When Brighton (almost) won the FA Cup
Here are some fun facts about the number nine.
September, the ninth month of the year, is the only month in which number of letters in the name corresponds to the number of the month. Ninth month, nine letters.
Beethoven wrote nine symphonies. There are nine major planets that comprise the solar system. When people want to look their sharpest, they dress to the nines.
Nine clubs lost their only FA Cup final appearance. Brighton & Hove Albion are among those nine. But Brighton and Queens Park Rangers are the only side to lose their lone chance at the F.A. Cup in a replay. And they did it in successive years – QPR in 1982 and Brighton in 1983.
Let’s look back at that wacky, wonderful run, as the Seagulls soared ever so close to glory.
Newcastle Brown Out
All cup final runs have seminal moments when things can go one way or another and right off the bat, Brighton’s 1982-83 cup journey survived a couple of touchy situations.
As a First Division side that season, Brighton didn’t enter the FA Cup until round three. The Seagulls played host to Kevin Keegan and Second Division Newcastle at Goldstone Ground.
On 56 minutes, Andy Ritchie slotted the ball past Newcastle keeper Kevin Carr and Brighton led. Terry McDermott equalised in the 77th minute and Brighton were headed to St James’ Park for a replay.
Peter Ward’s second-half goal off a poor Newcastle clearance provided Brighton with the lead and the only goal of the match. Newcastle scored twice in the final five minutes of the match and both goals were disallowed.
Imre Varadi was pulled up for a hand ball just before knocking a shot past Graham Moseley. A Keegan header was wiped out because of a push.
It was Brighton’s first away since March 6th 1982.
A City thrashing
There were no such worries in the fourth round. Brighton crushed First Division rivals Manchester City 4-0 at the Goldstone Ground.
Striker Michael Robinson hit a brace, a Jimmy Case shot deflected past City keeper Joe Corrigan Neil Smillie netted his first for the Seagulls.
One Is Done
When Brighton journeyed to Anfield for the fifth round, hosts Liverpool sat atop of the First Division while the Seagulls languished at the bottom of the table. But this would prove to be an opposite day.
Gerry Ryan gave Brighton the lead in the 37th minute. Craig Johnston equalised for Liverpool in the 67th minute. The Kop was still celebrating that goal when Case restored Brighton’s advantage in the 68th minute and Liverpool lost their chance to level the count in the 72nd minute when Phil Neal missed a penalty.
Old Rivals
The long history of matches between Brighton and Norwich added another chapter in the quarter-finals. Between 1945-56, these two sides met seven times in FA Cup ties.
Brighton beat Norwich 6-2 in 1945-46. The following season, the Canaries thrashed the Seagulls 7-2. Brighton hammered Norwich 5-1 in the 1954-55 season.
There was no such goal outburst in 1983. One would prove enough for the Seagulls as Case scored in his third straight Cup tie, banging home the winner on a breakaway.
Winning Wednesday
Second Division Sheffield Wednesday stood between Brighton and a trip to Wembley. Case was spot-on again, opening Brighton’s account from a free kick.
Anton Mirocevic tied the score for Wednesday before Robinson drove home the winner and set the Seagulls on course for their first Cup final appearance.
Foster’s Folly
In Brighton’s penultimate match prior to facing Manchester United at Wembley, they lost 1-0 at Notts County and also lost the services of skipper Steve Foster for the final.
The England international defender was booked for dissent, leaving him on 31 disciplinary points for the season and facing a two-game suspension.
Realising that if he got sent off, he’d get just a one-game ban and be available to play in the final, Foster began committing deliberate offences in search of a red card.
Referee Norman Wilson = also aware of how F.A. discipline worked – refused to accommodate Foster.
Smith Must Score
Brighton players resting prior to extra time in the 1983 F.A. Cup final.
Mighty Manchester United were the odds-on favourites at Wembley but Gordon Smith put Brighton ahead after just 14 minutes. Frank Stapleton and Ray Wilkins replied with second-half goals and United were ahead. Just three minutes from time, Gary Stevens netted an equaliser.
With virtually the final kick of extra time, Smith found himself with the ball at his feet and United goalkeeper Gary Bailey at his mercy. “And surely Smith must score,” radio commentator Peter Jones said. But Bailey made a spectacular save and the match ended 2-2.
The Dreary Double
Ousted by Brighton from the FA Cup, Manchester City gained a measure of revenge in the second-last match of the season. A late winner from Kevin Reeves produced a 1-0 City win over the Seagulls and relegated Brighton to the second division.
In the cup final replay, Manchester United gave Brighton a thumping. Two first-half goals by captain Bryan Robson and one from Norman Whiteside put United comfortably ahead. Arnold Mühren completed the 4-0 rout with a second-half penalty.
The long and winding road to their first FA Cup final appearance ended with Brighton driving right out of English football’s top flight.
