1985–86 FA Cup

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.

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 Frickley Athletic, South Liverpool, Whitby Town, Scarborough, Morecambe, Chorley, Macclesfield Town, Runcorn, Enfield, Dagenham, Nuneaton Borough, Leyton-Wingate, Wycombe Wanderers, Chelmsford City, VS Rugby, Halesowen Town, Bishop's Stortford, Aylesbury United, Dartford, Yeovil Town, Farnborough Town, Slough Town, Bath City, Windsor & Eton, Fareham Town, Maidstone United, Bognor Regis Town and Weymouth.

For only the third time since the introduction of qualifying rounds, all 28 clubs advancing to the first round had appeared in the competition proper before. However, Bath City had not featured at this stage since 1977–78, South Liverpool had not done so since 1972-73, Halesowen Town and Leyton-Wingate (as ''Leyton F.C.'') had not done so since 1955-56, and Aylesbury United had not done so since 1951-52.

On the other hand, Yeovil Town was advancing from the qualifying rounds for a new record-establishing 36th time. They did this in the absence from this season's main draw of Kettering Town, who had jointly set the previous marks with Yeovil in each of the preceding five tournaments.

First round proper

The 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions entered in this round along with the 28 non-league clubs from the qualifying rounds and Wealdstone, Boston United, Altrincham and Telford United who were given byes. The first round of games were played over the weekend 16–17 November 1985. Replays were played on the 19th-20th. The round included two clubs from Step 8 of the English football pyramid: Whitby Town from the Northern League and Halesowen Town from the West Midlands (Regional) League.

Second round proper

The second round of games were played over 7–9 December 1985, with replays being played on the 10th. Whitby Town from the Northern League (Step 8) was again the lowest-ranked team in the draw.

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in this round. Most of the third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 4–6 January 1986, however various matches and replays were played as late as 16 January. Wycombe Wanderers, Altrincham and Frickley Athletic from the Alliance Premier League at Step 5 of English football were the lowest-ranked teams in the round.

Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were played over the weekend 25–26 January 1986. Replays took place on 28–29 January, or 3–6 February. Altrincham was the lowest-ranked team in the draw and the last non-league club left in the competition.

Fifth round proper

The fifth round 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 the ties were not determined until just under a month later. Holders Manchester United were eliminated by West Ham United. Fourth Division side Peterborough United was the lowest-ranked team in the round.

Sixth round proper

The 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.

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Replays

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Semi-finals

Everton reached their third consecutive FA Cup final.

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Final

References

FA Cup Results Archive

{{DEFAULTSORT:1985-86 FA Cup

FA Cup seasons
FA Cup