# 1989–90 FA Cup

The 1989–90 FA Cup was the 109th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. The competition started in September 1989 for teams outside the football league who played in a qualifying competition.

## First round proper

Teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Division entered in this round plus four non-league teams were given byes to this round: Telford United, Macclesfield Town, Kettering Town and Sutton United. The first round of games was played over the weekend 17–19 November 1989, with a first round of replays being played on the 21st–22nd. The Bristol Rovers–Reading match went to a second replay, on the 27th.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 18 November 1989 |
| 2 | Darlington | 6–2 | Northwich Victoria | 18 November 1989 |
| 3 | Dartford | 1–1 | Exeter City | 18 November 1989 |
| Replay | Exeter City | 4–1 | Dartford | 22 November 1989 |
| 4 | Bath City | 2–2 | Fulham | 19 November 1989 |
| Replay | Fulham | 2–1 | Bath City | 22 November 1989 |
| 5 | Bristol City | 2–0 | Barnet | 18 November 1989 |
| 6 | Burnley | 1–1 | Stockport County | 18 November 1989 |
| Replay | Stockport County | 1–2 | Burnley | 22 November 1989 |
| 7 | Preston North End | 1–0 | Tranmere Rovers | 18 November 1989 |
| 8 | Sutton United | 1–1 | Torquay United | 18 November 1989 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 4–0 | Sutton United | 22 November 1989 |
| 9 | Marine | 0–1 | Rochdale | 17 November 1989 |
| 10 | Gillingham | 0–0 | Welling United | 18 November 1989 |
| Replay | Welling United | 1–0 | Gillingham | 22 November 1989 |
| 11 | Macclesfield Town | 1–1 | Chester City | 18 November 1989 |
| Replay | Chester City | 3–2 | Macclesfield Town | 21 November 1989 |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–0 | Congleton Town | 18 November 1989 |
| 13 | Lincoln City | 1–0 | Billingham Synthonia | 18 November 1989 |
| 14 | Stafford Rangers | 2–3 | Halifax Town | 18 November 1989 |
| 15 | Scarborough | 0–1 | Whitley Bay | 18 November 1989 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 2–3 | Chesterfield | 18 November 1989 |
| 17 | Doncaster Rovers | 1–0 | Notts County | 18 November 1989 |
| 18 | Bishop Auckland | 2–0 | Tow Law Town | 18 November 1989 |
| 19 | Kidderminster Harriers | 2–3 | Swansea City | 18 November 1989 |
| 20 | Aylesbury United | 1–0 | Southend United | 18 November 1989 |
| 21 | Brentford | 0–1 | Colchester United | 18 November 1989 |
| 22 | Bristol Rovers | 1–1 | Reading | 18 November 1989 |
| Replay | Reading | 1–1 | Bristol Rovers | 21 November 1989 |
| Replay | Bristol Rovers | 0–1 | Reading | 27 November 1989 |
| 23 | Maidstone United | 2–1 | Yeovil Town | 19 November 1989 |
| 24 | Carlisle United | 3–0 | Wrexham | 18 November 1989 |
| 25 | Scunthorpe United | 4–1 | Matlock Town | 18 November 1989 |
| 26 | Cardiff City | 1–0 | Halesowen Town | 18 November 1989 |
| 27 | York City | 1–2 | Grimsby Town | 18 November 1989 |
| 28 | Kettering Town | 0–1 | Northampton Town | 18 November 1989 |
| 29 | Rotherham United | 0–0 | Bury | 18 November 1989 |
| Replay | Bury | 1–2 | Rotherham United | 21 November 1989 |
| 30 | Aldershot | 0–1 | Cambridge United | 17 November 1989 |
| 31 | Gloucester City | 1–0 | Dorchester Town | 18 November 1989 |
| 32 | Wigan Athletic | 2–0 | Mansfield Town | 19 November 1989 |
| 33 | Peterborough United | 1–1 | Hayes | 18 November 1989 |
| Replay | Hayes | 0–1 | Peterborough United | 21 November 1989 |
| 34 | Leyton Orient | 0–1 | Birmingham City | 18 November 1989 |
| 35 | Basingstoke Town | 3–0 | Bromsgrove Rovers | 18 November 1989 |
| 36 | Slough Town | 1–2 | Woking | 18 November 1989 |
| 37 | Telford United | 0–3 | Walsall | 18 November 1989 |
| 38 | Redditch United | 1–3 | Merthyr Tydfil | 18 November 1989 |
| 39 | Farnborough Town | 0–1 | Hereford United | 18 November 1989 |
| 40 | Hartlepool United | 0–2 | Huddersfield Town | 18 November 1989 |

## Second round proper

The second round of games was played on 9 December 1989, with the first round of replays being played on the 12th–13th. Two games went to second replays and one of these went to a third replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 3–0 | Chester City | 9 December 1989 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 0–2 | Huddersfield Town | 9 December 1989 |
| 3 | Darlington | 3–0 | Halifax Town | 9 December 1989 |
| 4 | Bristol City | 2–1 | Fulham | 9 December 1989 |
| 5 | Rochdale | 3–0 | Lincoln City | 9 December 1989 |
| 6 | Reading | 0–0 | Welling United | 9 December 1989 |
| Replay | Welling United | 1–1 | Reading | 13 December 1989 |
| Replay | Reading | 0–0 | Welling United | 19 December 1989 |
| Replay | Welling United | 1–2 | Reading | 22 December 1989 |
| 7 | Walsall | 1–0 | Rotherham United | 9 December 1989 |
| 8 | Grimsby Town | 1–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 9 December 1989 |
| 9 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–1 | Bishop Auckland | 9 December 1989 |
| Replay | Bishop Auckland | 0–2 | Crewe Alexandra | 13 December 1989 |
| 10 | Maidstone United | 1–1 | Exeter City | 9 December 1989 |
| Replay | Exeter City | 3–2 | Maidstone United | 13 December 1989 |
| 11 | Northampton Town | 0–0 | Aylesbury United | 9 December 1989 |
| Replay | Aylesbury United | 0–1 | Northampton Town | 13 December 1989 |
| 12 | Whitley Bay | 2–0 | Preston North End | 9 December 1989 |
| 13 | Scunthorpe United | 2–2 | Burnley | 9 December 1989 |
| Replay | Burnley | 1–1 | Scunthorpe United | 12 December 1989 |
| Replay | Burnley | 5–0 | Scunthorpe United | 18 December 1989 |
| 14 | Cardiff City | 2–2 | Gloucester City | 9 December 1989 |
| Replay | Gloucester City | 0–1 | Cardiff City | 12 December 1989 |
| 15 | Hereford United | 3–2 | Merthyr Tydfil | 9 December 1989 |
| 16 | Wigan Athletic | 2–0 | Carlisle United | 9 December 1989 |
| 17 | Colchester United | 0–2 | Birmingham City | 9 December 1989 |
| 18 | Basingstoke Town | 2–3 | Torquay United | 9 December 1989 |
| 19 | Cambridge United | 3–1 | Woking | 9 December 1989 |
| 20 | Swansea City | 3–1 | Peterborough United | 9 December 1989 |

## 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 was played over the weekend 6–7 January 1990, with the first set of replays being played on the 9th–10th. Two games went to second replays, which were completed the week after.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 1–0 | Burnley | 6 January 1990 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 2–1 | Swindon Town | 6 January 1990 |
| 3 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Whitley Bay | 6 January 1990 |
| 4 | Watford | 2–0 | Wigan Athletic | 6 January 1990 |
| 5 | Reading | 2–1 | Sunderland | 6 January 1990 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 1–2 | Barnsley | 6 January 1990 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 0–1 | Manchester United | 7 January 1990 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–2 | Aston Villa | 6 January 1990 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 3–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 10 January 1990 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 6 January 1990 |
| 10 | Middlesbrough | 0–0 | Everton | 6 January 1990 |
| Replay | Everton | 1–1 | Middlesbrough | 10 January 1990 |
| Replay | Everton | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | 17 January 1990 |
| 11 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | Wimbledon | 6 January 1990 |
| 12 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | AFC Bournemouth | 6 January 1990 |
| 13 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–3 | Southampton | 6 January 1990 |
| 14 | Manchester City | 0–0 | Millwall | 6 January 1990 |
| Replay | Millwall | 1–1 | Manchester City | 9 January 1990 |
| Replay | Millwall | 3–1 | Manchester City | 15 January 1990 |
| 15 | Northampton Town | 1–0 | Coventry City | 6 January 1990 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4–1 | Luton Town | 6 January 1990 |
| 17 | Plymouth Argyle | 0–1 | Oxford United | 6 January 1990 |
| 18 | Hull City | 0–1 | Newcastle United | 6 January 1990 |
| 19 | Crystal Palace | 2–1 | Portsmouth | 6 January 1990 |
| 20 | Chelsea | 1–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 6 January 1990 |
| Replay | Crewe Alexandra | 0–2 | Chelsea | 10 January 1990 |
| 21 | Exeter City | 1–1 | Norwich City | 6 January 1990 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 2–0 | Exeter City | 10 January 1990 |
| 22 | Huddersfield Town | 3–1 | Grimsby Town | 6 January 1990 |
| 23 | Cardiff City | 0–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 6 January 1990 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 2–0 | Cardiff City | 10 January 1990 |
| 24 | Port Vale | 1–1 | Derby County | 7 January 1990 |
| Replay | Derby County | 2–3 | Port Vale | 10 January 1990 |
| 25 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Bradford City | 7 January 1990 |
| Replay | Bradford City | 0–3 | Charlton Athletic | 10 January 1990 |
| 26 | Leeds United | 0–1 | Ipswich Town | 6 January 1990 |
| 27 | Torquay United | 1–0 | West Ham United | 6 January 1990 |
| 28 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Walsall | 6 January 1990 |
| 29 | Stoke City | 0–1 | Arsenal | 6 January 1990 |
| 30 | Birmingham City | 1–1 | Oldham Athletic | 6 January 1990 |
| Replay | Oldham Athletic | 1–0 | Birmingham City | 10 January 1990 |
| 31 | Cambridge United | 0–0 | Darlington | 6 January 1990 |
| Replay | Darlington | 1–3 | Cambridge United | 9 January 1990 |
| 32 | Swansea City | 0–0 | Liverpool | 6 January 1990 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 8–0 | Swansea City | 9 January 1990 |

## Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games was played over the weekend 27–28 January 1990, with replays being played on the 30th–31st.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 1–0 | Torquay United | 27 January 1990 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 3–1 | Chelsea | 27 January 1990 |
| 3 | Rochdale | 3–0 | Northampton Town | 27 January 1990 |
| 4 | Southampton | 1–0 | Oxford United | 27 January 1990 |
| 5 | Reading | 3–3 | Newcastle United | 27 January 1990 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 4–1 | Reading | 31 January 1990 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 6–0 | Port Vale | 27 January 1990 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–2 | Everton | 28 January 1990 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–0 | Charlton Athletic | 27 January 1990 |
| 9 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Watford | 27 January 1990 |
| Replay | Watford | 1–2 | Sheffield United | 30 January 1990 |
| 10 | Barnsley | 2–0 | Ipswich Town | 27 January 1990 |
| 11 | Norwich City | 0–0 | Liverpool | 28 January 1990 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 3–1 | Norwich City | 31 January 1990 |
| 12 | Millwall | 1–1 | Cambridge United | 27 January 1990 |
| Replay | Cambridge United | 1–0 | Millwall | 30 January 1990 |
| 13 | Oldham Athletic | 2–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 27 January 1990 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 4–0 | Huddersfield Town | 27 January 1990 |
| 15 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 27 January 1990 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 2–0 | Arsenal | 31 January 1990 |
| 16 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Manchester United | 28 January 1990 |

## Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games was played over the weekend 17–18 February 1990, with a first round of replays being played on the 21st. Each of these finished in a draw, meaning a second round of replays had to be completed.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 2–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 18 February 1990 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 0–0 | Blackpool | 21 February 1990 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 3–0 | Blackpool | 26 February 1990 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 0–0 | Cambridge United | 17 February 1990 |
| Replay | Cambridge United | 1–1 | Bristol City | 21 February 1990 |
| Replay | Cambridge United | 5–1 | Bristol City | 27 February 1990 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 3–0 | Southampton | 17 February 1990 |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 0–2 | Aston Villa | 17 February 1990 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 2–2 | Barnsley | 18 February 1990 |
| Replay | Barnsley | 0–0 | Sheffield United | 21 February 1990 |
| Replay | Barnsley | 0–1 | Sheffield United | 5 March 1990 |
| 6 | Newcastle United | 2–3 | Manchester United | 18 February 1990 |
| 7 | Oldham Athletic | 2–2 | Everton | 17 February 1990 |
| Replay | Everton | 1–1 | Oldham Athletic | 21 February 1990 |
| Replay | Oldham Athletic | 2–1 | Everton | 10 March 1990 |
| 8 | Crystal Palace | 1–0 | Rochdale | 17 February 1990 |

## Sixth round proper

Most of the sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 10–11 March 1990, with the Oldham Athletic – Aston Villa game and the Liverpool – QPR replay being played on the 14th.
Alex Ferguson continued to defy the odds with a Manchester United side that was struggling in the league but performing wonders in the cup, as they defeated Sheffield United 1–0.
Liverpool built up their hopes of a unique second double (which had eluded them in dramatic fashion during the previous two seasons) by beating QPR in a quarter-final replay.
Aston Villa's double hopes were ended when they crashed 3–0 to an Oldham Athletic team that hadn't played top-division football since 1923.
Cambridge United's hopes of becoming the first Fourth Division team to reach the FA Cup semi-finals were ended with a 1–0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace, who moved closer to a first FA Cup final but were first faced with the task of overcoming a Liverpool side that had crushed them 9–0 in the league earlier in the season.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Sheffield United | 0–1 | Manchester United | 11 March 1990 |
| 2 | Queens Park Rangers | 2–2 | Liverpool | 11 March 1990 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 1–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 14 March 1990 |
| 3 | Oldham Athletic | 3–0 | Aston Villa | 14 March 1990 |
| 4 | Cambridge United | 0–1 | Crystal Palace | 10 March 1990 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on 8 April 1990.
Seven months after losing 9–0 to them in a league game, Crystal Palace found a 10-goal improvement to defeat Liverpool 4–3 and give them their first FA Cup final appearance as well as ending their opposition's hopes of a second double – the third season running that Liverpool had suffered a late blow to their double hopes.
Oldham Athletic, a Second Division side, opened the scoring against Manchester United through Earl Barrett in a game that eventually ended 3–3, forcing a replay. United won the replay 2–1.

## Final

Crystal Palace, playing in their first FA Cup final, took on a Manchester United side that already had six FA Cups to its name, and a thrilling game ended 3–3 with Palace taking the lead twice and United once before a late equaliser by Mark Hughes (his second goal of the game) forced a replay.
| Manchester United | Crystal Palace |

### Replay

Lee Martin, a 22-year-old defender who nearly did not play due to Alex Ferguson's doubts about his fitness, scored the winning goal as Manchester United sealed their first major trophy in five years and their first under Ferguson's management, ending months of speculation that his job was at risk due to dismal league performances.
Crystal Palace were controversially denied a clear penalty by Allan Gunn, a referee from Brighton - who instead awarded a free-kick outside the penalty area.
Les Sealey played in goal for Manchester United, the reds signing him on loan following Jim Leighton’s poor performance in the first match.
| Manchester United | Crystal Palace |

## Media coverage

For the second consecutive season in the United Kingdom, the BBC were the free to air broadcasters.
The matches shown live on the BBC were: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United (R3); Norwich City vs Liverpool (R4); Newcastle United vs Manchester United (R5); Queens Park Rangers vs Liverpool (QF); both Crystal Palace vs Liverpool and Manchester United vs Oldham Athletic (SF); Manchester United vs Oldham Athletic (SF replay); and Crystal Palace vs Manchester United in both the Final and its replay.
This was the first season to feature both semi-finals being televised live in full; they were shown on the same Sunday afternoon with an EastEnders omnibus edition scheduled in between, though this was altered when the Liverpool vs Crystal Palace match required extra time. The semi-final replay, shown on the following Wednesday evening, coincided with ITV showing the First Division match between Arsenal and Aston Villa. This was the first occasion on which BBC1 and ITV had shown different English club matches on the same evening. The cup replay kicked off at 19:45, with the league match kicking off twenty minutes later at 20:05, with the cup replay having to allow for the possibility of extra time, meaning viewers may have changed channels in time to see Aston Villa's Chris Price score the only goal.