Match Abandoned After 15 Minutes
In the 1995–96 FA Cup, Tottenham Hotspur’s campaign was notably marked by a dramatic and weather-affected fifth-round tie against Nottingham Forest.
On February 18, 1996, Spurs traveled to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest. Shortly after kickoff, a sudden and intense snowstorm rendered the pitch unplayable. Despite attempts to continue the match using an orange ball, visibility deteriorated rapidly, and the referee abandoned the game after just 15 minutes. Both managers agreed with the decision, citing the unprecedented weather conditions.
The match was rescheduled nine days later and ended in a 2–2 draw, with Chris Armstrong scoring twice for Spurs. The subsequent replay at White Hart Lane also concluded in a 1–1 draw, leading to a penalty shootout. Tottenham were eliminated after losing 1–3 on penalties, allowing Nottingham Forest to advance to the quarter-finals.
The abandoned match against Ntingham Forest remains one of the most memorable snow-affected games in English Football History.
If the match was spectacular in the sense of being memorable, wild, or full of drama.
Yes — spectacular in its own chaotic, unforgettable way.
Here’s why:
■Snowstorm Madness: A match in a full-blown blizzard is rare. Players were slipping, visibility was awful, and fans could barely see what was going on. It looked more like a snowball fight than a football match.
■Unreal Atmosphere: Fans were stunned, laughing, shouting — no one expected the weather to hijack the game like that.
■Referee’s Call: After just 15 minutes, the ref had no choice but to abandon the match. You almost never see that, especially in a high-stakes FA Cup tie.
■Extra Drama in Replays: Two replays, extra time, penalties. One of those classic FA Cup sagas — not perfect football, but unforgettable emotion.
So no — it wasn’t spectacular for skill or goals. But for chaos, scenes, and pure FA Cup theatre?
and Alcohol 
