1977–78 FA Cup

The 1977–78 FA Cup was the 97th season of the world's oldest knockout football competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup. The final saw Ipswich Town beat Arsenal 1–0, with a goal from Roger Osborne.

Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the 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 Blyth Spartans, Wigan Athletic, Spennymoor United, Mossley, Stafford Rangers, Burscough, Runcorn, Goole Town, Arnold, Burton Albion, Nuneaton Borough, AP Leamington, Kettering Town, Enderby Town, Boreham Wood, Enfield, Leatherhead, Barnet, Tilbury, Lowestoft Town, Folkestone & Shepway, Hendon, Wealdstone, Tooting & Mitcham United, Bideford, Minehead, Weymouth and Bath City.

Enderby Town was the only non-league club appearing in the competition proper for the first time. Of the others, Mossley had last featured at this stage in 1969–70, Arnold and Lowestoft Town had last done so in 1967-68, Folkestone & Shepway had last done so in 1966-67, Burton Albion in 1965-66, Burscough in 1959-60 and Tilbury in 1949-50.

Blyth Spartans became the first club since New Brighton in 1956-57 to feature in nine rounds of one FA Cup tournament. They progressed from the first qualifying round to the fifth round proper, defeating Shildon, Crook Town, Consett, Bishop Auckland, Burscough, Chesterfield, Enfield and Stoke City before Wrexham needed a replay at St James' Park in Newcastle to end their run.

First round proper

The 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions entered in this round along with the 28 non-league clubs from the qualifying rounds and Workington, Scarborough, Dagenham and Wycombe Wanderers who were given byes. The first matches were played on 26 November 1977 with replays mainly taking place on 28–30 November. Three replays were postponed until 5-7 December.

Second round proper

The second round of games were played on 17 December 1977. Replays took place on 19th–21 December.

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were played on 6–7 January 1978. Replays were mainly played over 9–11 January but some occurred on 16 January instead.

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were intended to be played on 28 January 1978, but by this time only nine matches had been played, of which three went to replays. The other matches and replays were completed either midweek on 31 January – 1 February, or on 6 February. Replays were played at various times after the initial games. Holders Manchester United were eliminated by West Bromwich Albion.

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games mainly took place on 18 February 1978, with two of the games played on 22nd and 27th. Four games went to replays which were played on 27–28 February. A second replay was then played on 2 March.

Blyth Spartans was the first non-League club to reach the Fifth Round since Yeovil Town in 1948-49. They were the last club from the qualifying rounds left in the competition.

Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played on 11 March 1978. There was one replay on 14th.

Semi-finals

Final

TV Coverage

The right to show FA Cup games were, as with Football League matches, shared between the BBC and ITV network. All games were shown in a highlights format, except the Final, which was shown live both on BBC1 & ITV. The BBC football highlights programme Match of the Day would show up to three games and the various ITV regional network stations would cover up to one game and show highlights from other games covered elsewhere on the ITV network. No games from Rounds 1 or 2 were shown. Highlights of replays were shown on either the BBC or ITV. The BBC were only able to cover two planned Round Three FA Cup round ties due to a technical error for West Ham United v Watford.

Third Round BBC Carlisle United v Manchester United, Leeds United v Manchester City, Manchester United v Carlisle United (Midweek replay). ITV Chelsea v Liverpool (LWT), Sheffield United v Arsenal (Yorkshire), Everton v Aston Villa (Granada & ATV), Middlesbrough v Coventry City (Tyne-Tees), Peterborough United v Newcastle United (Anglia)

Fourth Round BBC Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United v Wrexham, Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers. ITV Middlesbrough v Everton (Tyne-Tees & Granada), West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers (LWT), Walsall v Leicester City (ATV), Bristol Rovers v Southampton (HTV & Southern), Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (Midweek All Regions)

Fifth Round BBC Wrexham v Blyth Spartans, Queens Park Rangers v Nottingham Forest, Arsenal v Walsall. ITV Bristol Rovers v Ipswich Town (HTV & Anglia), Orient v Chelsea (LWT) All regions showed these two games.

Sixth Round BBC West Bromwich Albion v Nottingham Forest, Millwall v Ipswich Town. ITV Wrexham v Arsenal (HTV, Granada & LWT), Middlesbrough v Orient (Tyne-Tees & Yorkshire) All regions showed these two games

Semi-Finals BBC Ipswich Town v West Bromwich Albion. ITV Arsenal v Orient (All regions)

Final Arsenal v Ipswich Town shown live on BBC and ITV.