century and went on to win the FA Cup twice more in the decade. Between them the big clubs from Manchester and Merseyside appeared in five finals, each winning the cup once. Leicester City, a club with no great tradition in the cup made it to three finals but were defeated each time.
Wolves had been pursuing the League and Cup double but Burnley had pipped them to the League title a week earlier. They took the lead a few minutes before half-time, an own-goal by Rovers' McGrath. Almost immediately afterwards, Blackburn's defender, Dave Whelan, broke his leg and the team had to continue with only ten men. Wolves took advantage and scored twice in the second half. Whelan returned to Wembley 53 years later as chairman of Wigan Athletic when his team won the cup.
Spurs became the first club to achieve the "double" in the twentieth century having secured the First Division championship 19 days earlier. Leicester put up a spirited display but never really looked capable of scoring. Two goals in the second half settled the matter.
The magnificent double-winning Spurs side returned to Wembley full of confidence. Greaves put them ahead in the third minute but Burnley leveled the score early in the second-half. In the last ten minutes, Spurs struck twice to win the cup for the second year in succession.
The 1962-63 season had been reduced to chaos due to the severe winter weather and the FA Cup final was played three weeks later than usual to allow the backlog of fixtures to be completed. United's team had been assembled at enormous cost around the survivors of the Munich disaster. They dominated the Leicester side and were two goals ahead when Keyworth pulled one back for Leicester with a diving hiding. With five minutes to go Herd scored United's third and his second to make the game safe.
Preston came to the final as Second Division outsiders and came close to upsetting their First Division opponents. They took the lead in the ninth minute but West Ham equalised just one minute later. North End went back into the lead just before half-time but were pegged back after the interval. The Hammers grew in confidence but they needed a dramatic goal in the second minute of injury time to ensure that the FA Cup would go to the East End of London.
Wembley stadium rang to the massed Kop choir singing "Ee-ay-addio, we won the Cup" at the end of a match full of passion and intensity. Leeds, managed by Don Revie, were a tough physical side, strong in defence. Liverpool, under the legendary Bill Shankly, were on the verge of greatness and attacked constantly. There was no score after 90 minutes but in extra-time, Byrne, playing with a broken collar-bone at left back, crossed for Hunt to head home. Leeds equalised with virtually their only shot of the match before Ian St John's scored the winner with a diving header.
With two thirds of the match gone, Sheffield Wednesday, who had worn their white change strip in every FA Cup game, were two goals in front and seemed to be cruising to victory. Everton then staged one of the great FA Cup recoveries, scoring three times in 16 minutes and the cup returned to Merseyside. Everton did not add a commemorative crest to their usual royal blue tops for this match.
The crowd so enjoyed the game that both teams took a lap of honour at the end.
It is a remarkable fact that in the entire history of the FA Cup, there had not been an all-London final until this one. The first half was very even but Spurs edged ahead just before half-time. After 68 minutes they scored a second and relaxed, frustrating Chelsea with their neat passing movements. The Blues pulled one back on 85 minutes but Spurs comfortably rode out the last five minutes of the game.
The match was a defense dominated encounter that ended without a goal at the end of 90 minutes. Everton had been marginally the stronger of the two sides and they squandered a chance to score in the closing minutes. In the third minute of extra time, Jeff Astle's right foot shot struck an Everton defender and the ball rebounded back to the striker who smashed it left footed into the roof of the net from 18 yards. Once again Everton wore plain shirts without a special crest.
Despite the score line this was an entertaining and open game, with both sides taking risks and missing chances. For Leicester, making their third Wembley appearance of the decade, the game ended with more disappointment. They might have scored when Rodriguez slid in to meet a low cross only to slice it wide from two yards. Three minutes later Summerbee cut the ball back from the goal-line for Young to score from near the penalty spot.
