DESPITE snow, prospects of a full programme of FA Cup fifth-round ties that afternoon were bright, according to the Daily Worker of Saturday February 14 1953.

The ref for the Halifax v Tottenham match had inspected the pitch at the Shay the day before and said play was almost certain, while an army of 50 had cleared snow from the ground at Turf Moor for the Burnley v Arsenal tie and similar steps would be taken at Luton, at home to Bolton, in the morning.

There was none of today’s exhaustive — or exhausting — TV coverage: the BBC was offering an hour of rugby union on the Home Service, while football — just the second half, mind — was consigned to the Light Programme. The sole TV channel was running coverage of motorbike trials. So you had to go to a match to take in a game — and kick-off was at 3pm, not any daft early or late starts.