1987–88 Wimbledon F.C. season

During the 1987–88 English football season, Wimbledon F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. It was Wimbledon's second consecutive season in the top flight and eleventh consecutive season in the Football League. They ended the season as FA Cup winners and finished seventh in the league. It was their first season under the management of Bobby Gould, who had been appointed following the close season resignation of Dave Bassett.

Wimbledon
1987–88 season
ChairmanSam Hammam
ManagerBobby Gould
StadiumPlough Lane
First Division7th
FA CupWinners
League CupFourth round
Full Members CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: John Fashanu (14)
All: John Fashanu (21)

Season summary

Wimbledon continued to exceed expectations in the First Division, finishing in seventh in the final table, one place lower than their sixth place the previous season, but, considering that Wimbledon were one of the smallest clubs in the First Division, this was still a great achievement. However, Wimbledon's greatest success during the season, perhaps in their entire history, came in the FA Cup, defeating West Bromwich Albion (4–1, home), Mansfield Town (1-2, away), Newcastle United (1-3, away), Watford (2–1, home) and Luton Town (2-1, neutral) to reach their first ever FA Cup Final, against that season's champions Liverpool. Wimbledon took a lead in the 37th minute when Lawrie Sanchez scored a looping header from Dennis Wise's free kick on the left. Liverpool created many chances, but failed to pull a goal back, with Dave Beasant saving a penalty from John Aldridge after Clive Goodyear was (incorrectly) adjudged to have fouled inside the box; Beasant was the first goalkeeper to ever save a penalty in an FA Cup final at Wembley. Wimbledon held on to win their first (and only) FA Cup, in one of the most unexpected finals of all time. Due to the ban on English clubs competing in European competition as a result of the Heysel disaster, Wimbledon were denied the opportunity to compete in the Cup Winners' Cup.[1]

Kit

Wimbledon's kit was manufactured by Spall and sponsored by Truman.[2] Wimbledon's kit for the FA Cup final were sponsored by Danish brewery Carlsberg, who had signed a deal to sponsor Wimbledon's kits for the next season.[3]

First-team squad

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

No. Position Player
GK Dave Beasant (captain)
GK Simon Tracey
DF Kevin Bedford
DF Peter Cawley
DF Brian Gayle
DF Clive Goodyear
DF John Scales
DF Andy Thorn
DF Eric Young[4]
DF Terry Phelan[5]
MF Alan Cork
MF Wally Downes
MF Carlton Fairweather
MF John Gannon
No. Position Player
MF Ian Hazel
MF Vinnie Jones[6]
MF Paul Miller
MF Vaughan Ryan
MF Lawrie Sanchez[7]
MF Dennis Wise
FW Laurie Cunningham
FW John Fashanu
FW Paul Fishenden
FW Terry Gibson
DF Mick Smith
DF Andy Clement
FW Andy Sayer
MF Steve Galliers

Staff
  • Manager: Bobby Gould
  • Assistant manager: Don Howe
  • Chief scout: Ron Suart
  • Youth team manager: David Kemp
  • Physiotherapist: Steve Allen
  • Kit man: Sid Neal, Joe Dillon

Transfers

In

Out

Results

First Division

October

November
  • 21 November: Wimbledon 2-1 Manchester United

March
  • 5 March: Wimbledon 2-0 Luton Town

May
  • 9 May: Manchester United 2-1 Wimbledon

Unknown date
Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
6Arsenal 401812105839+1966
7Wimbledon 401415115847+1157
8Newcastle United 401414125553+256

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

FA Cup

League Cup

Full Members Cup

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Wimbledon/Wimbledon.htm
  3. http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/FA_Cup_Finals/1980-1989.html
  4. Young was born in Singapore, but qualified to represent any of the home nations as he held a British passport; he would make his international debut for Wales in 1990.
  5. Phelan was born in Manchester, England, but qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland; he represented the U21 side during the season and made his full debut for Ireland in 1991.
  6. Jones was born in Watford, England, but qualified to represent Wales through his maternal grandfather; he made his international debut for Wales in 1994.
  7. Sanchez was born in Lambeth, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland through his mother and Ecuador through his father; he made his debut for Northern Ireland in 1989.
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