The 1997–98 FA Cup (known as The FA Cup sponsored by Littlewoods for sponsorship reasons) was the 117th staging of the FA Cup. The competition was won by Arsenal with a 2–0 victory against Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium.

1997–98 FA Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Defending championsChelsea
Final positions
ChampionsArsenal (7th title)
Runner-upNewcastle United
Tournament statistics
Top goal scorer(s)Andy Cole
Alan Shearer
Gareth Dodds
(5 goals)

Calendar

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Round Initial Matches New Entries Clubs
Preliminary round Saturday 30 August 1997 318 563 → 404
First round qualifying Saturday 13 September 1997 129 404 → 260
Second round qualifying Saturday 27 September 1997 none 260 → 188
Third round qualifying Saturday 11 October 1997 none 188 → 152
Fourth round qualifying Saturday 25 October 1997 20 152 → 124
First round proper Saturday 15 November 1997 52 124 → 84
Second round proper Saturday 6 December 1997 none 84 → 64
Third round proper Saturday 3 January 1998 44 64 → 32
Fourth round proper Saturday 24 January 1998 none 32 → 16
Fifth round proper Saturday 14 February 1998 none 16 → 8
Sixth round proper Saturday 7 March 1998 none 8 → 4
Semi-finals Sunday 5 April 1998 none 4 → 2
Final Saturday 16 May 1998 none 2 → 1

Qualifying

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First round proper

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Teams from the Football League Second and Third Division entered in this round, and four non-league teams, Woking, Dagenham & Redbridge, Stevenage Borough and Hednesford Town, were given byes to this round. The matches were played on 14 November 1997. There were fourteen replays, with four ties requiring a penalty shootout to settle them.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Blackpool 4–3 Blyth Spartans 15 November 1997
2 Chester City 2–1 Winsford United 15 November 1997
3 Chesterfield 1–0 Northwich Victoria 15 November 1997
4 Darlington 1–1 Solihull Borough 15 November 1997
Replay Solihull Borough 3–3 Darlington 26 November 1997
Darlington won 4–2 on penalties
5 AFC Bournemouth 3–0 Heybridge Swifts 15 November 1997
6 Barnet 1–2 Watford 15 November 1997
7 Bristol City 1–0 Millwall 15 November 1997
8 Preston North End 3–2 Doncaster Rovers 15 November 1997
9 Rochdale 0–2 Wrexham 15 November 1997
10 Walsall 2–0 Lincoln United 15 November 1997
11 Woking 0–2 Southend United 15 November 1997
12 Notts County 2–0 Colwyn Bay 16 November 1997
13 Lincoln City 1–1 Gainsborough Trinity 15 November 1997
Replay Lincoln City 3–2 Gainsborough Trinity 25 November 1997
14 Luton Town 0–1 Torquay United 15 November 1997
15 Shrewsbury Town 1–1 Grimsby Town 15 November 1997
Replay Grimsby Town 4–0 Shrewsbury Town 25 November 1997
16 Wycombe Wanderers 2–2 Basingstoke Town 15 November 1997
Replay Basingstoke Town 2–2 Wycombe Wanderers 25 November 1997
Basingstoke Town won 5–4 on penalties
17 Brentford 2–2 Colchester United 15 November 1997
Replay Colchester United 0–0 Brentford 25 November 1997
Colchester United won 4–2 on penalties
18 Bristol Rovers 2–2 Gillingham 14 November 1997
Replay Gillingham 0–2 Bristol Rovers 25 November 1997
19 King's Lynn 1–0 Bromsgrove Rovers 15 November 1997
20 Plymouth Argyle 0–0 Cambridge United 15 November 1997
Replay Cambridge United 3–2 Plymouth Argyle 25 November 1997
21 Hull City 0–2 Hednesford Town 15 November 1997
22 Carlisle United 0–1 Wigan Athletic 15 November 1997
23 Oldham Athletic 1–1 Mansfield Town 15 November 1997
Replay Mansfield Town 0–1 Oldham Athletic 25 November 1997
24 Exeter City 1–1 Northampton Town 15 November 1997
Replay Northampton Town 2–1 Exeter City 25 November 1997
25 Scunthorpe United 2–1 Scarborough 15 November 1997
26 Margate 1–2 Fulham 16 November 1997
27 Cheltenham Town 2–1 Tiverton Town 15 November 1997
28 Southport 0–4 York City 15 November 1997
29 Morecambe 1–1 Emley 15 November 1997
Replay Emley 3–3 Morecambe 25 November 1997
Emley won 3–1 on penalties
30 Carshalton Athletic 0–0 Stevenage Borough 15 November 1997
Replay Stevenage Borough 5–0 Carshalton Athletic 24 November 1997
31 Hereford United 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion 15 November 1997
32 Rotherham United 3–3 Burnley 15 November 1997
Replay Burnley 0–3 Rotherham United 25 November 1997
33 Hayes 0–1 Boreham Wood 15 November 1997
34 Hendon 2–2 Leyton Orient 15 November 1997
Replay Leyton Orient 0–1 Hendon 25 November 1997
35 Ilkeston Town 2–1 Boston United 15 November 1997
36 Slough Town 1–1 Cardiff City 15 November 1997
Replay Cardiff City 3–2 Slough Town 25 November 1997
37 Swansea City 1–4 Peterborough United 14 November 1997
38 Farnborough Town 0–1 Dagenham & Redbridge 15 November 1997
39 Hartlepool United 2–4 Macclesfield Town 15 November 1997
40 Billericay Town 2–3 Wisbech Town 15 November 1997

Second round proper

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The second round of the competition featured the winners of the first round ties. The matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday 6 December 1997, with nine replays and three penalty shootouts required, each of which featured a team who won on penalties in the previous round.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Chester City 0–2 Wrexham 5 December 1997
2 AFC Bournemouth 3–1 Bristol City 7 December 1997
3 Preston North End 2–2 Notts County 6 December 1997
Replay Notts County 1–2 Preston North End 16 December 1997
4 Wisbech Town 0–2 Bristol Rovers 6 December 1997
5 Grimsby Town 2–2 Chesterfield 6 December 1997
Replay Chesterfield 0–2 Grimsby Town 16 December 1997
6 Macclesfield Town 0–7 Walsall 6 December 1997
7 Lincoln City 2–2 Emley 6 December 1997
Replay Emley 3–3 Lincoln City 17 December 1997
Emley won 4–3 on penalties
8 Hednesford Town 0–1 Darlington 6 December 1997
9 Fulham 1–0 Southend United 6 December 1997
10 Northampton Town 1–1 Basingstoke Town 6 December 1997
Replay Basingstoke Town 0–0 Northampton Town 16 December 1997
Northampton Town won 4–3 on penalties
11 Oldham Athletic 2–1 Blackpool 6 December 1997
12 Scunthorpe United 1–1 Ilkeston Town 6 December 1997
Replay Ilkeston Town 1–2 Scunthorpe United 17 December 1997
13 Cardiff City 3–1 Hendon 6 December 1997
14 Cheltenham Town 1–1 Boreham Wood 6 December 1997
Replay Boreham Wood 0–2 Cheltenham Town 16 December 1997
15 Torquay United 1–1 Watford 6 December 1997
Replay Watford 2–1 Torquay United 16 December 1997
16 Rotherham United 6–0 King's Lynn 6 December 1997
17 Wigan Athletic 2–1 York City 6 December 1997
18 Peterborough United 3–2 Dagenham & Redbridge 6 December 1997
19 Colchester United 1–1 Hereford United 6 December 1997
Replay Hereford United 1–1 Colchester United 16 December 1997
Hereford United won 5–4 on penalties
20 Cambridge United 1–1 Stevenage Borough 6 December 1997
Replay Stevenage Borough 2–1 Cambridge United 15 December 1997

Third round proper

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The third round was scheduled for Saturday 3 January 1998, although six matches were postponed until later dates. This round marked the point at which the teams in the two highest divisions in the English league system, the Premiership and the Football League First Division, entered the competition. There were eight replays, with two of these games requiring a penalty shootout to settle it.

Emley of the Northern Premier League made national headlines, when, after coming through the non-league qualifying, and seeing off Morecambe and Lincoln City in the previous rounds, they only lost narrowly to a West Ham United team containing the likes of Rio Ferdinand, David Unsworth, Eyal Berkovic, John Hartson and Frank Lampard.[1]

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Darlington 0–4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 14 January 1998
2 AFC Bournemouth 0–1 Huddersfield Town 13 January 1998
3 Liverpool 1–3 Coventry City 3 January 1998
4 Preston North End 1–2 Stockport County 3 January 1998
5 Watford 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday 3 January 1998
Replay Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Watford 14 January 1998
Sheffield Wednesday won 5–3 on penalties
6 Leicester City 4–0 Northampton Town 3 January 1998
7 Blackburn Rovers 4–2 Wigan Athletic 3 January 1998
8 Grimsby Town 3–0 Norwich City 3 January 1998
9 Crewe Alexandra 1–2 Birmingham City 3 January 1998
10 West Bromwich Albion 3–1 Stoke City 13 January 1998
11 Derby County 2–0 Southampton 3 January 1998
12 Everton 0–1 Newcastle United 4 January 1998
13 Swindon Town 1–2 Stevenage Borough 3 January 1998
14 Sheffield United 1–1 Bury 3 January 1998
Replay Bury 1–2 Sheffield United 13 January 1998
15 Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 Fulham 5 January 1998
16 Manchester City 2–0 Bradford City 3 January 1998
17 Queens Park Rangers 2–2 Middlesbrough 3 January 1998
Replay Middlesbrough 2–0 Queens Park Rangers 13 January 1998
18 Barnsley 1–0 Bolton Wanderers 3 January 1998
19 Bristol Rovers 1–1 Ipswich Town 3 January 1998
Replay Ipswich Town 1–0 Bristol Rovers 13 January 1998
20 Portsmouth 2–2 Aston Villa 3 January 1998
Replay Aston Villa 1–0 Portsmouth 14 January 1998
21 West Ham United 2–1 Emley 3 January 1998
22 Crystal Palace 2–0 Scunthorpe United 3 January 1998
23 Chelsea 3–5 Manchester United 4 January 1998
24 Wimbledon 0–0 Wrexham 4 January 1998
Replay Wrexham 2–3 Wimbledon 13 January 1998
25 Cardiff City 1–0 Oldham Athletic 3 January 1998
26 Charlton Athletic 4–1 Nottingham Forest 3 January 1998
27 Arsenal 0–0 Port Vale 3 January 1998
Replay Port Vale 1–1 Arsenal 14 January 1998
Arsenal won 4–3 on penalties
28 Cheltenham Town 1–1 Reading 13 January 1998
Replay Reading 2–1 Cheltenham Town 20 January 1998
29 Leeds United 4–0 Oxford United 3 January 1998
30 Hereford United 0–3 Tranmere Rovers 13 January 1998
31 Rotherham United 1–5 Sunderland 3 January 1998
32 Peterborough United 0–2 Walsall 13 January 1998

Fourth round proper

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The fourth round ties were played with the 32 winners of the previous round. The matches were originally scheduled for Saturday 24 January 1998. There were five replays, with one penalty shootout.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Aston Villa 4–0 West Bromwich Albion 24 January 1998
2 Sheffield Wednesday 0–3 Blackburn Rovers 26 January 1998
3 Middlesbrough 1–2 Arsenal 24 January 1998
4 Ipswich Town 1–1 Sheffield United 24 January 1998
Replay Sheffield United 1–0 Ipswich Town 3 February 1998
5 Tranmere Rovers 1–0 Sunderland 24 January 1998
6 Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 Barnsley 24 January 1998
Replay Barnsley 3–1 Tottenham Hotspur 4 February 1998
7 Manchester City 1–2 West Ham United 25 January 1998
8 Coventry City 2–0 Derby County 24 January 1998
9 Manchester United 5–1 Walsall 24 January 1998
10 Crystal Palace 3–0 Leicester City 24 January 1998
11 Huddersfield Town 0–1 Wimbledon 24 January 1998
12 Cardiff City 1–1 Reading 24 January 1998
Replay Reading 1–1 Cardiff City 3 February 1998
Reading won 4–3 on penalties
13 Charlton Athletic 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 24 January 1998
Replay Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Charlton Athletic 3 February 1998
14 Leeds United 2–0 Grimsby Town 24 January 1998
15 Birmingham City 2–1 Stockport County 24 January 1998
16 Stevenage Borough 1–1 Newcastle United 25 January 1998
Replay Newcastle United 2–1 Stevenage Borough 4 February 1998

Fifth round proper

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The fifth-round matches were scheduled for Saturday 14 February 1998. There were four replays, with one penalty shootout.

The biggest surprise of the round was arguably Barnsley's 3–2 win (in the replay that followed a 1–1 draw) over Manchester United. Barnsley were in their first season as a top division side (and ended it with relegation), while United were defending league champions and were also in contention for the league title and the European Cup at this time, although they ended the season trophyless.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Aston Villa 0–1 Coventry City 14 February 1998
2 Sheffield United 1–0 Reading 13 February 1998
3 Newcastle United 1–0 Tranmere Rovers 14 February 1998
4 West Ham United 2–2 Blackburn Rovers 14 February 1998
Replay Blackburn Rovers 1–1 West Ham United 25 February 1998
West Ham United won 5–4 on penalties
5 Manchester United 1–1 Barnsley 15 February 1998
Replay Barnsley 3–2 Manchester United 25 February 1998
6 Wimbledon 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 14 February 1998
Replay Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Wimbledon 25 February 1998
7 Arsenal 0–0 Crystal Palace 15 February 1998
Replay Crystal Palace 1–2 Arsenal 25 February 1998
8 Leeds United 3–2 Birmingham City 14 February 1998

Sixth round proper

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The sixth round ties were scheduled for the weekend of 7 and 8 March 1998. Two replays were played on the 17th, both of which went to penalties.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United, Division One sides, both progressed to the semi-finals at the expense of Premier League sides. Wolverhampton Wanderers were particularly impressive in doing this, as the side they eliminated from the cup (Leeds United) went on to finish fifth in the Premier League.

Coventry City1–1Sheffield United
Dublin   32' (pen) Marcelo   45'
Attendance: 23,084
Referee: Steve Dunn
Leeds United0–1Wolverhampton Wanderers
Goodman   82'
Attendance: 39,902
Referee: Paul Durkin
Arsenal1–1West Ham United
Bergkamp   26' (pen) Pearce   12'
Attendance: 38,077
Referee: Mike Reed
Newcastle United3–1Barnsley
Ketsbaia   16'
Speed   27'
Batty   90'
Liddell   57'
Attendance: 36,695
Referee: Neale Barry

Replays

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Sheffield United1–1Coventry City
Holdsworth   89' Telfer   10'
Attendance: 29,034
Referee: Steve Dunn

Sheffield United won 3–1 on penalties.

West Ham United1–1Arsenal
Hartson   81' Anelka   45'
Bergkamp  
Attendance: 25,859
Referee: Mike Reed

Arsenal won 4–3 on penalties.

Semi-finals

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The two semi-final matches were played on Sunday 5 April 1998. Both ties were played at neutral venues and resulted in victories for Arsenal and Newcastle United, who went on to meet in the final at Wembley. The losing sides were both Division One teams, who endured further disappointment over the next few weeks by being pipped to promotion.

Wolverhampton Wanderers0–1Arsenal
Wreh   12'
Attendance: 39,372

Newcastle United1–0Sheffield United
Shearer   60'
Attendance: 53,452
Referee: Graham Poll

Final

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The 1998 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Newcastle United at Wembley on 16 May 1998. Arsenal won 2–0, with goals by Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka to complete their second league title/FA Cup double. They joined Manchester United as only the second English team to achieve this, although Arsenal did so with an entirely different set of players (their first double was in 1971, whereas United's doubles were in 1994 and 1996).

Arsenal2–0Newcastle United
Overmars   23'
Anelka   69'
(Report)
Attendance: 79,183
Referee: Paul Durkin (Dorset)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arsenal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Newcastle United

Media coverage

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In the United Kingdom, ITV were the free to air broadcasters, taking over from the BBC, while Sky Sports were the subscription broadcasters for the tenth consecutive season.[citation needed]


The matches shown live on ITV Sport were:

Everton 0-1 Newcastle United (R3)

Manchester City 1-2 West Ham United (R4)

Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace (R5)

Arsenal 1-1 West Ham United (QF)

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Arsenal (SF)

Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United (Final)


The matches shown live on Sky Sports were:

Swansea City 1-4 Peterborough United (R1)

Margate 1-2 Fulham (R1)

Burnley 0-3 Rotherham United (R1 Replay)

Chester City 0-2 Wrexham (R2)

AFC Bournemouth 3-1 Bristol City (R2)

Basingstoke Town 0-0 Northampton Town (R2 Replay)

Chelsea 3-5 Manchester United (R3)

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Fulham (R3)

Port Vale 1-1 Arsenal (R3 Replay)

Stevenage Borough 1-1 Newcastle United (R4)

Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Blackburn Rovers (R4)

Newcastle United 2-1 Stevenage Borough (R4 Replay)

Manchester United 1-1 Barnsley (R5)

Barnsley 3-2 Manchester United (R5 Replay)

Newcastle United 3-1 Barnsley (QF)

West Ham United 1-1 Arsenal (QF Replay)

Newcastle United 1-0 Sheffield United (SF)

Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United (Final)

References

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  1. ^ "West Ham United v Emley, 03 January 1998".
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