Lory

A second double looked a foregone conclusion as Liverpool faced Wimbledon in the FA Cup Final. The Dons had finished a commendable 7th this term but surely they couldn’t overturn the mighty Reds. The bookies didn’t think so, making Liverpool 1 -4 favourites. Wimbledon were fearless, committed and no respecters of reputations. They had already gone to Anfield and won.

Peter Beardsley had the ball in the net, only for the referee to disallow it - for a foul on Beardsley! Laurie Sanchez’s glancing header from a Dennis Wise free-kick gave the Dons a 36th-minute lead. After 61 minutes John Aldridge was brought down in the box. Aldridge had a perfect record from his previous 11 spot-kicks that season. The 12th was saved by Dave Beasant. It was the first penalty save in an FA Cup Final and it helped carry the Dons to an unlikely victory.

England eclipsed by Charlton’s Ireland

IToughton and Aldridge lined up in the Repubhc of Ireland side which quahfied for the 1988 European championships. England made it to Germany too, and the two countries met in the opening match of the group stage. Houghton gave the Republic a 1-0 win and although both went out of the competition it was Jack Charlton’s men who emerged with more credit. England also lost to eventual finalists the USSR and Holland to finish as wooden spoonists.

A chink of light in a gloomy season for England came in April, when 17-year-old Alan Shearer hit a hat-trick for Southampton against Arsenal, the youngest player ever to do so in the First Division.

Above: Gary Lineker takes a tumble whilst playing for England, having been fouled by Scotland's Richard Gough in 1988. After a spell at Barcelona, Lineker returned to England to join Spurs in the summer of 1989.

Opposite top right: Peter Beardsley of Liverpool battles with Arsenal's Tony Adams in a title showdown which saw the Gunners come out on top.

Opposite top left: Floral tributes in the Anfield goalmouth commemorating those killed at Hillsborough on April IS 1989.

The sportsmanship shown in both the FA Cup Final and the championship decider gave rise to cautious optimism.