On this day, May 6, 1978 - Ipswich Town stun Arsenal to lift the FA Cup

The Tractor Boys embark on a remarkable run of success

Ipswich Town captain, Mick Mills (left) holding the FA Cup with Roger Osbourne, the scorer of the only goal to win the trophy against Arsenal on May 6, 1978. Getty

6 May 1978: Roger Osborne of Ipswich Town celebrates scoring the winner in the FA Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium. Allsport

Paul Cooper in action for Ipswich against Arsenal. Getty

Paul Mariner of Ipswich is watched by Sammy Nelson of Arsenal. Allsport

Ipswich Town celebrate after winning the 1978 FA Cup final against Arsenal, 1-0, at Wembley stadium on May 6, 1978. Manager Bobby Robson (2nd left back row) goalscorer Roger Osbourne (4th left back row) Kevin Beatie (behind Osbourne arm raised) Mick Mills, Brian Talbot and Clive Woods (with trophy) goalkeeper Paul Cooper (back row far right) Paul Mariner, John Wark (c) and David Geddis (r) seated. Allsport

On paper, it was a no contest.

Arsenal had the likes of Pat Jennings, David O'Leary, Liam Brady, Malcolm Macdonald and Frank Stapleton in their ranks for this FA Cup final.

The underdogs from Ipswich had their own stars in John Wark, Kevin Beattie, Paul Mariner and Mick Mills, but surely not enough to upset the London glamour boys.

But, of course, that's the great beauty of sport. It's never predictable.

May 6, 1978 and Ipswich Town claimed the Gunners' scalp for their only FA Cup win, a day no fan of the Tractor Boys will ever forget.

Wembley still held 100,000 in those days and FA Cup finals brought the country to a virtual standstill. TV coverage would start at breakfast and not stop until long after the trophy had been lifted. Everyone watched.

The FA Cup final was one of the few live televised matches in the 1970s, screened on two of the three channels of the day.

Ipswich, managed by future England boss Bobby Robson, were helped by Brady not being fully fit, and after a promising start from the Gunners, they started to control the match.

But despite enjoying the upper hand, they did not make the breakthrough until the 78th minute.

Not only did local lad Roger Osborne's goal win them the Cup, it ushered in an era when the small-town Suffolk team could rival some of the best in Europe, culminating in their 1981 Uefa Cup win.

Osborne, the son of a cowman, and one of 12 children, was one of only two Suffolk-born players in Ipswich's starting line-up and later said: "You can't wish for anything like that, but it's actually happening. It must be a terrible thing to lose at Wembley, but to win? It takes some beating, really."

The FA Cup itself - in terms of what it means to fans - has changed "a thousand-fold", he added.

"The world nearly stopped for the FA Cup - from early in the morning until teatime."

Teammate Wark added: "Everybody in the world watched that final - not like now - and I was just part of a team that beat Arsenal, who were big favourites.

"The FA Cup in these days was the biggest cup competition in the world - it was televised all over the world and there were cameras at the hotel in the morning, and on the bus with us going to the ground.

"We were just ready for it and it was a fantastic occasion, and we took it. We started well and it was one of those games... it was 1-0, but for me it could have been three or four.

"I hit the post twice, Paul Mariner hits the crossbar and Roger scores the winning goal. It was a great occasion - 100,000 people there. It was a real hot day and I'll never forget it."

It was the start of a great era for Ipswich, culminating in winning the 1981 Uefa Cup.