FA Cup Final 1995
Encyclopedia
The 1995 FA Cup Final – the 50th Wembley FA Cup Final
to be held since the Second World War
– was contested between Everton
and Manchester United
on Saturday, 20 May 1995. Everton won the match 1–0 via a headed goal by Paul Rideout
, after Graham Stuart
's shot rebounded off the crossbar. The rest of the game from this point onwards saw Manchester United dominating the attack, only for Welsh international
goalkeeper Neville Southall
, to make a series of saves, including a double block, the second of which was performed with his foot.
Everton had secured Premier League safety two weeks earlier, and Manchester United, double-winners the previous season, had lost their league crown the previous Sunday to Blackburn Rovers
. United had to play the final without three of their most important players: Eric Cantona
(suspended), Andrei Kanchelskis
(injured), and Andy Cole
(cup-tied). Between them, those three players had scored 41 goals during the season. Kanchelskis was signed by Everton later in 1995, meaning that he never played for United again. The final was also the last game that Paul Ince and Mark Hughes (who had contributed greatly to United's successes under the management of Alex Ferguson) played for United, as they both moved to new clubs within weeks of the final. However, the game saw some promising performances from breakthrough players Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, who would all go on to win numerous major honours for the club. Neville and Scholes (along with Ryan Giggs) were the United players who featured in the final and were still with the club 15 years on.
Everton, meanwhile, had escaped from a relegation dogfight which had seen them make their worst start to a league campaign (8 points from a possible 42 after 14 games), with a superbly successful cup run which saw them reach Wembley having conceded only one goal (a penalty for Jürgen Klinsmann
of Tottenham Hotspur
in the semi-final, which Everton won 4–1).
It was Everton's first major trophy since they won the league championship eight years earlier, and is their most recent major trophy to date.
In contrast, Manchester United (who had been beaten to the Premier League title by Blackburn Rovers
a week earlier) were left without a major trophy for the first time since the 1988–89 season and were denied the opportunity to become the first club to win the FA Cup nine times.
This was the last time that an English
manager had won the FA Cup, as well as the last time a club outside the current "Big Four" of Arsenal
, Chelsea
, Liverpool
and Manchester United had won the FA Cup until 2008
, when Harry Redknapp
managed Portsmouth
to victory.
The trophy was presented to Everton captain Dave Watson
by The Prince of Wales
, whose sons Princes William and Harry
were attending their first FA Cup Final.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center>
MANCHESTER UNITED:
|
GK
1
Peter Schmeichel
RB
27
Gary Neville
CB
4
Steve Bruce
(c)
CB
6
Gary Pallister
LB
3
Denis Irwin
RM
16
Roy Keane
CM
8
Paul Ince
CM
9
Brian McClair
LM
5
Lee Sharpe
CF
10
Mark Hughes
CF
19
Nicky Butt
Substitutes:
GK
13
Gary Walsh
MF
11
Ryan Giggs
FW
24
Paul Scholes
Manager:
Alex Ferguson
Round 3: Everton 1–0 Derby County
Round 4: Bristol City
0–1 Everton
Round 5: Everton 5–0 Norwich City
Round 6: Everton 1–0 Newcastle United
Semi-final: Everton 4–1 Tottenham Hotspur
(at Elland Road
, Leeds
)
|width=50% valign=top|
Round 3: Sheffield United
0–2 Manchester United
Round 4: Manchester United 5–2 Wrexham
Round 5: Manchester United 3–1 Leeds United
Round 6: Manchester United 2–0 Queens Park Rangers
Semi-final Manchester United 2–2 Crystal Palace
(at Villa Park, Birmingham
)
(replay) Manchester United 2–0 Crystal Palace
|}
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
to be held since the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
– was contested between Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
on Saturday, 20 May 1995. Everton won the match 1–0 via a headed goal by Paul Rideout
Paul Rideout
Paul Rideout is a retired English professional football player who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He is a youth coach with Sporting Kansas City, heading their U-16, U-17 and U-18 teams.-Playing career:...
, after Graham Stuart
Graham Stuart (footballer)
Graham Charles Stuart is a former English football player who played as an attacking midfielder. He retired after being released by Norwich City on 17 May 2005....
's shot rebounded off the crossbar. The rest of the game from this point onwards saw Manchester United dominating the attack, only for Welsh international
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
goalkeeper Neville Southall
Neville Southall
Neville Southall MBE is a former Wales international footballer, best known for his time with Everton. He has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985...
, to make a series of saves, including a double block, the second of which was performed with his foot.
Everton had secured Premier League safety two weeks earlier, and Manchester United, double-winners the previous season, had lost their league crown the previous Sunday to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. United had to play the final without three of their most important players: Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
(suspended), Andrei Kanchelskis
Andrei Kanchelskis
Andrei Antanasovich Kanchelskis is a Ukrainian-born Russian football manager and former association footballer who played as a right winger. Kanchelskis is the only player in history to have scored in each of the Glasgow, Merseyside and Manchester local derbies.Currently, he is managing FC...
(injured), and Andy Cole
Andy Cole
Andrew Alexander Cole is a retired English footballer. He is most well known by the name Andy Cole , but in 2000, he reputedly asked to be known as Andrew Cole...
(cup-tied). Between them, those three players had scored 41 goals during the season. Kanchelskis was signed by Everton later in 1995, meaning that he never played for United again. The final was also the last game that Paul Ince and Mark Hughes (who had contributed greatly to United's successes under the management of Alex Ferguson) played for United, as they both moved to new clubs within weeks of the final. However, the game saw some promising performances from breakthrough players Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, who would all go on to win numerous major honours for the club. Neville and Scholes (along with Ryan Giggs) were the United players who featured in the final and were still with the club 15 years on.
Everton, meanwhile, had escaped from a relegation dogfight which had seen them make their worst start to a league campaign (8 points from a possible 42 after 14 games), with a superbly successful cup run which saw them reach Wembley having conceded only one goal (a penalty for Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager and former player who is currently the coach of the United States Men's National Team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the German one that...
of Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in the semi-final, which Everton won 4–1).
It was Everton's first major trophy since they won the league championship eight years earlier, and is their most recent major trophy to date.
In contrast, Manchester United (who had been beaten to the Premier League title by Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
a week earlier) were left without a major trophy for the first time since the 1988–89 season and were denied the opportunity to become the first club to win the FA Cup nine times.
This was the last time that an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
manager had won the FA Cup, as well as the last time a club outside the current "Big Four" of Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Manchester United had won the FA Cup until 2008
2008 FA Cup Final
The 2008 FA Cup Final was a football match held at Wembley Stadium on 17 May 2008 and was the final match of the 2007–08 FA Cup competition. The match was the 127th FA Cup Final, and the second to be held at the new Wembley Stadium since its redevelopment. The match was contested by Portsmouth and...
, when Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
managed Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
to victory.
The trophy was presented to Everton captain Dave Watson
Dave Watson
David "Dave" Watson is an English former professional footballer who made 12 appearances for the English national team. He is now the youth team coach at Newcastle United.-Playing career:...
by The Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, whose sons Princes William and Harry
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
were attending their first FA Cup Final.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | EVERTON: | |||
| GK | 1 | Neville Southall Neville Southall Neville Southall MBE is a former Wales international footballer, best known for his time with Everton. He has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985... |
||
| RB | 2 | Matt Jackson Matt Jackson Matthew Alan "Matt" Jackson is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender throughout his career and represented and captained England at U21 level.-Career:... |
||
| CB | 5 | Dave Watson Dave Watson David "Dave" Watson is an English former professional footballer who made 12 appearances for the English national team. He is now the youth team coach at Newcastle United.-Playing career:... (c) |
||
| CB | 26 | David Unsworth David Unsworth David Gerald Unsworth is an English former footballer who played in the position of centre-back or left-back, and is currently first team coach at Preston North End.... |
||
| LB | 6 | Gary Ablett |
||
| RM | 17 |  Anders LimparAnders Limpar Anders Erik Limpar is a Swedish former footballer of Hungarian origin, who played as a winger... |
||
| CM | 18 | Joe Parkinson Joe Parkinson Joe Parkinson is a former professional footballer, who played in midfield for Wigan Athletic, A.F.C. Bournemouth and Everton.... |
||
| CM | 10 | Barry Horne Barry Horne (footballer) Barry Horne is a Welsh former professional footballer and former chairman of the Professional Footballers Association.-Playing career:... |
||
| LM | 3 | Andy Hinchcliffe Andy Hinchcliffe Andrew George "Andy" Hinchcliffe is a former English footballer. Formerly of Manchester City, Everton and Sheffield Wednesday, he played as a left sided defender or wing back.... |
||
| SS | 8 | Graham Stuart Graham Stuart (footballer) Graham Charles Stuart is a former English football player who played as an attacking midfielder. He retired after being released by Norwich City on 17 May 2005.... |
||
| CF | 15 | Paul Rideout Paul Rideout Paul Rideout is a retired English professional football player who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He is a youth coach with Sporting Kansas City, heading their U-16, U-17 and U-18 teams.-Playing career:... |
||
| Substitutes: | ||||
| GK | 13 |  Jason KeartonJason Kearton Jason Kearton is an Australian former professional football goalkeeper.-Career:He began his career in his native land, firstly with Coalstars and then with the Brisbane Lions... |
||
| FW | 9 | Duncan Ferguson |
||
| FW | 11 |  Daniel AmokachiDaniel Amokachi Daniel Owefin Amokachi nicknamed "The Bull" is a former football striker from Nigeria.- Career :While playing for Ranchers Bees, Amokachi was discovered by Nigerian national team coach Clemens Westerhof, who brought the talented player to the 1990 African Nations Cup, and soon Amokachi moved to... |
||
| Manager: | ||||
| Joe Royle Joe Royle Joseph "Joe" Royle is an English football manager. In his club career, he played for Everton , Manchester City, Bristol City, Norwich City, and the England national team... |
||||
Peter SchmeichelPeter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993...
Gary NevilleGary Neville
Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years....
Steve BruceSteve Bruce
Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
(c)
Gary PallisterGary Pallister
Gary Andrew Pallister is an English former footballer, most noted for his nine-year spell at Manchester United from 1989 until 1998...
Denis IrwinDenis Irwin
Denis Joseph Irwin is a former Irish football player who is best known for his long and successful stint at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the most important players in the United team that won a host of domestic and European trophies in his time there between 1990 and...
Roy KeaneRoy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
Paul IncePaul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
Brian McClairBrian McClair
Brian John McClair is a former Scottish international football player who played as a forward, notable for his near 11-year spell at Manchester United, as well as important tenures at Scottish clubs Celtic and Motherwell...
Lee SharpeLee Sharpe
Lee Stuart Sharpe is an English former footballer. Predominantly a left winger, Sharpe joined Manchester United from Torquay United as a youngster in 1988, playing for the club up until 1996...
Mark HughesMark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
Nicky ButtNicky Butt
Nicholas "Nicky" Butt is an English footballer. He began his career with Manchester United and spent 12 years in their first-team before moving to Newcastle United in 2004. He spent one season on loan to Birmingham City in 2005–06...
Gary WalshGary Walsh (English footballer)
Gary Walsh is a retired English footballer who played as goalkeeper with a number of clubs including Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Bradford City and Wigan Athletic. He became goalkeeping coach at Wigan under manager Paul Jewell before teaming back up with Jewell at Derby County...
Ryan GiggsRyan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
Paul ScholesPaul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
Alex FergusonAlex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
MATCH OFFICIALS
MAN OF THE MATCH Dave Watson Dave Watson David "Dave" Watson is an English former professional footballer who made 12 appearances for the English national team. He is now the youth team coach at Newcastle United.-Playing career:... (Everton) |
MATCH RULES
|
Everton
Home teams listed first.Round 3: Everton 1–0 Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
Round 4: Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
0–1 Everton
Round 5: Everton 5–0 Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
Round 6: Everton 1–0 Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
Semi-final: Everton 4–1 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
(at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
)
|width=50% valign=top|
Manchester United
Home teams listed first.Round 3: Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
0–2 Manchester United
Round 4: Manchester United 5–2 Wrexham
Round 5: Manchester United 3–1 Leeds United
Round 6: Manchester United 2–0 Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
Semi-final Manchester United 2–2 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
(at Villa Park, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
)
(replay) Manchester United 2–0 Crystal Palace
|}