1988–89 FA Cup

Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 28 places available in the first round.

The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Frickley Athletic, Southport, Barrow, Runcorn, Brandon United, Guisborough Town, Northwich Victoria, Altrincham, Halesowen Town, Dagenham, Welling United, Grays Athletic, Bromsgrove Rovers, Aylesbury United, Hayes, Woking, Stafford Rangers, Kettering Town, Hendon, Yeovil Town, Dartford, Waterlooville, Merthyr Tydfil, Sutton United, Fareham Town, Bognor Regis Town, Fisher Athletic and Newport County.

Guisborough Town was the only qualifying club appearing in the competition proper for the first time. Of the others, Brandon United had last featured at this stage in 1979–80, Barrow had last done so in 1976-77 and Grays Athletic had last done so in 1952-53.

Already experiencing acute financial difficulties when they were relegated from the Football League at the end of the previous season, Newport County was unable to recover in their first season of non-league competition since 1919-20. Beaten by eventual Football Conference champions Maidstone United in the first round of the FA Cup, County was wound up and disbanded in February 1989 with their final league record being expunged.

First round proper

The 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions entered in this round along with the 28 non-league clubs from the qualifying rounds and Enfield, Telford United, Maidstone United and Bath City who were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 19–20 November 1988, with most replays being played on 22–23 November. All other replays were played on 28 November. Brandon United and Guisborough Town, from the Northern League at Step 8 of English football, were the lowest-ranked teams in the round.

Second round proper

The second round of games were played over 10–11 December 1988, with the first round of replays being played on 13–14 December. The Aldershot-Bristol City game went to two more replays. Step 6 sides Bath City, from the Southern League Premier Division, and Bognor Regis Town, from the Isthmian League Premier Division, were the lowest-ranked teams in the round.

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 7–8 January 1989, with the first set of replays being played on 10–11 January. Two games went to second replays, and one to a third replay. The round featured three clubs from the Football Conference at Step 5 of English football: Welling United, Sutton United and Kettering Town.

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were played over the weekend 28–29 January 1989, with replays being played on 31 January – 1 February. Sutton United and Kettering Town were again the lowest-ranked teams in the round, and they were also the last non-league clubs left in the competition.

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were played over the weekend 18–19 February 1989, with replay being played on 22 February. Fourth Division side Grimsby Town was the lowest-ranked team in the draw.

Sixth round proper

Most of the sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 18–19 March 1989, with a replay on 22 March.

Third Division Brentford was the last club from the First Round left in the competition, but their impressive cup run was ended by a 4–0 defeat at Liverpool, who were chasing the double.

Wimbledon's defence of the trophy ended with a 1–0 defeat at Everton.

West Ham United, struggling in the league but thriving in the cup competitions (as League Cup semi-finalists), surrendered their chances of FA Cup glory with a 3-1 replay defeat to Norwich City following a goalless draw in the first game.

Nottingham Forest kept alive their outside chances of a unique domestic treble by winning 1–0 against Manchester United, who lost their own last chance of silverware in a season in which they had failed to feature in the title race.

Replay

Semi-finals

The FA Cup semi-finals were scheduled for 15 April 1989 and this was the last year that both games were scheduled to be held simultaneously on a Saturday afternoon with a 3pm kick off. The Everton–Norwich City game was completed as expected, but the Liverpool–Nottingham Forest game was abandoned after six minutes due to the Hillsborough Disaster. The disaster caused 94 deaths on 15 April 1989 (the final death toll was 97). There was talk that the competition for this season would be abandoned, but on 30 April, it was confirmed that both teams would continue in the competition and play in a rescheduled semi-final, which was played on 7 May and won 3–1 by Liverpool.

Norwich's hopes of a first-ever FA Cup final were ended as Everton beat them 1–0 to book the second all-Merseyside FA Cup final in four seasons.

Main article: Hillsborough disaster

• Due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the rearranged tie, the then normal competition rules of the match requiring a replay if the match finished with scores level after extra time was rescinded, meaning the match would have been decided on the day by penalties if it had been necessary.

Final

Main article: 1989 FA Cup final

The second all-Merseyside FA Cup final in four seasons ended like the previous one, with Liverpool beating Everton and Ian Rush scoring twice, although this time the scoreline was 3–2 rather than 3–1.

A fourth-minute goal from John Aldridge handed the initiative to Liverpool, but a late equaliser by substitute Stuart McCall forced extra-time. Another substitute Ian Rush restored Liverpool's lead five minutes into extra time, before McCall's second goal drew the scores level after 102 minutes. However, a second goal from Rush came just two minutes later, and the trophy went to Anfield.

As a tribute to the fans who had died in the Hillsborough disaster, both teams wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence prior to the match.

Rush

Media coverage

The BBC had all rights to show FA Cup games. They were able to show one live game from Round 3 onwards as part of Match of the Day Live. They were also able to show highlights of games from Round 1 onwards on Match of the Day. These matches were.

Match of the Day was due to show highlights of both FA Cup Semi-finals, but this was cancelled due to the Hillsborough disaster with the entire programme reflecting on the tragic events. The rescheduled Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest match at Old Trafford was the first semi-final ever to be televised live and highlights of the other semi final between Everton and Norwich, which coincided with the Hillsborough disaster, were not shown until the build-up coverage on the day of the final.

References

References

1. (14 April 1999). "The days after the disaster". [[The Independent]].
2. "MOTD Listings 1988-89".