1990–91 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 Fleetwood Town, Stafford Rangers, Witton Albion, Altrincham, Chorley, Spennymoor United, Bishop Auckland, Whitley Bay, Runcorn, Aylesbury United, Tamworth, Halesowen Town, Telford United, Barnet, Atherstone United, Chelmsford City, Boston United, Kidderminster Harriers, Yeovil Town, Farnborough Town, Littlehampton Town, Tiverton Town, Woking, Hayes, Wycombe Wanderers, Merthyr Tydfil, Welling United and Cheltenham Town.

Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Littlehampton Town and Tiverton Town, while Fleetwood Town had not featured in the first round since 1980–81 and Witton Albion had not done so since 1966-67. All other successful qualifiers had participated in the main draw of the Cup on at least one occasion in the previous five seasons.

Curiously, this would be the last time (as of 2025) that Wycombe Wanderers featured in the FA Cup qualifying rounds. Awarded byes to the first round in the next two seasons, the club would be promoted into the Football League in 1993. Again as of 2025, they are the only club to have joined the League via promotion in the 20th century and enjoyed continuous membership since.

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 Barrow, Leek Town, Colchester United and Sutton United who were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 17–18 November 1990, with replays being played on 20–21 November. The round included three clubs from the various competitions at Step 8 of the English football system: Spennymoor United from the Northern Counties East League, Tiverton Town from the Western League, and Littlehampton Town from the Sussex County League. Spennymoor's transfer to the Northern Counties East League during the previous summer meant that this was the first Cup competition since 1970-71 in which no clubs from the Northern League qualified for the first round.

Second round proper

The second round of games were played either over the weekend 7–8 December 1990, with replays being played on 11–12 December; or they were played in the midweek, from 10 to 12 December, with replays being played on 17 December. Whitley Bay, from the Northern Premier League First Division at Step 7 of English football, was the lowest-ranked team in the round.

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 played over the weekend 5–7 January 1991, with replays being played on 8, 9, 16, 21 and 28 January. The lowest-ranked team in the draw, Woking from the Isthmian League Premier Division at Step 6, defeated Second Division opponents West Bromwich Albion 4–2 at The Hawthorns.

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were mainly played over the weekend 26–27 January 1991, with replays being played on 29–30 January. The Arsenal-Leeds United game ended in a draw three times, with the two extra replays being played on 13 and 16 February. Because Nottingham Forest did not finish their third-round tie until 28 January, their fourth round match was not played until 13 February with a replay on 18 February. Woking was again the lowest-ranked team in the draw and, by this stage, was the last non-league club left in the competition.

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were mainly played over the weekend 16–18 February 1991, with replays being played on 20 February. The Merseyside derby went to an extra replay played on 27 February, the last FA Cup tie to go to multiple replays before a rule change the following season limited ties to one replay. Kenny Dalglish resigned as Liverpool's manager between the two replays. Because Nottingham Forest did not win their fourth round tie until 18 February, their fifth round match was not played until 25 February with a replay on 4 March. Similarly, Arsenal were late beating Leeds United in the previous round and so played Shrewsbury Town on 27 February. Shrewsbury, Crewe Alexandra and Cambridge United, from the Third Division, were the lowest-ranked teams in the draw, with Cambridge defeating Second Division Sheffield Wednesday to progress to the Sixth Round for the second consecutive season.

Sixth round proper

Adams

Gascoigne

Slater

Semi-finals

Tottenham's 3–1 triumph over Arsenal, marked by a Paul Gascoigne goal from 35 yards, ended their opposition's chances of the double.

Nottingham Forest beat Second Division West Ham United 4–0 to reach their first FA Cup final for 32 years and give Brian Clough the chance of winning his first FA Cup to add to the two European Cups, one league title and four League Cups that he had already won with them.

Lineker

Keane Pearce Charles

Final

Main article: 1991 FA Cup final

An own goal by Des Walker in extra time gave Tottenham Hotspur their eighth FA Cup triumph, a record at the time. Paul Gascoigne went off with a knee injury in the opening 15 minutes, and Gary Lineker had a first-half penalty saved by Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley. Walker

Media coverage

For the third consecutive season in the United Kingdom, the BBC were the free to air broadcasters while Sky Sports (formerly The Sports Channel on BSB), were the subscription broadcasters.

The live matches on the BBC were: Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest (R3); Arsenal vs Leeds United (R4); Liverpool vs Everton (R5); Tottenham Hotspur vs Notts County (QF); both Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal and Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United (SF); and Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest (Final). The BBC did not show a goal live until the quarter-finals.

References

References

1. (23 February 2008). "22.02.1991 Kenny Dalglish resigns as Liverpool manager". The Guardian.
2. "Spurs 3 Arsenal 1". Daily Mirror.