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1979–80 FA Cup


FieldValue
title1979–80 FA Cup
countryEngland
Wales
defending_championsArsenal
winnersWest Ham United
(3rd title)
secondArsenal
prev_season[1978–79](1978-79-fa-cup)
next_season[1980–81](1980-81-fa-cup)

Wales (3rd title) The 1979–80 FA Cup was the 99th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup. The final saw second division West Ham United beat holders Arsenal 1–0.

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 Blyth Spartans, Workington, Brandon United, Morecambe, Burscough, Mossley, Northwich Victoria, Moor Green, Nuneaton Borough, Kidderminster Harriers, AP Leamington, Enfield, Burton Albion, Harlow Town, Croydon, Wycombe Wanderers, Leytonstone & Ilford, Wealdstone, Barking, Chesham United, Gravesend & Northfleet, Merthyr Tydfil, Slough Town, Minehead, Fareham Town, Salisbury, Hungerford Town and Yeovil Town.

Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Brandon United, Moor Green, Harlow Town, Croydon, Fareham Town and Hungerford Town, while the recently amalgamated Leytonstone & Ilford was appearing for the first time since Ilford had featured in the first and second rounds of the 1974-75 tournament after being a finalist in the last-ever FA Amateur Cup final held at the end of the previous season. Of the others, Kidderminster Harriers had last featured at this stage in 1968–69 and Salisbury had last done so in 1967-68.

Harlow Town participated in nine rounds of the tournament, overcoming Lowestoft Town, Hornchurch, Bury Town, Harwich & Parkeston, Margate, Leytonstone & Ilford, Southend United and (notably) Leicester City before Watford ended their run with a high-scoring defeat at Vicarage Road.

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 Stafford Rangers, Kettering Town, Altrincham and Scarborough who were given byes. Ten teams from the new Alliance Premier League (later to be known as Conference National and the National League) qualified for this round, while Brandon United, from the Northern Alliance, was ostensibly the lowest-ranked club remaining in the competition.

The first round of games were played on 24 November 1979. Replays were played on 26–28 November.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Enfield (6)0–1**Yeovil Town (5)**24 November 1979
2Blackpool1–1Wigan Athletic24 November 1979
*Replay****Wigan Athletic****2–0**Blackpool*28 November 1979
3**Chester**5–1Workington (6)24 November 1979
4Darlington1–1Huddersfield Town24 November 1979
*Replay**Huddersfield Town**0–1****Darlington***27 November 1979
5**Barking (6)**1–0Oxford United24 November 1979
6**Rochdale**2–1Scunthorpe United24 November 1979
7**Reading**4–2Kettering Town (5)24 November 1979
8**Walsall**2–0Stockport County24 November 1979
9Gillingham0–0Wimbledon24 November 1979
*Replay****Wimbledon****4–2**Gillingham*27 November 1979
10**Sheffield Wednesday**3–0Lincoln City24 November 1979
11Grimsby Town1–1Chesterfield24 November 1979
*Replay**Chesterfield**2–3****Grimsby Town***27 November 1979
12**Stafford Rangers (5)**3–2Moor Green (8)24 November 1979
13**Swindon Town**4–1Brentford24 November 1979
14**Sheffield United**3–0Burscough (8)24 November 1979
15**Tranmere Rovers**9–0AP Leamington (5)24 November 1979
16Wycombe Wanderers (6)0–3**Croydon (6)**24 November 1979
17Kidderminster Harriers (6)0–2**Blackburn Rovers**24 November 1979
18**Barnsley**5–2Hartlepool United24 November 1979
19**Portsmouth**1–0Newport County24 November 1979
20Carlisle United3–3Hull City24 November 1979
*Replay**Hull City**0–2****Carlisle United***28 November 1979
21**Altrincham (5)**3–0Crewe Alexandra24 November 1979
22Blyth Spartans (8)0–2**Mansfield Town**24 November 1979
23Port Vale1–3**Doncaster Rovers**23 November 1979
24Minehead (6)1–2**Chesham United (7)**24 November 1979
25**Halifax Town**2–0Scarborough (5)24 November 1979
26Wealdstone (5)0–1**Southend United**24 November 1979
27Morecambe (6)1–1Rotherham United24 November 1979
*Replay****Rotherham United****2–0**Morecambe (6)*27 November 1979
28**York City**5–2Mossley (6)24 November 1979
29**Hereford United**1–0Northampton Town24 November 1979
30**Aldershot**4–1Exeter City24 November 1979
31Peterborough United1–2**AFC Bournemouth**24 November 1979
32**Harlow Town (6)**2–1Leytonstone & Ilford (7)24 November 1979
33Colchester United1–1Plymouth Argyle24 November 1979
*Replay**Plymouth Argyle**0–1****Colchester United***27 November 1979
34Nuneaton Borough (5)3–3Northwich Victoria (5)24 November 1979
*Replay****Northwich Victoria (5)****3–0**Nuneaton Borough (5)*26 November 1979
35Gravesend & Northfleet (5)0–1**Torquay United**24 November 1979
36Salisbury (6)1–2**Millwall**24 November 1979
37**Slough Town (6)**3–1Hungerford Town (8)24 November 1979
38Burton Albion (6)0–2**Bury**24 November 1979
39Fareham Town (6)2–3**Merthyr Tydfil (6)**24 November 1979
40Brandon United (9)0–3**Bradford City**24 November 1979

Second round proper

The second round of games were intended to be played on 15 December 1979, but some matches were not played until 17–19 December and one was postponed until 5 January 1980. Replays took place at various dates after these games. Chesham United, from the Isthmian League First Division, was the lowest-ranked club in the round.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1**Chester**1–0Barnsley18 December 1979
2Croydon (6)1–1Millwall15 December 1979
*Replay****Millwall****3–2**Croydon (6)*18 December 1979
3Darlington0–1**Bradford City**15 December 1979
4Bury0–0York City15 December 1979
*Replay**York City**0–2****Bury***18 December 1979
5**Yeovil Town (5)**1–0Slough Town (6)15 December 1979
6**Reading**3–1Barking (6)15 December 1979
7Walsall1–1Halifax Town15 December 1979
*Replay**Halifax Town**1–1**Walsall*18 December 1979
*Replay****Halifax Town****2–0**Walsall*24 December 1979
8**Blackburn Rovers**2–0Stafford Rangers (5)17 December 1979
9**Grimsby Town**2–0Sheffield United15 December 1979
10Northwich Victoria (5)2–2Wigan Athletic5 January 1980
*Replay****Wigan Athletic****1–0**Northwich Victoria (5)*7 January 1980
11Doncaster Rovers1–2**Mansfield Town**15 December 1979
12Tranmere Rovers2–2Rochdale15 December 1979
*Replay****Rochdale****2–1**Tranmere Rovers*18 December 1979
13**Carlisle United**3–0Sheffield Wednesday15 December 1979
14Wimbledon0–0Portsmouth18 December 1979
*Replay**Portsmouth**3–3**Wimbledon*24 December 1979
*Replay**Wimbledon**0–1****Portsmouth***5 January 1980
15Southend United1–1Harlow Town (6)15 December 1979
*Replay****Harlow Town (6)****1–0**Southend United*18 December 1979
16Chesham United (7)1–1Merthyr Tydfil (6)19 December 1979
*Replay**Merthyr Tydfil (6)**1–3****Chesham United (7)***22 December 1979
17Torquay United3–3Swindon Town18 December 1979
*Replay****Swindon Town****3–2**Torquay United*22 December 1979
18Hereford United1–2**Aldershot**15 December 1979
19Rotherham United0–2**Altrincham (5)**15 December 1979
20**Colchester United**1–0AFC Bournemouth15 December 1979

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were mainly played on 5 January 1980, with some games taking place on 8–9 January and one on 14. Replays were intended for 8–9 January but again took place at various times. From Step 7 of the fledgling English Football Pyramid, Chesham United was again the lowest-ranked club in the round.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1**Bristol City**6–2Derby County5 January 1980
2**Burnley**1–0Stoke City5 January 1980
3**Liverpool**5–0Grimsby Town5 January 1980
4Preston North End0–3**Ipswich Town**5 January 1980
5Rochdale1–1Bury8 January 1980
*Replay****Bury****3–2**Rochdale*21 January 1980
6Yeovil Town (5)0–3**Norwich City**5 January 1980
7**Reading**2–0Colchester United5 January 1980
8Leicester City1–1Harlow Town (6)5 January 1980
*Replay****Harlow Town (6)****1–0**Leicester City*8 January 1980
9Notts County1–3**Wolverhampton Wanderers**5 January 1980
10Blackburn Rovers1–1Fulham8 January 1980
*Replay**Fulham**0–1****Blackburn Rovers***15 January 1980
11West Bromwich Albion1–1West Ham United5 January 1980
*Replay****West Ham United****2–1**West Bromwich Albion*8 January 1980
12Sunderland0–1**Bolton Wanderers**5 January 1980
13Luton Town0–2**Swindon Town**5 January 1980
14**Everton**4–1Aldershot5 January 1980
15**Wrexham**6–0Charlton Athletic5 January 1980
16Newcastle United0–2**Chester**5 January 1980
17Tottenham Hotspur1–1Manchester United5 January 1980
*Replay**Manchester United**0–1****Tottenham Hotspur***9 January 1980
18Queens Park Rangers1–2**Watford**5 January 1980
19Bristol Rovers1–2**Aston Villa**4 January 1980
20Portsmouth1–1Middlesbrough9 January 1980
*Replay****Middlesbrough****3–0**Portsmouth*14 January 1980
21**Millwall**5–1Shrewsbury Town5 January 1980
22**Carlisle United**3–2Bradford City5 January 1980
23Oldham Athletic0–1**Coventry City**5 January 1980
24Chelsea0–1**Wigan Athletic**14 January 1980
25Altrincham (5)1–1Orient5 January 1980
*Replay****Orient****2–1**Altrincham (5)*9 January 1980
26Mansfield Town0–2**Brighton & Hove Albion**5 January 1980
27Cardiff City0–0Arsenal5 January 1980
*Replay****Arsenal****2–1**Cardiff City*8 January 1980
28**Halifax Town**1–0Manchester City5 January 1980
29Chesham United (7)0–2**Cambridge United**5 January 1980
30Leeds United1–4**Nottingham Forest**5 January 1980
31**Birmingham City**2–1Southampton5 January 1980
32Swansea City2–2Crystal Palace5 January 1980
*Replay**Crystal Palace**3–3**Swansea City*8 January 1980
*Replay****Swansea City****2–1**Crystal Palace*14 January 1980

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were mainly played on 26 January 1980. Replays were played on 29 and 30 January. Harlow Town was the last non-league club left in the competition.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1**Chester**2–0Millwall26 January 1980
2Bristol City1–2**Ipswich Town**26 January 1980
3**Bury**1–0Burnley26 January 1980
4**Watford**4–3Harlow Town (6)26 January 1980
5Nottingham Forest0–2**Liverpool**26 January 1980
6**Blackburn Rovers**1–0Coventry City26 January 1980
7**Bolton Wanderers**2–0Halifax Town26 January 1980
8Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1Norwich City26 January 1980
*Replay**Norwich City**2–3****Wolverhampton Wanderers***30 January 1980
9**Everton**3–0Wigan Athletic26 January 1980
10Swindon Town0–0Tottenham Hotspur26 January 1980
*Replay****Tottenham Hotspur****2–1**Swindon Town*30 January 1980
11Carlisle United0–0Wrexham26 January 1980
*Replay****Wrexham****3–1**Carlisle United*29 January 1980
12**Arsenal**2–0Brighton & Hove Albion26 January 1980
13**Birmingham City**2–1Middlesbrough26 January 1980
14Cambridge United1–1Aston Villa26 January 1980
*Replay****Aston Villa****4–1**Cambridge United*30 January 1980
15Orient2–3**West Ham United**26 January 1980
16**Swansea City**4–1Reading26 January 1980

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were all played on 16 February 1980. Two replays were played on 19 and 20 February.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1**Liverpool**2–0Bury16 February 1980
2Blackburn Rovers1–1Aston Villa16 February 1980
*Replay****Aston Villa****1–0**Blackburn Rovers*20 February 1980
3Bolton Wanderers1–1Arsenal16 February 1980
*Replay****Arsenal****3–0**Bolton Wanderers*19 February 1980
4Wolverhampton Wanderers0–3**Watford**16 February 1980
5**Everton**5–2Wrexham16 February 1980
6**Ipswich Town**2–1Chester16 February 1980
7**Tottenham Hotspur**3–1Birmingham City16 February 1980
8**West Ham United**2–0Swansea City16 February 1980

Sixth round proper

The sixth round of games were played on 8 March 1980. There were no replays.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Watford1–2**Arsenal**8 March 1980
2**Everton**2–1Ipswich Town8 March 1980
3Tottenham Hotspur0–1**Liverpool**8 March 1980
4**West Ham United**1–0Aston Villa8 March 1980

Semi finals


Kidd s/off 63'

Replays


19:30 BST Lampard

Second replay

Third replay

Final

Main article: 1980 FA Cup final

{{Football kitpattern_la = _westhampattern_b = _westhampattern_ra = _westhampattern_sh = _westhampattern_so = _westhamleftarm = FFFFFFbody = FFFFFFrightarm = FFFFFFshorts = FFFFFFsocks = FFFFFFtitle = West Ham{{Football kitpattern_la = _blueborderpattern_b = _collarbluepattern_ra = _blueborderpattern_sh =pattern_so = _1bluestripeleftarm = ffff00body = ffff00rightarm = ffff00shorts = 0000ffsocks = ffff00title = Arsenal

Television coverage

The right to show FA Cup games were, as with Football League matches, shared between the BBC and ITV network. All games were shown in a highlights format, except the Final, which was shown live both on BBC1 and ITV. The BBC football highlights programme Match of the Day would show up to three games and the various ITV regional network stations would cover up to one game and show highlights from other games covered elsewhere on the ITV network. No games from Rounds 1 or 2 were shown. Occasional highlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV.

This was the first season of a 4-year deal between the FA/Football League and BBC/ITV where BBC and ITV would alternate between Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons for highlights. This season it was as it was under the previous contracts from 1964 to 1979 Saturday nights BBC1 and Sunday afternoons ITV.

These matches were.

RoundBBC1ITV
Third round properLeeds United vs Nottingham Forest
Cardiff City vs Arsenal
Yeovil Town vs Norwich City1
Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur (replay)1Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United – LWT 1
Burnley vs Stoke City – Granada
Sunderland vs Bolton Wanderers – Tyne Tees
Halifax Town vs Manchester City – Yorkshire 1
Birmingham City vs Southampton – ATV
Fourth round properNottingham Forest v Liverpool
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Norwich City
Harlow Town vs Watford 1
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion – LWT
Everton vs Wigan Athletic – Granada
Bolton Wanderers vs Halifax Town – Yorkshire
Swindon Town vs Tottenham Hotspur – ATV
Cambridge United vs Aston Villa – Anglia
Tottenham Hotspur vs Swindon Town (Replay)
Fifth round properWolverhampton Wanderers v Watford
Blackburn Rovers vs Aston Villa
Everton vs Wrexham
Aston Villa vs Blackburn Rovers (Replay)Tottenham Hotspur vs Birmingham City – LWT
Bolton Wanderers vs Arsenal – Granada
Ipswich Town vs Chester – Anglia
Sixth round properTottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
Watford vs ArsenalWest Ham United vs Aston Villa – LWT 1
Everton vs Ipswich Town – Granada 1
Semi-finalsWest Ham United vs Everton 1
Arsenal vs Liverpool (Replay)
West Ham United vs Everton (Replay) 1Arsenal vs Liverpool
Arsenal vs Liverpool (2nd Replay)
Arsenal vs Liverpool (3rd Replay)
FinalArsenal vs West Ham United 1Arsenal vs West Ham United 1

1Footage available on YouTube

References

References

  1. "MOTD Listings 1979–80".
  2. "The Big Match".
  3. "Kick Off Match".
  4. "Shoot (Tyne Tees)".
  5. "Yorkshire ITV Football".
  6. "Star Soccer".
  7. "Match of the Week".
  8. "Mid-Week Football".
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