NOT A HONEYMOON FOR NEIL

April 12th 1987 saw Coventry City beat Leeds United aet in the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough. It was Coventry's first time into the semi-final and then the final. Neil Aspin of Leeds was surprised to get that far, so had to postpone his wedding, planned for that Sunday and had to rearrange it for two weeks late.

Coventry, founded in 1883, began their 104th year with no major honours. They then went on to beat Tottenham 3-2 in a gripping Final at Wembley. Dave Bennett and Keith Houchen's diving header from Bennett's cross caused the damage along with Gary Mabbutt's own goal. Clive Allen and Mabbutt replied for Spurs. Houchen's career started and ended at Hartlepool Utd, playing over a 100 games for them each time. With nearly 600 apps between 1978-96, he played for the following: Leyton Orient, York, Scunthorpe, Coventry (1986-9), Hibernian and Port Vale.

On their way to the final Coventry beat at home Bolton 3-0 in the 3rd Round, Manchester United away 0-1 in the 5th, Stoke away 0-1 in the 4th and in the 6th Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough 1-3.

Spurs beat Scunthorpe United 3-2 at home, Crystal Palace at home 4-0, Newcastle at home 1-0 and away to Wimbledon 0-2.

Caernarfon Town were one of the Welsh minnows who got through to the 3rd Round proper of this tournament, getting a draw 0-0 at home to Barnsley before losing away 1-0.
On their way to this event they beat York City 2-1 after a 0-0 in Round 2 Proper,
Stockport County 1-0 in Rd 1,
Chester-le-Street 2-3 away in QRd 4,
Eastwood Town away 0-4 in QRd 3,
Winsford Town away 1-3 in QRd2, and
Marine 2-0 at home in QRd1.

The Canaries, Caernarfon Town was founded in its present form in 1937 but had played as a club from 1876 and played at The Oval from 1888. Caernarfon Wanderers, as they were known then, entered the FA Cup in October 1886 as the first club from North-west Wales, meeting Stoke City at home and losing 10-1!

In that round the Old Carthusians (old boys of Charterhouse School) beat Reading 2-1, then beat the Crusaders 4-2 in Rd 2, got a walk over versus the London Caledonians in Rd 3, were awarded a BYE in Rd 4, then beat Leek away 0-2 and eventually lost at home to Preston NE 1-2 after extra-time.
Preston lost to WBA in the semi-final who lost to Aston Villa 2-0 in the Final.

In ROUND 4 for some reason?? there were 13 BYES  (including Rangers from Glasgow) and the following ties only were played:
Mitchell's St George's 0 v 1 WBA
Crewe Alexandra 0-1 v Leek 0-1
Swifts v Old Foresters 0-2

Clubs awarded BYES included , Horncastle, Darwen, Lincoln City, Lockwood Brothers, Marlow,  Notts County, Old Westminsters (of the school), Partick Thistle, PNE.