1987–88 Wimbledon F.C. season

Season summary

Wimbledon continued to exceed expectations in the First Division, finishing in seventh in the final table, one place lower than their sixth place the previous season. However, Wimbledon's greatest success during the season, perhaps in their entire history, came in the FA Cup, defeating West Bromwich Albion (4–1, home), Mansfield Town (1-2, away), Newcastle United (1-3, away), Watford (2–1, home) and Luton Town (2-1, neutral) to reach their first ever FA Cup Final, against that season's league champions Liverpool. Wimbledon took a lead in the 37th minute when Lawrie Sanchez scored a looping header from Dennis Wise's free kick on the left. Liverpool created many chances, with Peter Beardsley finding the net but his goal being disallowed, but failed to pull a goal back, with Dave Beasant saving a penalty from John Aldridge after Clive Goodyear was (incorrectly) adjudged to have fouled inside the box; Beasant was the first goalkeeper to ever save a penalty in an FA Cup final at Wembley. Wimbledon held on to win their first (and only) FA Cup. Due to the ban on English clubs competing in European competition as a result of the Heysel disaster, Wimbledon were denied the opportunity to compete in the Cup Winners' Cup.

Kit

Wimbledon's kit was manufactured by Spall and sponsored by Truman. Wimbledon's kit for the FA Cup final were sponsored by Danish brewery Carlsberg, who had signed a deal to sponsor Wimbledon's kits for the next season.

First-team squad

Staff

• Manager: Bobby Gould
• Assistant manager: Don Howe
• Chief scout: Ron Suart
• Youth team manager: Dave Kemp
• Physiotherapist: Steve Allen
• Kit man: Sid Neal, Joe Dillon

Transfers

In

• ENG Terry Gibson from Manchester United, £200,000, 24 August

Out

Results

First Division

October

• 17 October: Luton Town 2-0 Wimbledon

November

• 4 November: Wimbledon 1-1 Liverpool
• 7 November: Wimbledon 2-0 Southampton
• 14 November: Coventry 3-3 Wimbledon
• 21 November: Wimbledon 2-1 Manchester United
• 28 November: Chelsea 1-1 Wimbledon

December

• 5 December: Wimbledon 1-1 Nottingham Forest
• 12 December: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Wimbledon
• 18 December: Wimbledon 1-0 Norwich City
• 26 December: West Ham United 1-2 Wimbledon
• 28 December: Wimbledon 3-1 Arsenal

January

• 1 January: Wimbledon 2-1 Derby County
• 2 January: Oxford United 2-5 Wimbledon

March

• 5 March: Wimbledon 2-0 Luton Town

May

• 9 May: Manchester United 2-1 Wimbledon

Unknown date

• Wimbledon 4-1 Charlton Athletic
• Wimbledon 2-2 Chelsea
• Wimbledon 1-2 Coventry City
• Wimbledon 1-1 Everton
• Wimbledon 0-0 Newcastle United
• Wimbledon 1-0 Norwich City
• Wimbledon 1-1 Nottingham Forest
• Wimbledon 1-1 Oxford United
• Wimbledon 2-2 Portsmouth
• Wimbledon 1-2 Queens Park Rangers
• Wimbledon 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
• Wimbledon 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
• Wimbledon 1-2 Watford
• Wimbledon 1-1 West Ham United
• Arsenal 3-0 Wimbledon
• Charlton Athletic 1-1 Wimbledon
• Derby County 0-1 Wimbledon
• Everton 2-2 Wimbledon
• Liverpool 2-1 Wimbledon (matchday 31)
• Newcastle United 1-2 Wimbledon
• Norwich City 0-1 Wimbledon
• Nottingham Forest 0-0 Wimbledon
• Portsmouth 2-1 Wimbledon
• Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Wimbledon
• Southampton 2-2 Wimbledon
• Tottenham Hotspur 0-3 Wimbledon
• Watford 1-0 Wimbledon

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

FA Cup

League Cup

Full Members Cup

References

References

1. "Archived copy".
2. "Wimbledon - Historical Football Kits".
3. "The FA Cup Finalists 1980-1989 - Historical Football Kits".
4. Young was born in Singapore, but qualified to represent any of the home nations as he held a British passport; he would make his international debut for Wales in 1990.
5. Phelan was born in [[Manchester]], England, but qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland; he represented the [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team. U21]] side during the season and made his full debut for Ireland in 1991.
6. Jones was born in [[Watford]], England, but qualified to represent Wales through his maternal grandfather; he made his international debut for Wales in 1994.
7. Sanchez was born in [[London Borough of Lambeth. Lambeth]], England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland through his mother and Ecuador through his father; he made his debut for Northern Ireland in 1989.