1992–93 FA Cup

The 1992Ã¢ÂÂ93 FA Cup was the 112th season of the FA Cup, also known as The Football Association Challenge Cup. It was won by Arsenal, who beat Sheffield Wednesday 2Ã¢ÂÂ1 in the replay after a 1Ã¢ÂÂ1 draw in the final at the old Wembley Stadium. The goals were scored by Ian Wright and Andy Linighan, who scored in the 119th minute. This was the last FA Cup final to be decided by a replay before final replays were abolished in 1999.

Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Premier League or Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 28 places available in the first round.

The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Southport, Gateshead, Blyth Spartans, Macclesfield Town, Altrincham, Marine, Accrington Stanley, Stafford Rangers, Nuneaton Borough, Kettering Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Aylesbury United, VS Rugby, Sutton Coldfield Town, Kidderminster Harriers, St Albans City, Hayes, Solihull Borough, Kingstonian, Yeovil Town, Slough Town, Bath City, Cheltenham Town, Marlow, Dorking, Salisbury, Merthyr Tydfil and Sutton United.

Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Solihull Borough, Dorking and the recently amalgamated Dagenham & Redbridge. Additionally, the reconstituted Accrington Stanley qualified for the first round for the first time since the former club of that name's mid-season resignation from the Football League in 1962. Of the others, Blyth Spartans had not featured at this stage since 1981-82; Gateshead, Sutton Coldfield Town and St Albans City had not done so since 1980-81, Salisbury had not done so since 1979-80 and Kingstonian had not done so since 1933-34.

Marine enjoyed a successful run through seven rounds of the competition. They defeated Emley, Heanor Town, Nantwich Town and Runcorn to secure their place in the main draw, and then accounted for Halifax Town and Stafford Rangers before going out to Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road in the third round.

First round proper

Birmingham City and Peterborough United from the Football League First Division entered in this round along with the 47 Second and Third Division teams, the 28 non-league clubs from the qualifying rounds and Witton Albion, Wycombe Wanderers and Woking who were given byes. Maidstone United was included in the draw despite the club withdrawing from the Third Division just after the start of the season without having played a match; their eventual Cup opponents Swansea City were awarded a walkover to the second round. Blyth Spartans, from the Northern League at Step 8 of English football, was the lowest-ranked team in the draw.

The first round matches were played on the weekend beginning 14 November 1992.

Second round proper

The second round matches were played on the weekend beginning 5 December 1992. The round included six teams from the various competitions at Step 6 of the football pyramid: Marine, Cheltenham Town, Accrington Stanley, VS Rugby, Marlow and Southport.

Third round proper

Teams from the Premier League and First Division (except Birmingham City and Peterborough United) entered in this round. The third round matches were played on the weekend beginning 2 January 1993.

Marine, from the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and Marlow, from the Isthmian League Premier Division, were again the lowest-ranked teams in the round. Along with Yeovil Town from the Football Conference, they were also the last non-league clubs in the competition.

Fourth round proper

The fourth round matches were played on the weekend beginning 23 January 1993. Third Division Crewe Alexandra was the lowest-ranked club in the draw.

Fifth round proper

The fifth round matches were played on the weekend beginning 13 February 1993. Bolton Wanderers, from the Second Division, was the lowest-ranked team in the round and the last club from the First Round left in the competition.

Sixth round proper

The sixth round matches were played on the weekend beginning 6 March 1993.

Blackburn Rovers, Premier League title contenders, lost on penalties to Premier League relegation battlers Sheffield United to end their double hopes, while Sheffield Wednesday moved closer to a second domestic cup final in the same season by triumphing at Derby County.

Arsenal defeated Ipswich Town 4Ã¢ÂÂ2 at Portman Road to move closer to a second domestic cup final and their first FA Cup triumph since 1979.

Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester City 4Ã¢ÂÂ2 at Maine Road to book a North London derby with Arsenal in the semi-final. The match was suspended during the second half when a pitch invasion took place.

Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on the weekend beginning 3 April 1993.

Both semi-finals were derby matches, with Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United contesting the Steel City derby Ã¢ÂÂ which Wednesday won 2Ã¢ÂÂ1 Ã¢ÂÂ and Arsenal defeating Tottenham 1Ã¢ÂÂ0 in the North London derby.

Sheffield Wednesday advance to the FA Cup Final

Arsenal advance to the FA Cup Final

Final

The first final was held on 15 May at Wembley Stadium and finished 1Ã¢ÂÂ1, after extra time, with Arsenal winning the replay on 20 May, 2Ã¢ÂÂ1 also after extra-time. This made Arsenal the first side to win the FA Cup and League Cup in the same season, just weeks after they had beaten Sheffield Wednesday 2Ã¢ÂÂ1 in the League Cup final.

Replay

Media coverage

For the fifth consecutive season in the United Kingdom, the BBC were the free to air broadcasters while Sky Sports were the subscription broadcasters.

The matches shown live on the BBC were:

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Nottingham Forest 2Ã¢ÂÂ1 Southampton (R3)

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Norwich City 0Ã¢ÂÂ2 Tottenham Hotspur (R4)

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Sheffield United 2Ã¢ÂÂ1 Manchester United (R5)

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Manchester City 1Ã¢ÂÂ2 Tottenham Hotspur (QF)

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Arsenal 1Ã¢ÂÂ0 Tottenham Hotspur (SF)

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Arsenal 1Ã¢ÂÂ1 Sheffield Wednesday (Final)

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Arsenal 2Ã¢ÂÂ1 Sheffield Wednesday (Final Replay)

The matches shown live on Sky Sports were:

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Reading 1Ã¢ÂÂ0 Birmingham City (R1)

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Stoke City 0Ã¢ÂÂ0 Port Vale (R1)

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Port Vale 3Ã¢ÂÂ1 Stoke City (R1 Replay)