1991 - 25 years on

It's 25 years since our famous FA Cup triumph of 1991 and in this special feature, we'll talk to the men that made it happen, round-by-round...

Our run to victory in the 1991 FA Cup still evokes memories. Paul Gascoigne's free-kick will win many 'best goal' polls, Gary Lineker laid prone after scoring against Arsenal at Wembley, Brian Clough and Terry Venables leading the teams out hand-in-hand in the final, the crunch of Gazza's challenge with Gary Charles, Paul Stewart's equaliser against Forest and leap over the advertising hoardings, Des Walker's own goal, Gary Mabbutt lifting the trophy.

And yes, it was 25 years ago.

Having overcome a potential third round shock in the wind and rain at Blackpool the team welcomed a home draw in round four and, typical of the early rounds of this run, were given a serious run for their money by Oxford United, then of the old Second Division (now the Championship).

But this is where the Gazza magic really started to rub off.

He set up the first goal by taking a corner short from Paul Walsh and driving into the box, the ball was deflected to Gary Mabbutt, who finished. Gazza then won a powerful header that released Gary Lineker, who was deadly as ever from 16 yards for 2-0.

Oxford hit back through Martin Foyle for 2-1 but Gazza again took the game by the scruff of the neck, driving from a central position, playing a one-two with Walsh that took out four defenders and finally skipping past Foster before slotting home for 3-1.

Foyle made it 3-2 but Gazza was there again to wrap it up, this time taking a pass from Lineker before firing home for 4-2.

1991 - 25 YEARS ON - FOURTH ROUND
January 26, 1991
Spurs 4 (Gascoigne 2, Lineker, Mabbutt) Oxford 2 (Foyle 2)
White Hart Lane
Spurs: Thorstvedt, Fenwick, Van den Hauwe, Nayim, Howells (Sedgley), Mabbutt, Stewart, Gascoigne, Walsh, Lineker, Allen.
Attendance: 31,665

GARY MABBUTT – CAPTAIN, GOALSCORER
"I scored the first goal. It was a corner, I came up, it was half-cleared and fell to Steve Foster (Oxford defender). He was about to clear it and I went in for a block tackle. He must have been off balance and went flying, I won the ball and I struck it into the corner.  Oxford came back at us and it was another tough game, they put up a tremendous fight but Paul Gascoigne had an outstanding game for us.  If you look back overall, it was a tough run. You’d look at some of the games and think ‘that looks like a nice draw’ but every single round was a battle and teams always raised their games against us. The club has a great reputation in the FA Cup and we’re one of the teams everyone wants to knock out."

DAVID HOWELLS – MABBSY'S PARTNER IN CENTRAL DEFENCE – INJURED THAT DAY
"Gazza was unbelievable that day, sensational. I played centre-half. I’d had a couple of games there due to injuries. Oxford put up a good show. Gazza scored a couple of world-class goals. I picked up an injury and needed eight stitches in my knee. I was trying to shepherd the ball back to Erik (Thorstvedt) but he came flying out and wiped me out. I ended up missing the next game at Portsmouth."

JUSTIN EDINBURGH – ON THE BENCH
“I was an unused sub for that one. I remember it was at home and again it was the Gazza show. He scored a couple of good goals as I recall and Gary Lineker and Gary Mabbutt also scored. Obviously we were expected to win and we did so quite comfortably and in good fashion.”

The series returns on February 16 and another Gazza masterclass in another tricky tie, this time at Portsmouth in round five.