1992 FA Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1992 FA Cup Final was contested by Liverpool
and Sunderland
at Wembley. Liverpool won 2–0, with goals from Michael Thomas and Ian Rush
.
This was the first FA Cup Final to feature a Second Division team since Queens Park Rangers reached the final in 1982, and the last until Millwall
played at Cardiff in 2004. Despite being underdogs, Sunderland had the better of the first half. The team was full of running and kept Liverpool's strikeforce of Ian Rush
and Dean Saunders
at bay. Sunderland's best chance fell to John Byrne who somehow miss-kicked when presented with a volley 6 yards out. Liverpool's best chance saw Michael Thomas lift his shot over the bar when pressured by the Rokerites goalkeeper Tony Norman
. One unusual feature of the match is that Ian Rush and Tony Norman both attended St Richard Gwyn High School in North Wales, one of the few schools to have the distinction of seeing two ex-pupils compete in the same cup final.
Thomas redeemed himself after 47 minutes, when he scored the first goal of the game, following excellent work down the right wing by Steve McManaman
, the youngest player on the pitch. Tony Norman could only get fingertips to Thomas's superbly angled half-volley. Following this goal, the Reds had more confidence and started playing better football. On 67 minutes Dean Saunders released Michael Thomas who sped into the penalty area. His progress was halted but the ball fell to Ian Rush
who slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. It was Rush's 5th goal in FA Cup Finals at Wembley - a record. Liverpool continued to dominate for the rest of the game and Ray Houghton
came close to scoring when he almost lobbed Tony Norman from 40 yards.
Liverpool captain Mark Wright held aloft the FA Cup for Liverpool. During the presentation, the winning team was mistakenly given the loser's medals and Sunderland found themselves with winning medals. This was later rectified by the players themselves, on the pitch.
It was Liverpool's fifth triumph in the competition, and would be their only major trophy under the management of Graeme Souness
, who was appointed a year earlier and would resign within two years of the FA Cup success. Liverpool would not win the FA Cup again until nine years later.
It was Sunderland's first FA Cup final since their triumph 19 years earlier and they have not reached the final since, although they did reach the semi-final 12 years later
.
Notable absences from the Liverpool side were John Barnes
and Ronnie Whelan
, who were ruled out with injuries and left unable to add to their already long list of major honours won with the Reds. Whelan (who left Liverpool two years later) never won another major trophy with Liverpool, although Barnes would add the Football League Cup
to his personal honours list during his five remaining seasons at Anfield
.
Rob Jones was Liverpool's last remaining player from the game, finally leaving them in 1999 just before he retired as a player. This was the same year that Kevin Ball became the last player from the Sunderland team in this game to leave the club.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
SUNDERLAND:
|
GK
1
Tony Norman
RB
2
Gary Owers
CB
3
Kevin Ball
CB
4
Gary Bennett
LB
5
Anton Rogan
LM
6
David Rush
CM
7
Paul Bracewell
(c)
CF
8
Peter Davenport
CM
9
Gordon Armstrong
CF
10
John Byrne
RM
11
Brian Atkinson
Substitutes:
DF
12
Paul Hardyman
FW
14
Warren Hawke
Manager:
Malcolm Crosby
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
at Wembley. Liverpool won 2–0, with goals from Michael Thomas and Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
.
This was the first FA Cup Final to feature a Second Division team since Queens Park Rangers reached the final in 1982, and the last until Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
played at Cardiff in 2004. Despite being underdogs, Sunderland had the better of the first half. The team was full of running and kept Liverpool's strikeforce of Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
and Dean Saunders
Dean Saunders
Dean Nicholas Saunders is a former Wales international footballer who played as a striker in a professional career which lasted from 1982 until 2001. He is the manager of Doncaster Rovers....
at bay. Sunderland's best chance fell to John Byrne who somehow miss-kicked when presented with a volley 6 yards out. Liverpool's best chance saw Michael Thomas lift his shot over the bar when pressured by the Rokerites goalkeeper Tony Norman
Tony Norman
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Norman is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Hull City, Sunderland and Huddersfield Town....
. One unusual feature of the match is that Ian Rush and Tony Norman both attended St Richard Gwyn High School in North Wales, one of the few schools to have the distinction of seeing two ex-pupils compete in the same cup final.
Thomas redeemed himself after 47 minutes, when he scored the first goal of the game, following excellent work down the right wing by Steve McManaman
Steve McManaman
Steven McManaman is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder, winger and playmaker. Having spent his playing career at two of European football's most successful clubs of the 20th century, Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as a spell at Manchester City, McManaman is the most...
, the youngest player on the pitch. Tony Norman could only get fingertips to Thomas's superbly angled half-volley. Following this goal, the Reds had more confidence and started playing better football. On 67 minutes Dean Saunders released Michael Thomas who sped into the penalty area. His progress was halted but the ball fell to Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
who slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. It was Rush's 5th goal in FA Cup Finals at Wembley - a record. Liverpool continued to dominate for the rest of the game and Ray Houghton
Ray Houghton
Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father...
came close to scoring when he almost lobbed Tony Norman from 40 yards.
Liverpool captain Mark Wright held aloft the FA Cup for Liverpool. During the presentation, the winning team was mistakenly given the loser's medals and Sunderland found themselves with winning medals. This was later rectified by the players themselves, on the pitch.
It was Liverpool's fifth triumph in the competition, and would be their only major trophy under the management of Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
, who was appointed a year earlier and would resign within two years of the FA Cup success. Liverpool would not win the FA Cup again until nine years later.
It was Sunderland's first FA Cup final since their triumph 19 years earlier and they have not reached the final since, although they did reach the semi-final 12 years later
FA Cup 2003-04
The FA Cup 2003–04 was the 123rd staging of England and the world's oldest football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup....
.
Notable absences from the Liverpool side were John Barnes
John Barnes (footballer)
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times...
and Ronnie Whelan
Ronnie Whelan
Ronald Andrew "Ronnie" Whelan is a former Irish football midfielder, and sometimes defender, who was an integral part of the dominant Liverpool side of the 1980s...
, who were ruled out with injuries and left unable to add to their already long list of major honours won with the Reds. Whelan (who left Liverpool two years later) never won another major trophy with Liverpool, although Barnes would add the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
to his personal honours list during his five remaining seasons at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
.
Rob Jones was Liverpool's last remaining player from the game, finally leaving them in 1999 just before he retired as a player. This was the same year that Kevin Ball became the last player from the Sunderland team in this game to leave the club.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | LIVERPOOL: | ||
| GK | 1 |  Bruce GrobbelaarBruce Grobbelaar Bruce David Grobbelaar is a former football goalkeeper and manager.He played for a number of clubs in a career which spanned for more than 20 years at professional level, most notably Liverpool during their dominant period in the 1980s and early 1990s.-Early years:In his teenage years, Grobbelaar... |
|
| RB | 2 | Rob Jones |
|
| LB | 6 | David Burrows David Burrows (footballer) David Burrows is an English former footballer. During his career he played for West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool, West Ham United, Everton, Coventry City, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday as well as the England Under-21 and B teams... |
|
| CB | 3 |  Steve NicolSteve Nicol Stephen "Steve" Nicol is a Scottish former professional footballer. A utility player who played in the all-conquering Liverpool team of the 1980s, he was most recently coach of New England Revolution, and was the longest-tenured head coach in MLS to coach a single club.As a player, Nicol was a... |
|
| CM | 5 |  Jan MølbyJan Mølby Jan Mølby is a Danish former international footballer who spent much of his professional football career at English club Liverpool.- Club career :... |
|
| CB | 4 | Mark Wright (c) |
|
| CF | 7 | Dean Saunders Dean Saunders Dean Nicholas Saunders is a former Wales international footballer who played as a striker in a professional career which lasted from 1982 until 2001. He is the manager of Doncaster Rovers.... |
|
| RM | 8 | Ray Houghton Ray Houghton Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father... |
|
| CF | 9 | Ian Rush Ian Rush Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield... |
|
| LM | 11 | Steve McManaman Steve McManaman Steven McManaman is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder, winger and playmaker. Having spent his playing career at two of European football's most successful clubs of the 20th century, Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as a spell at Manchester City, McManaman is the most... |
|
| CM | 10 | Michael Thomas |
|
| Substitutes: | |||
| MF | 12 | Mike Marsh Mike Marsh (footballer) Mike Marsh is a footballer and now a coach, who came through the ranks at Liverpool and was part of their 1992 FA Cup-winning side.-Professional career:... |
|
| MF | 14 | Mark Walters Mark Walters Mark Everton Walters is a retired professional footballer from Birmingham, England.-Aston Villa:Walters began his career as an apprentice at Aston Villa on leaving school in the summer of 1980, turning the professional a year later - just after Villa's Football League First Division title triumph... |
|
| Manager: | |||
| Graeme Souness Graeme Souness Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,... |
|||
| Ronnie Moran Ronnie Moran Ronnie Moran is a former Liverpool captain and coach, who has twice served as caretaker manager... (Interim Manager) |
|||
Tony NormanTony Norman
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Norman is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Hull City, Sunderland and Huddersfield Town....
Gary OwersGary Owers
Gary Owers is an English former professional footballer and was previously manager of Forest Green Rovers of the Nationwide Conference as well as the Assistant Manager at League Two side Aldershot Town...
Kevin BallKevin Ball
Kevin Ball aka 'The Hatchet' is a former professional footballer and now coach. Between 6 March and 8 May 2006 Ball acted as Sunderland caretaker manager for the last ten games of the 2005–06 season following the sacking of Mick McCarthy, taking five points from these games...
Gary BennettGary Bennett (footballer born 1961)
Gary Ernest Bennett is a former English professional footballer who is most known for playing for Sunderland from 1985 to 1996...
Anton RoganAnton Rogan
Anton Rogan is a former professional association football player. His playing career included spells at Lisburn Distillery, Celtic, Sunderland, Oxford United, Millwall and Blackpool.- Career :...
David RushDavid Rush
David Rush is an English former footballer.He played in the 1992 FA Cup Final with Sunderland, which they lost 2–0 against Liverpool....
Paul BracewellPaul Bracewell
Paul Bracewell , in Heswall, Merseyside), but was brought up in Newport, Shropshire, is an English former international footballer who played as a midfielder, although his career was hampered by injuries as the years went by.-Career:...
(c)
Peter Davenport Gordon ArmstrongGordon Armstrong
Gordon Armstrong, born 15 July 1967 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He now works as a football agent, and has amongst the players he manages a number of current and former players from Burnley Football Club.During his career he played...
John ByrneJohn Byrne (Irish footballer)
John Frederick Byrne is an English-born Irish former international footballer in the 1980s and 1990s.-Club career:...
Brian AtkinsonBrian Atkinson
Brian Atkinson is an English former footballer who played as a left winger or central midfielder....
Paul HardymanPaul Hardyman
Paul George Hardyman was a left back for Portsmouth, Sunderland, Bristol Rovers, Barnet, Wycombe and Slough Town.He is now youth team coach for his former club Portsmouth...
Warren HawkeWarren Hawke
Warren Hawke is a former English footballer who played for Sunderland, Berwick Rangers, Greenock Morton and Queen of the South...
Malcolm CrosbyMalcolm Crosby
Malcolm Crosby is an English former footballer and manager.-Playing career:Born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, Crosby played his football for Aldershot, making 258 appearances between 1971 and 1980 and netting 21 goals. In an exchange deal involving Ian MacDonald he moved to York City and was a...
MATCH OFFICIALS
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MAN OF THE MATCH
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MATCH RULES
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