Former Gazette U's writer Francis Ponder on a famous win

The result will live in the heart of every Colchester United fan forever as the U's (dubbed Graham's Grandads because of their advancing years) saw off their international packed, top division rivals in an unforgettable 1971 fifth-round clash before a Layer Road full house.

As one national newspaper headline put it - The most fantastic result you'll ever see COLCHESTER 3 LEEDS 2.

They DO come back...Crawford proves it.

Former Colchester Gazette sports writer Francis Ponder reflects on a famous day for the U's.

WILEY old former Ipswich Town, England international and Colchester United veteran Ray Crawford set the scene perfectly in the BBC TV Match of the Day morning preview when he boasted - "I always score against Leeds and Jack Charlton!

"They are like my rabbits.

"I pick'um off like a farmer with a gun picks off the rabbits in his field."

And true to his word it only took the U's 36-year-old talisman centre=forward 18 minutes of the cup-tie to live up to his promise.

The Match of the Day cameras and the 16,000 crowd (maybe many more) could hardly believe their eyes as to what they were about to witness.

Charlton, England's World Cup winning centre-half only five years earlier, needlessly fouled U's winger Brian Lewis out on the left touchline level with the Leeds penalty area.

Lewis got up to fire a perfect free-kick into the penalty area where Crawford rose majestically six yards out to send a bullet header scorching into the net just under the crossbar.

The scoreline was even better six minutes later when Crawford challenged Charlton and Leeds' England international right-back Paul Reaney to a Brian Gibbs cross and flat on his back the U's goal poacher reacted quickly to send the loose ball past Leeds stranded 'keeper Gary Sprake to put the home side unbelievably 2-0 in front.

Colchester continued to set the pace and there was no sign of their ageing legs beginning to wilt as they deservedly soaked up the tremendous ovation going in for their half-time cuppa.

Crawford could so easily have have had another couple of goals had the chances that came his way gone in.

But whatever Dick Graham said to his team during the interval worked because they continued to call the tune.

Would you believe it the U's went 3-0 ahead nine minutes into the second half when Lewis pumped a long right-wing cross into the visitors' penalty box where Graham's "Young Lion" Dave Simmons rose above the dithering Reaney and Wales international keeper 'Sprake to nod the ball into an empty net.

Colchester were rampant at this time and as excited loud chants of U-N-I-T-E-D, U-N-I-T-E-D reverberated round the ground they continued to rise to the challenge.

However, it was inevitable their advancing years and "old legs" would begin to feel the pressure of the punishing pace and with an hour gone Leeds suddenly realised they had a game on their hands and started to turn on their First Division class and undoubted power.

England international left-half Norman Hunter looped in a header from a Johnny Giles corner past U's 'keeper Graham Smith to pull the score back to 3-1 soon after.

And Republic of Ireland international midfielder Giles himself lashed goal number two into the net with 17 minutes still to play.

The U's hung on manfully to their narrow lead, but Leeds thought they had grabbed a late equaliser when centre-forward Mick Jones powered a fierce close-range header goalwards five minutes from full-time only to see Graham Smith save the U's day with a world-class save.

The U's had already seen off Ringmer, Cambridge United, Barnet and Rochdale in the earlier rounds, but sadly quarter-final opponents Everton away from home proved a 5-0 step too far despite a standing ovation from their opponents and the 53,000 Goodison Park fans.

Teams for the Leeds cup-tie: U's: Graham Smith, Bobby Cram (capt), Brian Hall, John Gilchrist, Brian Garvey, John Kurilla, Brian Lewis, Dave Simmons, Ray Crawford, Brian Gibbs, Mick Mahon. Sub: Micky Cook.

Leeds: Gary Sprake, Paul Reaney, Terry Cooper, Mick Bates, Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, Peter Lorimer, Allan Clarke, Mick Jones, Johnny Giles, Paul Madeley. Sub: Rod Belfitt.

Were you one of the lucky ones on the Layer Road terraces when the U's famously beat Leeds United, in 1971?

Perhaps you've been told stories about it by grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and friends.

Maybe you've seen re-runs on television or you're the proud owner of newspaper cuttings, photos or the matchday programme.

Even if you're a much younger fan, how proud does it make you that the Leeds win features so prominently in Colchester's history?

Whatever your connection to the famous day, we'd love to celebrate the anniversary by hearing what our readers have to say.

Share your stories by emailing matt.plummer@newsquest.co.uk or go to https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/my/ccn/assignment/79yyFouL/