1976–77 FA Cup

1976–77 FA Cup
Tournament details
Country England
 Wales
Defending championsSouthampton
Final positions
ChampionsManchester United
(4th title)
Runner-upLiverpool

The 1976–77 FA Cup was the 96th staging of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup. The final saw Manchester United beat Liverpool 2–1.

First round proper

For the qualifying rounds, see 1976–77 FA Cup qualifying rounds.

Teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Division entered in this round plus Scarborough, Stafford Rangers, Wigan Athletic and Wimbledon were given byes. The first round of games were played on 20 November 1976. Replays were played mainly on 22–24, with some on 29 November, and 2 and 6 December.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Enfield 0–0 Harwich & Parkeston 20 November 1976
Replay Harwich & Parkeston 0–3 Enfield 23 November 1976
2 Chester 1–0 Hartlepool 20 November 1976
3 AFC Bournemouth 0–0 Newport County 20 November 1976
Replay Newport County 3–0 AFC Bournemouth 23 November 1976
4 Barrow 0–2 Goole Town 20 November 1976
5 Bury 6–0 Workington 20 November 1976
6 Rochdale 1–1 Northwich Victoria 20 November 1976
Replay Northwich Victoria 0–0 Rochdale 22 November 1976
Replay Rochdale 1–2 Northwich Victoria 29 November 1976
7 Weymouth 1–1 Hitchin Town 20 November 1976
Replay Hitchin Town 2–2 Weymouth 24 November 1976
Replay Weymouth 3–3 Hitchin Town 29 November 1976
Replay Hitchin Town 3–1 Weymouth 2 December 1976
8 Reading 1–0 Wealdstone 20 November 1976
9 Walsall 0–0 Bradford City 20 November 1976
Replay Bradford City 0–2 Walsall 24 November 1976
10 Gillingham 0–1 Watford 20 November 1976
11 Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Stockport County 20 November 1976
12 Crewe Alexandra 1–1 Preston North End 20 November 1976
Replay Preston North End 2–2 Crewe Alexandra 23 November 1976
Replay Crewe Alexandra 0–3 Preston North End 29 November 1976
13 Lincoln City 1–0 Morecambe 20 November 1976
14 Stafford Rangers 0–0 Halifax Town 20 November 1976
Replay Halifax Town 1–0 Stafford Rangers 23 November 1976
15 Swindon Town 7–0 Bromley 20 November 1976
16 Scarborough 0–0 Darlington 20 November 1976
Replay Darlington 4–1 Scarborough 22 November 1976
17 Doncaster Rovers 2–2 Shrewsbury Town 20 November 1976
Replay Shrewsbury Town 4–3 Doncaster Rovers 23 November 1976
18 Wrexham 6–0 Gateshead United 20 November 1976
19 Tranmere Rovers 0–4 Peterborough United 20 November 1976
20 Barnsley 3–1 Boston 20 November 1976
21 Brentford 2–0 Chesham United 20 November 1976
22 Crook Town 1–4 Nuneaton Borough 20 November 1976
23 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–2 Crystal Palace 20 November 1976
Replay Crystal Palace 1–1 Brighton & Hove Albion 23 November 1976
Replay Brighton & Hove Albion 0–1 Crystal Palace 6 December 1976
24 Wimbledon 1–0 Woking 20 November 1976
25 Exeter City 1–1 Southend United 20 November 1976
Replay Southend United 2–1 Exeter City 22 November 1976
26 Scunthorpe United 1–2 Chesterfield 20 November 1976
27 Huddersfield Town 0–0 Mansfield Town 20 November 1976
Replay Mansfield Town 2–1 Huddersfield Town 22 November 1976
28 Southport 1–2 Port Vale 20 November 1976
29 Matlock Town 2–0 Wigan Athletic 20 November 1976
30 Torquay United 1–2 Hillingdon Borough 20 November 1976
31 Kettering Town 1–1 Oxford United 20 November 1976
Replay Oxford United 0–1 Kettering Town 23 November 1976
32 Rotherham United 5–0 Altrincham 20 November 1976
33 Aldershot 1–1 Portsmouth 20 November 1976
Replay Portsmouth 2–1 Aldershot 23 November 1976
34 Droylsden 0–0 Grimsby Town 20 November 1976
Replay Grimsby Town 5–3 Droylsden 23 November 1976
35 Tooting & Mitcham United 4–2 Dartford 20 November 1976
36 Dudley Town 1–1 York City 20 November 1976
Replay York City 4–1 Dudley Town 23 November 1976
37 Leatherhead 2–0 Northampton Town 20 November 1976
38 Cambridge United 1–1 Colchester United 20 November 1976
Replay Colchester United 2–0 Cambridge United 24 November 1976
39 Waterlooville 1–2 Wycombe Wanderers 20 November 1976
40 Swansea City 0–1 Minehead 20 November 1976

Second round proper

The second round of games were mainly played on 11 December 1976, with some taking place midweek over 14–15 December and one on 20th. Replays took place on 14th or 21st. Northwich Victoria's initial match against Peterborough United on 11 December was abandoned after 20 minutes due to heavy fog with Peterborough leading 1–0.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Chesterfield 1–1 Walsall 11 December 1976
Replay Walsall 0–0 Chesterfield 14 December 1976
Replay Chesterfield 0–1 Walsall 21 December 1976
2 Darlington 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday 15 December 1976
3 Bury 0–0 Shrewsbury Town 14 December 1976
Replay Shrewsbury Town 2–1 Bury 21 December 1976
4 Grimsby Town 0–1 Chester 11 December 1976
5 Northwich Victoria 4–0 Peterborough United 14 December 1976
6 Lincoln City 6–0 Nuneaton Borough 11 December 1976
7 Wrexham 1–1 Goole Town 11 December 1976
Replay Goole Town 0–1 Wrexham 14 December 1976
8 Wycombe Wanderers 1–2 Reading 11 December 1976
9 Portsmouth 2–1 Minehead 11 December 1976
10 Crystal Palace 4–0 Enfield 11 December 1976
11 Hitchin Town 1–1 Swindon Town 11 December 1976
Replay Swindon Town 3–1 Hitchin Town 21 December 1976
12 Southend United 3–0 Newport County 11 December 1976
13 Mansfield Town 2–5 Matlock Town 15 December 1976
14 Port Vale 3–0 Barnsley 11 December 1976
15 Halifax Town 1–0 Preston North End 14 December 1976
16 Kettering Town 1–0 Tooting & Mitcham United 11 December 1976
17 Rotherham United 0–0 York City 11 December 1976
Replay York City 1–1 Rotherham United 14 December 1976
Replay Rotherham United 2–1 York City 21 December 1976
18 Colchester United 3–2 Brentford 20 December 1976
19 Leatherhead 1–3 Wimbledon 14 December 1976
20 Hillingdon Borough 2–3 Watford 11 December 1976

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 on 8 January 1977. Replays were mainly played midweek over 10–12 January or the week after but one occurred on 24th instead.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Blackpool 0–0 Derby County 8 January 1977
Replay Derby County 3–2 Blackpool 19 January 1977
2 Darlington 2–2 Orient 8 January 1977
Replay Orient 0–0 Darlington 11 January 1977
Replay Darlington 0–3 Orient 17 January 1977
3 Burnley 2–2 Lincoln City 8 January 1977
Replay Lincoln City 0–1 Burnley 12 January 1977
4 Liverpool 0–0 Crystal Palace 8 January 1977
Replay Crystal Palace 2–3 Liverpool 11 January 1977
5 Southampton 1–1 Chelsea 8 January 1977
Replay Chelsea 0–3 Southampton 12 January 1977
6 Leicester City 0–1 Aston Villa 8 January 1977
7 Notts County 0–1 Arsenal 8 January 1977
8 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Bristol Rovers 8 January 1977
Replay Bristol Rovers 1–1 Nottingham Forest 11 January 1977
Replay Nottingham Forest 6–0 Bristol Rovers 18 January 1977
9 Northwich Victoria 3–2 Watford 8 January 1977
10 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–2 Rotherham United 8 January 1977
11 Sunderland 2–2 Wrexham 8 January 1977
Replay Wrexham 1–0 Sunderland 12 January 1977
12 Everton 2–0 Stoke City 8 January 1977
13 Sheffield United 0–0 Newcastle United 8 January 1977
Replay Newcastle United 3–1 Sheffield United 24 January 1977
14 Ipswich Town 4–1 Bristol City 8 January 1977
15 Manchester City 1–1 West Bromwich Albion 8 January 1977
Replay West Bromwich Albion 0–1 Manchester City 11 January 1977
16 Queens Park Rangers 2–1 Shrewsbury Town 8 January 1977
17 Fulham 3–3 Swindon Town 8 January 1977
Replay Swindon Town 5–0 Fulham 11 January 1977
18 Coventry City 1–0 Millwall 8 January 1977
19 West Ham United 2–1 Bolton Wanderers 8 January 1977
20 Manchester United 1–0 Walsall 8 January 1977
21 Hull City 1–1 Port Vale 8 January 1977
Replay Port Vale 3–1 Hull City 10 January 1977
22 Carlisle United 5–1 Matlock Town 8 January 1977
23 Oldham Athletic 3–0 Plymouth Argyle 8 January 1977
24 Wimbledon 0–0 Middlesbrough 8 January 1977
Replay Middlesbrough 1–0 Wimbledon 11 January 1977
25 Southend United 0–4 Chester 8 January 1977
26 Cardiff City 1–0 Tottenham Hotspur 8 January 1977
27 Halifax Town 0–1 Luton Town 8 January 1977
28 Charlton Athletic 1–1 Blackburn Rovers 8 January 1977
Replay Blackburn Rovers 2–0 Charlton Athletic 12 January 1977
29 Leeds United 5–2 Norwich City 8 January 1977
30 Hereford United 1–0 Reading 8 January 1977
31 Kettering Town 2–3 Colchester United 8 January 1977
32 Birmingham City 1–0 Portsmouth 8 January 1977

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were played on 29 January 1977. Four games required a replay, played midweek on 1–2 February.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Chester 1–0 Luton Town 29 January 1977
2 Liverpool 3–0 Carlisle United 29 January 1977
3 Nottingham Forest 3–3 Southampton 29 January 1977
Replay Southampton 2–1 Nottingham Forest 1 February 1977
4 Blackburn Rovers 3–0 Orient 29 January 1977
5 Aston Villa 3–0 West Ham United 29 January 1977
6 Northwich Victoria 1–3 Oldham Athletic 29 January 1977
7 Middlesbrough 4–0 Hereford United 29 January 1977
8 Swindon Town 2–2 Everton 29 January 1977
Replay Everton 2–1 Swindon Town 1 February 1977
9 Ipswich Town 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 29 January 1977
Replay Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Ipswich Town 2 February 1977
10 Newcastle United 1–3 Manchester City 29 January 1977
11 Manchester United 1–0 Queens Park Rangers 29 January 1977
12 Cardiff City 3–2 Wrexham 29 January 1977
13 Port Vale 2–1 Burnley 29 January 1977
14 Arsenal 3–1 Coventry City 29 January 1977
15 Colchester United 1–1 Derby County 29 January 1977
Replay Derby County 1–0 Colchester United 2 February 1977
16 Birmingham City 1–2 Leeds United 29 January 1977

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games took place on 26 February 1977. One game went to a replay which was played on 8 March. Holders Southampton were eliminated by Manchester United in a rematch of the previous final.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Liverpool 3–1 Oldham Athletic 26 February 1977
2 Southampton 2–2 Manchester United 26 February 1977
Replay Manchester United 2–1 Southampton 8 March 1977
3 Aston Villa 3–0 Port Vale 26 February 1977
4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Chester 26 February 1977
5 Middlesbrough 4–1 Arsenal 26 February 1977
6 Derby County 3–1 Blackburn Rovers 26 February 1977
7 Cardiff City 1–2 Everton 26 February 1977
8 Leeds United 1–0 Manchester City 26 February 1977

Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played on 19 March 1977. There were no replays.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Liverpool 2–0 Middlesbrough 19 March 1977
2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Leeds United 19 March 1977
3 Everton 2–0 Derby County 19 March 1977
4 Manchester United 2–1 Aston Villa 19 March 1977

Semi-finals

Semi-final 1

Liverpool2–2Everton
McDermott 10'
Case 73'		 Report[dead link‍] McKenzie 34'
Rioch 83'

Replay

Everton0–3Liverpool
Report[dead link‍] Neal 31' (pen.)
Case 88'
Kennedy 89'
Attendance: 52,579

Semi-final 2

Manchester United2–1Leeds United
J. Greenhoff 7'
Coppell 15'		 Report[dead link‍] Clarke 70' (pen.)
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Tom Reynolds, Wiltshire

Final

Main article: 1977 FA Cup Final
Manchester United2–1Liverpool
Pearson 51'
J. Greenhoff 55'		 Case 53'
Attendance: 99,252
Manchester United
Liverpool

TV 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. Highlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV. The BBC were only able to cover one of the three planned Fifth round ties due to a cameraman strike.

Third round BBC: Southampton v Chelsea, Cardiff City v Tottenham Hotspur, Blackpool v Derby County, Derby County v Blackpool (Midweek replay) ITV: Leeds United v Norwich City (Yorkshire & Anglia), Wimbledon v Middlesbrough (LWT & Tyne-Tees), Everton v Stoke City (Granada), Leicester v Aston Villa (ATV), Chelsea v Southampton (Midweek replay All regions)

Fourth round BBC: Colchester United v Derby County, Cardiff City v Wrexham, Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers, Derby County v Colchester United (Midweek Replay) ITV: Swindon Town v Everton (HTV & Granada), Arsenal v Coventry City (LWT), Ipswich Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Anglia), Birmingham City v Leeds United (ATV & Yorkshire)

Fifth round BBC: Leeds United v Manchester City, Manchester United v Southampton (Midweek Replay) ITV: Southampton v Manchester United (Southern & LWT), Middlesbrough v Arsenal (Tyne-Tees & Yorkshire), Liverpool v Oldham Athletic (Granada), Aston Villa v Port Vale (ATV)

Sixth round BBC: Manchester United v Aston Villa, Everton v Derby County ITV: Liverpool v Middlesbrough (Granada & Tyne-Tees), Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United (ATV & Yorkshire) All ITV regions showed these two games

Semi-finals BBC: Everton v Liverpool, Everton v Liverpool (Midweek replay) ITV: Leeds United v Manchester United Shown in all ITV regions

Final Liverpool v Manchester United Shown live by both BBC & ITV

References