# 1987–88 FA Cup

The 1987–88 FA Cup was the 107th season of the world's oldest knockout football competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. The competition was won by Wimbledon F.C.'s Crazy Gang who defeated league champions Liverpool through a headed goal by Lawrie Sanchez, thus denying Liverpool the double. They would be one of three clubs other than Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool to win the trophy in the following 20 years (the others being Everton and Tottenham Hotspur) before Portsmouth's victory in the 2008 final. This was Wimbledon's only FA Cup title during its lifetime.

## 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 Bishop Auckland, Macclesfield Town, Colwyn Bay, Runcorn, Chorley, Lincoln City, Northwich Victoria, Billingham Synthonia, Atherstone United, Welling United, Chelmsford City, Dagenham, VS Rugby, Barnet, Aylesbury United, Hayes, Worcester City, Halesowen Town, Tamworth, Sutton United, Carshalton Athletic, Bath City, Merthyr Tydfil, Farnborough Town, Bognor Regis Town, Yeovil Town, Maidstone United and Cheltenham Town.
Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Colwyn Bay and Atherstone United. Of the others, Merthyr Tydfil had last featured at this stage in 1979–80, Cheltenham Town had last done so in 1974-75, Hayes had last done so in 1973-74, Tamworth had last done so in 1970-71 and Billingham Synthonia had last done so in 1957-58.
Macclesfield Town, Sutton United and Yeovil Town each played nine matches across seven rounds of this tournament, progressing from the first qualifying round to the third round proper. Yeovil Town did this from the Isthmian League at Step 6 of English football, while Macclesfield Town and Sutton United were from the Football Conference at Step 5. Sutton United also managed to push Middlesbrough to extra time in a replay (at Ayresome Park) before being knocked out of the competition.

## 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 Kidderminster Harriers, Burton Albion, Altrincham and Telford United who were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 14–15 November 1987, with the exception of the Welling United–Carshalton Athletic game. Replays were played in the midweek fixtures on 16th-17th. All other replays were played on 28 November.
This round included four clubs from the various competitions at Step 8 of the English football pyramid: Bishop Auckland and Billingham Synthonia from the Northern League, Colwyn Bay from the North West Counties League and Tamworth from the West Midlands (Regional) League.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chester City | 0–1 | Runcorn (5) | 14 November 1987 |
| 2 | Barnet (5) | 0–1 | Hereford United | 14 November 1987 |
| 3 | Bristol City | 1–0 | Aylesbury United (6) | 14 November 1987 |
| 4 | Burnley | 0–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 14 November 1987 |
| 5 | Preston North End | 1–1 | Mansfield Town | 14 November 1987 |
| Replay | Mansfield Town | 4–2 | Preston North End | 17 November 1987 |
| 6 | Rochdale | 0–2 | Wrexham | 14 November 1987 |
| 7 | Sutton United (5) | 3–0 | Aldershot | 14 November 1987 |
| 8 | Gillingham | 2–1 | Fulham | 14 November 1987 |
| 9 | Notts County | 3–3 | Chesterfield | 15 November 1987 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Notts County | 17 November 1987 |
| 10 | Northwich Victoria (5) | 1–0 | Colwyn Bay (8) | 14 November 1987 |
| 11 | Macclesfield Town (5) | 4–2 | Carlisle United | 14 November 1987 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5–1 | Cheltenham Town (5) | 14 November 1987 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Darlington | 14 November 1987 |
| 14 | Lincoln City (5) | 2–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 14 November 1987 |
| 15 | Scarborough | 1–2 | Grimsby Town | 14 November 1987 |
| 16 | Doncaster Rovers | 1–1 | Rotherham United | 14 November 1987 |
| Replay | Rotherham United | 2–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 17 November 1987 |
| 17 | Bishop Auckland (8) | 1–4 | Blackpool | 14 November 1987 |
| 18 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–2 | Port Vale | 14 November 1987 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 3–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 16 November 1987 |
| 19 | Chorley (6) | 0–2 | Hartlepool United | 14 November 1987 |
| 20 | Brentford | 0–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 14 November 1987 |
| 21 | Bristol Rovers | 6–0 | Merthyr Tydfil (7) | 14 November 1987 |
| 22 | Northampton Town | 2–1 | Newport County | 14 November 1987 |
| 23 | Worcester City (6) | 1–1 | Yeovil Town (6) | 14 November 1987 |
| Replay | Yeovil Town | 1–0 | Worcester City | 17 November 1987 |
| 24 | Altrincham (5) | 0–2 | Wigan Athletic | 14 November 1987 |
| 25 | Southend United | 0–0 | Walsall | 14 November 1987 |
| Replay | Walsall | 2–1 | Southend United | 17 November 1987 |
| 26 | Bognor Regis Town (6) | 0–3 | Torquay United | 14 November 1987 |
| 27 | Scunthorpe United | 3–1 | Bury | 14 November 1987 |
| 28 | Halesowen Town (7) | 2–2 | Kidderminster Harriers (5) | 14 November 1987 |
| Replay | Kidderminster Harriers | 4–0 | Halesowen Town | 16 November 1987 |
| 29 | York City | 0–0 | Burton Albion (6) | 14 November 1987 |
| Replay | Burton Albion | 1–2 | York City | 17 November 1987 |
| 30 | Hayes (6) | 0–1 | Swansea City | 14 November 1987 |
| 31 | Billingham Synthonia (8) | 2–4 | Halifax Town | 14 November 1987 |
| 32 | Peterborough United | 2–1 | Cardiff City | 14 November 1987 |
| 33 | Colchester United | 3–0 | Tamworth (8) | 14 November 1987 |
| 34 | Chelmsford City (6) | 1–2 | Bath City (5) | 14 November 1987 |
| 35 | Leyton Orient | 2–0 | Exeter City | 14 November 1987 |
| 36 | Dagenham (5) | 0–2 | Maidstone United (5) | 14 November 1987 |
| 37 | Cambridge United | 2–1 | Farnborough Town (6) | 14 November 1987 |
| 38 | Telford United (5) | 1–1 | Stockport County | 14 November 1987 |
| Replay | Stockport County | 2–0 | Telford United | 17 November 1987 |
| 39 | VS Rugby (6) | 0–0 | Atherstone United (7) | 14 November 1987 |
| Replay | Atherstone United | 0–2 | VS Rugby | 17 November 1987 |
| 40 | Welling United (5) | 3–2 | Carshalton Athletic (6) | 23 November 1987 |

## Second round proper

The second round of games were played over 5–6 December 1987, with replays being played at various dates afterwards (no replay was played on the same night as another). Step 6 sides Yeovil Town, from the Isthmian League Premier Division, and VS Rugby, from the Southern League Premier Division, were the lowest-ranked teams in the draw.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bristol City | 0–1 | Torquay United | 5 December 1987 |
| 2 | Gillingham | 2–1 | Walsall | 5 December 1987 |
| 3 | Grimsby Town | 0–0 | Halifax Town | 5 December 1987 |
| Replay | Halifax Town | 2–0 | Grimsby Town | 8 December 1987 |
| 4 | Northwich Victoria (5) | 0–2 | Blackpool | 6 December 1987 |
| 5 | Macclesfield Town (5) | 4–0 | Rotherham United | 6 December 1987 |
| 6 | Wrexham | 1–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 5 December 1987 |
| 7 | Maidstone United (5) | 1–1 | Kidderminster Harriers (5) | 5 December 1987 |
| Replay | Kidderminster Harriers | 2–2 | Maidstone United | 7 December 1987 |
| Replay | Kidderminster Harriers | 0–0 | Maidstone United | 14 December 1987 |
| Replay | Maidstone United | 2–1 | Kidderminster Harriers | 16 December 1987 |
| 8 | Northampton Town | 1–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 December 1987 |
| 9 | Scunthorpe United | 2–1 | Sunderland | 5 December 1987 |
| 10 | Mansfield Town | 4–3 | Lincoln City (5) | 5 December 1987 |
| 11 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Notts County | 5 December 1987 |
| 12 | Runcorn (5) | 0–1 | Stockport County | 5 December 1987 |
| 13 | York City | 1–1 | Hartlepool United | 5 December 1987 |
| Replay | Hartlepool United | 3–1 | York City | 9 December 1987 |
| 14 | Wigan Athletic | 1–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5 December 1987 |
| 15 | Peterborough United | 1–3 | Sutton United (5) | 5 December 1987 |
| 16 | Colchester United | 3–2 | Hereford United | 5 December 1987 |
| 17 | Leyton Orient | 2–0 | Swansea City | 5 December 1987 |
| 18 | Cambridge United | 0–1 | Yeovil Town (6) | 5 December 1987 |
| 19 | VS Rugby (6) | 1–1 | Bristol Rovers | 5 December 1987 |
| Replay | Bristol Rovers | 4–0 | VS Rugby | 17 December 1987 |
| 20 | Welling United (5) | 0–1 | Bath City (5) | 5 December 1987 |

## Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 9–11 January 1988, with the first set of replays being played on 12–13 January. Three games went to second replays and one of these to a third replay. Yeovil Town was again the lowest-ranked team in the draw, while Macclesfield Town, Maidstone United, Sutton United, Bath City and Yeovil were the last non-league clubs left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Sutton United (5) | 1–1 | Middlesbrough (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| Replay | Middlesbrough | 1–0 | Sutton United | 12 January 1988 |
| 2 | Watford (1) | 1–1 | Hull City (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| Replay | Hull City | 2–2 | Watford | 12 January 1988 |
| Replay | Watford | 1–0 | Hull City | 18 January 1988 |
| 3 | Yeovil Town (6) | 0–3 | Queens Park Rangers (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| 4 | Reading (2) | 0–1 | Southampton (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| 5 | Gillingham (3) | 0–3 | Birmingham City (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers (2) | 1–2 | Portsmouth (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday (1) | 1–1 | Everton (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| Replay | Everton | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 13 January 1988 |
| Replay | Everton | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 25 January 1988 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–5 | Everton | 27 January 1988 |
| 8 | Derby County (1) | 1–3 | Chelsea (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| 9 | Swindon Town (2) | 0–0 | Norwich City (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 0–2 | Swindon Town | 13 January 1988 |
| 10 | Shrewsbury Town (2) | 2–1 | Bristol Rovers (3) | 9 January 1988 |
| 11 | Sheffield United (2) | 1–0 | Maidstone United (5) | 9 January 1988 |
| 12 | Ipswich Town (2) | 1–2 | Manchester United (1) | 10 January 1988 |
| 13 | Stockport County (4) | 1–2 | Leyton Orient (4) | 9 January 1988 |
| 14 | Newcastle United (1) | 1–0 | Crystal Palace (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| 15 | Barnsley (2) | 3–1 | Bolton Wanderers (4) | 9 January 1988 |
| 16 | Coventry City (1) | 2–0 | Torquay United (4) | 9 January 1988 |
| 17 | West Ham United (1) | 2–0 | Charlton Athletic (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| 18 | Brighton & Hove Albion (3) | 2–0 | AFC Bournemouth (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle (2) | 2–0 | Colchester United (4) | 11 January 1988 |
| 20 | Bradford City (2) | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (4) | 9 January 1988 |
| 21 | Oldham Athletic (2) | 2–4 | Tottenham Hotspur (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| 22 | Wimbledon (1) | 4–1 | West Bromwich Albion (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| 23 | Scunthorpe United (4) | 0–0 | Blackpool (3) | 9 January 1988 |
| Replay | Blackpool | 1–0 | Scunthorpe United | 12 January 1988 |
| 24 | Huddersfield Town (2) | 2–2 | Manchester City (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 0–0 | Huddersfield Town | 12 January 1988 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 0–3 | Manchester City | 25 January 1988 |
| 25 | Mansfield Town (3) | 4–0 | Bath City (5) | 9 January 1988 |
| 26 | Port Vale (3) | 1–0 | Macclesfield Town (5) | 10 January 1988 |
| 27 | Halifax Town (4) | 0–4 | Nottingham Forest (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| 28 | Arsenal (1) | 2–0 | Millwall (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| 29 | Leeds United (2) | 1–2 | Aston Villa (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| 30 | Stoke City (2) | 0–0 | Liverpool (1) | 9 January 1988 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 1–0 | Stoke City | 12 January 1988 |
| 31 | Oxford United (1) | 2–0 | Leicester City (2) | 9 January 1988 |
| 32 | Hartlepool United (4) | 1–2 | Luton Town (1) | 9 January 1988 |

## Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were played over the weekend 30 January – 1 February 1988, with replays being played on 3 February. A second replay was then played on 9 February. Holders Coventry City were eliminated by Watford. Fourth Division side Leyton Orient was the lowest-ranked team in the draw.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 1–1 | Manchester City | 30 January 1988 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 2–1 | Blackpool | 3 February 1988 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 0–2 | Liverpool | 31 January 1988 |
| 3 | Luton Town | 2–1 | Southampton | 30 January 1988 |
| 4 | Everton | 1–1 | Middlesbrough | 30 January 1988 |
| Replay | Middlesbrough | 2–2 | Everton | 3 February 1988 |
| Replay | Everton | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | 9 February 1988 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 5–0 | Swindon Town | 30 January 1988 |
| 6 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–1 | West Ham United | 30 January 1988 |
| 7 | Barnsley | 0–2 | Birmingham City | 30 January 1988 |
| 8 | Coventry City | 0–2 | Watford | 30 January 1988 |
| 9 | Portsmouth | 2–1 | Sheffield United | 1 February 1988 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–2 | Arsenal | 30 January 1988 |
| 11 | Manchester United | 2–0 | Chelsea | 30 January 1988 |
| 12 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–0 | Shrewsbury Town | 30 January 1988 |
| 13 | Bradford City | 4–2 | Oxford United | 30 January 1988 |
| 14 | Mansfield Town | 1–2 | Wimbledon | 30 January 1988 |
| 15 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 30 January 1988 |
| 16 | Leyton Orient | 1–2 | Nottingham Forest | 30 January 1988 |

## Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were played over the weekend 20–21 February 1988, with replays on 23–24 February.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Everton | 0–1 | Liverpool | 21 February 1988 |
| 2 | Newcastle United | 1–3 | Wimbledon | 20 February 1988 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 3–1 | Plymouth Argyle | 20 February 1988 |
| 4 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–1 | Luton Town | 20 February 1988 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 1–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 24 February 1988 |
| 5 | Portsmouth | 3–0 | Bradford City | 20 February 1988 |
| 6 | Port Vale | 0–0 | Watford | 20 February 1988 |
| Replay | Watford | 2–0 | Port Vale | 23 February 1988 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Manchester United | 20 February 1988 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest | 20 February 1988 |

## Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 12–13 March 1988. There were no replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Luton Town | 3–1 | Portsmouth | 12 March 1988 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 0–4 | Liverpool | 13 March 1988 |
| 3 | Wimbledon | 2–1 | Watford | 12 March 1988 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 1–2 | Nottingham Forest | 12 March 1988 |

## Semi-finals

Luton Town's fine season in the cup competitions culminated in a semi-final clash with Wimbledon at White Hart Lane. Wimbledon emerged as 2-1 winners to reach the FA Cup final, in only their second season in the First Division and their 11th in the Football League.
On the same day, First Division leaders Liverpool took on a resurgent Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough. Top scorer John Aldridge found the net twice in a 2–1 win.
Referee:- Keith Hackett (Sheffield)
Referee:- George Courtney (Spennymoor)

## Final

| Wimbledon | Liverpool |

## Television coverage

The right to show FA Cup games were, as with Football League matches, shared between the BBC and ITV. The stations would alternate between showing a live game and a highlights programme. 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 | Ipswich Town vs Manchester United | Sutton United v Middlesbrough Yeovil Town v Queen's Park Rangers$^1$ Sheffield Wednesday v Everton$^1$ Reading vs Southampton - TVS Swindon Town vs Norwich City - HTV West Everton v Sheffield Wednesday (Replay)$^1$ Norwich City vs Swindon Town (Replay)$^1$ Everton v Sheffield Wednesday (2nd Replay)$^1$ Sheffield Wednesday v Everton (3rd Replay)$^1$ |
| Fourth round proper | Manchester United v Chelsea$^1$ Port Vale vs Tottenham Hotspur$^1$ Leyton Orient vs Nottingham Forest $^1$ | Aston Villa vs Liverpool$^1$ Middlesbrough vs Everton (Replay)$^1$ Manchester City vs Blackpool (Replay) |
| Fifth round proper | Everton v Liverpool$^1$ | Arsenal vs Manchester United$^1$ Newcastle United vs Wimbledon$^1$ Port Vale vs Watford Portsmouth vs Bradford City - TVS |
| Sixth round proper | Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest$^1$ Wimbledon vs Watford$^1$ Luton Town vs Portsmouth | Manchester City vs Liverpool$^1$ |
| Semi-finals | Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest $^1$ Luton Town vs Wimbledon $^1$ | |
| Final | Wimbledon vs Liverpool $^1$ | Wimbledon vs Liverpool $^1$ |
$^1$Footage available on YouTube