1987 FA Charity Shield
The match programme cover
Coventry City Everton
0 1
Date1 August 1987
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeRay Lewis
Attendance88,000
WeatherSunny
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The 1987 FA Charity Shield (also known as the General Motors FA Charity Shield for sponsorship reasons) was the 65th Charity Shield, a football match contested by the holders of the Football League First Division and FA Cup. This edition was contested between Everton and Coventry City at Wembley Stadium on 1 August 1987. Everton had won the 1986–87 Football League while Coventry City had defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 FA Cup Final to qualify for the season opener for the first time. It was played two weeks before the new league season began. This was Everton's fourth successive appearance in the Charity Shield. The match was shown live on ITV.

The match was played in front of 88,000 spectators in sunny conditions and was refereed by Ray Lewis. Just before half-time, Trevor Steven who sprinted down the pitch and delivered a pass into the centre, over Trevor Peake, and Wayne Clarke struck the ball into the roof of the Coventry City net to give Everton a 1–0 lead. Early in the second half, David Speedie missed an opportunity to score after a pass from Greg Downs, Bobby Mimms saving his strike with his toe. In the 67th minute, Everton came close to doubling their lead but Paul Power's shot was over the Coventry City crossbar. Nick Pickering then struck the Everton crossbar with an overhead kick. In the last moments of the match, Steve Ogrizovic saved a shot from Sharp and the match ended 1–0 to Everton who won the Charity Shield for the eighth time.

Background

Founded in 1908 as a successor to the Sheriff of London Charity Shield,[1] the FA Charity Shield began as a contest between the respective champions of The Football League and the Southern League, although in 1913, it was played between an Amateurs XI and a Professionals XI.[2] In 1921, it was contested by the league champions of the top division and FA Cup winners for the first time.[3][a] The 1987 FA Charity Shield was the 65th edition of the event.[5][b]

Coventry City had qualified to participate in the Charity Shield after they defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 FA Cup Final, winning 3–2.[7] Everton were eligible to play in the Charity Shield after they had ended the 1986–87 season as league champions.[8] This was Everton's tenth appearance in the Charity Shield, and the fourth consecutive season, as well as their eighth visit to Wembley Stadium in four years.[5][9] Coventry City were making their debut in the competition and playing at Wembley Stadium for the second time in their history, the first being their victory in the previous season's FA Cup.[5][10] The most recent meeting between the sides was in the First Division on 7 February 1987 at Goodison Park which Everton had won 3–1 with goals from Trevor Steven, Adrian Heath and Gary Stevens, with Cyrille Regis scoring Coventry City's solitary goal.[11][12]

During the off-season, Everton's manager Howard Kendall had left the club to take over at Spanish side Athletic Bilbao, with whom he was able to participate in European football competition while English clubs were banned after the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985.[13] He was replaced at Everton by then-coach Colin Harvey in what was his first managerial role.[14][15] Coventry City's John Sillett became the sole manager after George Curtis had moved into an administrative role at the club.[14][16]

Everton were without their first-choice goalkeeper Neville Southall following a knee operation, so Bobby Mimms took his place in the starting line-up. Paul Bracewell, Pat Van Den Hauwe and Ian Snodin were also out with injury and while doubt remained over Heath's fitness following an ankle injury, he started for Everton. Coventry City's side included Scottish international David Speedie who had signed for them during the previous month for £750,000 from Chelsea:[14][17] he was included in the starting eleven in place of Regis who had failed to recover from a groin injury.[18] Everton came into the Charity Shield after having defeated Swedish side Linköpings FF 4–1 with two goals from Graeme Sharp, and one each from Snodin and Ian Marshall.[19] Coventry City adopted a 4–3–3 formation while Everton played as 4–4–2.[20]

The match was officially referred to as the "General Motors FA Charity Shield" as part of a sponsorship deal between The Football Association and American vehicle manufacturer General Motors.[21] It was played at Wembley Stadium, which first hosted the Shield in 1974.[6] The referee for the match was Ray Lewis from Great Bookham in Surrey.[22] The fixture had been brought forward by one week in order to allow the Football League Centenary match to be hosted at the national stadium, which would see a "Football League XI" play against a "Rest of the World XI", which included Diego Maradona, Gary Lineker, Michel Platini and Josimar.[14][23] The Charity Shield was broadcast live in several regions on the ITV network.[24]

Coventry City's allocation of tickets for the match was higher than the 25,000 they had received for the FA Cup Final, and the size of their support was reported at the time as setting a new record for a single club in the Charity Shield.[25][26] The figure varies between sources, with The Guardian placing it at 35,000,[26] while club historians David Brassington and Jim Brown gave the figure as 40,000 and 50,000 respectively.[27][28] Brassington described it as "the largest exodus Coventry had ever experienced".[27]

Match

Pre-match

Everton had to make a change to their line-up on the morning of the match, when full-back Stevens became ill with a virus. He was replaced by Heath, while Alan Harper switched to the defence.[29] Despite Curtis no longer being involved in day-to-day management, Coventry chose him to lead the team out on to the field before the game. This was as a result of Sillett having led them out on his own before the FA Cup Final, following an FA denial of Coventry's request for both men to lead. Sillett said that they had decided before the FA Cup game to split the honours this way, "because we were sure to win the Cup".[30]

First half

The match kicked off around 3 p.m. on 1 August 1987 at Wembley Stadium in front of 88,000 spectators in sunny conditions.[20][22] Coventry's Lloyd McGrath was penalised for a strong challenge on Heath early in the game, but the Everton free kick came to nothing when Sharp fouled goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic. Coventry striker Dave Bennett then made a run towards the Everton goal after Peter Reid had given the ball away, but the attack ended when Nick Pickering was given offside. Speedie received headed a pass from Greg Downs towards Mimms, but was also offside. Ten minutes into the game, Harper sent a free kick deep into Coventry's penalty area which was caught by Ogrizovic. He immediately sent the ball down the field towards Speedie, but Everton's Dave Watson was able to clear the danger. Ogrizovic initiated a similar attack minutes later, when his up-field clearance was laid off by Speedie to Micky Gynn. Gynn ran towards Everton's goal and was brought down by a defender. Keith Houchen stopped playing to take a free kick, but the referee had already decided to play advantage and Coventry lost the ball. Both sides continued to attack, with Sharp hitting a shot which was too weak, and Pickering then kicking wide of the goal. The award of a corner to Everton, from which Sharp narrowly missed with a header, sparked a mass argument with the referee by Coventry's players. Both teams had started the game with full commitment, with 10 fouls recorded in the first 20 minutes.[29]

The attacks continued, with Ogrizovic launching Coventry forward a third time, but Houchen's shot went high over the Everton crossbar after a pass from Pickering. Everton's Steven then attempted to score after Coventry full-back David Phillips had given away the ball, but Downs's tackle denied him. Everton had more of the possession in the latter part of the first half, but both sides continued to attack. Sharp made a run down the right wing, with Coventry's defence stretched, but Phillips stopped the attack with a well-timed tackle. Speedie then had another chance from an Ogrizovic clearance, but Everton captain Kevin Ratcliffe won the ball easily. Paul Power ran down the right, crossing the ball into the penalty area over Ogrizovic's head, but Pickering cleared the ball over the crossbar. Coventry then had what Coventry Evening Telegraph reporter Roger Draper called their "best move of the match", with Houchen, Pickering and Bennett all involved in the build-up, but Speedie's header went wide.[29] Just before half-time, Heath back-heeled the ball to Steven who sprinted down the pitch and delivered a pass into the centre. Trevor Peake was unable to reach the ball as it flew over his head and Wayne Clarke was able to strike it firmly into the roof of the Coventry City net to give Everton a 1–0 lead.[9] During the interval, Everton were forced to make a change to their team, as Kevin Sheedy had picked up an Achilles tendon injury, and Neil Pointon came on in his place.[9]

Second half

Early in the second half, Speedie missed an opportunity to score after a pass from Downs when Mimms saved his strike with his toe.[31] Everton's Watson then became the first player of the match to be booked after he fouled McGrath, who soon after had to be substituted with Steve Sedgley coming on to replace him in the 56th minute.[9] Houchen's diving header from a Gynn cross was then deflected out for a corner, and in the 67th minute, Everton came close to doubling their lead. Heath played a long cross-field pass to Sharp who headed the ball to Power. Despite being kicked in the face by Phillips, Power managed to shoot but his strike was over the Coventry City crossbar.[9] Pickering then struck the Everton crossbar with an overhead kick.[9][32] With five minutes of the match remaining, Gynn was injured by Heath and had to be substituted for Brian Borrows.[9] In the last moments of the match, Ogrizovic saved a shot from Sharp to maintain Everton's lead and the match ended 1–0 to Everton who won the Charity Shield for the eighth time.[5][9]

Details

Coventry City0–1Everton
[20][22] Clarke 44'
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 88,000
Referee: Ray Lewis
Coventry
Everton
1 England Steve Ogrizovic
2 Wales David Phillips
3 England Greg Downs
4 England Lloyd McGrath downward-facing red arrow 56'
5 England Brian Kilcline (c)
6 England Trevor Peake
7 England Dave Bennett
8 England Micky Gynn downward-facing red arrow 86'
9 Scotland David Speedie
10 England Keith Houchen
11 England Nick Pickering
Substitutes:
England Steve Sedgley upward-facing green arrow 56'
England Jake Findlay
England Brian Borrows upward-facing green arrow 86'
England Martin Lane
England Graham Rodger
Manager:
England John Sillett
1 England Bobby Mimms
2 England Alan Harper
3 England Paul Power
4 Wales Kevin Ratcliffe (c)
5 England Dave Watson Yellow card
6 England Peter Reid
7 England Trevor Steven
8 England Wayne Clarke
9 Scotland Graeme Sharp
10 England Adrian Heath
11 Republic of Ireland Kevin Sheedy downward-facing red arrow 46'
Substitutes:
England Alec Chamberlain
England Neil Pointon upward-facing green arrow 46'
England Derek Mountfield
England Neil Adams
England Ian Marshall
Manager:
England Colin Harvey

Post-match

Speaking of the timing of Everton's goal, Sillett noted "it was a terrible time to give away a goal".[9] However, he indicated that his side's performance "proved we're not a flash in the pan – we're going to be in there with the top teams this season."[26] He reflected on the timing of the match, suggesting that neither side had been sufficiently prepared for the game: "You don't expect an athlete like Sebastian Coe to train for two weeks and then go straight into the Olympic Games, do you? The occasion has come too early for both of us."[32] Despite his side's victory, Harvey bemoaned the various injuries afflicting the club: "We were a few players short and I think it showed particularly in the second half".[32] Harvey also tipped Coventry as possible title winners for the upcoming season. He said "I was recently asked who I thought were the outsiders for our title. I said Coventry City. ... After this performance, I see no reason to change my mind."[33]

The clubs faced one another in the First Division in the 1987–88 season, with both matches ending in 2–1 wins for the away sides, Coventry City winning at Goodison Park in September 1987 and Everton victorious at Highfield Road the following April.[11] Everton ended the league season in fourth place in the First Division,[34] and were it not for the ban on English clubs in European football, would have qualified to play in the 1988–89 UEFA Cup.[35] Coventry City finished in tenth position in the First Division.[34]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Premier League replaced the Football League First Division at the top of the English football pyramid after its inception in 1992.[4]
  2. ^ As of 2021, the event is known as the FA Community Shield, having been renamed in 2002.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Abandonment of the Sheriff Shield". The Observer. 19 April 1908. p. 11.
  2. ^ "The F.A. Charity Shield". The Times. 7 October 1913. p. 10.
  3. ^ Ferguson, Peter (4 August 2011). "The Shield: From the beginning". Manchester City F.C. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  4. ^ Fynn, Alex (2 December 2001). "Continental or the full English?". The Observer. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d "FA Community Shield". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b "The FA Community Shield history". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  7. ^ Pye, Steven (16 May 2014). "How Coventry City shocked Tottenham Hotspur to win the 1987 FA Cup final". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  8. ^ Lacey, David (4 October 2013). "Everton's league winners in 1986–87 were worthy of 'unstinted praise'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Atkin, Ronald (2 August 1987). "Sharpshooter Clarke". The Observer. p. 38. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Scott, Ged (31 March 2017). "Coventry City: Sky Blues legend Steve Ogrizovic praises 'special' Wembley support". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Everton football club: record v Coventry City". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Everton v Coventry City, 07 February 1987". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  13. ^ Gleeson, Paul (17 October 2015). "Howard Kendall interview: Athletic Bilbao adventure for Everton man". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d Thorpe, Martin (1 August 1987). "Speedie arrival for the season". The Guardian. p. 15. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Colin Harvey". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  16. ^ Hornby, Mark (25 March 2020). "Supremos: Profile of Sky Blues legend George Curtis". Coventry City F.C. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  17. ^ Lacey, David (16 July 1987). "Speedie on the move". The Guardian. p. 29. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Regis doubtful for dates at Wembley". The Times. 30 July 1987. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021 – via Gale.
  19. ^ "Everton in form with easy win". The Times. 29 July 1987. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021 – via Gale.
  20. ^ a b c Glanville, Brian (2 August 1987). "Everton's shield – by a whisker". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021 – via Gale.
  21. ^ "Coventry City v Everton". Evening Standard. 24 July 1987. p. 59. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b c "Coventry City v Everton, 01 August 1987". 11v11. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Football League v Rest of the World, 08 August 1987". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Television and Radio". The Guardian. 1 August 1987. p. 28. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Reid, Les (16 March 2017). "More than 41,000 Wembley tickets sold to Coventry City fans". Coventry Observer. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  26. ^ a b c Thomas, Russell (3 August 1987). "Everton's shield for the long march ahead". The Guardian. p. 22. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b Brassington, David (1989). Singers to Sky Blues: The story of Coventry City Football Club (2 ed.). Sporting and Leisure Press Limited. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-86023-452-4.
  28. ^ Brown, Jim (1998). Coventry City: The Elite Era : a Complete Record. Westcliff-on-Sea: Desert Island Books. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-87428-703-2. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  29. ^ a b c Draper, Roger (1 August 1987). "Clarke's strike stuns City". The Pink. pp. 2–3.
  30. ^ "Curtis leads out the team". The Pink. 1 August 1987. p. 4.
  31. ^ Swann, Martin (3 August 1987). "Pride in the fall". Sandwell Evening Mail. p. 31. Retrieved 15 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  32. ^ a b c Jones, Stuart (3 August 1987). "Sillett plea to stage Shield in January to end first act flop". The Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021 – via Gale.
  33. ^ Evans, Steve (3 August 1987). "Harvey: City to make challenge". Coventry Evening Telegraph. p. 24.
  34. ^ a b "League Division One end of season table for 1987–88 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  35. ^ Delaney, Miguel (21 June 2013). "What if ... England hadn't been banned". ESPN. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
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