1986–87 FA Cup

The 1986–87 FA Cup was the 106th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, the FA Cup. The competition was won by Coventry City, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–2, after extra-time, in the final at Wembley Stadium. It was Tottenham's only defeat in eight finals up to that point. The tournament started in August 1986, with non-league teams competing in the qualifying rounds.

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 Southport, Caernarfon Town, Spennymoor United, Whitby Town, Nuneaton Borough, Chorley, Stafford Rangers, Boston United, Kettering Town, Halesowen Town, Bishop's Stortford, Woodford Town, Bromsgrove Rovers, Chelmsford City, Enfield, Wealdstone, Aylesbury United, Welling United, Slough Town, VS Rugby, Farnborough Town, Bognor Regis Town, Fareham Town, Dartford, Maidstone United, Bath City, Woking and Ton Pentre.

Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Caernarfon Town, Woodford Town, Welling United and Ton Pentre. However, Caernarfon Town's accomplishments brought back memories of predecessor club Caernarfon Athletic's famous FA Cup run in 1929-30 while Woodford Town was the first club from that Essex community to feature in the main draw of the Cup since Woodford Bridge in 1883-84. Of the others, Southport and Woking had last featured in the first round in 1978–79, Spennymoor United had last done so in 1977-78 and Bromsgrove Rovers had last done so in 1956-57.

In a season where the Football League abolished its annual re-election system and allowed for automatic promotion and relegation between the Football Conference and the Fourth Division, 13 Conference clubs (out of 22) featured in the main draw of the FA Cup. Ironically, the season's Conference champions Scarborough, who would benefit from the new system and be promoted into the Football League in 1987, were eliminated from the Cup in the first qualifying round by unheralded Northern Premier League outfit Goole Town.

First round proper

The 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions entered in this round along with the 28 non-league qualifiers and Altrincham, Runcorn, Frickley Athletic and Telford United who were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 15–16 November 1986, with the exception of the Bristol Rovers–Brentford game. Replays were played in the midweek fixtures on either 17th-18th or on 24th.

Three clubs from Step 8 of the English football pyramid featured in the draw: Whitby Town and Spennymoor United from the Northern League and Woking from the Isthmian League Second Division South. They were the lowest-ranked teams in the round as the Welsh League (which included Ton Pentre) was the highest-standard football competition in Wales until 1992.

(* Ton Pentre was competing exclusively in the Welsh Football League National Division, outside the English football system.)

Second round proper

The second round matches were played on 5–7 December 1986, with the exception of the Cardiff City-Brentford fixture, which was played on the following Tuesday due to the timing of Brentford's first round replay against Bristol Rovers. Replays were played on 9th–10th. The round included four clubs from Step 6 of the English football system: Caernarfon Town and Chorley from the Northern Premier League, Chelmsford City from the Southern League Premier Division and Slough Town from the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in this round. Most of the third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 10–11 January 1987, however various matches and replays were played as late as 31 January. Holders Liverpool were eliminated by Luton Town. Caernarfon Town was again the lowest-ranked team in the round, while Caernarfon, Maidstone United and Telford United were the last non-league clubs left in the competition.

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were played mainly over the weekend 31 January – 1 February 1987. All other ties took place on 3–4 February. Four teams from the Fourth Division remained in the draw: Preston North End, Cardiff City, Aldershot and Swansea City.

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were played over the weekend 21–22 February 1987, with the first set of replays on 24th-25th. Walsall and Wigan Athletic, from the Third Division, were the lowest-ranked teams in the round.

Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 14–15 March 1987. There were no replays; each game was won by the away team. Wigan Athletic was the last team from the first round left in the competition.

Semi-finals

Seven time winners Tottenham Hotspur were drawn with 1984 finalists Watford for the Villa Park semi-final, which saw the North Londoners win 4-1 and reach their eighth final, having won all of their previous FA Cup finals.

Hillsborough was the venue for the other semi-final. Leeds United, managed by their former captain Billy Bremner, were pushing for promotion in the Second Division and making their first serious challenge for a major trophy in over 10 years. Their opponents were Coventry City, who had never reached an FA Cup semi-final before. In a closely fought game, Coventry won 3–2.

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Final

After two minutes, Clive Allen scored his 49th goal of the season, heading past keeper Steve Ogrizovic at the near-post from a Chris Waddle cross. Within seven minutes though, Coventry were level through Dave Bennett, a Cup Final loser in 1981 for Manchester City at the hands of Spurs. Tottenham were back in front five minutes before the break through past defender Gary Mabbutt.

Midway through the second half Coventry were level again – Bennett's cross from the right was met by striker Keith Houchen with a diving header. The scores stayed level until full-time and the game went into extra time. Six minutes in, Mabbutt scored an own goal after Lloyd McGrath centred the ball and it took a deflection off of the Spurs defender's knee and over keeper Ray Clemence.

References

External links

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

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FA Cup seasons
FA Cup