Saddlers Memorable Matches

Walsall 2 Arsenal 0 January 1933

Ok so this may not be memorable to most Saddlers fans but there can be no denying that this is our most famous FA Cup result.

In a season that saw us finish fifth in what was then Division Three (North) and Arsenal finish as League Champions, this has to be one of, if not the greatest giant-killing in the FA Cup’s history.

It was also the biggest moment in the career of the legend that is Gilbert Alsop as he scored the first against the Gunners (for any trivia fans out there, following this match Alsop scored 40 league goals in the following two seasons- a club record). It is difficult to describe a goal scored around 52 years before you were born so far as to say it was a classic header (do I really need to go into more detail!)

The second Saddlers goal came from the penalty spot through Bill Sheppard (another bit of trivia- this was the first goal Sheppard had scored for Walsall) and looking at reports from the game it is often said that this result was deserved.
Of course, Arsenal being Arsenal blamed everything from injuries and illness in the squad to the pitch at Fellows Park (some things don’t change much!)

Despite this win the super Saddlers were knocked out of the competition in the next round by Man City 2-0 but nevertheless this is still a legendary match and hopefully one of these days we can match it (a little bit different this match to losing to Slough and Macclesfield isn’t it!)


Is this match still our best FA Cup result? Tell us what you think in our forum.