The 1981 FA Cup final was the 100th final of the FA Cup, and was contested by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

1981 FA Cup final
Event1980–81 FA Cup
Tottenham Hotspur won after a replay
Final
After extra time
Date9 May 1981
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeKeith Hackett (South Yorkshire)
Attendance100,000
Replay
Date14 May 1981
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeKeith Hackett (South Yorkshire)
Attendance92,000
1980
1982

The original match took place on Saturday 9 May 1981 at Wembley, and finished 1–1 after extra-time. Tommy Hutchison opened the scoring for City in the 30th minute, but scored an own-goal in the 79th minute to bring Spurs level.

The replay took place five days later on Thursday 14 May 1981, and was the first replay since 1970 and the first to be staged at Wembley. Ricky Villa opened the scoring for Spurs in the eighth minute, before Steve MacKenzie, with a goal that was hit so hard the TV cameras couldn't follow the ball, equalised for City three minutes later. A Kevin Reeves penalty five minutes into the second half put the Manchester side ahead, before Garth Crooks brought Spurs level again in the 70th minute. Then, in the 76th minute, Tony Galvin passed to Villa 30 yards from City's goal, and the Argentinian proceeded to skip past four defenders before slotting the ball past City goalkeeper Joe Corrigan. This goal was voted Wembley Goal of the Century in 2001, and it won Tottenham the match, 3–2, and the FA Cup for the sixth time. The five goals in the replay made it the highest scoring FA Cup Final replay.[1]

Match details edit

Tottenham Hotspur1–1 (a.e.t.)Manchester City
Hutchison   79' (o.g.) (Report) Hutchison   30'
Attendance: 100,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tottenham Hotspur
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Manchester City
GK 1   Milija Aleksic
LB 2   Chris Hughton
CB 3   Paul Miller
CB 4   Graham Roberts
RB 5   Steve Perryman (c)
RM 6   Ricardo Villa   68'
CM 7   Osvaldo Ardiles
CF 8   Steve Archibald
LM 9   Tony Galvin
CM 10   Glenn Hoddle
CF 11   Garth Crooks
Substitute:
MF 12   Garry Brooke   68'
Manager:
  Keith Burkinshaw
GK 1   Joe Corrigan
RB 2   Ray Ranson
LB 3   Bobby McDonald
CB 4   Nicky Reid
LM 5   Paul Power (c)
CB 6   Tommy Caton
RM 7   Dave Bennett
CM 8   Gerry Gow
CF 9   Steve MacKenzie
CM 10   Tommy Hutchison   105'
CF 11   Kevin Reeves
Substitute:
MF 12   Tony Henry   105'
Manager:
  John Bond

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Replay if scores still level.
  • One substitute.

Replay edit

Tottenham Hotspur3–2Manchester City
Villa   8', 76'
Crooks   70'
(Report) MacKenzie   11'
Reeves   50' (pen.)
Attendance: 92,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tottenham Hotspur
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Manchester City
GK 1   Milija Aleksic
LB 2   Chris Hughton
CB 3   Paul Miller
CB 4   Graham Roberts
RM 5   Ricardo Villa
RB 6   Steve Perryman (c)
CM 7   Osvaldo Ardiles
CF 8   Steve Archibald
LM 9   Tony Galvin
CM 10   Glenn Hoddle
CF 11   Garth Crooks
Substitute:
MF 12   Garry Brooke
Manager:
  Keith Burkinshaw
GK 1   Joe Corrigan
RB 2   Ray Ranson
LB 3   Bobby McDonald   79'
CB 4   Nicky Reid
LM 5   Paul Power (c)
CB 6   Tommy Caton
RM 7   Dave Bennett
CM 8   Gerry Gow
CF 9   Steve MacKenzie
CM 10   Tommy Hutchison
CF 11   Kevin Reeves
Substitute:
FW 12   Dennis Tueart   79'
Manager:
  John Bond

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalties if scores still level (according to official replay programme).
  • One substitute.

Cup final song edit

Tottenham's cup final song was "Ossie's Dream (Spurs Are on Their Way to Wembley)", recorded by the musical duo Chas and Dave with the Tottenham squad. Argentine player Ossie Ardiles famously sang the line "In the cup for Tottingham". [1]

References edit

  1. ^ Ross, James M. (6 August 2020). "England FA Challenge Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 8 August 2020.

External links edit