The Arsenal v Liverpool FA Cup Semi-Final tie was eventually decided in their fourth meeting, May 1st 1980. This was before the idea of penalty shoot outs were used to settle ties. Brian Talbot scored in the 12th minute, giving the Gunners a 1-0 victory at Coventry's Highfield Road in the THIRD replay. This was the only time that an FA Cup semi-final was played on that ground. Why it was chosen, heaven knows....HALF WAY?
The previous Semi-final cup ties to get this far were: April 12th 0-0 at Hillsborough: Then 1-1 at Villa Park April 16th; April 28th 1-1 again at Villa Park and eventually on May 1st 1-0 at Highfield Rd.
Arsenal previously went through beating Cardiff City after a 0-0 draw away then 2-1 at home in Rd 3; beat Brighton 2-0 at home in Rd 4; beat Bolton away 3-0 after 1-1 in Rd 5; and then beat Watford away 1-2 in Rd 6.
West Ham reached the final beating Everton 2-1 in the Semi-final on April 16th at Elland Road after drawing 1-1 at Villa Park on April 12th. Previously they beat Ipswich in Rd 6 2-1 at Goodison; in Rd 5 Wrexham 5-2 at home; in Rd 4 beat Wigan Ath 3-0 at home; Rd 3 v Aldershot 4-1 at home again.
The 1980 Final was the 99th final, the first being played in 1872. It was the 52nd to be held at Wembley, the first being held on April 28th 1923 between Bolton W 2 v 0 West Ham. The attendance was over 126,000 and known as the "White Horse" Final, as the police had to employ, Billy (a white police horse) and some others to push back the crowd over that was spilling on to the pitch at the new Wembley Stadium. Constable George Scorey, Billy's rider had to tell one man who only had one leg to get into the back of the goal. The band played on! Programme below.
Of course West Ham beat Arsenal in the 1980 final 1-0.
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