FA Cup finals on BT Vision
By Dan Willis & Chris Windle
BT Vision has got its hands on nine of the most memorable FA Cup finals ever. You can watch them as part of the Standard or Total Sports subscription packs or for 99p each.
To find them on your V-box, select On Demand, then Sport, then Football, then FA Cup finals. Here's our guide to the games...
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0, 1973
The romance
Mighty Leeds were way out of Sunderland’s league, but Bob Stokoe's men didn’t let their second division status get in the way of a famous win.
The beauty
Bremner, Clarke, Giles – the Leeds side had big names all over the place, but they were overshadowed by Sunderland goalscorer Ian Porterfield.
The beast
Leeds player Peter Lorimer was ten yards out with the ball at his feet, surely he had to score? He didn’t – ugly.
Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0 1974
The romance
Newcastle were left fumbling in the dark as Liverpool baffled them with their cunning brand of pass and move football.
The beauty
Not only did Kevin Keegan take to the pitch with one of the finest hairdos ever to grace an FA Cup final, he also scored two goals.
The beast
The Liverpool defender, Alec Lindsay, scored a spectacular goal. Unfortunately it was disallowed – some Reds fans still argue it should have been given. Most got over it the day after.
West Ham 2 Fulham 0, 1975
The romance
This final was more English than Morris dancing and binge drinking. The 22 starting players were English, as were the substitutes and managers. Those were the days.
The beauty
In a West Ham side packed with famous English players, little known Alan Taylor put his name in the spotlight by scoring both the Hammers' goals.
The beast
Bobby Moore, that titan of English football, didn’t have a good day. Not only was he playing for Fulham against his old side, he lost, which wasn’t something he was used to at Wembley.
Arsenal 3 Man United 2, 1979
The romance
Arsenal had this final wrapped up and ready to post at 2-0 up with five minutes left. Than, all of a sudden, Man Utd realised where they were and levelled the match. But the Gunners stamped out the Red Devils’ resistance in the last minute.
The beauty
As all the top models will tell you, you have to work hard to look that good. And Liam Brady ran his little socks off in this match, starting the move that ended in Alan Sunderland’s winner.
The beast
Gary Bailey was so bad with crosses some people started calling him Dracula. And he missed one in the last minute, allowing Sunderland to hit the winner.
Tottenham 3 Man City 2, 1981 replay
The romance
After a turgid first match, this cup final replay reignited the love of the game for many neutrals with endless excitement and goals aplenty.
The beauty
Two words: Ricky Villa. This game not only wrote the Argentine’s name into the history books but also the memory of football fans the world over as he wove his way through the City defence to win the game in some style.
The beast
A bit harsh maybe, but today’s critical defensive coaches might suggest that the two chances that City’s Tony Caton had to stop Villa scoring his wonder goal were more than enough.
Everton 2 Watford 0, 1984
The romance
This was Watford’s first (and only to date) FA Cup final so the Hornets certainly made the most of their big day out at Wembley. Unfortunately for them, favourites Everton were the ones celebrating at the final whistle.
The beauty
For many the day is best remembered by Watford chairman and musician Elton John’s wacky outfit. Some things don’t change.
The beast
Although he is probably still adamant that it was a legitimate goal, Everton’s Andy Gray was adjudged by many (the referee aside) to have headed the ball out of Steve Sherwood’s hands to wrap up the win for the Toffees. It looks even more a foul now than it did then.
Everton 0 Man United 1, 1985
The romance
Everton fans will probably struggle to remember much romance about this game as the defeat saw them stumble in their quest to seal the unprecedented treble of the league, European Cup Winners’ Cup and FA Cup.
The beauty
It’s often said that cup finals are decided by moments of brilliance and the beautifully curled strike from the young Norman Whiteside was just that. Exquisite.
The beast
Kevin Moran became the first player to be sent off in a FA Cup final for a professional foul after he was judged to have brought Peter Reid down.
Coventry 3 Tottenham 2, 1987
The romance
Many expected unfancied Coventry to simply turn up and collect their losers medals such was the FA Cup pedigree of their opponents, Spurs. But what followed was one of the wildest rollercoaster cup finals ever as the Sky Blues won the trophy.
The beauty
The abiding memory of the final was when Cov’s Keith Houchen met Dave Bennett’s cross with a flying header to send the game into extra-time. Breathtaking.
The beast
An extremely unfortunate way to lose a cup final, there was something rather beastly– especially for Spurs fans – about the way the ball looped off Gary Mabbutt’s knee and over keeper Ray Clemence.
Wimbledon 1 Liverpool 0, 1988
The romance
The Dons sealed their meteoric rise from non-league to top-flight football by beating league champions and all-conquering Liverpool in a dramatic cup final with a solitary Lawrie Sanchez goal.
The beauty
Despite Liverpool having talents such as John Barnes, Alan Hansen and Peter Beardsley, the pivotal moment of the match was when Dave Beasant saved John Aldridge’s second-half penalty, the first keeper ever to do so in a Wembley FA Cup final.
The beast
Many might assume Beardsley would usually take this crown, but the brand of football played by the Crazy Gang at the time was at best described as ‘unpleasing on the eye’.