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.

1986–87 FA Cup[1]
Tournament details
Country England
 Wales
Defending championsLiverpool
Final positions
ChampionsCoventry City
(1st title)
Runner-upTottenham Hotspur

First round proper

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Teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Division entered in this round plus Altrincham, Runcorn, Frickley Athletic and Telford United, 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 either in the midweek fixtures on 17th-18th or on 24th.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Chester City 1–1 Rotherham United 15 November 1986
Replay Rotherham United 1–1 Chester City 18 November 1986
Replay Chester City 1–0 Rotherham United 24 November 1986
2 Darlington 2–1 Mansfield Town 16 November 1986
3 Dartford 1–1 Enfield 15 November 1986
Replay Enfield 3–0 Dartford 18 November 1986
4 AFC Bournemouth 7–2 Fareham Town 15 November 1986
5 Bath City 3–2 Aylesbury United 15 November 1986
6 Bristol City 3–1 VS Rugby 15 November 1986
7 Preston North End 5–1 Bury 15 November 1986
8 Walsall 2–0 Chesterfield 15 November 1986
9 Woking 1–1 Chelmsford City 15 November 1986
Replay Chelmsford City 2–1 Woking 17 November 1986
10 Notts County 1–1 Carlisle United 15 November 1986
Replay Carlisle United 0–3 Notts County 18 November 1986
11 Middlesbrough 3–0 Blackpool 15 November 1986
12 Swindon Town 4–0 Farnborough Town 15 November 1986
13 Wrexham 2–1 Hartlepool United 15 November 1986
14 Chorley 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 15 November 1986
Replay Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Chorley 18 November 1986
Replay Chorley 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 24 November 1986
15 Bristol Rovers 0–0 Brentford 3 December 1986
Replay Brentford 2–0 Bristol Rovers 6 December 1986
16 Northampton Town 3–0 Peterborough United 16 November 1986
17 Spennymoor United 2–3 Tranmere Rovers 15 November 1986
18 Southend United 4–1 Halesowen Town 15 November 1986
19 Exeter City 1–1 Cambridge United 15 November 1986
Replay Cambridge United 2–0 Exeter City 19 November 1986
20 Scunthorpe United 2–0 Southport 15 November 1986
21 Ton Pentre 1–4 Cardiff City 15 November 1986
22 Bromsgrove Rovers 0–1 Newport County 15 November 1986
23 Port Vale 1–0 Stafford Rangers 15 November 1986
24 Halifax Town 1–1 Bolton Wanderers 15 November 1986
Replay Bolton Wanderers 1–1 Halifax Town 18 November 1986
Replay Halifax Town 1–3 Bolton Wanderers 24 November 1986
25 Wealdstone 1–1 Swansea City 15 November 1986
Replay Swansea City 4–1 Wealdstone 24 November 1986
26 Runcorn 1–1 Boston United 15 November 1986
Replay Boston United 1–2 Runcorn 19 November 1986
27 York City 3–1 Crewe Alexandra 15 November 1986
28 Hereford United 3–3 Fulham 15 November 1986
Replay Fulham 4–0 Hereford United 24 November 1986
29 Bishop's Stortford 1–1 Colchester United 15 November 1986
Replay Colchester United 2–0 Bishop's Stortford 18 November 1986
30 Kettering Town 0–3 Gillingham 15 November 1986
31 Aldershot 1–0 Torquay United 15 November 1986
32 Wigan Athletic 3–1 Lincoln City 15 November 1986
33 Nuneaton Borough 0–3 Rochdale 15 November 1986
34 Woodford Town 0–1 Orient 15 November 1986
35 Slough Town 1–1 Bognor Regis Town 15 November 1986
Replay Bognor Regis Town 0–1 Slough Town 18 November 1986
36 Whitby Town 2–2 Doncaster Rovers 15 November 1986
Replay Doncaster Rovers 3–2 Whitby Town 18 November 1986
37 Telford United 3–0 Burnley 15 November 1986
38 Frickley Athletic 0–0 Altrincham 15 November 1986
Replay Altrincham 4–0 Frickley Athletic 18 November 1986
39 Welling United 1–1 Maidstone United 15 November 1986
Replay Maidstone United 4–1 Welling United 24 November 1986
40 Caernarfon Town 1–0 Stockport County 15 November 1986

Second round proper

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The second round of games were played over 6–7 December 1986, with replays being played on 9th–10th.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Chester City 3–1 Doncaster Rovers 6 December 1986
2 Darlington 0–5 Wigan Athletic 6 December 1986
3 AFC Bournemouth 0–1 Orient 6 December 1986
4 Bristol City 1–1 Bath City 6 December 1986
Replay Bristol City 3–0 Bath City 9 December 1986
5 Rochdale 1–4 Wrexham 6 December 1986
6 Walsall 5–0 Port Vale 6 December 1986
7 Gillingham 2–0 Chelmsford City 6 December 1986
8 Notts County 0–1 Middlesbrough 7 December 1986
9 Bolton Wanderers 2–0 Tranmere Rovers 6 December 1986
10 Swindon Town 3–0 Enfield 6 December 1986
11 Chorley 0–0 Preston North End 6 December 1986
Replay Preston North End 5–0 Chorley 9 December 1986
12 Fulham 2–0 Newport County 6 December 1986
13 Maidstone United 1–0 Cambridge United 7 December 1986
14 Southend United 4–4 Northampton Town 5 December 1986
Replay Northampton Town 3–2 Southend United 10 December 1986
15 Scunthorpe United 1–0 Runcorn 6 December 1986
16 Cardiff City 2–0 Brentford 9 December 1986
17 Aldershot 3–2 Colchester United 6 December 1986
18 Telford United 1–0 Altrincham 6 December 1986
19 Swansea City 3–0 Slough Town 6 December 1986
20 Caernarfon Town 0–0 York City 6 December 1986
Replay York City 1–2 Caernarfon Town 9 December 1986

Third round proper

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Teams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in this round. Most of the third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 10–11 January 1987. Various matches and replays were played as late as 31 January, however. Holders Liverpool were eliminated by Luton Town.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Bristol City 1–1 Plymouth Argyle 10 January 1987
Replay Plymouth Argyle 3–1 Bristol City 19 January 1987
2 Watford 3–1 Maidstone United 10 January 1987
3 Reading 1–3 Arsenal 10 January 1987
4 Aston Villa 2–2 Chelsea 10 January 1987
Replay Chelsea 2–1 Aston Villa 21 January 1987
5 Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Derby County 26 January 1987
6 Grimsby Town 1–1 Stoke City 10 January 1987
Replay Stoke City 1–1 Grimsby Town 26 January 1987
Replay Stoke City 6–0 Grimsby Town 28 January 1987
7 Middlesbrough 0–1 Preston North End 10 January 1987
8 Luton Town 0–0 Liverpool 11 January 1987
Replay Liverpool 0–0 Luton Town 26 January 1987
Replay Luton Town 3–0 Liverpool 28 January 1987
9 Everton 2–1 Southampton 10 January 1987
10 Shrewsbury Town 1–2 Hull City 31 January 1987
11 Wrexham 1–2 Chester City 10 January 1987
12 Sheffield United 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion 10 January 1987
Replay Brighton & Hove Albion 1–2 Sheffield United 21 January 1987
13 Ipswich Town 0–1 Birmingham City 10 January 1987
14 Newcastle United 2–1 Northampton Town 21 January 1987
15 Tottenham Hotspur 3–2 Scunthorpe United 10 January 1987
16 Queens Park Rangers 5–2 Leicester City 10 January 1987
17 Fulham 0–1 Swindon Town 10 January 1987
18 Coventry City 3–0 Bolton Wanderers 10 January 1987
19 Portsmouth 2–0 Blackburn Rovers 10 January 1987
20 Manchester United 1–0 Manchester City 10 January 1987
21 Norwich City 1–1 Huddersfield Town 10 January 1987
Replay Huddersfield Town 2–4 Norwich City 21 January 1987
22 Millwall 0–0 Cardiff City 10 January 1987
Replay Cardiff City 2–2 Millwall 20 January 1987
Replay Cardiff City 1–0 Millwall 26 January 1987
23 Oldham Athletic 1–1 Bradford City 10 January 1987
Replay Bradford City 5–1 Oldham Athletic 19 January 1987
24 Crystal Palace 1–0 Nottingham Forest 11 January 1987
25 Wimbledon 2–1 Sunderland 10 January 1987
26 Charlton Athletic 1–2 Walsall 10 January 1987
27 Aldershot 3–0 Oxford United 10 January 1987
28 Wigan Athletic 2–1 Gillingham 19 January 1987
29 Orient 1–1 West Ham United 10 January 1987
Replay West Ham United 4–1 Orient 31 January 1987
30 Telford United 1–2 Leeds United 11 January 1987
31 Swansea City 3–2 West Bromwich Albion 10 January 1987
32 Caernarfon Town 0–0 Barnsley 10 January 1987
Replay Barnsley 1–0 Caernarfon Town 26 January 1987

Fourth round proper

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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.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Chester City 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday 31 January 1987
Replay Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 Chester City 4 February 1987
2 Watford 1–0 Chelsea 1 February 1987
3 Walsall 1–0 Birmingham City 31 January 1987
4 Luton Town 1–1 Queens Park Rangers 31 January 1987
Replay Queens Park Rangers 2–1 Luton Town 4 February 1987
5 Swindon Town 1–2 Leeds United 3 February 1987
6 Newcastle United 2–0 Preston North End 31 January 1987
7 Tottenham Hotspur 4–0 Crystal Palace 31 January 1987
8 West Ham United 4–0 Sheffield United 9 February 1987
9 Manchester United 0–1 Coventry City 31 January 1987
10 Bradford City 0–1 Everton 31 January 1987
11 Wimbledon 4–0 Portsmouth 31 January 1987
12 Arsenal 6–1 Plymouth Argyle 31 January 1987
13 Stoke City 2–1 Cardiff City 31 January 1987
14 Aldershot 1–1 Barnsley 31 January 1987
Replay Barnsley 3–0 Aldershot 3 February 1987
15 Wigan Athletic 1–0 Norwich City 31 January 1987
16 Swansea City 0–1 Hull City 3 February 1987

Fifth round proper

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The fifth set of games were played over the weekend 21–22 February 1987, with the first set of replays on 24th-25th.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Walsall 1–1 Watford 21 February 1987
Replay Watford 4–4 Walsall 24 February 1987
Replay Walsall 0–1 Watford 2 March 1987
2 Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 West Ham United 21 February 1987
Replay West Ham United 0–2 Sheffield Wednesday 25 February 1987
3 Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Newcastle United 21 February 1987
4 Wimbledon 3–1 Everton 22 February 1987
5 Arsenal 2–0 Barnsley 21 February 1987
6 Leeds United 2–1 Queens Park Rangers 21 February 1987
7 Stoke City 0–1 Coventry City 21 February 1987
8 Wigan Athletic 3–0 Hull City 21 February 1987

Sixth round proper

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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.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Sheffield Wednesday 1–3 Coventry City 14 March 1987
2 Wimbledon 0–2 Tottenham Hotspur 15 March 1987
3 Arsenal 1–3 Watford 14 March 1987
4 Wigan Athletic 0–2 Leeds United 15 March 1987

Semi-finals

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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.

Tottenham Hotspur4–1Watford
Hodge   11', 73'
C. Allen   13'
P. Allen   35'
M. Allen   75'
Attendance: 46,151
Referee: Ray Lewis

Coventry City3–2
(a.e.t.)
Leeds United
Gynn   68'
Houchen   78'
Bennett   99'
Report Rennie   14'
Edwards   83'
Attendance: 51,372
Referee: Roger Milford

Final

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Coventry City3–2
(aet)
Tottenham Hotspur
Bennett   9'
Houchen   64'
Mabbutt (o.g.)   96'
C. Allen   2'
Mabbutt   40'
Wembley, London
Attendance: 98,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coventry
 
 
 
 
 
Tottenham

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

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  1. ^ Dunk, Peter (20 August 1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. Queen Anne Press. pp. 479–89. ISBN 978-0-3561435-4-5. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
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