Remembering the FA Cup years (1 Viewer)

THE MOST famous domestic cup competition in world football makes a welcome return this weekend as the Sky Blues entertain Crystal Palace at the Ricoh Arena.
Aidy Boothroyd will be hoping Saturday's third round tie will provide a timely distraction from the club's poor league form, which has seen the Sky Blues pick up just two points out of a possible 18 over the Christmas period.
Last season, the club lost out to eventual finalists Portsmouth at this stage in the competition. David Bell earned Coventry a replay following a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park, but a late Stephen Wright own goal allowed Portsmouth to progress.

Coventry's performance in the FA Cup in recent years can easily be summed by two disappointing defeats to Colchester in 2004 and Rochdale in 2003, but the City's love for the famous competition was re-fuelled in 2009.
Under former manager Chris Coleman, the Sky Blues knocked out Kidderminster Harriers, Torquay United and Blackburn Rovers to reach the last eight for the first time in 11 years, but found Premier League Champions Chelsea too hot to handle in front of a sell-out crowd at the Ricoh Arena.

Many fans will remember the run back in 1998, when the club reached the quarter-final stage of the competition. Their seemed to a real buzz around the city that the club could make a return to Wembley, 11 years after their famous triumph.
It all started with a memorable 3-1 victory away to Liverpool, then a 2-0 win at home to Derby County and who could forget that famous 5th round victory over Aston Villa when Viorel Moldovan scored his only goal for the club to earn the Sky Blues their first ever win at Villa Park.

A quarter-final fixture at home to Sheffield United looked easy on paper, but Coventry could only manage a 1-1 draw at Highfield Road. Gordan Strachan's side looked set for the semi-finals with two minutes remaining in the replay at Brammall Lane after Paul Telfer had put them ahead.
However, the dream turned into a nightmare when David Holdsworth scored with just one minute of normal time remaining and the Blades went on to win the penalty shoot-out 3-1 to break Coventry hearts.

The clubs proudest achievement in the competition and their history came in 1987, when they defeated favourites Tottenham Hotspur in what has been voted by many as the best ever FA Cup final.

After early round wins over Bolton, Manchester United and Stoke City, the Sky Blues comfortably defeated Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 away from home and returned to Hillsbrough to defeat Leeds 3-2 in an epic semi-final encounter.
On the 16th of May 1987, the Sky blues defeated Tottenham 3-2 against all odds at Wembley to lift the famous trophy for the first and only time in the clubs history. This years journey starts on Saturday at 3pm.