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 before Portsmouth's victory in the 2008 final. This was Wimbledon's only FA Cup title during its lifetime.
The tournament started in August 1987 with non-league teams competing in a . Teams from the First and Second Divisions entered at the third round.

First round proper

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.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Chester City0–1Runcorn14 November 1987
2Barnet0–1Hereford United14 November 1987
3Bristol City1–0Aylesbury United14 November 1987
4Burnley0–1Bolton Wanderers14 November 1987
5Preston North End1–1Mansfield Town14 November 1987
ReplayMansfield Town4–2Preston North End17 November 1987
6Rochdale0–2Wrexham14 November 1987
7Sutton United3–0Aldershot14 November 1987
8Gillingham2–1Fulham14 November 1987
9Notts County3–3Chesterfield15 November 1987
ReplayChesterfield0–1Notts County17 November 1987
10Northwich Victoria1–0Colwyn Bay14 November 1987
11Macclesfield Town4–2Carlisle United14 November 1987
12Wolverhampton Wanderers5–1Cheltenham Town14 November 1987
13Sunderland2–0Darlington14 November 1987
14Lincoln City2–1Crewe Alexandra14 November 1987
15Scarborough1–2Grimsby Town14 November 1987
16Doncaster Rovers1–1Rotherham United14 November 1987
ReplayRotherham United2–0Doncaster Rovers17 November 1987
17Bishop Auckland1–4Blackpool14 November 1987
18Tranmere Rovers2–2Port Vale14 November 1987
ReplayPort Vale3–1Tranmere Rovers16 November 1987
19Chorley0–2Hartlepool United14 November 1987
20Brentford0–2Brighton & Hove Albion14 November 1987
21Bristol Rovers6–0Merthyr Tydfil14 November 1987
22Northampton Town2–1Newport County14 November 1987
23Worcester City1–1Yeovil Town14 November 1987
ReplayYeovil Town1–0Worcester City17 November 1987
24Altrincham0–2Wigan Athletic14 November 1987
25Southend United0–0Walsall14 November 1987
ReplayWalsall2–1Southend United17 November 1987
26Bognor Regis Town0–3Torquay United14 November 1987
27Scunthorpe United3–1Bury14 November 1987
28Halesowen Town2–2Kidderminster Harriers14 November 1987
ReplayKidderminster Harriers4–0Halesowen Town16 November 1987
29York City0–0Burton Albion14 November 1987
ReplayBurton Albion1–2York City17 November 1987
30Hayes0–1Swansea City14 November 1987
31Billingham Synthonia2–4Halifax Town14 November 1987
32Peterborough United2–1Cardiff City14 November 1987
33Colchester United3–0Tamworth14 November 1987
34Chelmsford City1–2Bath City14 November 1987
35Leyton Orient2–0Exeter City14 November 1987
36Dagenham0–2Maidstone United14 November 1987
37Cambridge United2–1Farnborough Town14 November 1987
38Telford United1–1Stockport County14 November 1987
ReplayStockport County2–0Telford United17 November 1987
39VS Rugby0–0Atherstone United14 November 1987
ReplayAtherstone United0–2VS Rugby17 November 1987
40Welling United3–2Carshalton Athletic23 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.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Bristol City0–1Torquay United5 December 1987
2Gillingham2–1Walsall5 December 1987
3Grimsby Town0–0Halifax Town5 December 1987
ReplayHalifax Town2–0Grimsby Town8 December 1987
4Northwich Victoria0–2Blackpool6 December 1987
5Macclesfield Town4–0Rotherham United6 December 1987
6Wrexham1–2Bolton Wanderers5 December 1987
7Maidstone United1–1Kidderminster Harriers5 December 1987
ReplayKidderminster Harriers2–2Maidstone United7 December 1987
ReplayKidderminster Harriers0–0Maidstone United14 December 1987
ReplayMaidstone United2–1Kidderminster Harriers16 December 1987
8Northampton Town1–2Brighton & Hove Albion5 December 1987
9Scunthorpe United2–1Sunderland5 December 1987
10Mansfield Town4–3Lincoln City5 December 1987
11Port Vale2–0Notts County5 December 1987
12Runcorn0–1Stockport County5 December 1987
13York City1–1Hartlepool United5 December 1987
ReplayHartlepool United3–1York City9 December 1987
14Wigan Athletic1–3Wolverhampton Wanderers5 December 1987
15Peterborough United1–3Sutton United5 December 1987
16Colchester United3–2Hereford United5 December 1987
17Leyton Orient2–0Swansea City5 December 1987
18Cambridge United0–1Yeovil Town5 December 1987
19VS Rugby1–1Bristol Rovers5 December 1987
ReplayBristol Rovers4–0VS Rugby17 December 1987
20Welling United0–1Bath City5 December 1987

Third round proper

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.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Sutton United1–1Middlesbrough9 January 1988
ReplayMiddlesbrough1–0Sutton United12 January 1988
2Watford1–1Hull City9 January 1988
ReplayHull City2–2Watford12 January 1988
ReplayWatford1–0Hull City18 January 1988
3Yeovil Town0–3Queens Park Rangers9 January 1988
4Reading0–1Southampton9 January 1988
5Gillingham0–3Birmingham City9 January 1988
6Blackburn Rovers1–2Portsmouth9 January 1988
7Sheffield Wednesday1–1Everton9 January 1988
ReplayEverton1–1Sheffield Wednesday13 January 1988
ReplayEverton1–1Sheffield Wednesday25 January 1988
ReplaySheffield Wednesday0–5Everton27 January 1988
8Derby County1–3Chelsea9 January 1988
9Swindon Town0–0Norwich City9 January 1988
ReplayNorwich City0–2Swindon Town13 January 1988
10Shrewsbury Town2–1Bristol Rovers9 January 1988
11Sheffield United1–0Maidstone United9 January 1988
12Ipswich Town1–2Manchester United10 January 1988
13Stockport County1–2Leyton Orient9 January 1988
14Newcastle United1–0Crystal Palace9 January 1988
15Barnsley3–1Bolton Wanderers9 January 1988
16Coventry City2–0Torquay United9 January 1988
17West Ham United2–0Charlton Athletic9 January 1988
18Brighton & Hove Albion2–0Bournemouth9 January 1988
19Plymouth Argyle2–0Colchester United11 January 1988
20Bradford City2–1Wolverhampton Wanderers9 January 1988
21Oldham Athletic2–4Tottenham Hotspur9 January 1988
22Wimbledon4–1West Bromwich Albion9 January 1988
23Scunthorpe United0–0Blackpool9 January 1988
ReplayBlackpool1–0Scunthorpe United12 January 1988
24Huddersfield Town2–2Manchester City9 January 1988
ReplayManchester City0–0Huddersfield Town12 January 1988
ReplayHuddersfield Town0–3Manchester City25 January 1988
25Mansfield Town4–0Bath City9 January 1988
26Port Vale1–0Macclesfield Town10 January 1988
27Halifax Town0–4Nottingham Forest9 January 1988
28Arsenal2–0Millwall9 January 1988
29Leeds United1–2Aston Villa9 January 1988
30Stoke City0–0Liverpool9 January 1988
ReplayLiverpool1–0Stoke City12 January 1988
31Oxford United2–0Leicester City9 January 1988
32Hartlepool United1–2Luton Town9 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.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Blackpool1–1Manchester City30 January 1988
ReplayManchester City2–1Blackpool3 February 1988
2Aston Villa0–2Liverpool31 January 1988
3Luton Town2–1Southampton30 January 1988
4Everton1–1Middlesbrough30 January 1988
ReplayMiddlesbrough2–2Everton3 February 1988
ReplayEverton2–1Middlesbrough9 February 1988
5Newcastle United5–0Swindon Town30 January 1988
6Queens Park Rangers3–1West Ham United30 January 1988
7Barnsley0–2Birmingham City30 January 1988
8Coventry City0–2Watford30 January 1988
9Portsmouth2–1Sheffield United1 February 1988
10Brighton & Hove Albion1–2Arsenal30 January 1988
11Manchester United2–1Chelsea30 January 1988
12Plymouth Argyle1–0Shrewsbury Town30 January 1988
13Bradford City4–2Oxford United30 January 1988
14Mansfield Town1–2Wimbledon30 January 1988
15Port Vale2–1Tottenham Hotspur30 January 1988
16Leyton Orient1–2Nottingham Forest30 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 noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Everton0–1Liverpool21 February 1988
2Newcastle United1–3Wimbledon20 February 1988
3Manchester City3–1Plymouth Argyle20 February 1988
4Queens Park Rangers1–1Luton Town20 February 1988
ReplayLuton Town1–0Queens Park Rangers24 February 1988
5Portsmouth3–0Bradford City20 February 1988
6Port Vale0–0Watford20 February 1988
ReplayWatford2–0Port Vale23 February 1988
7Arsenal2–1Manchester United20 February 1988
8Birmingham City0–1Nottingham Forest20 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 noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Luton Town3–1Portsmouth12 March 1988
2Manchester City0–4Liverpool13 March 1988
3Wimbledon2–1Watford12 March 1988
4Arsenal1–2Nottingham Forest12 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.
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Final

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.
RoundBBC1ITV
Third round properIpswich Town vs Manchester UnitedSutton United v Middlesbrough
Yeovil Town v Queen's Park Rangers1
Sheffield Wednesday v Everton1
[|Reading vs Southampton] - TVS
[|Swindon Town vs Norwich City] - HTV West
Everton v Sheffield Wednesday 1
Norwich City vs Swindon Town 1
Everton v Sheffield Wednesday 1
Sheffield Wednesday v Everton 1
Fourth round properManchester United v Chelsea1
Port Vale vs Tottenham Hotspur1
Leyton Orient vs Nottingham Forest 1		Aston Villa vs Liverpool1
Middlesbrough vs Everton 1
Manchester City vs Blackpool
Fifth round properEverton v Liverpool1Arsenal vs Manchester United1
Newcastle United vs Wimbledon1
Port Vale vs Watford
[|Portsmouth vs Bradford City] - TVS
Sixth round properArsenal vs Nottingham Forest1
Wimbledon vs Watford1
Luton Town vs Portsmouth		Manchester City vs Liverpool1
Semi-finalsLiverpool vs Nottingham Forest 1
Luton Town vs Wimbledon 1
FinalWimbledon vs Liverpool 1Wimbledon vs Liverpool 1

1Footage available on YouTube