# 1981–82 FA Cup

The 1981–82 FA Cup was the 101st season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short.
The competition culminated with the FA Cup Final, held at Wembley Stadium, London on 22 May 1982. The match was contested by two London clubs, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, with Tottenham retaining the trophy with a 1–0 victory in a replay after a 1–1 draw in the first game.

## 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, Horden Colliery Welfare, Bishop Auckland, Workington, Penrith, Runcorn, Mossley, Nuneaton Borough, Stafford Rangers, Kettering Town, Willenhall Town, Harlow Town, Boston United, Wycombe Wanderers, Hendon, Bedford Town, Dagenham, Barnet, Dover, Barking, Hastings United, Leytonstone & Ilford, Weymouth, Bideford, Minehead, Taunton Town, Dorchester Town and Yeovil Town.
Penrith and Willenhall Town were the only qualifying clubs appearing in the competition proper for the first time. Of the others, Hastings United had not featured at this stage since 1960–61, Dorchester Town since 1959-60, Horden Colliery Welfare since 1954-55 and Taunton Town since a predecessor club of the same name had successfully navigated the qualifying rounds in 1930-31.

## 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, Bishop's Stortford, Sutton United and Enfield who were given byes. This round included six clubs from various competitions at Step 8 of the English football system: Blyth Spartans, Horden Colliery Welfare, Bishop Auckland and Penrith from the Northern League, Bideford from the Western League and Willenhall Town from the West Midlands (Regional) League.
The initial matches were played over the weekend of 20–21 November 1981 with replays mainly staged on 23–25 November.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Enfield (5) | 2–0 | Hastings United (6) | 21 November 1981 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 4–1 | Preston North End | 21 November 1981 |
| 3 | Darlington | 2–2 | Carlisle United | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Carlisle United | 3–1 | Darlington | 24 November 1981 |
| 4 | AFC Bournemouth | 1–0 | Reading | 21 November 1981 |
| 5 | Bristol City | 0–0 | Torquay United | 20 November 1981 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 1–2 | Bristol City | 25 November 1981 |
| 6 | Burnley | 0–0 | Runcorn (5) | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Runcorn | 1–2 | Burnley | 24 November 1981 |
| 7 | Dorchester Town (6) | 3–3 | Minehead (6) | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Minehead | 0–4 | Dorchester Town | 23 November 1981 |
| 8 | Rochdale | 2–2 | Hull City | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Hull City | 2–2 | Rochdale | 24 November 1981 |
| Replay | Hull City | 1–0 | Rochdale | 30 November 1981 |
| 9 | Weymouth (5) | 0–0 | Northampton Town | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 6–2 | Weymouth | 24 November 1981 |
| 10 | Lincoln City | 2–2 | Port Vale | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 0–0 | Lincoln City | 30 November 1981 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 2–0 | Lincoln City | 2 December 1981 |
| 11 | Stafford Rangers (5) | 1–2 | York City | 21 November 1981 |
| 12 | Swindon Town | 2–1 | Taunton Town (6) | 21 November 1981 |
| 13 | Sheffield United | 2–2 | Altrincham (5) | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Altrincham | 3–0 | Sheffield United | 23 November 1981 |
| 14 | Bishop Auckland (8) | 4–1 | Nuneaton Borough (6) | 21 November 1981 |
| 15 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Bury | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Bury | 3–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 24 November 1981 |
| 16 | Stockport County | 3–1 | Mossley (6) | 21 November 1981 |
| 17 | Dover (6) | 0–2 | Oxford United | 21 November 1981 |
| 18 | Brentford | 2–0 | Exeter City | 21 November 1981 |
| 19 | Bristol Rovers | 1–2 | Fulham | 21 November 1981 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 1–1 | Millwall | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Millwall | 3–2 | Portsmouth | 25 November 1981 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 0–0 | Gillingham | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Gillingham | 1–0 | Plymouth Argyle | 24 November 1981 |
| 22 | Penrith (8) | 1–0 | Chester | 21 November 1981 |
| 23 | Scunthorpe United | 1–0 | Bradford City | 21 November 1981 |
| 24 | Blyth Spartans (8) | 1–2 | Walsall | 21 November 1981 |
| 25 | Bedford Town (6) | 0–2 | Wimbledon | 21 November 1981 |
| 26 | Mansfield Town | 0–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 21 November 1981 |
| 27 | Halifax Town | 0–3 | Peterborough United | 21 November 1981 |
| 28 | Workington (6) | 1–1 | Huddersfield Town | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 5–0 | Workington | 24 November 1981 |
| 29 | Hereford United | 3–1 | Southend United | 21 November 1981 |
| 30 | Bishop's Stortford (6) | 2–2 | Sutton United (6) | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Sutton United | 2–1 | Bishop's Stortford | 24 November 1981 |
| 31 | Bideford (8) | 1–2 | Barking (6) | 21 November 1981 |
| 32 | Aldershot | 2–0 | Leytonstone & Ilford (6) | 21 November 1981 |
| 33 | Horden CW (8) | 0–1 | Blackpool | 21 November 1981 |
| 34 | Wigan Athletic | 2–2 | Hartlepool United | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Hartlepool United | 1–0 | Wigan Athletic | 25 November 1981 |
| 35 | Boston United (5) | 0–1 | Kettering Town (5) | 21 November 1981 |
| 36 | Harlow Town (6) | 0–0 | Barnet (5) | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Barnet | 1–0 | Harlow Town | 24 November 1981 |
| 37 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Newport County | 21 November 1981 |
| 38 | Hendon (6) | 1–1 | Wycombe Wanderers (6) | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Wycombe Wanderers | 2–0 | Hendon | 24 November 1981 |
| 39 | Dagenham (5) | 2–2 | Yeovil Town (5) | 21 November 1981 |
| Replay | Yeovil Town | 0–1 | Dagenham | 25 November 1981 |
| 40 | Willenhall Town (8) | 0–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 21 November 1981 |

## Second round proper

The Second Round was intended to be played on 12 December 1981, although many were not played until 15 December or even 2 January or 9 January. Replays were played on various dates after these games. Step 8 clubs Bishop Auckland and Penrith were the lowest-ranked teams in the round.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Enfield (5) | 4–1 | Wimbledon | 15 December 1981 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Huddersfield Town | 12 December 1981 |
| 3 | Barnet (5) | 2–0 | Wycombe Wanderers (6) | 15 December 1981 |
| 4 | Bristol City | 3–0 | Northampton Town | 15 December 1981 |
| 5 | Bury | 1–1 | Burnley | 2 January 1982 |
| Replay | Burnley | 2–1 | Bury | 4 January 1982 |
| 6 | Dorchester Town (6) | 1–1 | AFC Bournemouth | 12 December 1981 |
| Replay | AFC Bournemouth | 2–1 | Dorchester Town | 15 December 1981 |
| 7 | Gillingham | 1–1 | Barking (6) | 15 December 1981 |
| Replay | Gillingham | 3–1 | Barking | 2 January 1982 |
| 8 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–3 | Scunthorpe United | 2 January 1982 |
| 9 | Swindon Town | 2–1 | Sutton United (6) | 15 December 1981 |
| 10 | Doncaster Rovers | 3–0 | Penrith (8) | 12 December 1981 |
| 11 | Brentford | 1–1 | Colchester United | 16 December 1981 |
| Replay | Colchester United | 1–0 | Brentford | 30 December 1981 |
| 12 | Hull City | 2–0 | Hartlepool United | 4 January 1982 |
| 13 | Carlisle United | 1–0 | Bishop Auckland (8) | 9 January 1982 |
| 14 | Port Vale | 4–1 | Stockport County | 2 January 1982 |
| 15 | York City | 0–0 | Altrincham (5) | 12 December 1981 |
| Replay | Altrincham | 4–3 | York City | 2 January 1982 |
| 16 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Fulham | 2 January 1982 |
| 17 | Kettering Town (5) | 0–3 | Blackpool | 2 January 1982 |
| 18 | Aldershot | 2–2 | Oxford United | 15 December 1981 |
| Replay | Oxford United | 4–2 | Aldershot | 30 December 1981 |
| 19 | Peterborough United | 2–1 | Walsall | 2 January 1982 |
| 20 | Dagenham (5) | 1–2 | Millwall | 30 December 1981 |

## Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in this round. The Third Round was intended to be played on 2 January 1982. However, some matched were played initially over the period 4–6 January, while others took place as late as 23 January. Most replays took place over 18–21 January. Enfield, Barnet and Altrincham from the Alliance Premier League at Step 5 of the English football system were the lowest-ranked teams in the round and the last non-league clubs left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Enfield (5) | 2–3 | Crystal Palace (2) | 2 January 1982 |
| 2 | AFC Bournemouth (4) | 0–2 | Oxford United (3) | 2 January 1982 |
| 3 | Barnet (5) | 0–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion (1) | 2 January 1982 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3–1 | Barnet | 5 January 1982 |
| 4 | Burnley (3) | 6–1 | Altrincham (5) | 18 January 1982 |
| 5 | Watford (2) | 1–0 | Manchester United (1) | 2 January 1982 |
| 6 | Gillingham (3) | 2–1 | Oldham Athletic (2) | 5 January 1982 |
| 7 | Leicester City (2) | 3–1 | Southampton (1) | 2 January 1982 |
| 8 | Notts County (1) | 0–6 | Aston Villa (1) | 5 January 1982 |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest (1) | 1–3 | Wrexham (2) | 2 January 1982 |
| 10 | Bolton Wanderers (2) | 3–1 | Derby County (2) | 2 January 1982 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) | 1–3 | Leeds United (1) | 2 January 1982 |
| 12 | West Bromwich Albion (1) | 3–2 | Blackburn Rovers (2) | 2 January 1982 |
| 13 | Luton Town (2) | 2–1 | Swindon Town (3) | 2 January 1982 |
| 14 | Shrewsbury Town (2) | 1–0 | Port Vale (4) | 5 January 1982 |
| 15 | Doncaster Rovers (3) | 2–1 | Cambridge United (2) | 2 January 1982 |
| 16 | Newcastle United (2) | 1–1 | Colchester United (4) | 4 January 1982 |
| Replay | Colchester United | 3–4 | Newcastle United | 18 January 1982 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur (1) | 1–0 | Arsenal (1) | 2 January 1982 |
| 18 | Manchester City (1) | 3–1 | Cardiff City (2) | 2 January 1982 |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers (2) | 1–1 | Middlesbrough (1) | 2 January 1982 |
| Replay | Middlesbrough | 2–3 | Queens Park Rangers | 18 January 1982 |
| 20 | Barnsley (2) | 0–2 | Blackpool (4) | 5 January 1982 |
| 21 | Coventry City (1) | 3–1 | Sheffield Wednesday (2) | 2 January 1982 |
| 22 | West Ham United (1) | 2–1 | Everton (1) | 2 January 1982 |
| 23 | Millwall (3) | 1–6 | Grimsby Town (2) | 5 January 1982 |
| 24 | Carlisle United (3) | 2–3 | Huddersfield Town (3) | 23 January 1982 |
| 25 | Chelsea (2) | 0–0 | Hull City (4) | 18 January 1982 |
| Replay | Hull City | 0–2 | Chelsea | 21 January 1982 |
| 26 | Scunthorpe United (4) | 1–1 | Hereford United (4) | 6 January 1982 |
| Replay | Hereford United | 4–1 | Scunthorpe United | 20 January 1982 |
| 27 | Stoke City (1) | 0–1 | Norwich City (2) | 2 January 1982 |
| 28 | Rotherham United (2) | 1–1 | Sunderland (1) | 2 January 1982 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 1–0 | Rotherham United | 18 January 1982 |
| 29 | Peterborough United (4) | 0–1 | Bristol City (3) | 6 January 1982 |
| 30 | Birmingham City (1) | 2–3 | Ipswich Town (1) | 2 January 1982 |
| 31 | Orient (2) | 1–0 | Charlton Athletic (2) | 2 January 1982 |
| 32 | Swansea City (1) | 0–4 | Liverpool (1) | 2 January 1982 |

## Fourth round proper

The Fourth Round was mainly played on 23 January 1982. Matches were played or replayed either on 26 January, or on 1 February. Fourth Division sides Blackpool and Hereford United were the lowest-ranked teams in the round.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 0–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 23 January 1982 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 5–1 | Blackpool | 26 January 1982 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 0–1 | Aston Villa | 23 January 1982 |
| 3 | Watford | 2–0 | West Ham United | 23 January 1982 |
| 4 | Gillingham | 0–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 23 January 1982 |
| 5 | Sunderland | 0–3 | Liverpool | 23 January 1982 |
| 6 | Luton Town | 0–3 | Ipswich Town | 23 January 1982 |
| 7 | Shrewsbury Town | 1–0 | Burnley | 23 January 1982 |
| 8 | Newcastle United | 1–2 | Grimsby Town | 23 January 1982 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–0 | Leeds United | 23 January 1982 |
| 10 | Manchester City | 1–3 | Coventry City | 23 January 1982 |
| 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–3 | Oxford United | 23 January 1982 |
| 12 | Norwich City | 2–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 23 January 1982 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 1–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 23 January 1982 |
| 14 | Chelsea | 0–0 | Wrexham | 23 January 1982 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 1–1 | Chelsea | 26 January 1982 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 1–2 | Chelsea | 1 February 1982 |
| 15 | Huddersfield Town | 1–1 | Orient | 26 January 1982 |
| Replay | Orient | 2–0 | Huddersfield Town | 1 February 1982 |
| 16 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Leicester City | 23 January 1982 |

## Fifth round proper

The Fifth Round matches were all played on 13 February 1982. The only replay was played on 16 February. Third Division side Oxford United was the lowest-ranked team in the round and was the last club from the First Round left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Leicester City | 2–0 | Watford | 13 February 1982 |
| 2 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–0 | Norwich City | 13 February 1982 |
| 3 | Shrewsbury Town | 2–1 | Ipswich Town | 13 February 1982 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–0 | Aston Villa | 13 February 1982 |
| 5 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–1 | Grimsby Town | 13 February 1982 |
| 6 | Coventry City | 4–0 | Oxford United | 13 February 1982 |
| 7 | Crystal Palace | 0–0 | Orient | 13 February 1982 |
| Replay | Orient | 0–1 | Crystal Palace | 16 February 1982 |
| 8 | Chelsea | 2–0 | Liverpool | 13 February 1982 |

## Sixth round proper

The sixth-round games were played on 6 March 1982. There were no replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Leicester City | 5–2 | Shrewsbury Town | 6 March 1982 |
| 2 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | Coventry City | 6 March 1982 |
| 3 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–0 | Crystal Palace | 6 March 1982 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 2–3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 March 1982 |

## Semi-finals

The matches were both played on 3 April 1982. Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers were victorious and reached the FA Cup Final.
Referee:- Neil Midgley (Salford)
Referee:- Keith Hackett (Sheffield)

## Final

The final was held at Wembley Stadium on 22 May 1982. The replay was held on 27 May 1982.
| Tottenham | QPR |

### Replay

| Tottenham | QPR |

## 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. No games from the first or second round were covered. Highlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV.
This Season BBC Match Of The Day Highlights were back on Saturday nights while the ITV regional Highlights programmes were back on Sunday afternoons in the third season of the 4 year alternation deal
* Third Round BBC Leicester City v Southampton, Barnet v Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City v Liverpool ITV Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal (LWT), Watford v Manchester United (Granada out of region, although used TVS cameras & commentator Gerald Sinstadt), Birmingham City v Ipswich Town (Central & Anglia), Rotherham United v Sunderland (Yorkshire & Tyne-Tees), Brighton & Hove Albion v Barnet (Midweek replay all regions), Notts County v Aston Villa (Midweek all regions)
* Fourth Round BBC Watford v West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United, Manchester City v Coventry City (Midweek Replays not televised due to both being on the Tuesday Night) ITV Luton Town v Ipswich Town (Anglia & LWT), Gillingham v West Bromwich Albion (TVS & Central), Sunderland v Liverpool (Tyne-Tees & Yorkshire), Blackpool v Queens Park Rangers (Granada)
* Fifth Round BBC Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa, Leicester City v Watford, West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City ITV Chelsea v Liverpool (LWT), Shrewsbury Town v Ipswich Town (Anglia out of region, although used Granada's cameras & commentator Martin Tyler), Coventry City v Oxford United (Central, also showed the Shrewsbury game) (Midweek Replay all regions) Orient v Crystal Palace (All Regions)
* Sixth Round BBC Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City v Shrewsbury Town ITV QPR v Crystal Palace (LWT), West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City (Central) (All regions showed these games)
* Semifinals BBC Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion ITV Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur (All regions showed this game)
* Final Queens Park Rangers v Tottenham Hotspur (Both BBC & ITV showed the Final live. BBC & all ITV regions apart from Yorkshire showed the replay)