Wembley, 16 May 1987, after extra time.
The two clubs
Tottenham had been in three finals in seven years and had won the cup in 1981 and 1982. They had never lost an FA Cup final in seven attempts. That season they had Clive Allen, who scored forty nine goals in all competitions, and Chris Waddle and Glenn Hoddle.
Coventry City had been in the top division since 1967 without ever finishing higher than sixth or reaching a final of anything. They were managed by John Sillett and George Curtis.
The match
Allen headed in a Waddle cross after two minutes. Dave Bennett got round the goalkeeper and equalised in the ninth. Mabbutt put Tottenham back in front before half time.
In the sixty third minute Bennett crossed from the right and Keith Houchen threw himself at it, horizontal, and headed it past Ray Clemence. It is the image that survives the match.
Extra time
Lloyd McGrath crossed. Gary Mabbutt, trying to clear, put it off his knee and over Clemence.
Mabbutt had scored at both ends of an FA Cup final.
After
John Motson called it the finest cup final he had commentated on, and the description has stuck.
Coventry stayed in the top division until 2001, when they went down after thirty four unbroken seasons, and then fell further, reaching the fourth tier in 2017. They have not won anything else.