written by John Punshon
Sources: The Age, Soccer Star, The Sun

The Buffalo Cup 1988 was played as a knock-out competition involving the 6 Victorian NSL teams and the top 4 teams from the 1987 State League.

Home Team		v		Away Team
Elimination Round
Friday, January 15, 1988. Olympic Park, Melbourne.
Maribyrnong Polonia Barney Kostrzewa, Rick Farrugia (Cortis 68), Aki Kotzamichalis, Bobby Stojcevski, Brendan Lakic, Janusz Baran, Peter Czapnik, Steve Chetcuti, Ognenovski, Alex Marshall, Janusz Przybyla. Coach: Janusz Baran. Goals: Przybyla 38, Baran 45, Chetcuti 88	3	-	2	Green Gully Green Cully: Charlie Sant, Debono, Dave Deakin, Steve McLelland, Steve Douglas, Alan Ciangurra, John Grimaud, Colin Quigley, Borg, Billy Romanovski, Danny Ward. Coach: Willie Vassallo. Goals: Romanovski 31, Douglas 47
Friday, January 15, 1988. Olympic Park, Melbourne.
Heidelberg United Paul Ford, John Kanesoulis, Nick Ousalkas, Scott Fraser, Byrne, John Anastasiadis, Mike Valentine, Kon Pappas, Stan Thodis (Katsakis 85), Andy Deeley, Paul Tzintzis (Lazenkas 85). Coach: Terry Hennessey. Goals: Fraser 46pk, Deeley 50, 75, 88	4	-	0	Fawkner Fawkner : Kasimas, Roy Walsh (Rizza 46), Cesare Fattore, Tony Schipano, Peter Bordignon, Joe Palinkas (Joe Angele 79), George Traikovski, Ged Stenson, Frank Sabbatino (Cricenti 79), Doug Brown, Peter Verechia. Coach: Frank McAleer.
Quarter-Finals
Saturday, January 16, 1988. Olympic Park, Melbourne.
Preston Makedonia Phil Traianedes, Ian Roodhouse, Steve Jackson, Zoran Tasevski, Con Opasinis, Mike McLennan (Bill Piculovski 61), John Stewart, Steve Gojevic, George Jolevski, Goce Dimovski, Michael Brian. Coach: Ernie Merrick. Goals: Gojevic 32, Stewart 38, Dimovski 67	3	-	1	Sunshine George Cross Sean Keogh, Chris Taylor (George Alevizos 85), Shaun Parton, Tom Markovski, John Campelj (Steve Richardson 46), Robert Markovac, Les Carter, Jeff Faulkner, John Markovski, Gary Clark (Gary Hasler 85), Mark Lennon. Coach: John Gardiner. Goal: Lennon 14
Saturday, January 16, 1988. Olympic Park, Melbourne.
Melbourne Croatia Jeff Olver, Paul Babic, George Hannah, Frank Valentic, Paul Jurcic, Josip Biskic, Branko Milosevic, Mark Talajic, Graham Heys, Paul Lewis, Alan Scott. Coach: Ian Wallace. Goals: Scott 5, Hannah 106 After extra time	2	-	1	Brunswick Juventus Pat Marrama, Peter Lewis, Brian Brown, Memhet Durakovic, Vlatko Belic, Scott Patterson, Mike Petersen, John Dowie (Falcone 56), Andrew Zinni, Sean Lane, Joe Palatsides. Coach: Len McKendry. Goal: Patterson 76
Thursday, January 21, 1988. Olympic Park, Melbourne. Att: 4,000 (dh).
Heidelberg United Paul Ford, John Kanesoulis, Scott Fraser, Nick Ousalkas, Byrne, John Anastasiadis, Kon Pappas, Mike Valentine, Stan Thodis (Claude Lucchesi 35), Andy Deeley, Paul Tzintzis. Coach: Terry Hennessey. Goals: Fraser 39pk, Lucchesi 43, Pappas 69	3	-	1	Maribyrnong Polonia Barney Kostrzewa, Rick Farrugia, Aki Kotzamichalis, Bobby Stojcevski, Ognenovski, Janusz Baran (Greg Warszawski 13,, Cortis 22), Peter Czapnik, Steve Chetcuti, Brendan Lakic, Alex Marshall, Janusz Przybyla. Coach: Janusz Baran. Goal: Chetcuti 14
Thursday, January 21, 1988. Olympic Park, Melbourne. Att: 4,000 (dh). Referee: Mike Gaut.
South Melbourne Con Giatas, Bobby Russell, Steve Blair, Manny Anezakis, Ange Postecoglou, Paul Foster, Paul Wade, Steve Tasios, David Healy, Paul Trimboli, George Kalogeras. Coach: Brian Garvey. Goals: Postecoglou 21, Trimboli 50	2	-	0	Footscray JUST Zoran Nikitovic, Gary van Egmond, Drago Deankovic, Tyrone James, Eddie Campbell, Ernie Tapai, Oscar Crino, Vlado Bozinoski, Kenny Murphy, Warren Spink, Zdravko Lujic. Coach: Mirsad Fazlagic.
Semi-Finals
Wednesday, January 27, 1988. Olympic Park, Melbourne. Att: 5,600 (dh). Referee: John Stojkovic.
Preston Makedonia Phil Traianedes, Ian Roodhouse, Steve Jackson, Zoran Tasevski (Bill Piculovski 64), Con Opasinis, George Petrov, Goce Dimovski (George Jolevski 75), Steve Gojevic, John Stewart, Steve Smith, Michael Brian. Coach: Ernie Merrick. Goals: Tasevski 50, Smith 82, 85	3	-	1	Heidelberg United Paul Ford, John Kanesoulis, Nick Ousalkas, Scott Fraser, Byrne (Katsakis 85), John Anastasiadis, Mike Valentine, Kon Pappas, Paul Tzintzis (Tasevski 46), Andy Deeley (Lazenkas 85), Claude Lucchesi. Coach: Terry Hennessey. Goal: Ousalkas 41
Wednesday, January 27, 1988. Olympic Park, Melbourne. Att: 5,600 (dh). Referee: Bernie Upjohn.
South Melbourne Con Giatas, Bobby Russell, Manny Anezakis, Steve Blair, Ange Postecoglou, Paul Wade, Paul Foster, Steve Tasios, David Healy, Paul Trimboli, George Kalogeras. Coach: Brian Garvey. Goals: Foster 35, Tasios 57	2	-	0	Melbourne Croatia Jeff Olver, Paul Babic, Frank Valentic, Ian Dobson (Garma 84), Paul Jurcic (Joe Caleta 63), Josip Biskic, Mark Talajic, Branko Milosevic, Graham Heys, Paul Lewis, Alan Scott. Coach: Ian Wallace.
1988 Buffalo Cup Final
Wednesday, February 10, 1988. Olympic Park, Melbourne. Att: 8,367. Referee: Mike Gaut.
South Melbourne Con Giatas, David Healy, Bobby Russell, Steve Blair, Ange Postecoglou, Paul Foster, Paul Wade, Steve Tasios, Peter Tsolakis, Danny Wright (Paul Fernandes 80), Paul Trimboli. Coach: Brian Garvey. Goals: Postecoglou 33pk, 36pk, Tasios 43	3	-	1	Preston Makedonia Phil Traianedes, Steve Jackson, Ian Roodhouse, Bill Piculovski, George Jolevski (George Petrov 68), Con Opasinis (Mike McLellamd 82), John Stewart, Steve Gojevic, Goce Dimovski, Steve Smith, Michael Brian (George Slifkas 46). Coach: Ernie Merrick. Goal: Smith 44