1974: WREXHAM's FA Cup Run Has BOOKIES WORRIED | Nationwide | Classic BBC Sport | BBC Archive

Lynn Lewis reports from Wrexham, where there has been an outbreak of a particularly virulent strain of FA Cup Fever. Third Division A.F.C. Wrexham have - against all odds - reached the quarter finals of the world's oldest football cup competition.

Wrexham beat Shrewsbury Town in the first round, and Rotherham United in the second, before delivering some eye-catching giant killings against illustrious opponents. In the third round, Terry Venables' second division Crystal Palace were dispatched at Selhurst Park. In the fourth round, Jack Charlton's second division pace-setters Middlesbrough were vanquished at The Racecourse Ground. To reach the quarter final, Wrexham knocked out Lawrie McMenemy's first division Southampton at The Dell.

Now, as everyone gears up for Wrexham's trip to Turf Moor to take on high-flying first division Burnley, the mood in the town has reached fever pitch. Everybody in Wrexham is thrilled at the thought of their team reaching an unprecedented FA Cup semi final. Everybody, that is, except the local bookmakers, who find themselves in a bit of a quandary. Obviously they want Wrexham to win - but with half the town backing the team at long odds, they'll take quite the hit if they do.

Lynn speaks to some bookies to see how they're feeling ahead of the big match, and to find out how much they stand to lose if Wrexham upset the odds once again.

Clip taken from Nationwide, originally broadcast on BBC One, 8 March, 1974.

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