1986–87 Coventry City F.C. season

During the 1986–87 English football season, Coventry City competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary

Coventry City won the FA Cup, defeating Tottenham Hotspur, who had spent much of the season competing for a unique domestic treble of the league and the League and FA Cups, 3–2 in a final considered by many to be one of the greatest FA Cup finals of all time. The FA Cup triumph was Coventry's first (and, as of 2024, only) major trophy. The only downside to Coventry's victory was UEFA's decision to extend the ban on English teams competing in European competition to a third season, denying Coventry a place in the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Transfers

In

David Phillips - Manchester City
Keith Houchen - Scunthorpe United, July, £60,000
Nick Pickering - Sunderland

Out

Andy Williams - Rotherham United, October

Results

FA Cup

Third round

Coventry City 3–0 Bolton Wanderers

Fourth round

Manchester United 0–1 Coventry City

Fifth round

Stoke City 0–1 Coventry City

Sixth Round

Sheffield Wednesday 1–3 Coventry City

Semi-final

Final

After only two minutes, Clive Allen scored his 49th goal of the season, heading past keeper Steve Ogrizovic at the near-post from a perfect Chris Waddle cross. Within seven minutes though, the Sky Blues were level through Dave Bennett, a Cup Final loser in 1981 for Manchester City, ironically at the hands of Spurs.

The London club were back in front five minutes before the break through past defender Gary Mabbutt. Midway through the second half Coventry were level again – Bennett's pinpoint cross from the right was met by striker Keith Houchen with a diving header for a memorable goal.

The scores stayed level until full-time and the game went into extra time. Six minutes in, Mabbutt scored an own goal after Lloyd McGrath centred the ball and it took a deflection off of the Spurs defender's knee and over keeper Ray Clemence.