# 1988–89 FA Cup

The 1988–89 FA Cup was the 108th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short.

## First round proper

Teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Division entered in this round plus Enfield, Telford United, Maidstone United and Bath City, were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 19–20 November 1988, with most replays being played on 22–23 November. All other replays were played on 28 November.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Enfield | 1–1 | Leyton Orient | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Leyton Orient | 2–2 | Enfield | 23 November 1988 |
| Replay | Leyton Orient | 0–1 | Enfield | 28 November 1988 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 2–1 | Scunthorpe United | 19 November 1988 |
| 3 | Darlington | 1–2 | Notts County | 19 November 1988 |
| 4 | Bath City | 2–0 | Grays Athletic | 19 November 1988 |
| 5 | Bristol City | 3–1 | Southend United | 19 November 1988 |
| 6 | Burnley | 0–2 | Chester City | 19 November 1988 |
| 7 | Preston North End | 1–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Tranmere Rovers | 3–0 | Preston North End | 22 November 1988 |
| 8 | Yeovil Town | 3–2 | Merthyr Tydfil | 19 November 1988 |
| 9 | Reading | 4–2 | Hendon | 19 November 1988 |
| 10 | Woking | 1–4 | Cambridge United | 19 November 1988 |
| 11 | Gillingham | 3–3 | Peterborough United | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Peterborough United | 1–0 | Gillingham | 23 November 1988 |
| 12 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–0 | Chesterfield | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 2–3 | Bolton Wanderers | 28 November 1988 |
| 13 | Grimsby Town | 1–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 19 November 1988 |
| 14 | Stafford Rangers | 2–2 | Crewe Alexandra | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Crewe Alexandra | 3–2 | Stafford Rangers | 22 November 1988 |
| 15 | Scarborough | 2–1 | Stockport County | 19 November 1988 |
| 16 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–0 | Brandon United | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Doncaster Rovers | 2–1 | Brandon United | 22 November 1988 |
| 17 | Fulham | 0–1 | Colchester United | 19 November 1988 |
| 18 | Brentford | 2–0 | Halesowen Town | 19 November 1988 |
| 19 | Bristol Rovers | 3–0 | Fisher Athletic | 20 November 1988 |
| 20 | Altrincham | 3–2 | Lincoln City | 19 November 1988 |
| 21 | Bognor Regis Town | 2–1 | Exeter City | 19 November 1988 |
| 22 | Huddersfield Town | 1–1 | Rochdale | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Rochdale | 3–4 | Huddersfield Town | 28 November 1988 |
| 23 | Mansfield Town | 1–1 | Sheffield United | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Mansfield Town | 22 November 1988 |
| 24 | Cardiff City | 3–0 | Hereford United | 19 November 1988 |
| 25 | Halifax Town | 1–0 | York City | 19 November 1988 |
| 26 | Newport County | 1–2 | Maidstone United | 19 November 1988 |
| 27 | Southport | 0–2 | Port Vale | 19 November 1988 |
| 28 | Runcorn | 2–2 | Wrexham | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 2–3 | Runcorn | 22 November 1988 |
| 29 | Torquay United | 2–2 | Fareham Town | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Fareham Town | 2–3 | Torquay United | 23 November 1988 |
| 30 | Kettering Town | 2–1 | Dartford | 19 November 1988 |
| 31 | Rotherham United | 3–1 | Barrow | 19 November 1988 |
| 32 | Aldershot | 1–0 | Hayes | 19 November 1988 |
| 33 | Dagenham | 0–4 | Sutton United | 19 November 1988 |
| 34 | Waterlooville | 1–4 | Aylesbury United | 19 November 1988 |
| 35 | Telford United | 1–1 | Carlisle United | 19 November 1988 |
| Replay | Carlisle United | 4–1 | Telford United | 22 November 1988 |
| 36 | Swansea City | 3–1 | Northampton Town | 19 November 1988 |
| 37 | Frickley Athletic | 0–2 | Northwich Victoria | 19 November 1988 |
| 38 | Hartlepool United | 2–0 | Wigan Athletic | 19 November 1988 |
| 39 | Welling United | 3–0 | Bromsgrove Rovers | 19 November 1988 |
| 40 | Guisborough Town | 0–1 | Bury | 19 November 1988 |

## Second round proper

The second round of games were played over 10–11 December 1988, with the first round of replays being played on 13–14 December. The Aldershot-Bristol City game went to two more replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Enfield | 1–4 | Cardiff City | 11 December 1988 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 3–0 | Bury | 10 December 1988 |
| 3 | Bath City | 0–0 | Welling United | 10 December 1988 |
| Replay | Welling United | 3–2 | Bath City | 14 December 1988 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 1–1 | Torquay United | 10 December 1988 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 1–0 | Yeovil Town | 14 December 1988 |
| 5 | Reading | 1–1 | Maidstone United | 10 December 1988 |
| Replay | Maidstone United | 1–2 | Reading | 14 December 1988 |
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–2 | Port Vale | 10 December 1988 |
| 7 | Grimsby Town | 3–2 | Rotherham United | 10 December 1988 |
| 8 | Northwich Victoria | 1–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 10 December 1988 |
| 9 | Scarborough | 0–1 | Carlisle United | 10 December 1988 |
| 10 | Doncaster Rovers | 1–3 | Sheffield United | 11 December 1988 |
| 11 | Aylesbury United | 0–1 | Sutton United | 10 December 1988 |
| 12 | Altrincham | 0–3 | Halifax Town | 10 December 1988 |
| 13 | Bognor Regis Town | 0–1 | Cambridge United | 10 December 1988 |
| 14 | Huddersfield Town | 1–0 | Chester City | 10 December 1988 |
| 15 | Runcorn | 0–3 | Crewe Alexandra | 10 December 1988 |
| 16 | Kettering Town | 2–1 | Bristol Rovers | 10 December 1988 |
| 17 | Aldershot | 1–1 | Bristol City | 10 December 1988 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 0–0 | Aldershot | 13 December 1988 |
| Replay | Aldershot | 2–2 | Bristol City | 20 December 1988 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 1–0 | Aldershot | 22 December 1988 |
| 18 | Peterborough United | 0–0 | Brentford | 10 December 1988 |
| Replay | Brentford | 3–2 | Peterborough United | 14 December 1988 |
| 19 | Colchester United | 2–2 | Swansea City | 10 December 1988 |
| Replay | Swansea City | 1–3 | Colchester United | 13 December 1988 |
| 20 | Hartlepool United | 1–0 | Notts County | 10 December 1988 |

## 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 played over the weekend 7–8 January 1989, with the first set of replays being played on 10–11 January. Two games went to second replays, and one to a third replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 0–1 | AFC Bournemouth | 7 January 1989 |
| 2 | Sutton United | 2–1 | Coventry City | 7 January 1989 |
| 3 | Walsall | 1–1 | Brentford | 7 January 1989 |
| Replay | Brentford | 1–0 | Walsall | 10 January 1989 |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 3–0 | Ipswich Town | 7 January 1989 |
| 5 | Sheffield Wednesday | 5–1 | Torquay United | 7 January 1989 |
| 6 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–3 | Aston Villa | 7 January 1989 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 1–2 | Grimsby Town | 7 January 1989 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–1 | Everton | 7 January 1989 |
| Replay | Everton | 1–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 11 January 1989 |
| 9 | Sunderland | 1–1 | Oxford United | 7 January 1989 |
| Replay | Oxford United | 2–0 | Sunderland | 11 January 1989 |
| 10 | Derby County | 1–1 | Southampton | 7 January 1989 |
| Replay | Southampton | 1–2 | Derby County | 10 January 1989 |
| 11 | Shrewsbury Town | 0–3 | Colchester United | 7 January 1989 |
| 12 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Reading | 7 January 1989 |
| Replay | Reading | 2–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 11 January 1989 |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 0–0 | Watford | 7 January 1989 |
| Replay | Watford | 2–2 | Newcastle United | 10 January 1989 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 0–0 | Watford | 16 January 1989 |
| Replay | Watford | 1–0 | Newcastle United | 18 January 1989 |
| 14 | Manchester City | 1–0 | Leicester City | 7 January 1989 |
| 15 | Barnsley | 4–0 | Chelsea | 7 January 1989 |
| 16 | Portsmouth | 1–1 | Swindon Town | 7 January 1989 |
| Replay | Swindon Town | 2–0 | Portsmouth | 10 January 1989 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 2–2 | Arsenal | 8 January 1989 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 0–1 | West Ham United | 11 January 1989 |
| 18 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–2 | Leeds United | 7 January 1989 |
| 19 | Manchester United | 0–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 7 January 1989 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 2–2 | Manchester United | 11 January 1989 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 3–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 23 January 1989 |
| 20 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | Cambridge United | 7 January 1989 |
| 21 | Bradford City | 1–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 January 1989 |
| 22 | Millwall | 3–2 | Luton Town | 7 January 1989 |
| 23 | Carlisle United | 0–3 | Liverpool | 7 January 1989 |
| 24 | Huddersfield Town | 0–1 | Sheffield United | 7 January 1989 |
| 25 | Cardiff City | 1–2 | Hull City | 7 January 1989 |
| 26 | Port Vale | 1–3 | Norwich City | 8 January 1989 |
| 27 | Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | Oldham Athletic | 7 January 1989 |
| 28 | Kettering Town | 1–1 | Halifax Town | 7 January 1989 |
| Replay | Halifax Town | 2–3 | Kettering Town | 10 January 1989 |
| 29 | Stoke City | 1–0 | Crystal Palace | 7 January 1989 |
| 30 | Birmingham City | 0–1 | Wimbledon | 7 January 1989 |
| 31 | Hartlepool United | 1–0 | Bristol City | 7 January 1989 |
| 32 | Welling United | 0–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 7 January 1989 |

## Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were played over the weekend 28–29 January 1989, with replays being played on 31 January – 1 February.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Watford | 2–1 | Derby County | 28 January 1989 |
| 2 | Nottingham Forest | 2–0 | Leeds United | 28 January 1989 |
| 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 28 January 1989 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 0–1 | Wimbledon | 28 January 1989 |
| 5 | Grimsby Town | 1–1 | Reading | 28 January 1989 |
| Replay | Reading | 1–2 | Grimsby Town | 1 February 1989 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 0–0 | West Ham United | 28 January 1989 |
| Replay | West Ham United | 1–0 | Swindon Town | 1 February 1989 |
| 7 | Sheffield United | 3–3 | Colchester United | 28 January 1989 |
| Replay | Colchester United | 0–2 | Sheffield United | 31 January 1989 |
| 8 | Brentford | 3–1 | Manchester City | 28 January 1989 |
| 9 | Manchester United | 4–0 | Oxford United | 28 January 1989 |
| 10 | Norwich City | 8–0 | Sutton United | 28 January 1989 |
| 11 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–1 | Everton | 28 January 1989 |
| Replay | Everton | 4–0 | Plymouth Argyle | 31 January 1989 |
| 12 | Bradford City | 1–2 | Hull City | 28 January 1989 |
| 13 | Millwall | 0–2 | Liverpool | 29 January 1989 |
| 14 | Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | Kettering Town | 28 January 1989 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 3–3 | Barnsley | 28 January 1989 |
| Replay | Barnsley | 2–1 | Stoke City | 31 January 1989 |
| 16 | Hartlepool United | 1–1 | AFC Bournemouth | 28 January 1989 |
| Replay | AFC Bournemouth | 5–2 | Hartlepool United | 31 January 1989 |

## Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were played over the weekend 18–19 February 1989, with replay being played on 22 February.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | AFC Bournemouth | 1–1 | Manchester United | 18 February 1989 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 1–0 | AFC Bournemouth | 22 February 1989 |
| 2 | Watford | 0–3 | Nottingham Forest | 19 February 1989 |
| 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 0–2 | Brentford | 18 February 1989 |
| 4 | Barnsley | 0–1 | Everton | 18 February 1989 |
| 5 | Norwich City | 3–2 | Sheffield United | 18 February 1989 |
| 6 | Hull City | 2–3 | Liverpool | 18 February 1989 |
| 7 | Wimbledon | 3–1 | Grimsby Town | 18 February 1989 |
| 8 | Charlton Athletic | 0–1 | West Ham United | 18 February 1989 |

## Sixth round proper

Most of the sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 18–19 March 1989, with a replay on 22 March.
Third Division Brentford's impressive cup run was ended by a 4–0 defeat at Liverpool, who were chasing the double.
Wimbledon's defence of the trophy ended with a 1–0 defeat at Everton.
West Ham United, struggling in the league but thriving in the cup competitions (as League Cup semi-finalists), surrendered their chances of FA Cup glory with a 3-1 replay defeat to Norwich City following a goalless draw in the first game.
Nottingham Forest kept alive their outside chances of a unique domestic treble by winning 1–0 against Manchester United, who lost their own last chance of silverware in a season in which they had failed to feature in the title race.

### Replay
## Semi-finals

The FA Cup semi-finals were scheduled for 15 April 1989 and this would be the last year that both games were scheduled to be held simultaneously on a Saturday afternoon with a 3pm kick off. The Everton–Norwich City game was completed as expected; however, the Liverpool–Nottingham Forest game was abandoned after six minutes due to the Hillsborough Disaster which claimed 94 lives on 15 April 1989 (the final death toll was 97). There was talk that the competition for this season would be abandoned, but on 30 April, it was confirmed that both teams would continue in the competition and play in a rescheduled semi-final, which was replayed on 7 May and won 3–1 by Liverpool.
Norwich's hopes of a first-ever FA Cup final were ended as Everton beat them 1–0 to book the second all-Merseyside FA Cup final in four seasons.
* Due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the rearranged tie the then normal competition rules of the match requiring a replay if the match finished with scores level after extra time was rescinded meaning the match would have been decided on the day by penalties if it had been necessary

## Final

The second all-Merseyside FA Cup final in four seasons ended like the previous one, with Liverpool beating Everton and Ian Rush scoring twice, although this time the scoreline was 3–2 rather than 3–1.
A fourth-minute goal from John Aldridge handed the initiative to Liverpool, but a late equaliser by substitute Stuart McCall forced extra-time. Another substitute Ian Rush restored Liverpool's lead five minutes into extra time, before McCall's second goal drew the scores level after 102 minutes. However, a second goal from Rush came just two minutes later, and the trophy went to Anfield.
As a tribute to the fans who had died in the Hillsborough disaster, both teams wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence prior to the match.
| Liverpool | Everton |

## Media coverage

The BBC had all rights to show FA Cup games. They were able to show one live game from Round 3 onwards as part of Match of the Day Live. They were also able to show highlights of games from Round 1 onwards on Match of the Day. These matches were.
| Round | Live | Highlights |
| First round proper | | Enfield v Leyton Orient Southport v Port Vale |
| Second round proper | | Kettering Town v Bristol Rovers Altrincham v Halifax Town |
| Third round proper | West Ham United v Arsenal | Sutton United v Coventry City Bradford City v Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion v Everton Port Vale v Norwich City Manchester United v Queen's Park Rangers (Replay) |
| Fourth round proper | Millwall v Liverpool | Norwich City v Sutton United Charlton Athletic v Kettering Town Aston Villa v Wimbledon Plymouth Argyle v Everton |
| Fifth round proper | Watford v Nottingham Forest | Hull City v Liverpool Barnsley v Everton AFC Bournemouth v Manchester United Wimbledon v Grimsby Town Norwich City v Sheffield United |
| Sixth round proper | Everton v Wimbledon | Manchester United v Nottingham Forest Liverpool v Brentford West Ham United v Norwich City |
| Semi-finals | Liverpool v Nottingham Forest | Everton v Norwich City |
| Final | Liverpool v Everton | |
Match of the Day was due to show highlights of both FA Cup Semi-finals, but this was cancelled due to the Hillsborough disaster with the entire programme reflecting on the tragic events. The rescheduled Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest match at Old Trafford was the first semi-final ever to be televised live and highlights of the other semi final between Everton and Norwich, which coincided with the Hillsborough disaster, were not shown until the build-up coverage on the day of the final.