1986–87 FA Cup


The 1986–87 FA Cup was the 106th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, the FA Cup. The competition was won by Coventry City, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–2, after extra-time, in the final at Wembley Stadium. It was Tottenham's only defeat in eight finals up to that point. The tournament started in August 1986, with non-league teams competing in the qualifying rounds.

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 Southport, Caernarfon Town, Spennymoor United, Whitby Town, Nuneaton Borough, Chorley, Stafford Rangers, Boston United, Kettering Town, Halesowen Town, Bishop's Stortford, Woodford Town, Bromsgrove Rovers, Chelmsford City, Enfield, Wealdstone, Aylesbury United, Welling United, Slough Town, VS Rugby, Farnborough Town, Bognor Regis Town, Fareham Town, Dartford, Maidstone United, Bath City, Woking and Ton Pentre.
Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Caernarfon Town, Woodford Town, Welling United and Ton Pentre. However, Caernarfon Town's accomplishments brought back memories of predecessor club Caernarfon Athletic's famous FA Cup run in 1929-30 while Woodford Town was the first club from that Essex community to feature in the main draw of the Cup since Woodford Bridge in 1883-84. Of the others, Southport and Woking had last featured in the first round in 1978–79, Spennymoor United had last done so in 1977-78 and Bromsgrove Rovers had last done so in 1956-57.
In a season where the Football League abolished its annual re-election system and allowed for automatic promotion and relegation between the Football Conference and the Fourth Division, 13 Conference clubs featured in the main draw of the FA Cup. Ironically, the season's Conference champions Scarborough, who would benefit from the new system and be promoted into the Football League in 1987, were eliminated from the Cup in the first qualifying round by unheralded Northern Premier League outfit Goole Town.

First round proper

The 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions entered in this round along with the 28 non-league qualifiers and Altrincham, Runcorn, Frickley Athletic and Telford United who were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 15–16 November 1986, with the exception of the Bristol Rovers–Brentford game. Replays were played in the midweek fixtures on either 17th-18th or on 24th.
Three clubs from Step 8 of the English football pyramid featured in the draw: Whitby Town and Spennymoor United from the Northern League and Woking from the Isthmian League Second Division South. They were the lowest-ranked teams in the round as the Welsh League was the highest-standard football competition in Wales until 1992.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Chester City1–1Rotherham United15 November 1986
ReplayRotherham United1–1Chester City18 November 1986
ReplayChester City1–0Rotherham United24 November 1986
2Darlington2–1Mansfield Town16 November 1986
3Dartford 1–1Enfield 15 November 1986
ReplayEnfield3–0Dartford18 November 1986
4AFC Bournemouth7–2Fareham Town 15 November 1986
5Bath City 3–2Aylesbury United 15 November 1986
6Bristol City3–1VS Rugby 15 November 1986
7Preston North End5–1Bury15 November 1986
8Walsall2–0Chesterfield15 November 1986
9Woking 1–1Chelmsford City 15 November 1986
ReplayChelmsford City2–1Woking17 November 1986
10Notts County1–1Carlisle United15 November 1986
ReplayCarlisle United0–3Notts County18 November 1986
11Middlesbrough3–0Blackpool15 November 1986
12Swindon Town4–0Farnborough Town 15 November 1986
13Wrexham2–1Hartlepool United15 November 1986
14Chorley 1–1Wolverhampton Wanderers15 November 1986
ReplayWolverhampton Wanderers1–1Chorley18 November 1986
ReplayChorley3–0Wolverhampton Wanderers24 November 1986
15Bristol Rovers0–0Brentford3 December 1986
ReplayBrentford2–0Bristol Rovers6 December 1986
16Northampton Town3–0Peterborough United16 November 1986
17Spennymoor United 2–3Tranmere Rovers15 November 1986
18Southend United4–1Halesowen Town 15 November 1986
19Exeter City1–1Cambridge United15 November 1986
ReplayCambridge United2–0Exeter City19 November 1986
20Scunthorpe United2–0Southport 15 November 1986
21Ton Pentre 1–4Cardiff City15 November 1986
22Bromsgrove Rovers 0–1Newport County15 November 1986
23Port Vale1–0Stafford Rangers 15 November 1986
24Halifax Town1–1Bolton Wanderers15 November 1986
ReplayBolton Wanderers1–1Halifax Town18 November 1986
ReplayHalifax Town1–3Bolton Wanderers24 November 1986
25Wealdstone 1–1Swansea City15 November 1986
ReplaySwansea City4–1Wealdstone24 November 1986
26Runcorn 1–1Boston United 15 November 1986
ReplayBoston United1–2Runcorn19 November 1986
27York City3–1Crewe Alexandra15 November 1986
28Hereford United3–3Fulham15 November 1986
ReplayFulham4–0Hereford United24 November 1986
29Bishop's Stortford 1–1Colchester United15 November 1986
ReplayColchester United2–0Bishop's Stortford18 November 1986
30Kettering Town 0–3Gillingham15 November 1986
31Aldershot1–0Torquay United15 November 1986
32Wigan Athletic3–1Lincoln City15 November 1986
33Nuneaton Borough 0–3Rochdale15 November 1986
34Woodford Town 0–1Orient15 November 1986
35Slough Town 1–1Bognor Regis Town 15 November 1986
ReplayBognor Regis Town0–1Slough Town18 November 1986
36Whitby Town 2–2Doncaster Rovers15 November 1986
ReplayDoncaster Rovers3–2Whitby Town18 November 1986
37Telford United 3–0Burnley15 November 1986
38Frickley Athletic 0–0Altrincham 15 November 1986
ReplayAltrincham4–0Frickley Athletic18 November 1986
39Welling United 1–1Maidstone United 15 November 1986
ReplayMaidstone United4–1Welling United24 November 1986
40Caernarfon Town 1–0Stockport County15 November 1986

Second round proper

The second round matches were played on 5–7 December 1986, with the exception of the Cardiff City-Brentford fixture, which was played on the following Tuesday due to the timing of Brentford's first round replay against Bristol Rovers. Replays were played on 9th–10th. The round included four clubs from Step 6 of the English football system: Caernarfon Town and Chorley from the Northern Premier League, Chelmsford City from the Southern League Premier Division and Slough Town from the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Chester City3–1Doncaster Rovers6 December 1986
2Darlington0–5Wigan Athletic6 December 1986
3AFC Bournemouth0–1Orient6 December 1986
4Bristol City1–1Bath City 6 December 1986
ReplayBristol City3–0Bath City9 December 1986
5Rochdale1–4Wrexham6 December 1986
6Walsall5–0Port Vale6 December 1986
7Gillingham2–0Chelmsford City 6 December 1986
8Notts County0–1Middlesbrough7 December 1986
9Bolton Wanderers2–0Tranmere Rovers6 December 1986
10Swindon Town3–0Enfield 6 December 1986
11Chorley 0–0Preston North End6 December 1986
ReplayPreston North End5–0Chorley9 December 1986
12Fulham2–0Newport County6 December 1986
13Maidstone United 1–0Cambridge United7 December 1986
14Southend United4–4Northampton Town5 December 1986
ReplayNorthampton Town3–2Southend United10 December 1986
15Scunthorpe United1–0Runcorn 6 December 1986
16Cardiff City2–0Brentford9 December 1986
17Aldershot3–2Colchester United6 December 1986
18Telford United 1–0Altrincham 6 December 1986
19Swansea City3–0Slough Town 6 December 1986
20Caernarfon Town 0–0York City6 December 1986
ReplayYork City1–2Caernarfon Town9 December 1986

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in this round. Most of the third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 10–11 January 1987, however various matches and replays were played as late as 31 January. Holders Liverpool were eliminated by Luton Town. Caernarfon Town was again the lowest-ranked team in the round, while Caernarfon, Maidstone United and Telford United were the last non-league clubs left in the competition.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Bristol City 1–1Plymouth Argyle 10 January 1987
ReplayPlymouth Argyle3–1Bristol City19 January 1987
2Watford 3–1Maidstone United 10 January 1987
3Reading 1–3Arsenal 10 January 1987
4Aston Villa 2–2Chelsea 10 January 1987
ReplayChelsea2–1Aston Villa21 January 1987
5Sheffield Wednesday 1–0Derby County 26 January 1987
6Grimsby Town 1–1Stoke City 10 January 1987
ReplayStoke City1–1Grimsby Town26 January 1987
ReplayStoke City6–0Grimsby Town28 January 1987
7Middlesbrough 0–1Preston North End 10 January 1987
8Luton Town 0–0Liverpool 11 January 1987
ReplayLiverpool0–0Luton Town26 January 1987
ReplayLuton Town3–0Liverpool28 January 1987
9Everton 2–1Southampton 10 January 1987
10Shrewsbury Town 1–2Hull City 31 January 1987
11Wrexham 1–2Chester City 10 January 1987
12Sheffield United 0–0Brighton & Hove Albion 10 January 1987
ReplayBrighton & Hove Albion1–2Sheffield United21 January 1987
13Ipswich Town 0–1Birmingham City 10 January 1987
14Newcastle United 2–1Northampton Town 21 January 1987
15Tottenham Hotspur 3–2Scunthorpe United 10 January 1987
16Queens Park Rangers 5–2Leicester City 10 January 1987
17Fulham 0–1Swindon Town 10 January 1987
18Coventry City 3–0Bolton Wanderers 10 January 1987
19Portsmouth 2–0Blackburn Rovers 10 January 1987
20Manchester United 1–0Manchester City 10 January 1987
21Norwich City 1–1Huddersfield Town 10 January 1987
ReplayHuddersfield Town2–4Norwich City21 January 1987
22Millwall 0–0Cardiff City 10 January 1987
ReplayCardiff City2–2Millwall20 January 1987
ReplayCardiff City1–0Millwall26 January 1987
23Oldham Athletic 1–1Bradford City 10 January 1987
ReplayBradford City5–1Oldham Athletic19 January 1987
24Crystal Palace 1–0Nottingham Forest 11 January 1987
25Wimbledon 2–1Sunderland 10 January 1987
26Charlton Athletic 1–2Walsall 10 January 1987
27Aldershot 3–0Oxford United 10 January 1987
28Wigan Athletic 2–1Gillingham 19 January 1987
29Orient 1–1West Ham United 10 January 1987
ReplayWest Ham United4–1Orient31 January 1987
30Telford United 1–2Leeds United 11 January 1987
31Swansea City 3–2West Bromwich Albion 10 January 1987
32Caernarfon Town 0–0Barnsley 10 January 1987
ReplayBarnsley1–0Caernarfon Town26 January 1987

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were played mainly over the weekend 31 January – 1 February 1987. All other ties took place on 3–4 February. Four teams from the Fourth Division remained in the draw: Preston North End, Cardiff City, Aldershot and Swansea City.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Chester City1–1Sheffield Wednesday31 January 1987
ReplaySheffield Wednesday3–1Chester City4 February 1987
2Watford1–0Chelsea1 February 1987
3Walsall1–0Birmingham City31 January 1987
4Luton Town1–1Queens Park Rangers31 January 1987
ReplayQueens Park Rangers2–1Luton Town4 February 1987
5Swindon Town1–2Leeds United3 February 1987
6Newcastle United2–0Preston North End31 January 1987
7Tottenham Hotspur4–0Crystal Palace31 January 1987
8West Ham United4–0Sheffield United9 February 1987
9Manchester United0–1Coventry City31 January 1987
10Bradford City0–1Everton31 January 1987
11Wimbledon4–0Portsmouth31 January 1987
12Arsenal6–1Plymouth Argyle31 January 1987
13Stoke City2–1Cardiff City31 January 1987
14Aldershot1–1Barnsley31 January 1987
ReplayBarnsley3–0Aldershot3 February 1987
15Wigan Athletic1–0Norwich City31 January 1987
16Swansea City0–1Hull City3 February 1987

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games was played over the weekend 21–22 February 1987, with the first set of replays on 24th-25th. Walsall and Wigan Athletic, from the Third Division, were the lowest-ranked teams in the round.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Walsall1–1Watford21 February 1987
ReplayWatford4–4Walsall24 February 1987
ReplayWalsall0–1Watford2 March 1987
2Sheffield Wednesday1–1West Ham United21 February 1987
ReplayWest Ham United0–2Sheffield Wednesday25 February 1987
3Tottenham Hotspur1–0Newcastle United21 February 1987
4Wimbledon3–1Everton22 February 1987
5Arsenal2–0Barnsley21 February 1987
6Leeds United2–1Queens Park Rangers21 February 1987
7Stoke City0–1Coventry City21 February 1987
8Wigan Athletic3–0Hull City21 February 1987

Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 14–15 March 1987. There were no replays; each game was won by the away team. Wigan Athletic was the last team from the first round left in the competition.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Sheffield Wednesday1–3Coventry City14 March 1987
2Wimbledon0–2Tottenham Hotspur15 March 1987
3Arsenal1–3Watford14 March 1987
4Wigan Athletic0–2Leeds United15 March 1987

Semi-finals

Seven time winners Tottenham Hotspur were drawn with 1984 finalists Watford for the Villa Park semi-final, which saw the North Londoners win 4-1 and reach their eighth final, having won all of their previous FA Cup finals.
Hillsborough was the venue for the other semi-final. Leeds United, managed by their former captain Billy Bremner, were pushing for promotion in the Second Division and making their first serious challenge for a major trophy in over 10 years. Their opponents were Coventry City, who had never reached an FA Cup semi-final before. In a closely fought game, Coventry won 3–2.
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Final

After two minutes, Clive Allen scored his 49th goal of the season, heading past keeper Steve Ogrizovic at the near-post from a Chris Waddle cross. Within seven minutes though, Coventry were level through Dave Bennett, a Cup Final loser in 1981 for Manchester City at the hands of Spurs. Tottenham were back in front five minutes before the break through past defender Gary Mabbutt.
Midway through the second half Coventry were level again – Bennett's cross from the right was met by striker Keith Houchen with a diving header. The scores stayed level until full-time and the game went into extra time. Six minutes in, Mabbutt scored an own goal after Lloyd McGrath centred the ball and it took a deflection off of the Spurs defender's knee and over keeper Ray Clemence.