Nottingham Forest 1959 FA Cup

Nottingham Forest – FA Cup Winners 1959

The 1959 FA Cup Final, played at Wembley Stadium on 2 May, brought together Nottingham Forest and Luton Town in a compelling contest between two clubs at very different stages of their histories. For Forest, it was only their second appearance in the Final and an opportunity to claim a second FA Cup. For Luton Town, it was a landmark occasion—their first ever appearance on English football’s grandest stage.

Before a crowd of 100,000, Forest emerged victorious by two goals to one, securing what remains—over six decades later—their most recent FA Cup triumph.

The Road to Wembley

Forest’s journey to the Final was anything but straightforward. Their campaign began with a scare at non-league Tooting & Mitcham United, who held them to a 2–2 draw before Forest asserted themselves in the replay with a commanding 3–0 victory at the City Ground.

From there, momentum built. Grimsby Town were swept aside 4–1, but the fifth round produced a gruelling three-match battle with Birmingham City. After two draws, Forest delivered one of the performances of the competition, winning 5–0 away in the second replay—a result that underlined their credentials as serious contenders.

Bolton Wanderers were edged out 2–1 in the sixth round, before a disciplined 1–0 victory over Aston Villa in the semi-final at Hillsborough secured Forest’s return to Wembley.

Luton Town’s path was equally impressive. They began emphatically with a 5–1 win over Leeds United and followed it by overcoming Leicester City after a replay. A thrilling 5–2 victory at Ipswich Town showcased their attacking strength, while resilience was required to see off Blackpool and Norwich City—both ties needing replays. Their semi-final replay victory over Norwich at St Andrew’s confirmed their place in history.

The Final

Forest made a blistering start at Wembley. Within ten minutes, Roy Dwight opened the scoring, finishing confidently to give his side the lead. Just four minutes later, Tommy Wilson doubled the advantage, placing Forest firmly in control.

Yet the match would soon take a dramatic turn.

After 33 minutes, Dwight—Forest’s leading scorer—was carried from the field with a broken leg following a challenge from Luton's Brendan McNally. With no substitutions permitted, Forest were reduced to ten men for the remainder of the contest.

From that moment, the balance of play shifted. Luton grew in confidence and began to dominate possession, eventually pulling a goal back through Dave Pacey midway through the second half.

Forest’s task became even more difficult late on when Bill Whare, crippled by cramp, was forced to move out to the wing, leaving the side effectively with nine fully fit players. Under relentless pressure, Forest defended with remarkable resolve.

In the closing minutes—extended by four minutes of stoppage time—Luton came agonisingly close to equalising. Allan Brown headed narrowly wide, and Billy Bingham struck the side netting. But Forest held firm.

At the final whistle, they had achieved something extraordinary: becoming the only team in FA Cup history to win the trophy having been reduced in numbers by injury.

Aftermath and Atmosphere

The victory scenes were not without incident. Forest manager Billy Walker entered the field to congratulate his players, only to be mistakenly pursued by a steward who believed him to be a pitch invader—a moment that perfectly captured the chaotic emotion of the occasion.

The match also marked a small but notable moment in broadcasting history. It was televised live on BBC’s Grandstand, where score captions were introduced for the first time in a Cup Final. However, irritation was caused among Forest supporters when the team was repeatedly labelled “Notts Forest”—prompting commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme to issue an on-air correction.

In the stands, Forest supporters added to the occasion by singing the theme from The Adventures of Robin Hood, an early example of popular culture finding its way onto football terraces.

Match Details

Nottingham Forest 2 – 1 Luton Town
Wembley Stadium, London – 2 May 1959
Attendance: 100,000

Scorers:
Dwight (10’), Wilson (14’)
Pacey (66’)

Roy Dwight – A Career Defined by One Moment

Roy Dwight’s contribution to the 1959 triumph remains one of the most poignant stories in FA Cup history.

Signed by Nottingham Forest in the summer of 1958 for a reported £10,000, Dwight enjoyed a remarkable season, scoring 26 goals in 41 league appearances and adding a further nine goals in the FA Cup—including two hat-tricks. He was, without question, one of the outstanding forwards in English football at the time.

His goal in the Final, after just ten minutes, set Forest on their way. But just over twenty minutes later, his afternoon—and effectively his career at the highest level—was cruelly cut short when he suffered a broken leg.

Though he returned to action the following season and even scored in his comeback match, he was never quite the same player. His time at Nottingham Forest soon came to an end, and his career gradually faded from the top tier of the game.

Beyond football, Dwight’s life carried its own remarkable story. He was the cousin of Elton John—born Reg Dwight—and the future music icon even performed as a child at Roy’s wedding reception, one of his earliest public appearances.

Dwight passed away in 2002, but his place in football history is secure: a goalscorer in a Cup Final, and a central figure in one of the most courageous victories the competition has ever witnessed.

Legacy

The 1959 FA Cup triumph stands as one of Nottingham Forest’s greatest achievements—a victory built not only on skill, but on resilience, sacrifice, and sheer determination.

In an era before substitutes, against mounting adversity, Forest held their ground and etched their name into the history of the game.

It remains a story not just of victory—but of endurance under pressure, and of a team that refused to yield on football’s biggest stage.

Product details: