THE 1980's AND THE FA CUP

https://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/all-fours.html

Two years ago I wrote the above on the 14th April 2018. I thought it appropriate especially when such a "lowly" club as Plymouth Argyle was in the cup "giant killers frame" playing in the FA Cup Semi-final. I guess the fighting powers of Sir Francis Drake may have stirred the Argyle into enough action to get to the semis. Or maybe it was just bone lucky!
If you follow their path to the FA Cup Semi-finals in 1983-4, then you will see that "The Pilgrims" had an easy ride, relatively. We have to wonder what happened to the big guns that season?

Everton were hardly challenged en route to the final either! sweeping aside Stoke City, Gillingham, Shrewsbury Town. Notts County and Southampton in the semis. Where were the others?

The 1980s were swinging, with Elton John strutting his stuff, and his club Watford, of course, losing to Everton in the Final. But the decade saw other lesser mortals in the Football League having the opportunity to get to Wembley.

In 1982, QPR took Spurs to a replay at Wembley after the first final  1-1, losing 0-1 five days .

In 1983 Brighton and Hove Albion brought a bit of South coast pride to Wembley when Gordon Smith missed a sitter in the last minute of extra-time with his team at 2-2 v Manchester United.
The Brighton Fanzine named itself after Peter Jones' commentary of the moment "And Smith must score!" Smith had scored earlier in the game to give the Seagulls a 1-0 lead but that was pegged back and Brighton lost the replay at Wembley 4-0! DOH!!! See Smith in Blue below.

The moment when Gary Bailey saved Smith's underpowered shot.
It was Matt Busby's 74th Birthday! and Brighton were relegated from the First Division (top one in those days) also.
To get to the final, Brighton had beaten Newcastle Utd in a replay at St James' Park, Manchester City 4-0, Liverpool (the League Champions and League Cup winners away), Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday.
United's Norman Whiteside was the youngest player to score in an FA Cup Final when he headed United's second goal. He was 18 years and 19 days old.

In 1980 Arsenal became the first club to appear in three successive finals in that century.
Pat Rice of Arsenal became the first player to appear in 5 finals for one club.
Paul Allen of West Ham was the youngest player to tread the sacred turf in a Cup Final  at 17 years and 256 days.
Arsenal equalled Newcastle United's tally of 11 finals.
It was Wembley's third all London final.
Arsenal and Liverpool had met in the longest FA Cup semi-final. (0-0. 1-1, 1-1, 1-0) 420 minutes in all.
West Ham's victory was a Second Division's club's third win in 8 seasons.
Trevor Brooking's winning nod in the 13th minute was only the third time in his distinguished career that he had scored with a header.

1987 was of course, Coventry's win over Spurs; they had never been further than the Cup 6th Round and their highest league position was 6th in Division One (the top one) once. Twice behind in the final, they rallied to win 3-2. See a previous recent blog with Houchen's header.

1988 was Wimbledon's defeat of the "Culture Club", Liverpool, 1-0 (I was there!!) When John  Aldridge missed a crucial penalty (or at least Beasant saved it), it was the first time a penalty had been saved in an FA Cup Final.

Wimbledon, 11 years earlier had been a "Southern League" Club: Non-League. Indeed I played against them! Liverpool at the time were First Division League Champions (by 9 points) and were expecting The Double. Beasant was the first goalie to receive the FA Cup as captain of his team.

In 1989 sanity sort of prevailed at last with a Merseyside Derby and Liverpool winning 3-2 over Everton; all this after the Hillsborough Disaster.