THE death of rock legend David Bowie shared Monday’s news reports with coverage of Oxford United’s remarkable 3-2 victory over Swansea City in the third round of the FA cup.

Without wishing in the least to demean the brilliant achievement of the U’s, I cannot resist pointing out that, as far as giant-killing activities are concerned, it is significantly outclassed by the exploits of another of my home teams.

I refer to Peterborough United, which I supported as a boy, and especially in 1965 when as a Division 3 side they reached the sixth round of the FA Cup.

Their fifth round victory, as it happens, was over Swansea, known in those days as Swansea Town. The name change came in 1969 when city status was awarded to Swansea during celebrations to mark Prince Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales.

The victory of the Posh was the more surprising, coming as it did before a crowd of 29,948 at Swansea’s Vetch Field ground.

The scorer of both goals was inside forward Peter Deakin, formerly of Bolton Wanderers, in whose strip he appears in the picture below.

Owing to the distance involved I had not, as a 13-year-old, travelled to Wales, but had seen the home match against Swansea that preceded it, which ended as a 0-0 draw. This game was watched by a crowd of 30,096 which remains a record gate at the London Road ground.

This was just 40 more fans than were present on January 30, 1965 – I was among them – for the Posh’s fourth-round victory over Arsenal. The scoreline was 2-1, with the home side’s goals supplied by Derek ‘The Doog’ Dougan and Peter McNamee.

The excitement of these games remains with me half a century later. So, too, the fear of a lad jam-packed on the terraces, wet gaberdine macs on all sides.