DID YOU KNOW THE ONLY PLAYER TO EVER SCORE AN HAT-TRICK IN AN ENGLISH FA CUP FINAL AT WEMBLEY STADIUM?

Stan Mortensen diving to head the ball at Wembley

Stan Mortensen joined Blackpool in 1941 but had to wait until 1946 to make his debut, after the outbreak of World War II had brought a temporary halt to competitive football. He helped Blackpool to three English FA Cup finals, finishing on the losing side in 1948 and again in 1951, before finally tasting a thrilling 4-3 victory for the Seasiders on May 16, 1953 against Bolton Wanderers - when he became the first and only player to score a hat-trick in an English FA Cup final played at the Wembley Stadium.


He scored 197 league goals in 317 games during his time at Bloomfield Road before going on to enjoy brief spells at Hull City, Southport and Bath. He retired from the game in May 1959, but was persuaded to make a comeback for Lancaster City in November 1960. He finally hung up his boots for good in March 1962.