1987–88 FA Cup

1987–88 FA Cup
Tournament details
Country	England; Wales
Defending champions	Coventry City
Final positions
Champions	Wimbledon (1st title)
Runner-up	Liverpool
	← 1986–87 1988–89 →

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.

The tournament started in August 1987 with non-league teams competing in a qualifying competition.

First round proper

Teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Division entered in this round plus Kidderminster Harriers, Burton Albion, Altrincham and Telford United, 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.

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team	Date
1	Chester City	0–1	Runcorn	14 November 1987
2	Barnet	0–1	Hereford United	14 November 1987
3	Bristol City	1–0	Aylesbury United	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	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	1–0	Colwyn Bay	14 November 1987
11	Macclesfield Town	4–2	Carlisle United	14 November 1987
12	Wolverhampton Wanderers	5–1	Cheltenham Town	14 November 1987
13	Sunderland	2–0	Darlington	14 November 1987
14	Lincoln City	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	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	0–2	Hartlepool United	14 November 1987
20	Brentford	0–2	Brighton & Hove Albion	14 November 1987
21	Bristol Rovers	6–0	Merthyr Tydfil	14 November 1987
22	Northampton Town	2–1	Newport County	14 November 1987
23	Worcester City	1–1	Yeovil Town	14 November 1987
Replay	Yeovil Town	1–0	Worcester City	17 November 1987
24	Altrincham	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	0–3	Torquay United	14 November 1987
27	Scunthorpe United	3–1	Bury	14 November 1987
28	Halesowen Town	2–2	Kidderminster Harriers	14 November 1987
Replay	Kidderminster Harriers	4–0	Halesowen Town	16 November 1987
29	York City	0–0	Burton Albion	14 November 1987
Replay	Burton Albion	1–2	York City	17 November 1987
30	Hayes	0–1	Swansea City	14 November 1987
31	Billingham Synthonia	2–4	Halifax Town	14 November 1987
32	Peterborough United	2–1	Cardiff City	14 November 1987
33	Colchester United	3–0	Tamworth	14 November 1987
34	Chelmsford City	1–2	Bath City	14 November 1987
35	Leyton Orient	2–0	Exeter City	14 November 1987
36	Dagenham	0–2	Maidstone United	14 November 1987
37	Cambridge United	2–1	Farnborough Town	14 November 1987
38	Telford United	1–1	Stockport County	14 November 1987
Replay	Stockport County	2–0	Telford United	17 November 1987
39	VS Rugby	0–0	Atherstone United	14 November 1987
Replay	Atherstone United	0–2	VS Rugby	17 November 1987
40	Welling United	3–2	Carshalton Athletic	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).

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	0–2	Blackpool	6 December 1987
5	Macclesfield Town	4–0	Rotherham United	6 December 1987
6	Wrexham	1–2	Bolton Wanderers	5 December 1987
7	Maidstone United	1–1	Kidderminster Harriers	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 December 1987
11	Port Vale	2–0	Notts County	5 December 1987
12	Runcorn	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 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	5 December 1987
19	VS Rugby	1–1	Bristol Rovers	5 December 1987
Replay	Bristol Rovers	4–0	VS Rugby	17 December 1987
20	Welling United	0–1	Bath City	5 December 1987

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 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 no	Home team	Score	Away team	Date
1	Sutton United	1–1	Middlesbrough	9 January 1988
Replay	Middlesbrough	1–0	Sutton United	12 January 1988
2	Watford	1–1	Hull City	9 January 1988
Replay	Hull City	2–2	Watford	12 January 1988
Replay	Watford	1–0	Hull City	18 January 1988
3	Yeovil Town	0–3	Queens Park Rangers	9 January 1988
4	Reading	0–1	Southampton	9 January 1988
5	Gillingham	0–3	Birmingham City	9 January 1988
6	Blackburn Rovers	1–2	Portsmouth	9 January 1988
7	Sheffield Wednesday	1–1	Everton	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	1–3	Chelsea	9 January 1988
9	Swindon Town	0–0	Norwich City	9 January 1988
Replay	Norwich City	0–2	Swindon Town	13 January 1988
10	Shrewsbury Town	2–1	Bristol Rovers	9 January 1988
11	Sheffield United	1–0	Maidstone United	9 January 1988
12	Ipswich Town	1–2	Manchester United	10 January 1988
13	Stockport County	1–2	Leyton Orient	9 January 1988
14	Newcastle United	1–0	Crystal Palace	9 January 1988
15	Barnsley	3–1	Bolton Wanderers	9 January 1988
16	Coventry City	2–0	Torquay United	9 January 1988
17	West Ham United	2–0	Charlton Athletic	9 January 1988
18	Brighton & Hove Albion	2–0	AFC Bournemouth	9 January 1988
19	Plymouth Argyle	2–0	Colchester United	11 January 1988
20	Bradford City	2–1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	9 January 1988
21	Oldham Athletic	2–4	Tottenham Hotspur	9 January 1988
22	Wimbledon	4–1	West Bromwich Albion	9 January 1988
23	Scunthorpe United	0–0	Blackpool	9 January 1988
Replay	Blackpool	1–0	Scunthorpe United	12 January 1988
24	Huddersfield Town	2–2	Manchester City	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	4–0	Bath City	9 January 1988
26	Port Vale	1–0	Macclesfield Town	10 January 1988
27	Halifax Town	0–4	Nottingham Forest	9 January 1988
28	Arsenal	2–0	Millwall	9 January 1988
29	Leeds United	1–2	Aston Villa	9 January 1988
30	Stoke City	0–0	Liverpool	9 January 1988
Replay	Liverpool	1–0	Stoke City	12 January 1988
31	Oxford United	2–0	Leicester City	9 January 1988
32	Hartlepool United	1–2	Luton Town	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.

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.

9 April 1988

Luton Town	1 – 2	Wimbledon
Harford 48'		Fashanu 56' (pen.) Wise 80'

White Hart Lane, London

Attendance: 25,963

Referee:- Keith Hackett (Sheffield)

9 April 1988

Liverpool	2 – 1	Nottingham Forest
Aldridge 14' (pen.), 51'		Clough 67'

Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield

Attendance: 51,627

Referee:- George Courtney (Spennymoor)

Final

14 May 1988
15:00 BST

Wimbledon	1 – 0	Liverpool
Sanchez 37'

Wembley, London

Attendance: 98,203

Referee: Brian Hill

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.^[1]^[2]

These matches were.

Round	BBC1	ITV
Third round proper	Ipswich Town vs Manchester United	Sutton 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 (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 Chelsea¹ Port Vale vs Tottenham Hotspur¹ Leyton Orient vs Nottingham Forest ¹	Aston Villa vs Liverpool¹ Middlesbrough vs Everton (Replay)¹ Manchester City vs Blackpool (Replay)
Fifth round proper	Everton v Liverpool¹	Arsenal vs Manchester United¹ Newcastle United vs Wimbledon¹ Port Vale vs Watford Portsmouth vs Bradford City - TVS
Sixth round proper	Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest¹ Wimbledon vs Watford¹ Luton Town vs Portsmouth	Manchester City vs Liverpool¹
Semi-finals	Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest ¹ Luton Town vs Wimbledon ¹
Final	Wimbledon vs Liverpool ¹	Wimbledon vs Liverpool ¹

¹Footage available on YouTube

References

^ "MOTD Listings 1987-88".
^ "The Big Match". Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.

External links

The FA Cup at TheFA.com
FA Cup at BBC.co.uk
FA Cup news at Reuters.co.uk

[1] "MOTD Listings 1987-88".

[2] "The Big Match". Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.

[1]

[2]

v t e FA Cup
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Qualifying rounds	1888–89 1889–90 1890–91 1891–92 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Finals	1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
History List of finals Semi-finals Final referees Winning managers Non-English clubs Scottish clubs Non-League clubs in the 5th Round Giant-Killing Award

v t e 1987–88 in European football (UEFA)
Domestic leagues	Albania Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czechoslovakia Denmark '87 '88 England Faroe Islands '87 '88 Finland '87 '88 France East Germany West Germany Greece Hungary Iceland '87 '88 Israel Italy Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway '87 '88 Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania San Marino Scotland Soviet Union '87 '88 Spain Sweden '87 '88 Switzerland Turkey Yugoslavia
Domestic cups	Albania Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czechoslovakia Denmark England Faroe Islands '87 '88 Finland '87 '88 France East Germany West Germany Greece Hungary Iceland '87 '88 Israel Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway '87 '88 Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania San Marino Scotland Soviet Union Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Wales Yugoslavia
League cups	England Israel Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland Scotland Soviet Union '87 '88
Supercups	West Germany
UEFA competitions	European Cup (Final) Cup Winners' Cup (Final) UEFA Cup (Final) Super Cup
Non-UEFA competitions	Intertoto Cup Balkans Cup