1981–82 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 Blyth Spartans, Horden Colliery Welfare, Bishop Auckland, Workington, Penrith, Runcorn, Mossley, Nuneaton Borough, Stafford Rangers, Kettering Town, Willenhall Town, Harlow Town, Boston United, Wycombe Wanderers, Hendon, Bedford Town, Dagenham, Barnet, Dover, Barking, Hastings United, Leytonstone & Ilford, Weymouth, Bideford, Minehead, Taunton Town, Dorchester Town and Yeovil Town.

Penrith and Willenhall Town were the only qualifying clubs appearing in the competition proper for the first time. Of the others, Hastings United had not featured at this stage since 1960–61, Dorchester Town since 1959-60, Horden Colliery Welfare since 1954-55 and Taunton Town since a predecessor club of the same name had successfully navigated the qualifying rounds in 1930-31.

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 Altrincham, Bishop's Stortford, Sutton United and Enfield who were given byes. This round included six clubs from various competitions at Step 8 of the English football system: Blyth Spartans, Horden Colliery Welfare, Bishop Auckland and Penrith from the Northern League, Bideford from the Western League and Willenhall Town from the West Midlands (Regional) League.

The initial matches were played over the weekend of 20–21 November 1981 with replays mainly staged on 23–25 November.

Second round proper

The Second Round was intended to be played on 12 December 1981, although many were not played until 15 December or even 2 January or 9 January. Replays were played on various dates after these games. Step 8 clubs Bishop Auckland and Penrith were the lowest-ranked teams in the round.

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in this round. The Third Round was intended to be played on 2 January 1982. However, some matched were played initially over the period 4–6 January, while others took place as late as 23 January. Most replays took place over 18–21 January. Enfield, Barnet and Altrincham from the Alliance Premier League at Step 5 of the English football system were the lowest-ranked teams in the round and the last non-league clubs left in the competition.

Fourth round proper

The Fourth Round was mainly played on 23 January 1982. Matches were played or replayed either on 26 January, or on 1 February. Fourth Division sides Blackpool and Hereford United were the lowest-ranked teams in the round.

Fifth round proper

The Fifth Round matches were all played on 13 February 1982. The only replay was played on 16 February. Third Division side Oxford United was the lowest-ranked team in the round and was the last club from the First Round left in the competition.

Sixth round proper

The sixth-round games were played on 6 March 1982. There were no replays.

Semi-finals

The matches were both played on 3 April 1982. Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers were victorious and reached the FA Cup Final.

Wilson

Final

The final was held at Wembley Stadium on 22 May 1982. The replay was held on 27 May 1982.

Replay

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 & 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 the first or second round were covered. Highlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV.

This Season BBC Match Of The Day Highlights were back on Saturday nights while the ITV regional Highlights programmes were back on Sunday afternoons in the third season of the 4 year alternation deal

• Third Round BBC Leicester City v Southampton, Barnet v Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City v Liverpool ITV Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal (LWT), Watford v Manchester United (Granada out of region, although used TVS cameras & commentator Gerald Sinstadt), Birmingham City v Ipswich Town (Central & Anglia), Rotherham United v Sunderland (Yorkshire & Tyne-Tees), Brighton & Hove Albion v Barnet (Midweek replay all regions), Notts County v Aston Villa (Midweek all regions)
• Fourth Round BBC Watford v West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United, Manchester City v Coventry City (Midweek Replays not televised due to both being on the Tuesday Night) ITV Luton Town v Ipswich Town (Anglia & LWT), Gillingham v West Bromwich Albion (TVS & Central), Sunderland v Liverpool (Tyne-Tees & Yorkshire), Blackpool v Queens Park Rangers (Granada). While Huddersfield v Orient (planned for Yorkshire and LWT) was postponed due to the delayed R3 tie Carlisle v Huddersfield having to be played on R4 day
• Fifth Round BBC Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa, Leicester City v Watford, West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City ITV Chelsea v Liverpool (LWT), Shrewsbury Town v Ipswich Town (Anglia out of region, although used Granada's cameras & commentator Martin Tyler), Coventry City v Oxford United (Central, also showed the Shrewsbury game) (Midweek Replay all regions) Orient v Crystal Palace (All Regions)
• Sixth Round BBC Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City v Shrewsbury Town ITV QPR v Crystal Palace (LWT), West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City (Central) (All regions showed these games)
• Semifinals BBC Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion ITV Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur (All regions showed this game)
• Final Queens Park Rangers v Tottenham Hotspur (Both BBC & ITV showed the Final live. BBC & all ITV regions apart from Yorkshire showed the replay)

References