Terry Conroy's F.A. Cup 3rd Place Tankard 1970-71

Terry Conroy's F.A. Cup 3rd Place Tankard 1970-71, electroplate, inscribed THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP COMPETITION, THIRD PLACE, SEASON 1970-71, PRESENTED BY STOKE CITY FOOTBALL CLUB, height 13cm., 5in. The F.A. Cup third-fourth place play-off matches were first introduced in 1970 replacing the traditional pre-Final match between England and Young England. They proved generally unpopular and were only contested for five seasons, with the 1972 and 1973 matches played at the start of the following season and the 1974 match five days after the Cup final. The 1972 play-off was the first match in F.A. Cup history to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. In 1971 Stoke beat Everton 3-2 at Selhurst Park. Club stalwart Terry Conroy made 271 League appearances for Stoke City between 1967 and 1979, scoring 49 goals.