The 1985–86 FA Cup was the 105th season of the world's oldest knockout football competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup. The competition was won by Liverpool, who defeated local rivals Everton 3–1 at Wembley in the first ever Merseyside derby final. Liverpool thus became only the fifth club to win the league and FA Cup double.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country |  England Wales |
| Defending champions | Manchester United |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Liverpool (3rd title) |
| Runner-up | Everton |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Ian Rush (6) |
First round proper
editTeams from the Football League Third and Fourth Division entered in this round plus Wealdstone, Boston United, Altrincham and Telford United, were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 16–17 November 1986. Replays were played on the 19th-20th.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enfield | 0–2 | Bognor Regis Town | 16 November 1985 |
| 2 | AFC Bournemouth | 0–0 | Dartford | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Dartford | 0–2 | AFC Bournemouth | 19 November 1985 |
| 3 | Bury | 2–0 | Chester City | 16 November 1985 |
| 4 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Darlington | 16 November 1985 |
| 5 | Yeovil Town | 2–4 | Hereford United | 16 November 1985 |
| 6 | Reading | 1–0 | Wealdstone | 16 November 1985 |
| 7 | Walsall | 7–3 | Preston North End | 16 November 1985 |
| 8 | Gillingham | 3–0 | Northampton Town | 16 November 1985 |
| 9 | Notts County | 6–1 | Scarborough | 17 November 1985 |
| 10 | Macclesfield Town | 1–2 | Hartlepool United | 16 November 1985 |
| 11 | Derby County | 5–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 16 November 1985 |
| 12 | Lincoln City | 0–1 | Blackpool | 16 November 1985 |
| 13 | Swindon Town | 0–0 | Bristol City | 17 November 1985 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 4–2 | Swindon Town | 20 November 1985 |
| 14 | Wrexham | 3–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 16 November 1985 |
| 15 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–2 | Chesterfield | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 19 November 1985 |
| 16 | Stockport County | 0–1 | Telford United | 16 November 1985 |
| 17 | Windsor & Eton | 1–1 | Torquay United | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 3–0 | Windsor & Eton | 19 November 1985 |
| 18 | Chorley | 0–2 | Altrincham | 16 November 1985 |
| 19 | Wycombe Wanderers | 2–0 | Colchester United | 16 November 1985 |
| 20 | Brentford | 1–3 | Bristol Rovers | 16 November 1985 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–0 | Aldershot | 16 November 1985 |
| 22 | Southend United | 0–1 | Newport County | 16 November 1985 |
| 23 | Exeter City | 2–1 | Cardiff City | 16 November 1985 |
| 24 | Mansfield Town | 1–1 | Port Vale | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 1–0 | Mansfield Town | 18 November 1985 |
| 25 | Halifax Town | 1–3 | Scunthorpe United | 16 November 1985 |
| 26 | Runcorn | 2–2 | Boston United | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Boston United | 1–1 | Runcorn | 20 November 1985 |
| Replay | Runcorn | 4–1 | Boston United | 25 November 1985 |
| 27 | York City | 0–0 | Morecambe | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Morecambe | 0–2 | York City | 19 November 1985 |
| 28 | Bishop's Stortford | 2–2 | Peterborough United | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Peterborough United | 3–1 | Bishop's Stortford | 20 November 1985 |
| 29 | Rotherham United | 6–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 16 November 1985 |
| 30 | Wigan Athletic | 4–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 16 November 1985 |
| 31 | Chelmsford City | 1–0 | Weymouth | 16 November 1985 |
| 32 | Nuneaton Borough | 2–3 | Burnley | 16 November 1985 |
| 33 | Slough Town | 2–2 | Aylesbury United | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Aylesbury United | 2–5 | Slough Town | 19 November 1985 |
| 34 | Whitby Town | 1–0 | South Liverpool | 16 November 1985 |
| 35 | Dagenham | 2–1 | Cambridge United | 16 November 1985 |
| 36 | Fareham Town | 0–3 | Maidstone United | 16 November 1985 |
| 37 | Swansea City | 2–0 | Leyton-Wingate | 16 November 1985 |
| 38 | Farnborough Town | 0–4 | Bath City | 16 November 1985 |
| 39 | Frickley Athletic | 1–1 | Halesowen Town | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Halesowen Town | 1–3 | Frickley Athletic | 19 November 1985 |
| 40 | VS Rugby | 2–2 | Orient | 16 November 1985 |
| Replay | Orient | 4–1 | VS Rugby | 19 November 1985 |
Second round proper
editThe second round of games were played over 7–9 December 1985, with replays being played on the 10th.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackpool | 1–2 | Altrincham | 7 December 1985 |
| 2 | AFC Bournemouth | 4–1 | Dagenham | 7 December 1985 |
| 3 | Bristol City | 1–2 | Exeter City | 7 December 1985 |
| 4 | Reading | 2–0 | Hereford United | 7 December 1985 |
| 5 | Gillingham | 6–1 | Bognor Regis Town | 7 December 1985 |
| 6 | Notts County | 2–2 | Wrexham | 7 December 1985 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 0–3 | Notts County | 10 December 1985 |
| 7 | Derby County | 6–1 | Telford United | 9 December 1985 |
| 8 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Bury | 7 December 1985 |
| Replay | Bury | 2–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 10 December 1985 |
| 9 | Wycombe Wanderers | 2–0 | Chelmsford City | 7 December 1985 |
| 10 | Plymouth Argyle | 3–0 | Maidstone United | 7 December 1985 |
| 11 | Scunthorpe United | 2–2 | Rochdale | 7 December 1985 |
| Replay | Rochdale | 2–1 | Scunthorpe United | 10 December 1985 |
| 12 | Port Vale | 0–0 | Walsall | 8 December 1985 |
| Replay | Walsall | 2–1 | Port Vale | 10 December 1985 |
| 13 | Newport County | 1–1 | Torquay United | 7 December 1985 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 2–3 | Newport County | 10 December 1985 |
| 14 | Runcorn | 1–1 | Wigan Athletic | 7 December 1985 |
| Replay | Wigan Athletic | 4–0 | Runcorn | 10 December 1985 |
| 15 | York City | 3–1 | Whitby Town | 7 December 1985 |
| 16 | Rotherham United | 4–1 | Burnley | 7 December 1985 |
| 17 | Peterborough United | 1–0 | Bath City | 7 December 1985 |
| 18 | Orient | 2–2 | Slough Town | 7 December 1985 |
| Replay | Slough Town | 2–3 | Orient | 10 December 1985 |
| 19 | Swansea City | 1–2 | Bristol Rovers | 7 December 1985 |
| 20 | Hartlepool United | 0–1 | Frickley Athletic | 7 December 1985 |
Third round proper
editTeams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in this round. Most of the third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 4–6 January 1986. Various matches and replays were played as late as 16 January, however.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bury | 2–0 | Barnsley | 13 January 1986 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 5–0 | Norwich City | 4 January 1986 |
| 3 | Walsall | 1–3 | Manchester City | 4 January 1986 |
| 4 | Gillingham | 1–1 | Derby County | 4 January 1986 |
| Replay | Derby County | 3–1 | Gillingham | 13 January 1986 |
| 5 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 4 January 1986 |
| Replay | Blackburn Rovers | 3–2 | Nottingham Forest | 13 January 1986 |
| 6 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 13 January 1986 |
| Replay | West Bromwich Albion | 2–3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 16 January 1986 |
| 7 | Grimsby Town | 3–4 | Arsenal | 4 January 1986 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 1–3 | Southampton | 13 January 1986 |
| 9 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Newport County | 4 January 1986 |
| 10 | Everton | 1–0 | Exeter City | 5 January 1986 |
| 11 | Shrewsbury Town | 0–1 | Chelsea | 4 January 1986 |
| 12 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | Fulham | 13 January 1986 |
| 13 | Ipswich Town | 4–4 | Bradford City | 4 January 1986 |
| Replay | Bradford City | 0–1 | Ipswich Town | 13 January 1986 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 0–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 January 1986 |
| 15 | Bristol Rovers | 3–1 | Leicester City | 4 January 1986 |
| 16 | Coventry City | 1–3 | Watford | 4 January 1986 |
| 17 | Portsmouth | 2–2 | Aston Villa | 4 January 1986 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 3–2 | Portsmouth | 13 January 1986 |
| 18 | Manchester United | 2–0 | Rochdale | 9 January 1986 |
| 19 | Millwall | 3–1 | Wimbledon | 4 January 1986 |
| 20 | Hull City | 2–2 | Plymouth Argyle | 4 January 1986 |
| Replay | Plymouth Argyle | 0–1 | Hull City | 7 January 1986 |
| 21 | Carlisle United | 1–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 13 January 1986 |
| 22 | Oldham Athletic | 1–2 | Orient | 6 January 1986 |
| 23 | Crystal Palace | 1–2 | Luton Town | 6 January 1986 |
| 24 | Huddersfield Town | 0–0 | Reading | 4 January 1986 |
| Replay | Reading | 2–1 | Huddersfield Town | 13 January 1986 |
| 25 | Charlton Athletic | 0–1 | West Ham United | 5 January 1986 |
| 26 | York City | 2–0 | Wycombe Wanderers | 4 January 1986 |
| 27 | Stoke City | 0–2 | Notts County | 13 January 1986 |
| 28 | Wigan Athletic | 3–0 | AFC Bournemouth | 4 January 1986 |
| 29 | Peterborough United | 1–0 | Leeds United | 4 January 1986 |
| 30 | Birmingham City | 1–2 | Altrincham | 14 January 1986 |
| 31 | Oxford United | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 January 1986 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–1 | Oxford United | 8 January 1986 |
| 32 | Frickley Athletic | 1–3 | Rotherham United | 4 January 1986 |
Fourth round proper
editThe fourth round of games were played over the weekend 25–26 January 1986. Replays took place on 28–29 January, or 3–6 February.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southampton | 3–0 | Wigan Athletic | 25 January 1986 |
| 2 | Reading | 1–1 | Bury | 25 January 1986 |
| Replay | Bury | 3–0 | Reading | 28 January 1986 |
| 3 | Notts County | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 January 1986 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 5–0 | Notts County | 29 January 1986 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Millwall | 25 January 1986 |
| Replay | Millwall | 1–0 | Aston Villa | 29 January 1986 |
| 5 | Sheffield Wednesday | 5–0 | Orient | 25 January 1986 |
| 6 | Sunderland | 0–0 | Manchester United | 25 January 1986 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 3–0 | Sunderland | 29 January 1986 |
| 7 | Luton Town | 4–0 | Bristol Rovers | 25 January 1986 |
| 8 | Everton | 3–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 25 January 1986 |
| 9 | Sheffield United | 0–1 | Derby County | 25 January 1986 |
| 10 | Manchester City | 1–1 | Watford | 25 January 1986 |
| Replay | Watford | 0–0 | Manchester City | 3 February 1986 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 1–3 | Watford | 6 February 1986 |
| 11 | West Ham United | 0–0 | Ipswich Town | 25 January 1986 |
| Replay | Ipswich Town | 1–1 | West Ham United | 4 February 1986 |
| Replay | Ipswich Town | 0–1 | West Ham United | 6 February 1986 |
| 12 | Hull City | 2–3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 25 January 1986 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 1–2 | Liverpool | 26 January 1986 |
| 14 | Arsenal | 5–1 | Rotherham United | 25 January 1986 |
| 15 | York City | 2–0 | Altrincham | 25 January 1986 |
| 16 | Peterborough United | 1–0 | Carlisle United | 25 January 1986 |
Fifth round proper
editThe fifth set of games were intended to be played on 15 February 1986, but due to bad weather, and an amazing 8 replays over the 8 ties, some of these ties were not concluded until just under a month later. Holders Manchester United were eliminated by West Ham United.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southampton | 0–0 | Millwall | 15 February 1986 |
| Replay | Millwall | 0–1 | Southampton | 5 March 1986 |
| 2 | Watford | 1–1 | Bury | 5 March 1986 |
| Replay | Bury | 0–3 | Watford | 8 March 1986 |
| 3 | Derby County | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 26 February 1986 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–0 | Derby County | 5 March 1986 |
| 4 | Luton Town | 2–2 | Arsenal | 15 February 1986 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 0–0 | Luton Town | 3 March 1986 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 3–0 | Arsenal | 5 March 1986 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–2 | Everton | 4 March 1986 |
| 6 | West Ham United | 1–1 | Manchester United | 5 March 1986 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 0–2 | West Ham United | 9 March 1986 |
| 7 | York City | 1–1 | Liverpool | 15 February 1986 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 3–1 | York City | 18 February 1986 |
| 8 | Peterborough United | 2–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 15 February 1986 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–0 | Peterborough United | 3 March 1986 |
Sixth round proper
editThe sixth round of FA Cup games were played either at the weekend on 8 March or midweek on 11-12 1986. Replays were played in the following midweek fixture.
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–2 | Southampton |
|---|---|---|
| Moran Cockerill |
Referee: Neil Midgley (Salford)
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2–1 | West Ham United |
|---|---|---|
| Worthington Shutt |
Cottee |
Referee: Joe Worrall (Warrington)
Replays
edit| Everton | 1–0 | Luton Town |
|---|---|---|
Lineker  16' |
Semi-finals
editEverton reached their third consecutive FA Cup final.
| Liverpool | 2–0 (a.e.t.) | Southampton |
|---|---|---|
| Rush 99', 104' |
Report |
Final
edit          Liverpool
|
  Everton
|