Article by Leon Higgins 

In 2008, Gary Lowe’s men made history when they beat Exeter City in the first round proper of the FA Cup. The win over Exeter, who were League Two at the time cemented Lowe’s team in history as the only Curzon side to have beaten a EFL team.

The mammoth seven game cup run began in the Preliminary round when The Nash beat Runcorn Linnets 4-0. A first qualifying round home 1-0 win against Leigh Genises followed by a 2-1 away victory at Stocksbridge Park Steels a year after Stocksbridge beat Curzon 3-2.

Curzon supporter Dredz recalls his memories of the Stocksbridge 2007 defeat:

“In the season we lost to Stocksbridge (2007-08) it was my first ever Nash away game in the FA Cup. We were 2-0 up at the half time before it went to 2-2 going in the final moments. A young 16 year old sub called Jamie Vardy then scored his first FA Cup goal and the winner to send Stockbridge through.”

“Vardy’s got some speed on him” is what one fan described Vardy as that day after scoring his first ever FA Cup goal which turned out to be one of many in his long established career, where he also became the only FA Cup winner to play in every single round throughout his career all the way from Preliminary Round to the final at Wembley in 2021 where his Leicester City beat Chelsea 1-0.

After defeating Stocksbridge in the 2008 FA Cup, The Nash were rewarded with an exciting local home derby against Mossley. Curzon came out winners that day in a 4-3 classic in front of a crowd of 492. The fourth and final qualifying draw saw Curzon get drawn at Conference North side Hinckley Utd.

Dredz recalls the Hinckley game:

“Hinckley were a team that were two divisions higher than the Nash at the time and went on to finish in the top 10 that season, similar place where we have been recently. In the game itself, we defended brilliantly and even had a couple of counter attacks we could have scored from. When the fourth official lifted his board up at 90 minutes it showing four mins of added time. In the first minute, Hinckley scored a scrappy goal from a corner to break the Nash hearts, but in typical Gary Lowe fashion he would get his team to give everything until the very last second and were rewarded 30 seconds from the end of added time with a equaliser through Danny Whelan”

The replay was played just 48 hours later on the Monday night. Dredz described the replay as “A similar game to the first game with this also finishing 1-1 after extra time”. The Nash would end victorious 3-2 on penalties to set up the great tie with League Two side Exeter City.

“I remember being excited for the game but not really believing The Nash could win at the end of the day. Exeter had drawn 0-0 at Old Trafford against Manchester United just three years earlier and they still had a couple of the same players that played that day.”

The attendance that day was 1259, with Exeter bringing 350 fans up from Devon, who were all in great spirits with their songs and flags.

“The game kicked off with a very cagey start but the Nash were really in the Exeter professional’s faces not giving them any time to settle. In the 26th minute the very busy midfielder Chris “Worzel” Worsley, picked up the ball and ran towards goal, being closely tracked down by the Exeter defence when he released a shot which nicked off the defender and looped horribly over the Exeter keeper (Paul Jones) to make it 1-0. The lads worked hard for the rest of the half not giving Exeter time to settle and took the one goal lead into half time.”

The Grecians would show their League 2 qualities at the start of the 2nd half, with Exeter on the front foot putting pressure on the Nash who defended well as a team.

“In the 56th minute, Curzon won a free kick midway in their own half with captain David Birch taking a long aim for Phil Edgehill on the right wing who headed it inwards to James Ogoo, with the little tenacious Gambian midfielder, who once man marked Ballon d’or winner George Weah in a World Cup qualifier, flicking the ball inwards from 25 yards out, going away from the defender and belted it in a flash towards goal, it flying over Paul Jones head into the back of the net. “One of the best FA Cup goal’s I’ve ever seen. James doesn’t score many either.”

“The EFL side were shellshocked and they huffed and puffed but the Nash were giving their all to keep the league team at bay. Dave Carnell in goal was assured in everything he did and the rest of the team fought for everything. The 79th minute, saw the Nash counter attack after a high Exeter press with the ball played forward to leading scorer Michael Norton who just beat the line.. Would have gone to VAR these days, but as ever he timed it perfect, the flag stayed down as he bared down on goal and finished just like had so many times before, to put Curzon 3-0 up and in FA Cup dream land.”

Gary Lowe’s side were ten minutes away from creating history and were trying to see out the game despite tiredness creeping in.

“Exeter were playing with 4 players up front and they got a goal back in the 85th minute. The Nash were taking their time with every throw in, goal kick and dead ball situation with Exeter player Matt Gill getting very frustrated and ending up getting sent off. You thought that was it at 3-1 but Exeter down to ten men scored in injury time to cause a few nerves. But the boys held out for a memorable win.”

As Curzon recorded the greatest win in the history of the club, Dredz recalls the full time celebrations:

“The biggest thing I remember at the final whistle was the sound system at full blast with the song Singing the blues by Tommy Steele and my 12 year old son doing a runner onto the pitch where other people had the same idea. There were camera’s all around the Nash dugout and players congratulating each other.”

Exeter that season went on to win promotion to League 1, finishing runners up to Champions Brentford. Only Bradford City and Curzon scored more than two goals at home to Exeter that season, showing the magnitude of Gary Lowe’s side achievement.

Exeter had some real talent that day as well with former Premier League striker Marcus Stewart, who finish 2nd in the golden boot race in 2000-01 behind Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and infront of Thierry Henry. Dean Moxey and Steve Basham also played for Crystal Palace and Southampton in the Premier League with Rob Edwards a Wales International. Goalkeeper Paul Jones had more bad memories against Curzon as he was in goal when the Curzon knocked out Kings Lynn in last seasons FA Cup after he had a big EFL career.

Most of the Curzon team continued at Non League level with Chris Worsley moving to Halifax, Dave Birch becoming the record app holder for Curzon and ending up winning National North with Hyde alongside manager Gary Lowe and Micky Norton made more FA Cup headlines with FC United of Manchester.

Curzon Ashton: Carnell, Russell, Whelan, Birch, Jones, Curley, Ogoo (Byrne 88), Worsley, Elliot (O’Connor 76), Norton, Edghill.

Subs Not Used: Barker, Booty, Watson, Hardman.

Booked: Edghill.
Goals: Worsley 26, Ogoo 56, Norton 79.

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Seaborne, Taylor, Moxey, Logan (Harley 46), Gill, Cozic (Basham 59), Edwards, Stewart, Stansfield (Watson 71).

Subs Not Used: Marriott, Panther, McAllister, Murray.

Sent Off: Gill (89).
Booked: Taylor, Seaborne.
Goals: Basham 84, Moxey 90.

Att: 1,259 (350 Exeter)

Ref: Simon Beck (Essex)