1984–85 FA Cup

The 1984–85 FA Cup was the 104th staging of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup. The competition was won by Manchester United, who defeated Everton 1–0 at Wembley, thus denying Everton the double just 3 days after winning the European Cup Winners' Cup. The final was also notable for seeing the first sending off, with Kevin Moran obtaining the unwanted distinction.

Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 28 places available in the first round.

The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Penrith, Stalybridge Celtic, Goole Town, Blue Star, Whitby Town, Tow Law Town, Macclesfield Town, Frickley Athletic, Nuneaton Borough, Barnet, King's Lynn, Burton Albion, VS Rugby, Kettering Town, Buckingham Town, Metropolitan Police, Fisher Athletic, Bishop's Stortford, Dagenham, Enfield, Dartford, Staines Town, Barry Town, Weymouth, Bognor Regis Town, Yeovil Town, Farnborough Town and Windsor & Eton.

Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Blue Star, VS Rugby, Buckingham Town, Fisher Athletic and Staines Town. Of the others, King's Lynn had last featured at this stage in 1973–74, Bognor Regis Town had last done so in 1972-73, Tow Law Town had last done so in 1968-69, Barry Town had last done so in 1961-62, Stalybridge Celtic had last done so in 1947-48 and Metropolitan Police had last done so in 1931-32.

Additionally, Barry Town - competing exclusively in the Welsh League this season - was the first club from outside the English football system to reach the first round of the FA Cup since (Northern) Irish side Distillery in 1889-90.

First round proper

The 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions entered in this round along with the 28 non-league qualifiers and Northwich Victoria, Bangor City, Altrincham and Telford United who were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 17–19 November 1984. Replays were played on 19th-20th, except that for Swindon Town and Dagenham, which was played on 26th. Blue Star, from the Wearside League at Step 10 of the English football system, was ostensibly the lowest-ranked team in the round as the Welsh League was the highest-standard football competition in Wales at the time.

(* Barry Town was competing in the Welsh Football League National Division, outside the English football system, this season.)

Second round proper

The second round of games were played over 7–8 December 1984, with replays being played on 11th, 12th and 17th. The round featured two teams from Step 6 of the English football system: Bognor Regis Town from the Isthmian League Premier Division and Burton Albion from the Northern Premier League.

Third round proper

Teams 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 1985, with the exception of the Gillingham-Cardiff City match. Replays took place at various times over the period 8–28 January.

Burton Albion (Step 6) was again the lowest-ranked team in the round. The FA ordered their tie with Leicester City to a replay behind closed doors after the Albion goalkeeper had been struck by a bottle in the first game (played at the Baseball Ground in Derby) which had ended in a 6–1 win for Leicester.The Independent, 8 January 2002
/ref> The replay was held at Coventry City's Highfield Road stadium.

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were mainly played over the weekend 26–27 January 1985. Some games were instead played or replayed on 29–30 January or 4 February. Telford United, from the Alliance Premier League (Step 5), was the lowest-ranked team in the round and became the first non-league club to defeat four Football League opponents in one tournament since Tottenham Hotspur in that club's 1900-01 Cup-winning campaign.

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were intended to be played on 15–16 February 1985, but most of these matches were not played until 4 March, with replays taking place on 6th. Telford United was the last non-league club left in the competition.

Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played either at the weekend on 9–10 March or midweek on 13 March 1985. A replay was also played on this later date.

Former Everton manager Harry Catterick collapsed and died at the ground shortly after the first match between Everton and Ipswich Town. Everton players wore black armbands in the replay in his memory. The match between Luton Town and Millwall was suspended for 25 minutes by crowd violence.

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Replay

Semi finals

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Replay

Final

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TV Coverage

The right to show FA Cup games were, as with Football League matches, shared between the BBC and ITV. As per the arrangements of the previous season four games were allowed to be screened Live from the Third round to the sixth and shared between the two companies, as well as the Final. For the first time since 1970 ITV nationally screened a second round tie with highlights of Reading v Bognor Regis Town. Replays were shared between the two companies.

First Round
''BBC''
Met Police v Dartford (Report only)

Second Round
''BBC''
Dagenham v Peterborough United (Report only)

''ITV''
Reading v Bognor Regis Town (Highlights shown nationally after the league game Southampton v Arsenal and the World Club Championship match from Tokyo with commentary from Peter Brackley)

Third Round
''BBC''
Leeds United v Everton (LIVE-Friday Evening)
''ITV''
Fulham v Sheffield Wednesday
Hereford United v Arsenal
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest (Midweek replay)
Charlton Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur (Midweek replay)

Fourth Round
''BBC''
York City v Arsenal
Orient v Southampton
Grimsby Town v Watford
Wimbledon v Nottingham Forest (Midweek replay)
ITV
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (LIVE-Sunday Afternoon)

Fifth Round
''BBC''
Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United (LIVE-Friday Evening)
Luton Town v Watford (Saturday 2nd replay)
''ITV''
York City v Liverpool
Everton v Telford United

Sixth Round
''BBC''
Manchester United v West Ham United
Everton v Ipswich Town
Luton Town v Millwall (Midweek)
Ipswich Town v Everton (Midweek replay)
''ITV''
Barnsley v Liverpool (LIVE-Sunday Afternoon)

Semi-Finals
''BBC''
Everton v Luton Town
''ITV''
Liverpool v Manchester United
Liverpool v Manchester United (Midweek replay)

Final
Everton v Manchester United shown Live by both the BBC & ITV.

References

FA Cup Results Archive
* MOTD Listing

* ITV Listing

* Midweek Football Listing

{{DEFAULTSORT:1984-85 FA Cup
1984–85 FA Cup,
FA Cup seasons
FA Cup