Wimbledon F.C. 37,000 Wimbledon fans witnessed captain Dave Beasant becoming the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final, stopping John Aldridge's shot. The only downside of this triumph was the fact that the club would not be able to compete in the European Cup Winners' Cup, as the ban on English teams from European competition following the Heysel Stadium Disaster was still in operation at this time. Just days after the FA Cup triumph, Wimbledon directors announced plans to build a new all-seater stadium in the club's home borough of Merton. In the season following the FA Cup
1922 FA Cup Final occurred outside the penalty area. 1922 FA Cup Final The 1922 FA Cup Final was contested by Huddersfield Town and Preston North End at Stamford Bridge. Huddersfield won by a single goal, a penalty scored by Billy Smith. This was the last final before the opening of Wembley Stadium, and was also Huddersfield's first and only FA Cup triumph. Preston goalkeeper James Mitchell was the first (and only) player ever to wear spectacles in an FA Cup Final. This was the first final to be decided by a penalty kick and the award of it was controversial, confirmed by newsreel