The 20 Greatest FA Cup Finals Ever?

Last updated : 21 June 2008 By Kevin Markey

COUNTING down......

20

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (0) 2 Smith, Dyson LEICESTER CITY.............(0) 0

Wembley, 6 May 1961 Att: 100,000

Tottenham Hotspur: Brown, Baker, Henry, D. Blanchflower, M. Norman, Mackay, Jones, White, Smith, Allen, Dyson.

Leicester City: Banks, Chalmers, R. Norman, McLintock, King, Appleton, Riley, James Walsh, McIlmoyle, Keyworth, Cheesebrough.

Referee: J. Kelly.

Leicester started as if they would knock the stunning title winners out of their stride. But the Foxes were rocked when Len Chalmers suffered a knee injury in a collision with Les Allen. Bobby Smith went on to give Spurs the lead in the 69th minute. Terry Dyson added a second shortly after.

FACT: Gordon Banks lost both Cup Finals in which he played

19

MANCHESTER UNITED ..(0) 4 Cantona 2 (2 pens), Hughes, McClair CHELSEA.............(0) 0

Wembley, 14 May 1994 Att: 79,634

Manchester United: Schmeichel - Parker, Irwin (Sharpe), Bruce, Kanchelskis (McClair), Pallister, Cantona, Ince, Keane, Hughes, Giggs.

Chelsea: Kharine - Clarke, Sinclair, Kjeldbjerg, Johnsen, Burley (Hoddle), Spencer, Newton, Stein (Cascarino), Peacock, Wise.

Referee: D. Elleray.

After a tight first hour, Eric Cantona scored twice from the spot to send United into a lead they never looked like losing. Mark Hughes smashed the ball under a despairing Dmitri Kharine two minutes later. It was all United, and Brian McClair put the icing was on the cake in the final minute.

FACT: Victory for United clinched their first ever domestic double. and equalled Spurs' record of 8 FA Cups

18

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR.(0) 2 Stewart, Walker (og) NOTTINGHAM FOREST..(1) 1 Pearce

Wembley, 18 May 1991 Att: 80,000

Spurs: Thorstvedt - Edinburgh, Van Den Hauwe, Sedgley, Howells, Mabbutt, Stewart, Gascoigne (Nayim), Samways (Walsh), Lineker, Paul Allen.

Forest: Crossley - Charles, Pearce, Walker, Chettle, Keane, Crosby, Parker, Clough, Glover (Laws), Woan (Hodge).

Referee: R. Milford. Paul Gascoigne played like a maniac from the kick-off and injured Gary Charles - and himself - with an horrendous 15th-minute challenge. From the free-kick Stuart Pearce shot Forest ahead. Gary Lineker had a goal wrongly disallowed, then missed a penalty. But Spurs won their eighth FACup, a record.

FACT: Forest boss Brian Clough stayed on the touchline chatting to a policeman rather than speak to his players before extra-time

17

MANCHESTER CITY.........(1) 3 Hayes, Dyson, Johnstone BIRMINGHAM CITY........(1) 1 Kinsey

Wembley, 5 May 1956 Att: 100,000

Man City: Trautmann - Leivers, Little, Barnes, Ewing, Paul, Johnstone, Hayes, Revie, Dyson, Clarke.

Birmingham: Merrick - Hall, Green, Newman, Smith, Boyd, Astall, Kinsey, Brown, Murphy, Govan.

Referee: A. Bond.

Heroic City keeper Bert Trautmann entered FA Cup folklore when he broke his neck midway during the second half but played on to help his side to victory. Joe Hayes netted first for City with Noel Kinsey equalising. Ken Dyson and Bobby Johnstone struck again for City past Gil Merrick.

FACT: Johnstone's goal made him the first man to score in successive Cup Finals

16

MANCHESTER UNITED...(0) 1 Whiteside EVERTON......................(0) 0

Wembley, 18 May 1985 Att: 100,000

Manchester United: Bailey - Gidman, Albiston (Duxbury), Whiteside, McGrath, Moran, Robson, Strachan, Hughes, Stapleton, Olsen.

Everton: Southall - Stevens, Van Den Hauwe, Ratcliffe, Mountfield, Reid, Steven, Gray, Sharp, Bracewell, Sheedy.

Referee: P. Willis.

Kevin Moran became the first player to be sent off in an FA Cup Final when he upended Peter Reid as three Everton players bore down on the United goal with only the keeper to beat. Ten-man United lifted the Cup through Norman Whiteside's 110th-minute goal.

FACT: 1985 was the last Wembley attendance to top 100,000

15

BOLTON WANDERERS...(1) 2 Lofthouse 2 MANCHESTER UNITED....(0) 0

Wembley, 3 May 1958 Att: 100,000

Bolton Wanderers: Hopkinson - Hartle, Banks, Hennin, Higgins, Edwards, Birch, Stevens, Lofthouse, Parry, Holden.

Manchester United: Gregg - Foulkes, Greaves, Goodwin, Cope, Crowther, Dawson, E. Taylor, R. Charlton, Viollet, Webster.

Referee: J. Sherlock. There can rarely have been more emotive Final. Manchester United's team had been decimated by the Munich air crash the previous February, and most of the country were rooting for the Reds. But Wanderers, led by two-goal Nat Lofthouse, had other ideas.

FACT: United were managed by Matt Busby's assistant Jimmy Murphy. Only four Busby Babes, including Bobby Charlton, played

14

LIVERPOOL...................(0) 2 Hunt, St John LEEDS UNITED...............(0) 1 Bremner

Wembley, 1 May 1965 Att: 100,000

Liverpool: Lawrence - Lawler, Byrne, Strong, Yeats, Stevenson, Callaghan, Hunt, St John, Smith, Thompson.

Leeds: Sprake - Reaney, Bell, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, Giles, Storrie, Peacock, Collins, Johanneson.

Referee: W. Clements.

The first 90 minutes were dour and goalless. Then, in extra time, Gerry Byrne slipped the ball into the path of Roger Hunt, who made no mistake. Billy Bremner equalised two minutes later with a crashing volley. But Ian St John glanced a header past Gary Sprake with nine minutes left.

FACT: Liverpool's Gerry Byrne, played on even though he broke his collarbone after five minutes

13

EVERTON......................(0) 3 Trebilcock 2, Temple SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY.(1) 2 McCalliog, Ford

Wembley, 14 May 1966 Att: 100,000

Everton: West - Wright, Wilson, Gabriel, Labone, Harris, Scott, Trebilcock, Young, Harvey, Temple.

Sheffield Wednesday: Springett - Smith, Megson, Eustace, Ellis, Young, Pugh, Fantham, McCalliog, Ford, Quinn.

Referee: J.K. Taylor.

Unfancied Wednesday surged into a 2-0 lead after an hour but Mike Trebilcock netted a half-volley to give Everton hope. Young Trebilcock then took advantage of a weak clearance to score another scorcher and Derek Temple pounced on a mistake by left-back Gary Young for the winner.

FACT: Everton had not conceded a goal on the way to the final

ARSENAL.......................(0) 2 Kelly, George LIVERPOOL...................(0) 1 Heighway

Wembley, 8 May 1971 Att: 100,000

Arsenal: Wilson - Rice, McNab, Storey (Kelly), McLintock, Simpson, Armstrong, Graham, Radford, Kennedy, George.

Liverpool: Clemence - Lawler, Lindsay, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Callaghan, Evans (Thompson), Heighway, Toshack, Hall.

Referee: N. Burtenshaw. After a scoreless 90 minutes, Arsenal were 1-0 down after two minutes of extra time when Steve Heighway scored for Liverpool. But Eddie Kelly scrambled an equaliser and Charlie George scorched home the winner.

FACT: Arsenal became only the second side that century to win the League/FA Cup Double

11

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR..(1) 3 Villa 2, Crooks MANCHESTER CITY........(1) 2 MacKenzie, Reeves (pen)

Wembley, 14 May 1981 Att: 92,000

Spurs: Aleksic - Hughton, Miller, Roberts, Perryman, Villa, Ardiles, Archibald, Galvin, Hoddle, Crooks.

Manchester City: Corrigan - Ranson, McDonald (Tueart), Caton, Reid, Gow, Power, MacKenzie, Reeves, Bennett,

Hutchison. Ricky Villa claimed a place in the FA Cup Hall of Fame with a stunning solo goal to win the game. The Argentinian, hauled off in the first match, also opened the scoring before City took a 2-1 lead with the help of Steve MacKenzie's fantastic volley.

FACT: City's Tommy Hutchison was only the second man to score for both sides in an FA Cup Final

10

LIVERPOOL..................(1) 3 Aldridge, Rush 2 EVERTON......................(0) 2 McCall 2

Wembley, 20 May 1989 Att: 82 500

Liverpool: Grobbelaar - Ablett, Staunton (Venison), Nicol, Whelan,

Hansen, Beardsley, Aldridge (Rush), Houghton, Barnes, McMahon.

Everton: Southall - McDonald, Van Den Hauwe, Ratcliffe, Watson, Bracewell (McCall), Nevin, Steven, Sharp, Cottee, Sheedy (Wilson).

Referee: J. Worrall. THEemotional Merseyside FA Cup Final was played just weeks after the Hillsborough disaster. John Aldridge scored after only four minutes but Liverpool needed extra time and two Ian Rush goals to see off their city rivals.

FACT: Both Ian Rush and Stuart McCall scored twice after coming off the bench

9

MANCHESTER UNITED...(1) 3 Robson, Hughes 2 CRYSTAL PALACE...........(1) 3 O'Reilly, Wright 2

Wembley, 12 May 1990 Att: 80,000

Man Utd: Leighton - Ince, Martin (Blackmore), Bruce, Phelan,Pallister (Robins), Robson, Webb, McClair, Hughes, Wallace.

Crystal Palace: Martyn - Pemberton, Shaw, Gray (Madden), O'Reilly, Thorn, Barber (Wright), Geoff Thomas, Bright, Salako, Pardew.

Referee: A. Gunn.

PALACE came within seven minutes of winning the FA Cup in their first Final appearance. Ian Wright came off the bench with Steve Coppell's side trailing 2-1 to score twice before Mark Hughes earned United a replay.

FACT: United finish 13th and Palace 15th in the First Division that season

8

SOUTHAMPTON............(1) 1 Stokes MANCHESTER UNITED...(0) 0

Wembley, 1 May 1976 Att: 100,000

Southampton: Turner - Rodrigues, Peach, Holmes, Blyth, Steele, Gilchrist, Channon, Osgood, McCalliog, Stokes.

Man Utd: Stepney - Forsyth, Houston, Daly, B Greenhoff, Buchan, Coppell, McIlroy, Pearson, Macari, Hill (McCreery).

Referee: C. Thomas. FIRST Division favourites are beaten by Second Division underdogs. Bobby Stokes scored the only goal after 83 minutes following a through-ball from Jim McCalliog.

FACT: After the game, United manager Tommy Docherty promised his team would return and win the trophy the following year. They did.

7

LIVERPOOL...................(0) 2 Owen 2 ARSENAL......................(0) 1 Ljungberg

Cardiff, 12 May 2001, Att: 72,500 Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Hyypia, Henchoz, Carragher, Smicer (Fowler),Gerrard, Murphy (Berger 78), Hamann (McAllister), Owen, Heskey.

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon (Bergkamp), Adams, Keown, Cole, Pires, Grimandi, Vieira, Ljungberg (Kanu), Henry, Wiltord (Parlour).

Referee: S.Dunn.

MICHAEL Owen struck twice in the last eight minutes after Arsenal had dominated and taken the lead through Freddie Ljungberg. Liverpool had already won the Carling Cup in Cardiff earlier in the season.

FACT: The first FA Cup Final played at the Millennium Stadium

6

SUNDERLAND...............(1) 1 Porterfield LEEDS UNITED...............(0) 0

Wembley, 5 May 1973 Att: 100,000

Sunderland: Montgomery - Malone, Guthrie, Horswill, Watson, Pitt, Kerr, Hughes, Halom, Porterfield, Tueart.

Leeds United: Harvey - Reaney, Cherry, Bremner, Madeley, Hunter, Lorimer, Clarke, Jones, Giles, Eddie Gray (Yorath).

Referee: K. Burns.

IAN Porterfield's 30th-minute goal - and Jim Montgomerie's incredible save from Peter Lorimer - took the trophy to Wearside.

FACT: Sunderland manager Bob Stokoe, who dashed across the pitch to embrace Montgomerie at the final whistle, only took over at the club the previous December

5

WIMBLEDON..................(1)1 Sanchez LIVERPOOL...................(0) 0

Wembley, 14 May 1988 Att: 98,203

Wimbledon: Beasant - Goodyear, Phelan, Jones, Young, Thorn, Gibson (Scales), Cork (Cunningham), Fashanu, Sanchez, Wise.

Liverpool: Grobbelaar - Gillespie, Ablett, Nicol, Spackman (Molby), Hansen, Beardsley, Aldridge (Johnston), Houghton, Barnes, McMahon.

Referee: B. Hill.

ARGUABLY the biggest shock in FA Cup Final history. Lawrie Sanchez scored the 37th-minute winner against Double-chasing Liverpool for a club which 11 years before were in the Southern League.

FACT: John Aldridge became the first man to miss a penalty in a Wembley FA Cup Final when Dave Beasant saved his 61st-minute kick

4

CHELSEA...(0) 2 Osgood, Webb LEEDS........(1) 1 Jones

Old Trafford, Manchester, 29 April 1970, Att: 62,078

Chelsea: Bonetti - Harris, McCreadie, Hollins, Dempsey, Webb, Baldwin, Cooke, Osgood (Hinton), Hutchinson, Houseman.

Leeds United: Harvey - Madeley, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, Lorimer, Clarke, Jones, Giles, Eddie Gray.

Referee : E. Jennings.

THE FIRSTgame was drawn 2-2 at Wembley so the replay, a brutal affair, was staged at Old Trafford. This was the season Leeds chased a treble of League, Euroepan Cup and FA Cup but ended with nothing. Mick Jones fired Leeds ahead with a great goal, but Peter Osgood equalised with a superb diving header. David Webb bundled home the extra- time winner following a long throw from Ian Hutchinson.

FACT: The first replay since the Final moved to Wembley in 1923

3

COVENTRY(1) 3 Bennett, Houchen, Mabbutt (og) SPURS (2) 2 Allen, Mabbutt

Wembley, 16 May 1987, Att: 98,000

Coventry City: Ogrizovic - Phillips, Downs, McGrath, Kilcline (Rodger), Peake, Bennett, Gynn, Regis, Houchen, Pickering.

Tottenham Hotspur: Clemence - Hughton (Claesen), Thomas, Hodge, Gough, Mabbutt, Clive Allen, Paul Allen, Waddle, Hoddle, Ardiles (Stevens).

Referee: N. Midgley.

UNDERDOGS Coventry fought back to win in extra time in their first-ever FA Cup Final appearance. Clive Allen opened the scoring for Spurs but Dave Bennett equalised. Gary Mabbutt restored Spurs lead but Keith Houchen scored a classic diving header to make it 2-2 before Mabbutt diverted a Lloyd McGrath cross into his own net for the 96th-minute decider.

FACT: Tottenham had never lost in their seven previous Cup Finals

2

BLACKPOOL (1) 4 Mortensen 3, Perry BOLTON....(2) 3 Lofthouse, Moir, Bell

Wembley, 2 May 1953, Att: 100,000

Blackpool: Farm - Shimwell, Garrett, Fenton, Johnston, Robinson, Matthews, Taylor, Mortensen, Mudie, Perry.

Bolton Wanderers: Hanson - Ball, Banks, Wheeler, Barrass, Bell, Holden, Moir, Lofthouse, Hassall, Langton.

Referee: M. Griffiths.

THE game that became known as the Matthews Final, even though Sir Stanley did not actually score. The England winger, then 38, won his first FA Cup Final at his third attempt. It was also known as the Coronation Cup Final as 1953 was the year Elizabeth II was crowned.

Bolton had gone 3-1 up but a Stan Mortenson hat-trick and a 90th-minute winner from Bill Perry - set up by Matthews - gave Blackpool the Cup.

FACT: Stan Mortensen scored in every round, including his hat-trick in the highest scoring Wembley FA Cup Final

1

ARSENAL (2) 3 Talbot, Stapleton, Sunderland MAN UTD (0) 2 McQueen, McIlroy

Wembley, 12 May 1979 Att: 100,000

Arsenal: Jennings, Rice, Nelson, Talbot, O'Leary, Young, Brady, Sunderland, Stapleton, Price (Walford), Rix.

Manchester United: Bailey - Nicholl, Albiston, McIlroy, McQueen, Buchan, Coppell, Jimmy Greenhoff, Jordan, Macari, Thomas.

Referee: R. Challis.

ARSENAL were cruising to a 2-0 victory through goals from Brian Talbot and Frank Stapleton before a late United fightback. Gordon McQueen scored with five minutes to go and, as the Arsenal defence panicked, Sammy McIlroy equalised with a minute to go. But with extra time looming, Alan Sunderland slid in to score a dramatic winner in the final seconds.

FACT: Arsenal had needed five matches - three at neutral Filbert Street in a week - to knock out Jack Charlton's Third Division Sheffield Wednesday in the third round