Dave Beasant promoted and stayed loyal to the club even when they were relegated again in 1982, being a key player in the side that won the Fourth Division title in 1983, won promotion from the Third Division a year later, and completed a four-season rise to the First Division in 1986 when they gained promotion from the Second Division in only their ninth season as a Football League team. He became the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final when he blocked John Aldridge's spot-kick for Liverpool in 1988, and in doing so helped Wimbledon secure a
1983 Football League Cup Final 1983 Football League Cup Final The 1983 Football League Cup Final was a football match held on 26 March 1983 between League Cup holders Liverpool and Manchester United, who won the FA Cup later that year. Liverpool won the match 2–1; Norman Whiteside scored the opener for Manchester United, before Alan Kennedy equalised with 15 minutes to go. The winner was scored in the eighth minute of extra-time by Ronnie Whelan. Had Manchester United won the League Cup as well as the FA Cup that year, they would have become the first team ever to have won the two competitions