64 years ago today ...Rovers in FA Cup Quarter Final

Sixty four years ago today Rovers played in the FA Cup quarter Final for the first time in their history. On 24th February 1951 Third Division Rovers ground out a very creditable goalless draw with First Division Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-final at St James’ Park. The attendance at this game, 62,787, which produced £7,561 in gate receipts, remains the largest ever at a football match involving Bristol Rovers. Around 5,000 Rovers supporters had travelled about twelve hours to witness this momentous game, but an incredible 100,000 queued at Eastville two days later for tickets for the Wednesday afternoon replay. A line of policemen was deployed to keep about 50,000 people out of Eastville car park as soon as it became evident how over-subscribed the game had become, while His Majesty’s Cinema was turned into a medical treatment station.