1980 FA Cup Final

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The 1980 FA Cup Final was contested by West Ham United and Arsenal at Wembley. West Ham won by a single goal, scored by Trevor Brooking. To date, it is the last time a team from outside the top flight has won the FA Cup.

[edit] Match details

The 1980 Cup Final was the 99th final to be played since 1872, and the 52nd to be played at Wembley since 1923. The tie involved Arsenal, who had played in the last two FA Cup Finals and were a strong First Division side, and West Ham United, a Second Division side that had only ever played at Wembley five times before.

Present as the royal guests were the Duke and Duchess of Kent. The Duke was introduced to the teams directly after the national anthem and just prior to kick off. West Ham won the coin toss and captain Billy Bonds chose to stay at the end his team was already at.

The game started slowly with West Ham not getting a touch until Arsenal gave away a free kick due to Liam Brady being caught offside. After this West Ham kept playing the ball around at the back and in midfield without threatening Arsenal. Then, in the 12th minute, Alan Devonshire broke down the left wing and hit a cross into the Arsenal box which fell to David Cross, whose shot was parried by Arsenal's Pat Jennings. Stuart Pearson then shot at the Arsenal goal but his shot went across the goalmouth, where Trevor Brooking was waiting; he placed a header past Jennings for the only goal of the game after the 13 minutes.

Arsenal and West Ham both had attacks during the rest of the first half, Arsenal having more attacks and getting closer to scoring, but Phil Parkes and the West Ham defence denied them the equaliser. The second half was mainly Arsenal attacks toward the West Ham end, but the underdogs held out and almost made it two with minutes remaining. Paul Allen, the youngest player ever to play at a Wembley cup final at the time, was through on goal with only Pat Jennings to beat, when Willie Young tackled the 17 year old, taking him down about 25 yards out, earning himself a yellow card (the professional foul rule had not yet been instituted).

Arsenal failed to find the net although they had the most of the ball in the second half, and West Ham ran out 1–0 winners. Bonds collected the trophy from the Duchess of Kent.