1947 FA Cup

Lore & Background

Charlton were appearing in their second consecutive final after losing to Derby County the previous year, while Second Division Burnley were appearing in their first final since 1914. For the second consecutive year, the ball burst during the match; both incidents were later put down to the poor quality of leather available after World War II.

In Their Own Story

The tunnel at Wembley smelled of sweat, tobacco, and the sharp green of the pitch beyond. Mortensen pressed his forehead against the cold brick and breathed. Around him, the lads were quiet — a Second Division team about to face the best side in England, and the whole country watching. The roar hit them like a wall of sound the moment they emerged into the afternoon sun. White and blue stretched to the horizon, a living thing. He could hear his mother's voice somewhere in that noise, or maybe he was just imagining it. The referee blew. The ball was at his feet. And the world, for ninety minutes, belonged to Leicester.

Reader's Guide

Charlton's route: Third round 4–1 v Rochdale (home), Fourth round 2–1 v West Brom (away), Fifth round 1–0 v Blackburn (home), Quarter-finals 2–1 v Preston (home), Semi-finals 4–0 v Newcastle (neutral). Burnley's route: Third round 5–1 v Aston Villa (home), Fourth round 2–0 v Coventry (home), Fifth round 3–0 v Luton (home), Quarter-finals 1–1 v Middlesbrough (away) – Replay 1–0 (home), Semi-finals 0–0 v Liverpool (neutral) – Replay 1–0 (neutral).

Did You Know?

• Chris Duffy scored the winning goal for Charlton Athletic.
• The ball burst during the match, as it had in the previous year's final.
• Burnley were a Second Division side in their first final since 1914.