# 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 no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 2–1 | Lincoln City | 25 November 1978 |
| 2 | Chester | 1–1 | Runcorn | 25 November 1978 |
| Replay | Runcorn | 0–5 | Chester | 28 November 1978 |
| 3 | Darlington | 1–1 | Chesterfield | 25 November 1978 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Darlington | 6 December 1978 |
| 4 | Dartford | 1–2 | AP Leamington | 25 November 1978 |
| 5 | AFC Bournemouth | 2–1 | Hitchin Town | 25 November 1978 |
| 6 | Barnet | 3–3 | Woking | 25 November 1978 |
| Replay | Woking | 3–3 | Barnet | 28 November 1978 |
| Replay | Woking | 3–0 | Barnet | 5 December 1978 |
| 7 | Rochdale | 0–1 | Droylsden | 25 November 1978 |
| 8 | Watford | 3–0 | Dagenham | 25 November 1978 |
| 9 | Yeovil Town | 0–1 | Barking | 25 November 1978 |
| 10 | Reading | 0–0 | Gillingham | 25 November 1978 |
| Replay | Gillingham | 1–2 | Reading | 28 November 1978 |
| 11 | Walsall | 0–2 | Torquay United | 25 November 1978 |
| 12 | Swindon Town | 2–0 | March Town United | 25 November 1978 |
| 13 | Doncaster Rovers | 2–1 | Huddersfield Town | 25 November 1978 |
| 14 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–1 | Boston United | 25 November 1978 |
| 15 | Stockport County | 5–1 | Morecambe | 25 November 1978 |
| 16 | Chorley | 0–1 | Scarborough | 25 November 1978 |
| 17 | Barnsley | 5–1 | Worksop Town | 25 November 1978 |
| 18 | Maidstone United | 1–0 | Wycombe Wanderers | 25 November 1978 |
| 19 | Portsmouth | 2–0 | Northampton Town | 25 November 1978 |
| 20 | Bradford City | 1–0 | Port Vale | 25 November 1978 |
| 21 | Hull City | 2–1 | Stafford Rangers | 25 November 1978 |
| 22 | Carlisle United | 1–0 | Halifax Town | 25 November 1978 |
| 23 | Worcester City | 2–0 | Plymouth Argyle | 25 November 1978 |
| 24 | Altrincham | 4–3 | Southport | 25 November 1978 |
| 25 | Southend United | 3–2 | Peterborough United | 25 November 1978 |
| 26 | Exeter City | 1–0 | Brentford | 25 November 1978 |
| 27 | Scunthorpe United | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 25 November 1978 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–0 | Scunthorpe United | 28 November 1978 |
| 28 | Mansfield Town | 0–2 | Shrewsbury Town | 25 November 1978 |
| 29 | Wealdstone | 0–5 | Enfield | 25 November 1978 |
| 30 | York City | 1–1 | Blyth Spartans | 25 November 1978 |
| Replay | Blyth Spartans | 3–5 | York City | 28 November 1978 |
| 31 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Newport County | 25 November 1978 |
| 32 | Rotherham United | 3–0 | Workington | 25 November 1978 |
| 33 | Aldershot | 1–1 | Weymouth | 25 November 1978 |
| Replay | Weymouth | 0–2 | Aldershot | 29 November 1978 |
| 34 | Wigan Athletic | 2–2 | Bury | 25 November 1978 |
| Replay | Bury | 4–1 | Wigan Athletic | 28 November 1978 |
| 35 | Colchester United | 4–2 | Oxford United | 25 November 1978 |
| 36 | Nuneaton Borough | 0–2 | Crewe Alexandra | 25 November 1978 |
| 37 | Gravesend & Northfleet | 0–0 | Wimbledon | 25 November 1978 |
| Replay | Wimbledon | 1–0 | Gravesend & Northfleet | 28 November 1978 |
| 38 | Leatherhead | 2–1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 25 November 1978 |
| 39 | Swansea City | 4–1 | Hillingdon Borough | 25 November 1978 |
| 40 | Hartlepool United | 1–0 | Grimsby Town | 25 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 no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Darlington | 2–1 | Chester | 16 December 1978 |
| 2 | Barking | 1–2 | Aldershot | 16 December 1978 |
| 3 | Bury | 3–1 | Blackpool | 16 December 1978 |
| 4 | Watford | 1–1 | Southend United | 16 December 1978 |
| Replay | Southend United | 1–0 | Watford | 18 December 1978 |
| 5 | Crewe Alexandra | 0–1 | Hartlepool United | 16 December 1978 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 3–0 | Enfield | 16 December 1978 |
| 7 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–3 | Shrewsbury Town | 16 December 1978 |
| 8 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 16 December 1978 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 4–0 | Tranmere Rovers | 19 December 1978 |
| 9 | Stockport County | 4–2 | Bradford City | 16 December 1978 |
| 10 | Barnsley | 1–1 | Rotherham United | 16 December 1978 |
| Replay | Rotherham United | 2–1 | Barnsley | 9 January 1979 |
| 11 | Maidstone United | 1–0 | Exeter City | 16 December 1978 |
| 12 | Portsmouth | 0–1 | Reading | 16 December 1978 |
| 13 | Carlisle United | 3–0 | Hull City | 16 December 1978 |
| 14 | Wimbledon | 1–1 | AFC Bournemouth | 16 December 1978 |
| Replay | AFC Bournemouth | 1–2 | Wimbledon | 28 December 1978 |
| 15 | Newport County | 0–0 | Worcester City | 16 December 1978 |
| Replay | Worcester City | 1–2 | Newport County | 18 December 1978 |
| 16 | York City | 3–0 | Scarborough | 16 December 1978 |
| 17 | Droylsden | 0–2 | Altrincham | 16 December 1978 |
| 18 | Leatherhead | 1–1 | Colchester United | 16 December 1978 |
| Replay | Colchester United | 4–0 | Leatherhead | 19 December 1978 |
| 19 | Swansea City | 2–2 | Woking | 16 December 1978 |
| Replay | Woking | 3–5 | Swansea City | 19 December 1978 |
| 20 | AP Leamington | 0–1 | Torquay United | 16 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 no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Darlington | 0–1 | Colchester United | 9 January 1979 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 3–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 9 January 1979 |
| 3 | Preston North End | 3–0 | Derby County | 16 January 1979 |
| 4 | Leicester City | 3–0 | Norwich City | 6 January 1979 |
| 5 | Notts County | 4–2 | Reading | 9 January 1979 |
| 6 | Nottingham Forest | 2–0 | Aston Villa | 10 January 1979 |
| 7 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–1 | Millwall | 10 January 1979 |
| 8 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Arsenal | 6 January 1979 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 9 January 1979 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–2 | Arsenal | 15 January 1979 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 3–3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 17 January 1979 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–2 | Arsenal | 22 January 1979 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Crystal Palace | 9 January 1979 |
| Replay | Crystal Palace | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | 15 January 1979 |
| 10 | Sunderland | 2–1 | Everton | 10 January 1979 |
| 11 | Swindon Town | 3–0 | Cardiff City | 9 January 1979 |
| 12 | Shrewsbury Town | 3–1 | Cambridge United | 6 January 1979 |
| 13 | Wrexham | 6–2 | Stockport County | 1 February 1979 |
| 14 | Sheffield United | 0–0 | Aldershot | 9 January 1979 |
| Replay | Aldershot | 1–0 | Sheffield United | 15 January 1979 |
| 15 | Ipswich Town | 3–2 | Carlisle United | 10 January 1979 |
| 16 | Newcastle United | 3–1 | Torquay United | 16 January 1979 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | Altrincham | 10 January 1979 |
| Replay | Altrincham | 0–3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 16 January 1979 |
| 18 | Manchester City | 0–0 | Rotherham United | 15 January 1979 |
| Replay | Rotherham United | 2–4 | Manchester City | 17 January 1979 |
| 19 | Fulham | 2–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 9 January 1979 |
| 20 | Coventry City | 2–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 9 January 1979 |
| Replay | West Bromwich Albion | 4–0 | Coventry City | 15 January 1979 |
| 21 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 9 January 1979 |
| 22 | Manchester United | 3–0 | Chelsea | 15 January 1979 |
| 23 | Wimbledon | 0–2 | Southampton | 9 January 1979 |
| 24 | Southend United | 0–0 | Liverpool | 10 January 1979 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 3–0 | Southend United | 17 January 1979 |
| 25 | Newport County | 2–1 | West Ham United | 9 January 1979 |
| 26 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Maidstone United | 9 January 1979 |
| Replay | Maidstone United | 1–2 | Charlton Athletic | 15 January 1979 |
| 27 | York City | 2–0 | Luton Town | 9 January 1979 |
| 28 | Stoke City | 0–1 | Oldham Athletic | 17 January 1979 |
| 29 | Birmingham City | 0–2 | Burnley | 6 January 1979 |
| 30 | Orient | 3–2 | Bury | 9 January 1979 |
| 31 | Swansea City | 0–1 | Bristol Rovers | 8 January 1979 |
| 32 | Hartlepool United | 2–6 | Leeds United | 18 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 no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Burnley | 1–1 | Sunderland | 21 February 1979 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 0–3 | Burnley | 26 February 1979 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 1–0 | Blackburn Rovers | 30 January 1979 |
| 3 | Preston North End | 0–1 | Southampton | 12 February 1979 |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 3–1 | York City | 27 January 1979 |
| 5 | Leeds United | 3–3 | West Bromwich Albion | 26 February 1979 |
| Replay | West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | Leeds United | 1 March 1979 |
| 6 | Shrewsbury Town | 2–0 | Manchester City | 27 January 1979 |
| 7 | Ipswich Town | 0–0 | Orient | 27 January 1979 |
| Replay | Orient | 0–2 | Ipswich Town | 30 January 1979 |
| 8 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 27 January 1979 |
| Replay | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Newcastle United | 22 February 1979 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–3 | Wrexham | 12 February 1979 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 2–3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 February 1979 |
| 10 | Fulham | 1–1 | Manchester United | 31 January 1979 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 1–0 | Fulham | 12 February 1979 |
| 11 | Bristol Rovers | 1–0 | Charlton Athletic | 5 February 1979 |
| 12 | Oldham Athletic | 3–1 | Leicester City | 26 February 1979 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 3–0 | Bristol City | 29 January 1979 |
| 14 | Newport County | 0–0 | Colchester United | 30 January 1979 |
| Replay | Colchester United | 1–0 | Newport County | 5 February 1979 |
| 15 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Notts County | 27 January 1979 |
| 16 | Aldershot | 2–1 | Swindon Town | 30 January 1979 |

## Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were played on either 20, 26 or 28 February, or 10 March 1979. Two replays were played on 26 February and 12 March.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Liverpool | 3–0 | Burnley | 28 February 1979 |
| 2 | Nottingham Forest | 0–1 | Arsenal | 26 February 1979 |
| 3 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–1 | Southampton | 10 March 1979 |
| Replay | Southampton | 2–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 12 March 1979 |
| 4 | Ipswich Town | 6–1 | Bristol Rovers | 26 February 1979 |
| 5 | Oldham Athletic | 0–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 February 1979 |
| 6 | Crystal Palace | 0–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 26 February 1979 |
| 7 | Aldershot | 2–2 | Shrewsbury Town | 20 February 1979 |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 3–1 | Aldershot | 26 February 1979 |
| 8 | Colchester United | 0–1 | Manchester United | 20 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 no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Southampton | 1–1 | Arsenal | 19 March 1979 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 2–0 | Southampton | 21 March 1979 |
| 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 10 March 1979 |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 1–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 March 1979 |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 0–1 | Liverpool | 10 March 1979 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | Manchester United | 10 March 1979 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 2–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 14 March 1979 |

## Final

| Arsenal | Manchester United |

## 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.
| Round | BBC1 | ITV |
| Third round proper | Leicester 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 (abandoned) $^1$ |
| Fourth round proper | Shrewsbury 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 $^3$ (Replay) Wrexham v Tottenham Hotspur $^3$ (Replay) |
| Fifth round proper | Nottingham Forest v Arsenal$^2$ | |
| Sixth round proper | Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur $^{1,2}$ (Replay) | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Shrewsbury Town – ATV $^1$ Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United – LWT |
| Semi-finals | Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers Liverpool v Manchester United$^2$ (Replay) $^1$ | Manchester United vs Liverpool – Granada shown in All Regions$^1$ |
| Final | Arsenal vs Manchester United $^1$ | Arsenal vs Manchester United $^1$ |
$^1$Footage available on YouTube $^2$featured on Sportsnight $^3$featured on Midweek Sports Special