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.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country |  England Wales |
| Defending champions | Liverpool |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Coventry City (1st title) |
| Runner-up | Tottenham Hotspur |
First round proper edit
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 | 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 edit
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 | 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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
The sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 14–15 March 1987. There were no replays.
| 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 edit
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.
| Coventry City | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Leeds United |
|---|---|---|
Gynn  68' Houchen 78' Bennett 99' |
Report | Rennie 14' Edwards 83' |
Final edit
| Coventry City | 3–2 (aet) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|---|---|---|
| Bennett 9' Houchen 64'Mabbutt (o.g.) 96' |
C. Allen 2' Mabbutt 40' |
         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 edit
- ^ 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.
External links edit
- The FA Cup at TheFA.com
- FA Cup at BBC.co.uk
- FA Cup news at Reuters.co.uk