1978–79 FA Cup


The 1978–79 FA Cup was the 98th staging of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup. The final saw Arsenal beat Manchester United 3–2, three of the five goals being scored in the last five minutes.

Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 28 places available in the first round.
The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Blyth Spartans, Workington, Runcorn, Chorley, Morecambe, Southport, Droylsden, Nuneaton Borough, AP Leamington, Stafford Rangers, Boston United, Worksop Town, Hitchin Town, Enfield, March Town United, Barking, Dagenham, Wealdstone, Barnet, Dartford, Maidstone United, Gravesend & Northfleet, Woking, Hillingdon Borough, Worcester City, Yeovil Town, Weymouth and Merthyr Tydfil.
For the first time since 1910–11, all successful qualifying clubs had appeared in the competition proper before. However, Gravesend & Northfleet had not featured at this stage since 1965-66, Chorley had last done so in 1963-64, Worksop Town had last done so in 1961-62, Worcester City had last done so in 1960-61, March Town United in 1955-56 and Barking in 1928-29.
Maidstone United was the most successful club from this season's qualifying rounds, progressing from the first qualifying round to the third round proper after defeating Horsham YMCA, Dover, Ramsgate, Waterlooville, Wycombe Wanderers and Exeter City. Charlton Athletic then needed a replay to knock them out of the tournament.

First round proper

The 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions entered in this round along with the 28 non-league clubs from the qualifying rounds and Altrincham, Leatherhead, Scarborough and Wycombe Wanderers who were given byes. The first round of games were played on 25 November 1978. Replays were played mainly on 28–29 November, with two on 5–6 December.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Blackpool2–1Lincoln City25 November 1978
2Chester1–1Runcorn25 November 1978
ReplayRuncorn0–5Chester28 November 1978
3Darlington1–1Chesterfield25 November 1978
ReplayChesterfield0–1Darlington6 December 1978
4Dartford1–2AP Leamington25 November 1978
5AFC Bournemouth2–1Hitchin Town25 November 1978
6Barnet3–3Woking25 November 1978
ReplayWoking3–3Barnet28 November 1978
ReplayWoking3–0Barnet5 December 1978
7Rochdale0–1Droylsden25 November 1978
8Watford3–0Dagenham25 November 1978
9Yeovil Town0–1Barking25 November 1978
10Reading0–0Gillingham25 November 1978
ReplayGillingham1–2Reading28 November 1978
11Walsall0–2Torquay United25 November 1978
12Swindon Town2–0March Town United25 November 1978
13Doncaster Rovers2–1Huddersfield Town25 November 1978
14Tranmere Rovers2–1Boston United25 November 1978
15Stockport County5–1Morecambe25 November 1978
16Chorley0–1Scarborough25 November 1978
17Barnsley5–1Worksop Town25 November 1978
18Maidstone United1–0Wycombe Wanderers25 November 1978
19Portsmouth2–0Northampton Town25 November 1978
20Bradford City1–0Port Vale25 November 1978
21Hull City2–1Stafford Rangers25 November 1978
22Carlisle United1–0Halifax Town25 November 1978
23Worcester City2–0Plymouth Argyle25 November 1978
24Altrincham4–3Southport25 November 1978
25Southend United3–2Peterborough United25 November 1978
26Exeter City1–0Brentford25 November 1978
27Scunthorpe United1–1Sheffield Wednesday25 November 1978
ReplaySheffield Wednesday1–0Scunthorpe United28 November 1978
28Mansfield Town0–2Shrewsbury Town25 November 1978
29Wealdstone0–5Enfield25 November 1978
30York City1–1Blyth Spartans25 November 1978
ReplayBlyth Spartans3–5York City28 November 1978
31Hereford United0–1Newport County25 November 1978
32Rotherham United3–0Workington25 November 1978
33Aldershot1–1Weymouth25 November 1978
ReplayWeymouth0–2Aldershot29 November 1978
34Wigan Athletic2–2Bury25 November 1978
ReplayBury4–1Wigan Athletic28 November 1978
35Colchester United4–2Oxford United25 November 1978
36Nuneaton Borough0–2Crewe Alexandra25 November 1978
37Gravesend & Northfleet0–0Wimbledon25 November 1978
ReplayWimbledon1–0Gravesend & Northfleet28 November 1978
38Leatherhead2–1Merthyr Tydfil25 November 1978
39Swansea City4–1Hillingdon Borough25 November 1978
40Hartlepool United1–0Grimsby Town25 November 1978

Second round proper

The second round of games were played on 16 December 1978. Replays took place mainly on 18–19 with one on 28 December and another on 9 January 1979.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Darlington2–1Chester16 December 1978
2Barking1–2Aldershot16 December 1978
3Bury3–1Blackpool16 December 1978
4Watford1–1Southend United16 December 1978
ReplaySouthend United1–0Watford18 December 1978
5Crewe Alexandra0–1Hartlepool United16 December 1978
6Swindon Town3–0Enfield16 December 1978
7Doncaster Rovers0–3Shrewsbury Town16 December 1978
8Tranmere Rovers1–1Sheffield Wednesday16 December 1978
ReplaySheffield Wednesday4–0Tranmere Rovers19 December 1978
9Stockport County4–2Bradford City16 December 1978
10Barnsley1–1Rotherham United16 December 1978
ReplayRotherham United2–1Barnsley9 January 1979
11Maidstone United1–0Exeter City16 December 1978
12Portsmouth0–1Reading16 December 1978
13Carlisle United3–0Hull City16 December 1978
14Wimbledon1–1AFC Bournemouth16 December 1978
ReplayAFC Bournemouth1–2Wimbledon28 December 1978
15Newport County0–0Worcester City16 December 1978
ReplayWorcester City1–2Newport County18 December 1978
16York City3–0Scarborough16 December 1978
17Droylsden0–2Altrincham16 December 1978
18Leatherhead1–1Colchester United16 December 1978
ReplayColchester United4–0Leatherhead19 December 1978
19Swansea City2–2Woking16 December 1978
ReplayWoking3–5Swansea City19 December 1978
20AP Leamington0–1Torquay United16 December 1978

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were intended to be played on 6 January 1979, but only four games were actually played on this date. Twenty more ties were played midweek over 8–10 January with a few more taking place on 15–16 and one on 18 January. Replays were intended for 9–10 January but again took place at various times. One tie, between Wrexham and Stockport County, suffered six postponements before finally being played on 1 February, by which time Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday had played five times, the tie needing a fourth replay before being settled. Maidstone United and Altrincham were the last non-league clubs left in the competition.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Darlington0–1Colchester United9 January 1979
2Bristol City3–1Bolton Wanderers9 January 1979
3Preston North End3–0Derby County16 January 1979
4Leicester City3–0Norwich City6 January 1979
5Notts County4–2Reading9 January 1979
6Nottingham Forest2–0Aston Villa10 January 1979
7Blackburn Rovers2–1Millwall10 January 1979
8Sheffield Wednesday1–1Arsenal6 January 1979
ReplayArsenal1–1Sheffield Wednesday9 January 1979
ReplaySheffield Wednesday2–2Arsenal15 January 1979
ReplayArsenal3–3Sheffield Wednesday17 January 1979
ReplaySheffield Wednesday0–2Arsenal22 January 1979
9Middlesbrough1–1Crystal Palace9 January 1979
ReplayCrystal Palace1–0Middlesbrough15 January 1979
10Sunderland2–1Everton10 January 1979
11Swindon Town3–0Cardiff City9 January 1979
12Shrewsbury Town3–1Cambridge United6 January 1979
13Wrexham6–2Stockport County1 February 1979
14Sheffield United0–0Aldershot9 January 1979
ReplayAldershot1–0Sheffield United15 January 1979
15Ipswich Town3–2Carlisle United10 January 1979
16Newcastle United3–1Torquay United16 January 1979
17Tottenham Hotspur1–1Altrincham10 January 1979
ReplayAltrincham0–3Tottenham Hotspur16 January 1979
18Manchester City0–0Rotherham United15 January 1979
ReplayRotherham United2–4Manchester City17 January 1979
19Fulham2–0Queens Park Rangers9 January 1979
20Coventry City2–2West Bromwich Albion9 January 1979
ReplayWest Bromwich Albion4–0Coventry City15 January 1979
21Brighton & Hove Albion2–3Wolverhampton Wanderers9 January 1979
22Manchester United3–0Chelsea15 January 1979
23Wimbledon0–2Southampton9 January 1979
24Southend United0–0Liverpool10 January 1979
ReplayLiverpool3–0Southend United17 January 1979
25Newport County2–1West Ham United9 January 1979
26Charlton Athletic1–1Maidstone United9 January 1979
ReplayMaidstone United1–2Charlton Athletic15 January 1979
27York City2–0Luton Town9 January 1979
28Stoke City0–1Oldham Athletic17 January 1979
29Birmingham City0–2Burnley6 January 1979
30Orient3–2Bury9 January 1979
31Swansea City0–1Bristol Rovers8 January 1979
32Hartlepool United2–6Leeds United18 January 1979

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were intended to be played over the weekend 26–27 January 1979, but by this time only eight matches had been played, of which three went to replays. The other games were completed either midweek on 29–31st, or on 5 or 12 February. Replays were played at various times after the initial games.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Burnley1–1Sunderland21 February 1979
ReplaySunderland0–3Burnley26 February 1979
2Liverpool1–0Blackburn Rovers30 January 1979
3Preston North End0–1Southampton12 February 1979
4Nottingham Forest3–1York City27 January 1979
5Leeds United3–3West Bromwich Albion26 February 1979
ReplayWest Bromwich Albion2–0Leeds United1 March 1979
6Shrewsbury Town2–0Manchester City27 January 1979
7Ipswich Town0–0Orient27 January 1979
ReplayOrient0–2Ipswich Town30 January 1979
8Newcastle United1–1Wolverhampton Wanderers27 January 1979
ReplayWolverhampton Wanderers1–0Newcastle United22 February 1979
9Tottenham Hotspur3–3Wrexham12 February 1979
ReplayWrexham2–3Tottenham Hotspur21 February 1979
10Fulham1–1Manchester United31 January 1979
ReplayManchester United1–0Fulham12 February 1979
11Bristol Rovers1–0Charlton Athletic5 February 1979
12Oldham Athletic3–1Leicester City26 February 1979
13Crystal Palace3–0Bristol City29 January 1979
14Newport County0–0Colchester United30 January 1979
ReplayColchester United1–0Newport County5 February 1979
15Arsenal2–0Notts County27 January 1979
16Aldershot2–1Swindon Town30 January 1979

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games was played on either 20, 26 or 28 February, or 10 March 1979. Two replays were played on 26 February and 12 March.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Liverpool3–0Burnley28 February 1979
2Nottingham Forest0–1Arsenal26 February 1979
3West Bromwich Albion1–1Southampton10 March 1979
ReplaySouthampton2–1West Bromwich Albion12 March 1979
4Ipswich Town6–1Bristol Rovers26 February 1979
5Oldham Athletic0–1Tottenham Hotspur28 February 1979
6Crystal Palace0–1Wolverhampton Wanderers26 February 1979
7Aldershot2–2Shrewsbury Town20 February 1979
ReplayShrewsbury Town3–1Aldershot26 February 1979
8Colchester United0–1Manchester United20 February 1979

Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played on 10 March 1979, except for the Southampton–Arsenal match which began on 19 March. Holders Ipswich Town were eliminated by Liverpool. There were three replays.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Southampton1–1Arsenal19 March 1979
ReplayArsenal2–0Southampton21 March 1979
2Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1Shrewsbury Town10 March 1979
ReplayShrewsbury Town1–3Wolverhampton Wanderers13 March 1979
3Ipswich Town0–1Liverpool10 March 1979
4Tottenham Hotspur1–1Manchester United10 March 1979
ReplayManchester United2–0Tottenham Hotspur14 March 1979

Television coverage

The right to show FA Cup games were, as with Football League matches, shared between the BBC and ITV network. All games were shown in a highlights format, except the Final, which was shown live both on BBC1 & ITV. The BBC football highlights programme Match of the Day would show up to three games and the various ITV regional network stations would cover up to one game and show highlights from other games covered elsewhere on the ITV network. No games from Rounds 1 or 2 were shown. Occasional highlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV.
These matches were.
RoundBBC1ITV
Third round properLeicester City v Norwich City 1
Shrewsbury Town v Cambridge United
Southend United v Liverpool 2		[|Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal] – Yorkshire 1
[|Stoke City v Oldham Athletic] – ATV 1
Fourth round properShrewsbury Town v Manchester City 1
Arsenal v Notts County 1
[|Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers] – Yorkshire 1
[|Nottingham Forest v York City] – ATV
[|Ipswich Town v Orient] – Anglia 1
Fulham v Manchester United 3
Manchester United v Fulham 3
Wrexham v Tottenham Hotspur 3
Fifth round properNottingham Forest v Arsenal2
Sixth round properManchester United v Tottenham Hotspur 1,2 [|Wolverhampton Wanderers v Shrewsbury Town] – ATV 1
[|Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United] – LWT
Semi-finalsArsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Liverpool v Manchester United2 1		[|Manchester United vs Liverpool] – Granada shown in All Regions1
FinalArsenal vs Manchester United 1Arsenal vs Manchester United 1

1Footage available on YouTube

2featured on Sportsnight

3featured on Midweek Sports Special