1983 FA Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1983 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United
and Brighton & Hove Albion
at Wembley Stadium.
Manchester United were the favourites, as Brighton had been relegated from the First Division that season. United had finished third in the league that season and already had four FA Cup victories to their name, whereas Brighton had never reached the final before, and had been relegated from the top flight that season.
scored for Brighton; Frank Stapleton
and Ray Wilkins
for United. The first game is famous for the Radio commentary quote by Peter Jones
"...and Smith must score" talking about a shot by Gordon Smith which was actually a save by the Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey
; the quote was subsequently used as a title for a Brighton Fanzine.
, United goalkeeper Gary Bailey
had a couple of important saves to make. This all changed on 25 minutes, with United's first real attack. Alan Davies
, who had made his FA Cup debut in the first game, set up captain Bryan Robson
for a left-foot drive past Moseley into the corner of the net. Suddenly the atmosphere changed and it was the Manchester United fans who were singing loudest. This was compounded in the 30th minute, when United went 2-0 up, giving a team a 2 goal cushion for the first time over the 2 matches. Brighton
failed to clear a corner, and Davies crossed for Norman Whiteside
to score with a header. This capped an incredible 12 months for the teenager, who had played in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
Finals for Northern Ireland
, and who had scored in the League Cup Final defeat to Liverpool F.C.
earlier in the season.
Brighton were rocked but continued to press, yet went further behind just before half time. Gordon McQueen
headed on a free-kick and the ball fell to Robson to tap in at the far post, for his second goal of the game. The scoring was completed in the second half when the Dutch midfielder Arnold Muhren
scored a penalty. It was the third consecutive year that a penalty had been awarded (and scored) in the Cup Final replay.
This was the first of three times that Bryan Robson captained Manchester United to FA Cup glory; he also achieved the feat in 1985 and 1990.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
MANCHESTER UNITED:
|
GK
1
Gary Bailey
RB
2
Mike Duxbury
LB
3
Arthur Albiston
CM
4
Ray Wilkins
CB
5
Gordon McQueen
CB
6
Kevin Moran
CM
7
Bryan Robson
(c)
RM
8
Arnold Mühren
CF
9
Frank Stapleton
CF
10
Norman Whiteside
LM
11
Alan Davies
Substitute:
MF
12
Ashley Grimes
Manager:
Ron Atkinson
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
MANCHESTER UNITED:
|
GK
1
Gary Bailey
RB
2
Mike Duxbury
LB
3
Arthur Albiston
CM
4
Ray Wilkins
CB
5
Gordon McQueen
CB
6
Kevin Moran
CM
7
Bryan Robson
(c)
RM
8
Arnold Mühren
CF
9
Frank Stapleton
CF
10
Norman Whiteside
LM
11
Alan Davies
Substitute:
MF
12
Ashley Grimes
Manager:
Ron Atkinson
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
at Wembley Stadium.
Manchester United were the favourites, as Brighton had been relegated from the First Division that season. United had finished third in the league that season and already had four FA Cup victories to their name, whereas Brighton had never reached the final before, and had been relegated from the top flight that season.
The first match
The first match finished 2-2 after extra time. Gordon Smith and Gary StevensGary A. Stevens
Gary Andrew Stevens is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth. He won seven caps for England.-Career:...
scored for Brighton; Frank Stapleton
Frank Stapleton
Francis Anthony "Frank" Stapleton is an Irish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his time at Arsenal, Manchester United and as a pivotal player for the Republic of Ireland...
and Ray Wilkins
Ray Wilkins
Raymond Colin Wilkins MBE , often known as "Butch" Wilkins, is an English former footballer and at present a television pundit...
for United. The first game is famous for the Radio commentary quote by Peter Jones
Peter Jones (broadcaster)
Peter Jones was a Welsh-born broadcaster, best known as a sports commentator on BBC radio in the United Kingdom, although many of his commentaries were also broadcast internationally on the BBC World Service...
"...and Smith must score" talking about a shot by Gordon Smith which was actually a save by the Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey
Gary Bailey
Gary Richard Bailey is a former footballer who made nearly 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. He was capped twice for England....
; the quote was subsequently used as a title for a Brighton Fanzine.
The replay
The second game on the Thursday night, started the same way the first game had, with Brighton taking the game to Manchester United. Although their chances were limited to long-range drives from Jimmy CaseJimmy Case
James Robert Case is a retired English football player who shot to fame with the all-conquering Liverpool side of the 1970s and became known as a player with one of the hardest shots in the game.-Early life:...
, United goalkeeper Gary Bailey
Gary Bailey
Gary Richard Bailey is a former footballer who made nearly 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. He was capped twice for England....
had a couple of important saves to make. This all changed on 25 minutes, with United's first real attack. Alan Davies
Alan Davies (footballer)
Alan Davies was an English-born Welsh international footballer whose regular position was on the right wing, although he could also play on the left. Davies began his football career with Manchester United, before spending time with Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic, Carlisle United, Swansea...
, who had made his FA Cup debut in the first game, set up captain Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
for a left-foot drive past Moseley into the corner of the net. Suddenly the atmosphere changed and it was the Manchester United fans who were singing loudest. This was compounded in the 30th minute, when United went 2-0 up, giving a team a 2 goal cushion for the first time over the 2 matches. Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
failed to clear a corner, and Davies crossed for Norman Whiteside
Norman Whiteside
Norman Whiteside is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played in two World Cups.He appeared for Manchester United and Everton, before his career was ended by injury at the age of 26. He won the FA Cup twice during his time playing for Manchester United, in 1983 and 1985...
to score with a header. This capped an incredible 12 months for the teenager, who had played in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
Finals for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and who had scored in the League Cup Final defeat to Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
earlier in the season.
Brighton were rocked but continued to press, yet went further behind just before half time. Gordon McQueen
Gordon McQueen
Gordon McQueen is a former Scottish football player, who played as a central defender for Leeds United, Manchester United and Scotland.-Early career:...
headed on a free-kick and the ball fell to Robson to tap in at the far post, for his second goal of the game. The scoring was completed in the second half when the Dutch midfielder Arnold Muhren
Arnold Mühren
Arnold Johannes Hyacinthus Mühren is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder. His older brother Gerrie, also a midfield player, won three European Cup titles with Ajax in the early 1970s...
scored a penalty. It was the third consecutive year that a penalty had been awarded (and scored) in the Cup Final replay.
This was the first of three times that Bryan Robson captained Manchester United to FA Cup glory; he also achieved the feat in 1985 and 1990.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION: | ||
| GK | 1 | Graham Moseley Graham Moseley Graham Moseley is a retired English professional footballer who played in the 1983 FA Cup Final with Brighton & Hove Albion.-Career:... |
|
| RB | 2 | Chris Ramsey Chris Ramsey Chris Ramsey is a former professional footballer who played as a defender, most often as a right back.-Football career:Ramsey was born in England, nicknamed "Rambo" for his physical and robust style of play.... |
|
| CB | 3 | Gary Stevens Gary A. Stevens Gary Andrew Stevens is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth. He won seven caps for England.-Career:... |
|
| LB | 4 | Steve Gatting Steve Gatting Stephen "Steve" Paul Gatting is an English former footballer, who is best known for playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1983 FA Cup Final. He is currently a youth team coach at Arsenal... (c) |
|
| CB | 5 | Graham Pearce Graham Pearce (English footballer) Graham Pearce is a football player who played for Brighton and Hove Albion in the 1983 FA Cup Final against Manchester United.He now is a PE teacher at Homefield Preparatory School in Sutton, Surrey.-External links:... |
|
| LM | 6 | Neil Smillie Neil Smillie Neil Smillie is an English former professional football player and manager. He played for a number of clubs, with the high point of his career being an appearance in the 1983 FA Cup Final for Brighton & Hove Albion.... |
|
| CM | 7 | Jimmy Case Jimmy Case James Robert Case is a retired English football player who shot to fame with the all-conquering Liverpool side of the 1970s and became known as a player with one of the hardest shots in the game.-Early life:... |
|
| CM | 8 | Tony Grealish Tony Grealish Tony Grealish is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He represented the Republic of Ireland 45 times, through his Irish ancestry.-Football career:Grealish was born in Paddington, London.... |
|
| RM | 9 | Gary Howlett Gary Howlett Gary Howlett is a former Irish international footballer and member of Brighton & Hove Albion's 1983 FA Cup final team. Dubliner Howlett joined Brighton in the early 1980s from Coventry City. Before that he played for Home Farm... |
|
| CF | 10 | Michael Robinson |
|
| CF | 11 | Gordon Smith |
|
| Substitute: | |||
| DF | 12 | Gerry Ryan Gerry Ryan (footballer) Gerry Ryan is a former Irish professional football player who was born in Dublin.Ryan began his career at Bohemians on the 9th of February 1975 and after 14 goals in 53 appearances he earned him a move to Derby County in 1977... |
|
| Manager: | |||
| Jimmy Melia Jimmy Melia Jimmy Melia is a former English footballer who spent most of his career playing for Liverpool and went on to become a manager.-Liverpool:Jimmy joined the Reds straight from St... |
|||
Gary BaileyGary Bailey
Gary Richard Bailey is a former footballer who made nearly 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. He was capped twice for England....
Mike Duxbury Arthur AlbistonArthur Albiston
Arthur Richard Albiston is a Scottish former football player.-Career:Albiston joined Manchester United as an apprentice in July 1972, turning professional in July 1974. He made his debut in a League Cup Third Round match against local rivals Manchester City in 1974. He made 485 appearances in 14...
Ray WilkinsRay Wilkins
Raymond Colin Wilkins MBE , often known as "Butch" Wilkins, is an English former footballer and at present a television pundit...
Gordon McQueenGordon McQueen
Gordon McQueen is a former Scottish football player, who played as a central defender for Leeds United, Manchester United and Scotland.-Early career:...
Kevin Moran Bryan RobsonBryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
(c)
Arnold MührenArnold Mühren
Arnold Johannes Hyacinthus Mühren is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder. His older brother Gerrie, also a midfield player, won three European Cup titles with Ajax in the early 1970s...
Frank StapletonFrank Stapleton
Francis Anthony "Frank" Stapleton is an Irish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his time at Arsenal, Manchester United and as a pivotal player for the Republic of Ireland...
Norman WhitesideNorman Whiteside
Norman Whiteside is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played in two World Cups.He appeared for Manchester United and Everton, before his career was ended by injury at the age of 26. He won the FA Cup twice during his time playing for Manchester United, in 1983 and 1985...
Alan DaviesAlan Davies (footballer)
Alan Davies was an English-born Welsh international footballer whose regular position was on the right wing, although he could also play on the left. Davies began his football career with Manchester United, before spending time with Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic, Carlisle United, Swansea...
Ashley GrimesAshley Grimes (Irish footballer)
Augustine Ashley Grimes is an Irish former footballer. He won 18 caps for the Republic of Ireland and scored one goal, a spectacular long-range strike against Spain in a Euro 84 qualifier at Lansdowne Road in November 1982....
Ron AtkinsonRon Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
MATCH RULES
|
Replay
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION: | ||
| GK | 1 | Graham Moseley Graham Moseley Graham Moseley is a retired English professional footballer who played in the 1983 FA Cup Final with Brighton & Hove Albion.-Career:... |
|
| LB | 2 | Steve Gatting Steve Gatting Stephen "Steve" Paul Gatting is an English former footballer, who is best known for playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1983 FA Cup Final. He is currently a youth team coach at Arsenal... |
|
| CB | 3 | Graham Pearce Graham Pearce (English footballer) Graham Pearce is a football player who played for Brighton and Hove Albion in the 1983 FA Cup Final against Manchester United.He now is a PE teacher at Homefield Preparatory School in Sutton, Surrey.-External links:... |
|
| CM | 4 | Tony Grealish Tony Grealish Tony Grealish is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He represented the Republic of Ireland 45 times, through his Irish ancestry.-Football career:Grealish was born in Paddington, London.... |
|
| CB | 5 | Steve Foster Steve Foster Stephen "Steve" Brian Foster is a former English football player, famed for wearing a headband and having one of the greatest beards in football.-Football career:... (c) |
|
| RB | 6 | Gary Stevens Gary A. Stevens Gary Andrew Stevens is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth. He won seven caps for England.-Career:... |
|
| CM | 7 | Jimmy Case Jimmy Case James Robert Case is a retired English football player who shot to fame with the all-conquering Liverpool side of the 1970s and became known as a player with one of the hardest shots in the game.-Early life:... |
|
| RM | 8 | Gary Howlett Gary Howlett Gary Howlett is a former Irish international footballer and member of Brighton & Hove Albion's 1983 FA Cup final team. Dubliner Howlett joined Brighton in the early 1980s from Coventry City. Before that he played for Home Farm... |
|
| CF | 9 | Michael Robinson |
|
| CF | 10 | Gordon Smith |
|
| LM | 11 | Neil Smillie Neil Smillie Neil Smillie is an English former professional football player and manager. He played for a number of clubs, with the high point of his career being an appearance in the 1983 FA Cup Final for Brighton & Hove Albion.... |
|
| Substitute: | |||
| MF | 12 | Gerry Ryan Gerry Ryan (footballer) Gerry Ryan is a former Irish professional football player who was born in Dublin.Ryan began his career at Bohemians on the 9th of February 1975 and after 14 goals in 53 appearances he earned him a move to Derby County in 1977... |
|
| Manager: | |||
| Jimmy Melia Jimmy Melia Jimmy Melia is a former English footballer who spent most of his career playing for Liverpool and went on to become a manager.-Liverpool:Jimmy joined the Reds straight from St... |
|||
Gary BaileyGary Bailey
Gary Richard Bailey is a former footballer who made nearly 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. He was capped twice for England....
Mike Duxbury Arthur AlbistonArthur Albiston
Arthur Richard Albiston is a Scottish former football player.-Career:Albiston joined Manchester United as an apprentice in July 1972, turning professional in July 1974. He made his debut in a League Cup Third Round match against local rivals Manchester City in 1974. He made 485 appearances in 14...
Ray WilkinsRay Wilkins
Raymond Colin Wilkins MBE , often known as "Butch" Wilkins, is an English former footballer and at present a television pundit...
Gordon McQueenGordon McQueen
Gordon McQueen is a former Scottish football player, who played as a central defender for Leeds United, Manchester United and Scotland.-Early career:...
Kevin Moran Bryan RobsonBryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
(c)
Arnold MührenArnold Mühren
Arnold Johannes Hyacinthus Mühren is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder. His older brother Gerrie, also a midfield player, won three European Cup titles with Ajax in the early 1970s...
Frank StapletonFrank Stapleton
Francis Anthony "Frank" Stapleton is an Irish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his time at Arsenal, Manchester United and as a pivotal player for the Republic of Ireland...
Norman WhitesideNorman Whiteside
Norman Whiteside is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played in two World Cups.He appeared for Manchester United and Everton, before his career was ended by injury at the age of 26. He won the FA Cup twice during his time playing for Manchester United, in 1983 and 1985...
Alan DaviesAlan Davies (footballer)
Alan Davies was an English-born Welsh international footballer whose regular position was on the right wing, although he could also play on the left. Davies began his football career with Manchester United, before spending time with Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic, Carlisle United, Swansea...
Ashley GrimesAshley Grimes (Irish footballer)
Augustine Ashley Grimes is an Irish former footballer. He won 18 caps for the Republic of Ireland and scored one goal, a spectacular long-range strike against Spain in a Euro 84 qualifier at Lansdowne Road in November 1982....
Ron AtkinsonRon Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
MATCH RULES
|