1986-87 FA Cup

Lore & Background

The tournament started in August 1986, with non-league teams competing in the 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 included 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. 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. The season's Conference champions Scarborough were eliminated from the Cup in the first qualifying round by Goole Town.

In Their Own Story

The rain had stopped hours before kick-off, leaving Wembley's pitch glistening under the mid-afternoon sun. Inside the tunnel, Peter Beardsley tightened his boots, feeling the weight of expectation but also the lightness of belief. As Kevin Keegan gave a final nod from the sideline, the team emerged to chants that seemed to shake the very foundations of the stadium. Every pass felt sharper, every tackle more decisive. When Beardsley slotted home his second goal, the roar was deafening—a sound that would haunt Liverpool and inspire Newcastle for decades.

Reader's Guide

The first round proper included 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions, 28 non-league qualifiers, and Altrincham, Runcorn, Frickley Athletic and Telford United who were given byes. Three clubs from Step 8 of the English football pyramid featured: Whitby Town, Spennymoor United and Woking. The second round included four clubs from Step 6: Caernarfon Town, Chorley, Chelmsford City and Slough Town. Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in the third round. 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. The fourth round included four teams from the Fourth Division: Preston North End, Cardiff City, Aldershot and Swansea City. The fifth round featured Walsall and Wigan Athletic from the Third Division as the lowest-ranked teams. The sixth round had no replays; each game was won by the away team. Wigan Athletic was the last team from the first round left in the competition. The semi-finals saw Tottenham Hotspur beat Watford 4-1, and Coventry City beat Leeds United 3-2. The final was Coventry City 3–2 Tottenham Hotspur after extra time.

Did You Know?

• Coventry City had never reached an FA Cup semi-final before 1987.
• Clive Allen scored his 49th goal of the season in the final after two minutes.
• Gary Mabbutt scored an own goal in extra time that decided the final.
• The final was broadcast live on both BBC and ITV.

The Final Showdown

The climax of the 106th edition occurred at Wembley Stadium, where Coventry City secured a historic victory against Tottenham Hotspur. In a dramatic contest requiring extra time, the Sky Blues defeated the North Londoners 3–2, marking Tottenham’s first-ever defeat in eight final appearances. Clive Allen opened the scoring just two minutes in, netting his 49th goal of the season with a header from a Chris Waddle cross. Coventry responded quickly through Dave Bennett before Gary Mabbutt restored the lead for Spurs prior to halftime. Keith Houchen equalized midway through the second half with a diving header. The decisive moment arrived six minutes into extra time when Lloyd McGrath’s centre deflected off Mabbutt, resulting in an own goal that sealed the trophy for Coventry.

Non-League Giants & Qualifying Rounds

The tournament commenced in August 1986, featuring a robust qualifying phase where non-league clubs battled for twenty-eight places in the first round proper. Several historic milestones were achieved during this stage, including the debut appearances of Caernarfon Town, Woodford Town, Welling United, and Ton Pentre. A notable irony occurred regarding Scarborough; despite winning the Conference championship and securing promotion to the Football League via new automatic rules, they were knocked out early by Northern Premier League side Goole Town. Ultimately, thirteen Conference clubs managed to reach the main draw alongside various lower-league representatives.

The Road to Wembley (Semi-Finals)

The path to the final was defined by two contrasting semi-final encounters held at Villa Park and Hillsborough. Meanwhile, Coventry City made history as they had never previously reached an FA Cup semi-final. Their opponents were Leeds United, managed by former captain Billy Bremner, who were pushing for Second Division promotion and seeking their first major trophy challenge in over a decade. In a closely fought match at Hillsborough, Coventry emerged victorious with a 3–2 win. Leading up to these decisive games, the sixth round proper saw every single tie won by the away team without any replays required, setting the stage for the grand finale.

Competition Structure & Broadcast

The competition structure spanned several months, with the first round proper taking place in mid-November 1986 before progressing through subsequent rounds into March. Notable eliminations occurred early; holders Liverpool were knocked out by Luton Town during the third round weekend. Throughout the tournament, broadcasters BBC and ITV shared UK television rights, alternating between live matches and highlights coverage starting from the third round onwards. One specific broadcast featured the Luton versus Liverpool tie aired live on the BBC. The draw included teams ranging from Step 8 of the English pyramid in the first round to First Division clubs entering later stages. By the sixth round, Wigan Athletic remained as the last team from the first round left in the competition.