Classic Cup Finals: 1987
Coventry City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
The FA Cup Final
16 May 1987
Wembley Stadium
The Sky Blues of Coventry City recovered from the shock of going behind to a Clive Allen goal in under two minutes to win the 106th FA Cup Final in exciting style.
A classic match of fluctuating fortunes, hard on the emotions of the two sets of supporters, was finally settled by a desperate own goal six minutes into muscle-cramping extra time.
After their Fourth Round victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Coventry coach John Sillett had declared that his club's name was "on The Cup" and in the end he was proved right at Wembley as Coventry's skill, fitness and burning desire to win brought them success in the first Final in their 104 year history.
Chris Waddle, who had a brilliant first half, set up Tottenham's opening goal by showing the ball to Greg Downs, dragging it typically away from him and then firing over a centre towards the near post which Clive Allen clinically converted with a close-range header.
But within seven minutes City were level through Dave Bennett, the Mancunian who was their only player with Cup Final experience (for Manchester City in 1981).
Keith Houchen's headed flick-on had caused panic in the Spurs defence and as Thomas and Hodge both left the ball for goalkeeper Clemence, Bennett nipped in to tap it over the line.
Coventry had an amazing let-off after a comedy of errors in the 30th minute.
Trevor Peake's under-hit back-pass failed to reach the penalty-area and their huge goalkeeper, Steve Ogrizovic, had to dribble the ball out of danger.
His attempted left-footed clearance was blocked by Glenn Hoddle who then immediately tried to chip the ball into the empty goal but only found the frantically back-pedalling Peake.
The Coventry defender then compounded his earlier error by merely side-footing the ball to Tottenham's most lethal finisher, Clive Allen. Fortunately for Coventry the 49-goal man shot into the side netting.
Tottenham did take the lead again five minutes before half-time when Ogrizovic recklessly advanced to meet a Hoddle free-kick from the right which he had little hope of reaching.
The ball fell between Brian Kilcline and Gary Mabbutt and as both players lunged for it, the latter almost involuntarily turned it into the net.
With Tottenham threatening to take control midway through the second period, Coventry suddenly fashioned a superb equalising goal that ultimately took this memorable Final into extra time.
Bennett broke away down the right and sent in an inviting cross that had Houchen propelling himself forward right in front of goal to head powerfully, and wonderfully, past Clemence. A stunning goal, brilliantly taken.
Having shackled Tottenham's ace-in-the-pack, Glenn Hoddle, for most of his farewell performance before moving to Monaco, Coventry's 22-year-old midfielder Lloyd McGrath turned match-winner six minutes into the extra half-hour.
At the end of a surging run down the right wing, he hit over a hopeful cross-cum-shot which took a wicked deflection off Mabbutt's outstretched leg and looped over the hapless Clemence's head into the far corner of the goal. Coventry had won The FA Cup.
Team Details
Coventry City: Ogrizovic; Phillips, Downs, McGrath, Kilcline (Rodger), Peake, Bennett, Gynn, Regis, Houchen, Pickering
Tottenham Hotspur: Clemence; Hughton (Claesen), Thomas M., Hodge, Gough, Mabbutt, Allen C., Allen P., Waddle, Hoddle, Ardiles (Stevens)
Referee: N Midgley (Salford)
Attendance: 98,000
