Preston North End v West Bromwich Albion, FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, Saturday 1st May 1954

Sixty years on from Albion’s fourth FA Cup triumph, this month’s featured programme comes from the Baggies’ clash with Preston North End at Wembley.

The two clubs had met in one final before, back in 1888 when Albion caused a huge upset by beating the ‘Invincibles’ 2-1 at Kennington Oval. This time it was Albion that went into the game as favourites having had a superb season that saw them pushing for the league and cup ‘double’ right up until the very end of the league campaign, Vic Buckingham’s men eventually finishing in second place four points behind Black Country rivals Wolves. Preston meanwhile, captained by the legendary Tom Finney, finished in 11th position.

To underline Albion’s position as favourites the Baggies had already recorded two league victories over the ‘Lilywhites’ during the season, 2-0 at Deepdale in August and 3-2 at The Hawthorns in January.

The evenly matched game burst into life on 21 minutes when Albion that took the lead through Ronnie Allen following good work by winger George Lee. The lead would last just 55 seconds though, North End equalising through an Angus Morrison header. Despite the setback Albion started to pile on the pressure and were undoubtedly on top when referee Arthur Luty blew the whistle for half-time.

The Baggies started the second-half brightly but on 51 minutes Preston took the lead when Charlie Wayman netted despite claims from the Albion defence that the striker was offside. The goal saw the Lilywhites grow in confidence but Albion hit back on 63 minutes when Ray Barlow was brought down in the box by Tommy Docherty, Allen stepping up to net his second of the game.

On 88 minutes and with the match seemingly heading for extra-time Frank Griffin wrote his name down in FA Cup folklore when he broke clear and netted from a tight-angle past Preston keeper George Thompson. There would be no immediate equaliser this time and the Baggies held on to claim their fourth FA Cup Final win.

Albion: Jim Sanders, Joe Kennedy, Len Millard, Jimmy Dudley, Jimmy Dugdale, Ray Barlow, Frank Griffin, Reg Ryan, Ronnie Allen, Johnny Nicholls, George Lee.

Preston: George Thompson, Willie Cunningham, Joe Walton, Tommy Docherty, Joe Marston, Willie Forbes, Tom Finney, Bobby Foster, Charlie Wayman, Jimmy Baxter, Angus Morrison.

Referee: Arthur Luty (Leeds)

Attendance: 99,852 (receipts £49,883)

Only two of the 22 players that played at Wembley are alive today - Tommy Docherty (86) and Joe Marston (88). Albion's last surviving member from the game - Ray Barlow, died in March 2012 at the age of 85.

The 20 page programme for the game isn't too rare with copies still coming up for sale fairly regularly although you can expect to pay in the region of £40-50 for a copy.

View the complete programme here