# 1980–81 FA Cup

The 1980–81 FA Cup was the 100th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. The final saw Tottenham Hotspur defeat Manchester City in the first Wembley replay. The final saw a memorable solo goal from Ricky Villa that was voted the greatest goal scored at Wembley.

## 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, Gateshead, Fleetwood Town, Burscough, Northwich Victoria, Burton Albion, Kidderminster Harriers, Boston United, Stafford Rangers, Wycombe Wanderers, Sutton Coldfield Town, Kettering Town, St Albans City, Barton Rovers, Enfield, Barnet, Harlow Town, Wembley, Maidstone United, Gravesend & Northfleet, Yeovil Town, Addlestone & Weybridge Town, Windsor & Eton, Minehead, Farnborough Town, Leatherhead and Weymouth.
Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Sutton Coldfield Town, Barton Rovers, Wembley, Addlestone & Weybridge Town and Farnborough Town. Additionally, the reconstituted Gateshead was appearing at this stage for the first time in their own right after predecessor club Gateshead United had folded in 1977. Of the others, St Albans City had last featured in the first round in 1968-69, Fleetwood Town's predecessor outfit Fleetwood F.C. had last done so in 1965-66 and Windsor & Eton had last done so in 1925-26.
Maidstone United played eleven matches across seven rounds of the tournament, defeating Ramsgate, Folkestone, Bromley, Barking, Kettering Town (after two replays) and Gillingham (after another two replays) before going out to Exeter City in a high-scoring encounter at the London Road Athletic Ground.

## First round proper

The 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions entered in this round, joining the 28 non-league clubs from the qualifying rounds and Altrincham, Dagenham, Mossley and Scarborough who were given byes. This round contained six clubs from Step 8 of the fledgling English Football Pyramid - Fleetwood Town, Windsor & Eton, Blyth Spartans, Burscough, Barton Rovers and Sutton Coldfield Town - who were the lowest-ranked teams remaining in the competition.
The first round of games were played on 22 November 1980. Replays were played mainly on 25 and 26 November, with a couple of games on 1 December.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Enfield (6) | 3–0 | Wembley (7) | 22 November 1980 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 4–0 | Fleetwood Town (8) | 22 November 1980 |
| 3 | Chester | 1–2 | Barnsley | 22 November 1980 |
| 4 | Darlington | 0–2 | Bury | 22 November 1980 |
| 5 | Barnet (5) | 2–2 | Minehead (6) | 22 November 1980 |
| Replay | Minehead | 1–2 | Barnet | 25 November 1980 |
| 6 | Burnley | 1–0 | Scarborough (5) | 22 November 1980 |
| 7 | Yeovil Town (5) | 2–1 | Farnborough Town (7) | 22 November 1980 |
| 8 | Reading | 1–2 | Fulham | 22 November 1980 |
| 9 | Walsall | 3–0 | Stafford Rangers (5) | 22 November 1980 |
| 10 | Gillingham | 2–1 | Dagenham (6) | 22 November 1980 |
| 11 | Northwich Victoria (5) | 1–1 | Huddersfield Town | 22 November 1980 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 6–0 | Northwich Victoria | 25 November 1980 |
| 12 | Lincoln City | 1–0 | Gateshead (6) | 22 November 1980 |
| 13 | Swindon Town | 3–2 | Weymouth (5) | 22 November 1980 |
| 14 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–0 | York City | 22 November 1980 |
| Replay | York City | 1–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 25 November 1980 |
| 15 | Stockport County | 0–0 | Sheffield United | 22 November 1980 |
| Replay | Sheffield United | 3–2 | Stockport County | 25 November 1980 |
| 16 | Wycombe Wanderers (6) | 0–3 | AFC Bournemouth | 22 November 1980 |
| 17 | Kidderminster Harriers (6) | 1–1 | Millwall | 22 November 1980 |
| Replay | Millwall | 1–0 | Kidderminster Harriers | 25 November 1980 |
| 18 | Brentford | 2–2 | Addlestone & Weybridge Town (6) | 22 November 1980 |
| Replay | Brentford | 2–0 | Addlestone & Weybridge Town | 25 November 1980 |
| 19 | Northampton Town | 1–4 | Peterborough United | 22 November 1980 |
| 20 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | Newport County | 22 November 1980 |
| 21 | Hull City | 2–1 | Halifax Town | 22 November 1980 |
| 22 | Wimbledon | 7–2 | Windsor & Eton (8) | 22 November 1980 |
| 23 | Southend United | 0–1 | Hereford United | 22 November 1980 |
| 24 | Exeter City | 5–0 | Leatherhead (6) | 22 November 1980 |
| 25 | Scunthorpe United | 3–1 | Hartlepool United | 22 November 1980 |
| 26 | Blyth Spartans (8) | 2–1 | Burton Albion (6) | 22 November 1980 |
| 27 | Mansfield Town | 3–1 | Rochdale | 22 November 1980 |
| 28 | Port Vale | 4–2 | Bradford City | 22 November 1980 |
| 29 | Torquay United | 2–0 | Barton Rovers (8) | 22 November 1980 |
| 30 | Workington (6) | 0–0 | Carlisle United | 22 November 1980 |
| Replay | Carlisle United | 4–1 | Workington | 1 December 1980 |
| 31 | Kettering Town (5) | 1–1 | Maidstone United (5) | 22 November 1980 |
| Replay | Maidstone United | 0–0 | Kettering Town | 26 November 1980 |
| Replay | Maidstone United | 3–1 | Kettering Town | 1 December 1980 |
| 32 | Wigan Athletic | 2–2 | Chesterfield | 22 November 1980 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Wigan Athletic | 25 November 1980 |
| 33 | Boston United (5) | 0–4 | Rotherham United | 22 November 1980 |
| 34 | Harlow Town (6) | 0–2 | Charlton Athletic | 22 November 1980 |
| 35 | Colchester United | 3–0 | Portsmouth | 22 November 1980 |
| 36 | Gravesend & Northfleet (5) | 1–2 | St Albans City (7) | 22 November 1980 |
| 37 | Burscough (8) | 1–2 | Altrincham (5) | 22 November 1980 |
| 38 | Mossley (6) | 1–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 22 November 1980 |
| 39 | Sutton Coldfield Town (8) | 0–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 22 November 1980 |
| 40 | Oxford United | 1–0 | Aldershot | 22 November 1980 |

## Second round proper

The second round of games were intended to be played on 13 December 1980. Replays took place over 16–17 December with second replays needed in two cases. Blyth Spartans, from the Northern League at Step 8 of English football, was the lowest-ranked club in the round.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Enfield (6) | 2–0 | Hereford United | 13 December 1980 |
| 2 | Barnet (5) | 0–1 | Peterborough United | 13 December 1980 |
| 3 | Burnley | 1–1 | Port Vale | 13 December 1980 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 2–0 | Burnley | 16 December 1980 |
| 4 | Bury | 2–0 | Lincoln City | 13 December 1980 |
| 5 | Gillingham | 0–0 | Maidstone United (5) | 13 December 1980 |
| Replay | Maidstone United | 0–0 | Gillingham | 16 December 1980 |
| Replay | Gillingham | 0–2 | Maidstone United | 22 December 1980 |
| 6 | Doncaster Rovers | 2–1 | Blackpool | 13 December 1980 |
| 7 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Chesterfield | 13 December 1980 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Sheffield United | 16 December 1980 |
| 8 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–3 | Huddersfield Town | 13 December 1980 |
| 9 | Fulham | 1–0 | Brentford | 13 December 1980 |
| 10 | Plymouth Argyle | 3–0 | Oxford United | 13 December 1980 |
| 11 | Millwall | 0–1 | Exeter City | 13 December 1980 |
| 12 | Hull City | 1–1 | Blyth Spartans (8) | 13 December 1980 |
| Replay | Blyth Spartans | 2–2 | Hull City | 16 December 1980 |
| Replay | Hull City | 2–1 | Blyth Spartans | 22 December 1980 |
| 13 | Carlisle United | 3–0 | Walsall | 13 December 1980 |
| 14 | Wimbledon | 2–0 | Swindon Town | 13 December 1980 |
| 15 | St Albans City (7) | 1–1 | Torquay United | 13 December 1980 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 4–1 | St Albans City | 17 December 1980 |
| 16 | Scunthorpe United | 0–0 | Altrincham (5) | 13 December 1980 |
| Replay | Altrincham | 1–0 | Scunthorpe United | 15 December 1980 |
| 17 | Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | AFC Bournemouth | 13 December 1980 |
| 18 | Rotherham United | 0–1 | Barnsley | 13 December 1980 |
| 19 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Yeovil Town (5) | 13 December 1980 |
| Replay | Yeovil Town | 0–2 | Colchester United | 17 December 1980 |
| 20 | Mossley (6) | 1–3 | Mansfield Town | 13 December 1980 |

## 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 on 3 January 1981. Replays took place over 6–7 January with second replays needed in two cases. One of those second replays resulted in the elimination of Cup holders West Ham United by Wrexham. Enfield, from the Isthmian League Premier Division at Step 6 of English football, was the lowest-ranked club in the round.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bury (4) | 1–1 | Fulham (3) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Fulham | 0–0 | Bury | 6 January 1981 |
| Replay | Bury | 0–1 | Fulham | 12 January 1981 |
| 2 | Liverpool(1) | 4–1 | Altrincham(5) | 3 January 1981 |
| 3 | Preston North End(2) | 3–4 | Bristol Rovers(2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 4 | Southampton(1) | 3–1 | Chelsea(2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 5 | Leicester City(1) | 3–0 | Cardiff City(2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 6 | Notts County (2) | 2–1 | Blackburn Rovers(2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest(1) | 3–3 | Bolton Wanderers (2) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest | 6 January 1981 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion(1) | 3–0 | Grimsby Town(2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 9 | Derby County(2) | 0–0 | Bristol City(2) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 2–0 | Derby County | 7 January 1981 |
| 10 | Everton(1) | 2–0 | Arsenal(1) | 3 January 1981 |
| 11 | Ipswich Town(1) | 1–0 | Aston Villa(1) | 3 January 1981 |
| 12 | Newcastle United (2) | 2–1 | Sheffield Wednesday(2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 13 | Manchester City (1) | 4–0 | Crystal Palace(1) | 3 January 1981 |
| 14 | Queens Park Rangers(2) | 0–0 | Tottenham Hotspur (1) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 7 January 1981 |
| 15 | Barnsley (3) | 2–1 | Torquay United (4) | 3 January 1981 |
| 16 | Maidstone United(5) | 2–4 | Exeter City (3) | 3 January 1981 |
| 17 | West Ham United (2) | 1–1 | Wrexham(2) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 0–0 | West Ham United | 6 January 1981 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 1–0 | West Ham United | 19 January 1981 |
| 18 | Manchester United (1) | 2–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion(1) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–2 | Manchester United | 7 January 1981 |
| 19 | Norwich City(1) | 1–0 | Cambridge United (2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 20 | Plymouth Argyle (3) | 1–2 | Charlton Athletic (3) | 3 January 1981 |
| 21 | Hull City (3) | 1–0 | Doncaster Rovers (4) | 3 January 1981 |
| 22 | Wimbledon (4) | 0–0 | Oldham Athletic (2) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Oldham Athletic | 0–1 | Wimbledon | 6 January 1981 |
| 23 | Huddersfield Town (3) | 0–3 | Shrewsbury Town (2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 24 | Mansfield Town (4) | 2–2 | Carlisle United(3) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Carlisle United | 2–1 | Mansfield Town | 6 January 1981 |
| 25 | Port Vale (4) | 1–1 | Enfield (6) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Enfield | 3–0 | Port Vale | 6 January 1981 |
| 26 | Leeds United (1) | 1–1 | Coventry City (1) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Coventry City | 1–0 | Leeds United | 6 January 1981 |
| 27 | Stoke City (1) | 2–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers(1) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Stoke City | 6 January 1981 |
| 28 | Peterborough United (4) | 1–1 | Chesterfield (3) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 1–2 | Peterborough United | 6 January 1981 |
| 29 | Colchester United (3) | 0–1 | Watford (2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 30 | Birmingham City (1) | 1–1 | Sunderland(1) | 3 January 1981 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 1–2 | Birmingham City | 7 January 1981 |
| 31 | Orient (2) | 1–3 | Luton Town(2) | 3 January 1981 |
| 32 | Swansea City (2) | 0–5 | Middlesbrough (1) | 3 January 1981 |

## Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were mainly played on 24 January 1981. Replays were played on 27 and 28 January. Enfield was the last non-league club left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Southampton | 3–1 | Bristol Rovers | 24 January 1981 |
| 2 | Watford | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 24 January 1981 |
| Replay | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Watford | 27 January 1981 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 1–1 | Exeter City | 24 January 1981 |
| Replay | Exeter City | 3–1 | Leicester City | 28 January 1981 |
| 4 | Notts County | 0–1 | Peterborough United | 24 January 1981 |
| 5 | Nottingham Forest | 1–0 | Manchester United | 24 January 1981 |
| 6 | Middlesbrough | 1–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 24 January 1981 |
| 7 | Everton | 2–1 | Liverpool | 24 January 1981 |
| 8 | Shrewsbury Town | 0–0 | Ipswich Town | 24 January 1981 |
| Replay | Ipswich Town | 3–0 | Shrewsbury Town | 27 January 1981 |
| 9 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Wimbledon | 24 January 1981 |
| 10 | Newcastle United | 2–1 | Luton Town | 24 January 1981 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Hull City | 24 January 1981 |
| 12 | Manchester City | 6–0 | Norwich City | 24 January 1981 |
| 13 | Fulham | 1–2 | Charlton Athletic | 24 January 1981 |
| 14 | Barnsley | 1–1 | Enfield (6) | 24 January 1981 |
| Replay* | Enfield | 0–3 | Barnsley | 28 January 1981 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 3–2 | Birmingham City | 24 January 1981 |
| 16 | Carlisle United | 1–1 | Bristol City | 24 January 1981 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 5–0 | Carlisle United | 28 January 1981 |
* (Played at White Hart Lane)

## Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were all played on 14 February 1981. Two replays were played on 17 and 18 February.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Southampton | 0–0 | Everton | 14 February 1981 |
| Replay | Everton | 1–0 | Southampton | 17 February 1981 |
| 2 | Nottingham Forest | 2–1 | Bristol City | 14 February 1981 |
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–1 | Wrexham | 14 February 1981 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Barnsley | 14 February 1981 |
| 5 | Ipswich Town | 2–0 | Charlton Athletic | 14 February 1981 |
| 6 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | Exeter City | 14 February 1981 |
| Replay | Exeter City | 4–0 | Newcastle United | 18 February 1981 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–1 | Coventry City | 14 February 1981 |
| 8 | Peterborough United | 0–1 | Manchester City | 14 February 1981 |

## Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played on 7 March 1981. There were three replays, taken place over 10–11 March.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Nottingham Forest | 3–3 | Ipswich Town | 7 March 1981 |
| Replay | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Nottingham Forest | 10 March 1981 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 7 March 1981 |
| Replay | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–1 | Middlesbrough | 10 March 1981 |
| 3 | Everton | 2–2 | Manchester City | 7 March 1981 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 3–1 | Everton | 11 March 1981 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Exeter City | 7 March 1981 |

## Semi-finals

The matches were both played on 11 April 1981, with a replay on 15 April. Tottenham and Manchester City reached the Final.
Referee:- Pat Partridge (Co. Durham)
Referee:- Clive Thomas (Porthcawl)

### Replay

Referee:- George Courtney (Spennymoor)

## Final

The final was held at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 1981. The replay was held on 14 May 1981.
| Tottenham Hotspur | Manchester City |
Milija Aleksic :
| LB | 2 | Chris Hughton |
| CB | 3 | Paul Miller |
| CB | 4 | Graham Roberts |
| RB | 5 | Steve Perryman (c) |
| RM | 6 | Ricardo Villa | 68' |
| CM | 7 | Osvaldo Ardiles |
| CF | 8 | Steve Archibald |
| LM | 9 | Tony Galvin |
| CM | 10 | Glenn Hoddle |
| CF | 11 | Garth Crooks |
| Substitute: ||||
| MF | 12 | Garry Brooke | 68' |
| Manager: ||||
| Keith Burkinshaw ||||
Joe Corrigan :
| RB | 2 | Ray Ranson |
| LB | 3 | Bobby McDonald |
| CB | 4 | Nicky Reid |
| LM | 5 | Paul Power (c) |
| CB | 6 | Tommy Caton |
| RM | 7 | Dave Bennett |
| CM | 8 | Gerry Gow |
| CF | 9 | Steve MacKenzie |
| CM | 10 | Tommy Hutchison | 105' |
| CF | 11 | Kevin Reeves |
| Substitute: ||||
| MF | 12 | Tony Henry | 105' |
| Manager: ||||
| John Bond ||||
* Match rules
* 90 minutes.
* 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
* Replay if scores still level.
* One substitute.

## Replay

| Tottenham Hotspur | Manchester City |
Milija Aleksic :
| LB | 2 | Chris Hughton |
| CB | 3 | Paul Miller |
| CB | 4 | Graham Roberts |
| RM | 5 | Ricardo Villa |
| RB | 6 | Steve Perryman (c) |
| CM | 7 | Osvaldo Ardiles |
| CF | 8 | Steve Archibald |
| LM | 9 | Tony Galvin |
| CM | 10 | Glenn Hoddle |
| CF | 11 | Garth Crooks |
| Substitute: ||||
| MF | 12 | Garry Brooke |
| Manager: ||||
| Keith Burkinshaw ||||
Joe Corrigan :
| RB | 2 | Ray Ranson |
| LB | 3 | Bobby McDonald | 79' |
| CB | 4 | Nicky Reid |
| LM | 5 | Paul Power (c) |
| CB | 6 | Tommy Caton |
| RM | 7 | Dave Bennett |
| CM | 8 | Gerry Gow |
| CF | 9 | Steve MacKenzie |
| CM | 10 | Tommy Hutchison |
| CF | 11 | Kevin Reeves |
| Substitute: ||||
| FW | 12 | Dennis Tueart | 79' |
| Manager: ||||
| John Bond ||||
* Match rules
* 90 minutes.
* 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
* Replay if scores still level.
* One substitute.

## TV 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. For the first time the BBC showed highlights of a single game from the first and second rounds after highlights of League games. ITV did not show any games from Round One or Two. Occasional highlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV.
This season ITV were showing highlights on their regional highlights programmes on Saturday nights and BBC1 were showing highlights on Match Of The Day on Sunday afternoons in the second season of the 4 year alternation deal.
* First round BBC Harlow Town v Charlton Athletic
* Second round BBC Colchester United v Yeovil
* Third round BBC Ipswich Town v Aston Villa, Everton v Arsenal, Swansea City v Middlesbrough, Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United (Midweek replay) ITV Manchester City v Crystal Palace (Granada), Queens Park Rangers v Tottenham Hotspur (LWT), Norwich City v Cambridge United (Anglia), Leeds United v Coventry City (Yorkshire), Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers (ATV), Newcastle United v Sheffield Wednesday (Tyne-Tees)
* Fourth round BBC Nottingham Forest v Manchester United, Manchester City v Norwich City, Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers ITV Everton v Liverpool (Granada), Barnsley v Enfield (Yorkshire & LWT), Middlesbrough v West Bromwich Albion (Tyne-Tees), Shrewsbury Town v Ipswich Town (ATV & Anglia), Exeter City v Leicester City (Midweek replay All regions)
* Fifth round BBC Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City, Peterborough United v Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Wrexham, Exeter City v Newcastle United (Midweek replay) ITV Southampton v Everton (Southern, Granada & LWT), Middlesbrough v Barnsley (Tyne-Tees & Yorkshire), Ipswich Town v Charlton Athletic (Anglia), Nottingham Forest v Bristol City (ATV & HTV)
* Sixth round BBC Everton v Manchester City, Middlesbrough v Wolverhampton Wanderers ITV Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town (ATV & Anglia), Tottenham Hotspur v Exeter City (LWT) All regions showed these two games Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest (Midweek replay all regions), Wolverhampton Wanderers v Middlesbrough (Midweek replay all regions)
* Semi-finals BBC Ipswich Town v Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Midweek replay) ITV Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers (All Regions)
* Final Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur Both BBC & ITV showed both games live.