The 1977–78 Women's Football Association Cup was the eighth edition of the WFA Cup (Women's FA Cup), the national women's football knockout competition in England. It was organised by the Women's Football Association (WFA) and was named The Pony WFA Cup for sponsorship reasons.
Queen's Park Rangers went into the season as the Cup's holders. They won their quarter–final against Warminster Wanderers, 4–1 at Eastcote."CUP holders Queens Park Ranger won through to-the semi-finals of the Pony Wine Women's FA Cup in a over Warminster Wanderers at Eastcote"
In a semi–final in April, Southampton played against St Helens at Bedworth Oval." WFA Cup semi final. Southampton v St. Helens, Bedworth Oval (2.30)"
The 1978 Final was won by Southampton against Queen's Park Rangers, the defending champions."It's a big day for the QPR Ladies -- their chance to retain the WFA Cup. the top %%omen's football trophy." [sic] The match, which ended in an 8–2 scoreline, set several scoring records for the WFA Cup/Women's FA Cup Final that still stand today: the highest total number of goals in a match; the highest margin of victory for any Cup–winner; and the most Final goals by one player, Pat Chapman, who scored six. The game was played at Slough Town F.C.
The 1978 Cup was Southampton sixth title. After the final, the winning team were featured in a news report on Southern Television."For Southampton Women's Soccer side proved once again this year that they're the best team in the land, by winning the Women's FA Cup. Southern cameras followed the girls in the build-up to the final for a Southern Report"
All match results and dates from the Women's FA Cup Website.
First round All games were scheduled for 2 October 1977. Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1Lowestoft6–2Luton Daytel
Second round All games were originally scheduled for 2 October 1977. Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1Ashford Wanderers0–15Kensure2Ashton2–1Metal Box3Aycliffe Echoes0–10Wallsend4Aylesbury Harlequins4–2Watford5Bedworth United24–1Woolworth Elite6Bellington United0–12Willesden7Birmingham City8–0Bromyard8Bracknell3–3 NewburyreplayNewbury?–?Bracknell9Bracknell BulletsH–WAvon County RangersWalkover for Bracknell Bullets10Bronte1–5Kilnhurst Shooting Stars11BYC Argyle (Burwell Youth Club)H–WLauntonWalkover for BYC Argyle (Burwell Youth Club)12C&C Sports5–4Herne Bay13ChardH–WCallingtonWalkover for Chard14Chelsea Supporters0–8Wealdstone15Chester3–2Thornton ICI16ComptonA–WSouthamptonWalkover for Southampton17Cope Chat4–2Totton18Copenacre1–3Swindon Spitfires19Costessey4–1Luton20Coventry City SupportersH–WNewtownWalkover for Coventry City Supporters21Dartford College10–0Gillingham22Dobwalls7–1Cranford23East Avon Athletic7–0Dursley Town24East Herts College0–11Queens Park Rangers25Fodens4–0Rotherham26Hull Brewery12–1Reckitts27Kays3–2Coventry Bantams28Ladybirds1–13Notts Rangers29Launceston0–16Tiverton Town30Leaside0–18St Helens31Leicester3–0Droitwich St. Andrews32LowestoftH–WBedford CataransWalkover for Lowestoft33Macclesfield11–0Rossendale34Maidstone6–2Ashford Town35Marmion Centre8–0Prism36Nat West Exeter2–7Tivvy Motel37Newport8–2Llanedeyrn38Papworth Pendragons6–4Dunstable39Plymouth Pilgrims5–3Exeter40PrestatynH–WNewtown Sports ClubWalkover for Prestatyn41Preston North End14–0BAC Warton42Preston Rangers6–1Broadoak43Rowntrees0–14Cleveland Spartans44Sharp Fisher0–19Chippenham Moonrakers45Southend0–0 Millwall LionessesreplayMillwall Lionesses5–1Southend46Spurs6–1Gallaher47Stevenage Athletic2–7Suffolk Bluebirds48Sunderland0–8Doncaster Belles49Thanet Bluebirds4–3Teynham Strykers50Thurrock2–1Friends of Fulham51Top Rank (Bristol)1–10Bristol Bluebirds52Torbay United7–1Pelynt–Polperro53Town & County1–2Solihull54Uttoxeter Eagles0–7EMGALS55Waterlooville2–3Warminster Wanderers56West Ham United0–1Amersham Angels57Wolverhampton Wednesbury Tube9–0Tildawn
Third round All games were originally scheduled for 6 November 1977. Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1Amersham Angels2–3Chelsea2Aylesbury Harlequins9–0Colchester Swifts3Bracknell Bullets2–3East Avon Athletic4Chard4–4 Torbay UnitedreplayTorbay United4–0Chard5Cleveland Spartans2–5Doncaster Belles6Coventry City Supporters1–4Wolverhampton Wednesbury Tube7Dobwalls13–2Tivvy Motel8EMGALS4–2Kays9Fodens2–4Preston Rangers10Kilnhurst Shooting Stars4–0Chester11Leicester2–4Birmingham City12Lowestoft10–0Costessey13Maidstone2–2 C&C SportsreplayC&C Sports0–2Maidstone14Millwall Lionesses2–1Fulham15Newbury1–3Warminster Wanderers16Newport7–1Bristol Bluebirds17Notts Rangers8–0Bedworth United18Papworth Pendragons0–4Suffolk Bluebirds19Prestatyn7–0Nabwood Athletic20Preston North End5–0Ashton21Queens Park Rangers6–0Kensure22Shoreham1–2Marmion Centre23Shoreline1–4Spurs24Solihull2–0BYC Argyle (Burwell Youth Club)25Southampton12–0Cope Chat26St Helens6–0Macclesfield27Swindon Spitfires0–0 Chippenham MoonrakersreplayChippenham Moonrakers5–4Swindon Spitfires28Thanet Bluebirds0–7Dartford College29Tiverton Town1–4Plymouth Pilgrims30Wallsend3–1Hull Brewery31Wealdstone4–0Thurrock32Willesden4–0Romford
Fourth round All games were originally scheduled for 4 December 1977 and 8 January 1978. Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1Birmingham City1–3Kilnhurst Shooting Stars2Chippenham Moonrakers2–3Preston North End3Dartford College1–1 Suffolk BluebirdsreplaySuffolk Bluebirds0–4Dartford College 4 Dobwalls 0–6 Notts Rangers 5 Doncaster Belles 4–0 Spurs6East Avon Athletic0–7Aylesbury Harlequins7Lowestoft5–1Millwall Lionesses8Maidstone1–9Southampton9Marmion Centre1–3Wolverhampton Wednesbury Tube10Plymouth Pilgrims1–2Chelsea11Prestatyn0–2St Helens12Queens Park Rangers9–1Newport13Wallsend1–3Preston Rangers14Warminster Wanderers4–1Torbay United15Wealdstone0–8Solihull16Willesden4–2EMGALS
Fifth round All games were played on 5 and 12 February 1978. Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1Chelsea2–1Preston North End2Dartford College2–0Wolverhampton Wednesbury Tube3Kilnhurst Shooting Stars1–3Southampton4Lowestoft1–2Queens Park Rangers5Notts Rangers?–?Aylesbury Harlequins6Preston Rangers2–3Willesden7Solihull?–?St Helens8Warminster Wanderers3–2Doncaster Belles
Sixth round All games were played on 5 and 12 March 1978. Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1Chelsea0–7Southampton2Dartford College0–8St Helens3Queens Park Rangers4–1Warminster Wanderers4Willesden2–0Aylesbury Harlequins
Semi–finals All games were played on 2 April 1978. Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1Queens Park Rangers2–0Willesden2St Helens1–3Southampton
Final
See also Women's FA Cup Women's World Invitational Tournament 1977–78 FA Cup
References