1987–88 FA Cup


The 1987–88 FA Cup was the 107th season of the world's oldest knockout football competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. The competition was won by Wimbledon F.C.'s Crazy Gang who defeated league champions Liverpool through a headed goal by Lawrie Sanchez, thus denying Liverpool the double. They would be one of three clubs other than Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool to win the trophy in the following 20 years before Portsmouth's victory in the 2008 final. This was Wimbledon's only FA Cup title during its lifetime.

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 Bishop Auckland, Macclesfield Town, Colwyn Bay, Runcorn, Chorley, Lincoln City, Northwich Victoria, Billingham Synthonia, Atherstone United, Welling United, Chelmsford City, Dagenham, VS Rugby, Barnet, Aylesbury United, Hayes, Worcester City, Halesowen Town, Tamworth, Sutton United, Carshalton Athletic, Bath City, Merthyr Tydfil, Farnborough Town, Bognor Regis Town, Yeovil Town, Maidstone United and Cheltenham Town.
Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Colwyn Bay and Atherstone United. Of the others, Merthyr Tydfil had last featured at this stage in 1979–80, Cheltenham Town had last done so in 1974-75, Hayes had last done so in 1973-74, Tamworth had last done so in 1970-71 and Billingham Synthonia had last done so in 1957-58.
Macclesfield Town, Sutton United and Yeovil Town each played nine matches across seven rounds of this tournament, progressing from the first qualifying round to the third round proper. Yeovil Town did this from the Isthmian League at Step 6 of English football, while Macclesfield Town and Sutton United were from the Football Conference at Step 5. Sutton United also managed to push Middlesbrough to extra time in a replay before being knocked out of the competition.

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 Kidderminster Harriers, Burton Albion, Altrincham and Telford United who were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 14–15 November 1987, with the exception of the Welling United–Carshalton Athletic game. Replays were played in the midweek fixtures on 16th-17th. All other replays were played on 28 November.
This round included four clubs from the various competitions at Step 8 of the English football pyramid: Bishop Auckland and Billingham Synthonia from the Northern League, Colwyn Bay from the North West Counties League and Tamworth from the West Midlands (Regional) League.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Chester City0–1Runcorn 14 November 1987
2Barnet 0–1Hereford United14 November 1987
3Bristol City1–0Aylesbury United 14 November 1987
4Burnley0–1Bolton Wanderers14 November 1987
5Preston North End1–1Mansfield Town14 November 1987
ReplayMansfield Town4–2Preston North End17 November 1987
6Rochdale0–2Wrexham14 November 1987
7Sutton United 3–0Aldershot14 November 1987
8Gillingham2–1Fulham14 November 1987
9Notts County3–3Chesterfield15 November 1987
ReplayChesterfield0–1Notts County17 November 1987
10Northwich Victoria 1–0Colwyn Bay 14 November 1987
11Macclesfield Town 4–2Carlisle United14 November 1987
12Wolverhampton Wanderers5–1Cheltenham Town 14 November 1987
13Sunderland2–0Darlington14 November 1987
14Lincoln City 2–1Crewe Alexandra14 November 1987
15Scarborough1–2Grimsby Town14 November 1987
16Doncaster Rovers1–1Rotherham United14 November 1987
ReplayRotherham United2–0Doncaster Rovers17 November 1987
17Bishop Auckland 1–4Blackpool14 November 1987
18Tranmere Rovers2–2Port Vale14 November 1987
ReplayPort Vale3–1Tranmere Rovers16 November 1987
19Chorley 0–2Hartlepool United14 November 1987
20Brentford0–2Brighton & Hove Albion14 November 1987
21Bristol Rovers6–0Merthyr Tydfil 14 November 1987
22Northampton Town2–1Newport County14 November 1987
23Worcester City 1–1Yeovil Town 14 November 1987
ReplayYeovil Town1–0Worcester City17 November 1987
24Altrincham 0–2Wigan Athletic14 November 1987
25Southend United0–0Walsall14 November 1987
ReplayWalsall2–1Southend United17 November 1987
26Bognor Regis Town 0–3Torquay United14 November 1987
27Scunthorpe United3–1Bury14 November 1987
28Halesowen Town 2–2Kidderminster Harriers 14 November 1987
ReplayKidderminster Harriers4–0Halesowen Town16 November 1987
29York City0–0Burton Albion 14 November 1987
ReplayBurton Albion1–2York City17 November 1987
30Hayes 0–1Swansea City14 November 1987
31Billingham Synthonia 2–4Halifax Town14 November 1987
32Peterborough United2–1Cardiff City14 November 1987
33Colchester United3–0Tamworth 14 November 1987
34Chelmsford City 1–2Bath City 14 November 1987
35Leyton Orient2–0Exeter City14 November 1987
36Dagenham 0–2Maidstone United 14 November 1987
37Cambridge United2–1Farnborough Town 14 November 1987
38Telford United 1–1Stockport County14 November 1987
ReplayStockport County2–0Telford United17 November 1987
39VS Rugby 0–0Atherstone United 14 November 1987
ReplayAtherstone United0–2VS Rugby17 November 1987
40Welling United 3–2Carshalton Athletic 23 November 1987

Second round proper

The second round of games were played over 5–6 December 1987, with replays being played at various dates afterwards. Step 6 sides Yeovil Town, from the Isthmian League Premier Division, and VS Rugby, from the Southern League Premier Division, were the lowest-ranked teams in the draw.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Bristol City0–1Torquay United5 December 1987
2Gillingham2–1Walsall5 December 1987
3Grimsby Town0–0Halifax Town5 December 1987
ReplayHalifax Town2–0Grimsby Town8 December 1987
4Northwich Victoria 0–2Blackpool6 December 1987
5Macclesfield Town 4–0Rotherham United6 December 1987
6Wrexham1–2Bolton Wanderers5 December 1987
7Maidstone United 1–1Kidderminster Harriers 5 December 1987
ReplayKidderminster Harriers2–2Maidstone United7 December 1987
ReplayKidderminster Harriers0–0Maidstone United14 December 1987
ReplayMaidstone United2–1Kidderminster Harriers16 December 1987
8Northampton Town1–2Brighton & Hove Albion5 December 1987
9Scunthorpe United2–1Sunderland5 December 1987
10Mansfield Town4–3Lincoln City 5 December 1987
11Port Vale2–0Notts County5 December 1987
12Runcorn 0–1Stockport County5 December 1987
13York City1–1Hartlepool United5 December 1987
ReplayHartlepool United3–1York City9 December 1987
14Wigan Athletic1–3Wolverhampton Wanderers5 December 1987
15Peterborough United1–3Sutton United 5 December 1987
16Colchester United3–2Hereford United5 December 1987
17Leyton Orient2–0Swansea City5 December 1987
18Cambridge United0–1Yeovil Town 5 December 1987
19VS Rugby 1–1Bristol Rovers5 December 1987
ReplayBristol Rovers4–0VS Rugby17 December 1987
20Welling United 0–1Bath City 5 December 1987

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 9–11 January 1988, with the first set of replays being played on 12–13 January. Three games went to second replays and one of these to a third replay. Yeovil Town was again the lowest-ranked team in the draw, while Macclesfield Town, Maidstone United, Sutton United, Bath City and Yeovil were the last non-league clubs left in the competition.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Sutton United 1–1Middlesbrough 9 January 1988
ReplayMiddlesbrough1–0Sutton United12 January 1988
2Watford 1–1Hull City 9 January 1988
ReplayHull City2–2Watford12 January 1988
ReplayWatford1–0Hull City18 January 1988
3Yeovil Town 0–3Queens Park Rangers 9 January 1988
4Reading 0–1Southampton 9 January 1988
5Gillingham 0–3Birmingham City 9 January 1988
6Blackburn Rovers 1–2Portsmouth 9 January 1988
7Sheffield Wednesday 1–1Everton 9 January 1988
ReplayEverton1–1Sheffield Wednesday13 January 1988
ReplayEverton1–1Sheffield Wednesday25 January 1988
ReplaySheffield Wednesday0–5Everton27 January 1988
8Derby County 1–3Chelsea 9 January 1988
9Swindon Town 0–0Norwich City 9 January 1988
ReplayNorwich City0–2Swindon Town13 January 1988
10Shrewsbury Town 2–1Bristol Rovers 9 January 1988
11Sheffield United 1–0Maidstone United 9 January 1988
12Ipswich Town 1–2Manchester United 10 January 1988
13Stockport County 1–2Leyton Orient 9 January 1988
14Newcastle United 1–0Crystal Palace 9 January 1988
15Barnsley 3–1Bolton Wanderers 9 January 1988
16Coventry City 2–0Torquay United 9 January 1988
17West Ham United 2–0Charlton Athletic 9 January 1988
18Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0AFC Bournemouth 9 January 1988
19Plymouth Argyle 2–0Colchester United 11 January 1988
20Bradford City 2–1Wolverhampton Wanderers 9 January 1988
21Oldham Athletic 2–4Tottenham Hotspur 9 January 1988
22Wimbledon 4–1West Bromwich Albion 9 January 1988
23Scunthorpe United 0–0Blackpool 9 January 1988
ReplayBlackpool1–0Scunthorpe United12 January 1988
24Huddersfield Town 2–2Manchester City 9 January 1988
ReplayManchester City0–0Huddersfield Town12 January 1988
ReplayHuddersfield Town0–3Manchester City25 January 1988
25Mansfield Town 4–0Bath City 9 January 1988
26Port Vale 1–0Macclesfield Town 10 January 1988
27Halifax Town 0–4Nottingham Forest 9 January 1988
28Arsenal 2–0Millwall 9 January 1988
29Leeds United 1–2Aston Villa 9 January 1988
30Stoke City 0–0Liverpool 9 January 1988
ReplayLiverpool1–0Stoke City12 January 1988
31Oxford United 2–0Leicester City 9 January 1988
32Hartlepool United 1–2Luton Town 9 January 1988

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were played over the weekend 30 January – 1 February 1988, with replays being played on 3 February. A second replay was then played on 9 February. Holders Coventry City were eliminated by Watford. Fourth Division side Leyton Orient was the lowest-ranked team in the draw.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Blackpool1–1Manchester City30 January 1988
ReplayManchester City2–1Blackpool3 February 1988
2Aston Villa0–2Liverpool31 January 1988
3Luton Town2–1Southampton30 January 1988
4Everton1–1Middlesbrough30 January 1988
ReplayMiddlesbrough2–2Everton3 February 1988
ReplayEverton2–1Middlesbrough9 February 1988
5Newcastle United5–0Swindon Town30 January 1988
6Queens Park Rangers3–1West Ham United30 January 1988
7Barnsley0–2Birmingham City30 January 1988
8Coventry City0–2Watford30 January 1988
9Portsmouth2–1Sheffield United1 February 1988
10Brighton & Hove Albion1–2Arsenal30 January 1988
11Manchester United2–0Chelsea30 January 1988
12Plymouth Argyle1–0Shrewsbury Town30 January 1988
13Bradford City4–2Oxford United30 January 1988
14Mansfield Town1–2Wimbledon30 January 1988
15Port Vale2–1Tottenham Hotspur30 January 1988
16Leyton Orient1–2Nottingham Forest30 January 1988

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games was played over the weekend 20–21 February 1988, with replays on 23–24 February. Port Vale, from the Third Division, was the lowest-ranked team in the draw and the last team from the First Round left in the competition.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Everton0–1Liverpool21 February 1988
2Newcastle United1–3Wimbledon20 February 1988
3Manchester City3–1Plymouth Argyle20 February 1988
4Queens Park Rangers1–1Luton Town20 February 1988
ReplayLuton Town1–0Queens Park Rangers24 February 1988
5Portsmouth3–0Bradford City20 February 1988
6Port Vale0–0Watford20 February 1988
ReplayWatford2–0Port Vale23 February 1988
7Arsenal2–1Manchester United20 February 1988
8Birmingham City0–1Nottingham Forest20 February 1988

Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 12–13 March 1988. There were no replays.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Luton Town3–1Portsmouth12 March 1988
2Manchester City0–4Liverpool13 March 1988
3Wimbledon2–1Watford12 March 1988
4Arsenal1–2Nottingham Forest12 March 1988

Semi-finals

Luton Town's fine season in the cup competitions culminated in a semi-final clash with Wimbledon at White Hart Lane. Wimbledon emerged as 2-1 winners to reach the FA Cup final, in only their second season in the First Division and their 11th in the Football League.
On the same day, First Division leaders Liverpool took on a resurgent Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough. Top scorer John Aldridge found the net twice in a 2–1 win.
Referee:- Keith Hackett
----
Referee:- George Courtney

Television coverage

The right to show FA Cup games was, as with Football League matches, shared between the BBC and ITV. The stations would alternate between showing a live game and a highlights programme. 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 properIpswich Town vs Manchester UnitedSutton United v Middlesbrough
Yeovil Town v Queen's Park Rangers1
Sheffield Wednesday v Everton1
[|Reading vs Southampton] - TVS
[|Swindon Town vs Norwich City] - HTV West
Everton v Sheffield Wednesday 1
Norwich City vs Swindon Town 1
Everton v Sheffield Wednesday 1
Sheffield Wednesday v Everton 1
Fourth round properManchester United v Chelsea1
Port Vale vs Tottenham Hotspur1
Leyton Orient vs Nottingham Forest 1		Aston Villa vs Liverpool1
Middlesbrough vs Everton 1
Manchester City vs Blackpool
Fifth round properEverton v Liverpool1Arsenal vs Manchester United1
Newcastle United vs Wimbledon1
Port Vale vs Watford
[|Portsmouth vs Bradford City] - TVS
Sixth round properArsenal vs Nottingham Forest1
Wimbledon vs Watford1
Luton Town vs Portsmouth		Manchester City vs Liverpool1
Semi-finalsLiverpool vs Nottingham Forest 1
Luton Town vs Wimbledon 1
FinalWimbledon vs Liverpool 1Wimbledon vs Liverpool 1

1Footage available on YouTube