1987–88 in English football the FA Cup final. Wimbledon had only been league members for 11 years and First Division members for two years, while Liverpool had just wrapped up their 17th league championship. Lawrie Sanchez headed the only goal from a Dennis Wise free-kick in the first half of the final, while Dave Beasant became the first player to save a penalty in an FA Cup final (saving from John Aldridge, who had scored all 11 other penalties he had taken that season) and the first goalkeeper to captain an FA Cup-winning side. Ray Harford's Luton Town achieved a shock 3–2 win over
Dave Beasant of 1995, new manager Dave Merrington preferred Beasant in goal. The team struggled throughout the season, and were never far from the relegation zone, but finished level on points but with a better goal difference than Ball's Manchester City who were relegated. Beasant himself finished the season by being voted the club's Player of the Season. For the 1996–97 season, Graeme Souness was appointed manager; initially, Souness kept faith with Beasant but after a series of injuries (during which Saints took Chris Woods on loan), Souness signed Maik Taylor from Barnet in January. Beasant's final first-team game for Southampton was