Full Members Cup
Encyclopedia
The Full Members Cup was an association football cup competition held in English football
from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod
Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems
Cup from 1989 to 1992.
The competition was created after the Heysel Stadium disaster
, when English clubs were banned from European competition, as an additional competition for clubs in the top two divisions (but not the teams that would have qualified for Europe in 1985–86, as these played in the Super Cup
instead). It was named as such because these clubs were Full Members of the Football League
, with full voting rights; teams from the lower two divisions were Associate Members and were eligible for the Football League Trophy
(then known as the Associate Members Cup). However, it was cancelled after seven seasons, when the Premier League arose from the old Football League First Division
and reduced the Football League to three divisions.
Seven finals took place between 1986 and 1992. Blackburn Rovers
and Reading
were the only Second Division
teams to win the Cup. Chelsea
and Nottingham Forest
won the trophy twice.
and Second
Divisions) but not all eligible teams competed in the tournament. Details of numbers of teams competing in each of the seasons is provided below:
1985/86: 21 teams – 5 from Division 1 (Chelsea
, Coventry City
, Manchester City
, Oxford United
, West Bromwich Albion
) and 16 from Division 2 [note: the 6 teams that would have qualified for Europe were ineligible for the Full Members Cup as they played in the Super Cup
tournament instead].
1986/87: 30 teams – 14 from Division 1 and 16 from Division 2
1987/88: 40 teams – 17 from Division 1 and all 23 from Division 2
1988/89: 40 teams – 16 from Division 1 and all 24 from Division 2
1989/90: 37 teams – 13 from Division 1 and all 24 from Division 2
1990/91: 39 teams – 15 from Division 1 and all 24 from Division 2
1991/92: 41 teams – 18 from Division 1 and 23 from Division 2 (all D2 teams entered except Sunderland
)
Note: Four teams were in the First Division throughout the six seasons of the tournament but never entered the competition – Arsenal
, Liverpool
, Manchester United
and Tottenham Hotspur
.
1986: Chelsea 5 Manchester City 1
See 1986 Full Members Cup Final
for further details.
for further details.
for further details.
As Reading won the competition the same season in which they were relegated they were not eligible to defend the tournament the following season.
2
1
2
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod
Simod
Simod are an Italian sportswear manufacturer, based in Piove di Sacco. The company specialises in sports footwear, such as training shoes, running shoes and football boots, although they also design casual footwear not intended for use in sport....
Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems
Zenith Data Systems
Zenith Data Systems was a division of Zenith founded in 1979 after Zenith acquired Heathkit, which had, in 1977, entered the personal computer market. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Zenith sold personal computers under both the Heath/Zenith and Zenith Data Systems names...
Cup from 1989 to 1992.
The competition was created after the Heysel Stadium disaster
Heysel Stadium disaster
The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred on 29 May 1985 when escaping fans were pressed against a wall in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, as a result of rioting before the start of the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool of England and Juventus of Italy...
, when English clubs were banned from European competition, as an additional competition for clubs in the top two divisions (but not the teams that would have qualified for Europe in 1985–86, as these played in the Super Cup
Super Cup (English football)
The Super Cup was a one-off football club competition held in England in the 1985–86 season...
instead). It was named as such because these clubs were Full Members of the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, with full voting rights; teams from the lower two divisions were Associate Members and were eligible for the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
(then known as the Associate Members Cup). However, it was cancelled after seven seasons, when the Premier League arose from the old Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and reduced the Football League to three divisions.
Seven finals took place between 1986 and 1992. 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....
and Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
were the only Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
teams to win the Cup. 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...
and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
won the trophy twice.
Participants
The competition was open to teams from the top two levels of the English leagues (FirstFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and Second
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Divisions) but not all eligible teams competed in the tournament. Details of numbers of teams competing in each of the seasons is provided below:
1985/86: 21 teams – 5 from Division 1 (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...
, Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
) and 16 from Division 2 [note: the 6 teams that would have qualified for Europe were ineligible for the Full Members Cup as they played in the Super Cup
Super Cup (English football)
The Super Cup was a one-off football club competition held in England in the 1985–86 season...
tournament instead].
1986/87: 30 teams – 14 from Division 1 and 16 from Division 2
1987/88: 40 teams – 17 from Division 1 and all 23 from Division 2
1988/89: 40 teams – 16 from Division 1 and all 24 from Division 2
1989/90: 37 teams – 13 from Division 1 and all 24 from Division 2
1990/91: 39 teams – 15 from Division 1 and all 24 from Division 2
1991/92: 41 teams – 18 from Division 1 and 23 from Division 2 (all D2 teams entered except Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
)
Note: Four teams were in the First Division throughout the six seasons of the tournament but never entered the competition – 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...
, 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...
, 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...
and 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....
.
1986: Chelsea 5 Manchester City 1
4
See 1986 Full Members Cup Final1986 Full Members Cup Final
The 1986 Full Members Cup final was a football match which took place at Wembley Stadium on 23 March 1986. It was the final of the inaugural Full Members Cup, the competition created in the wake of the 1985 ban on English clubs from European competitions following the Heysel disaster...
for further details.
1987: Blackburn Rovers 1 Charlton Athletic 0
See 1987 Full Members Cup Final1987 Full Members Cup Final
The 1987 Full Members Cup Final was the final match of the second edition of the Full Members Cup football tournament and was contested between First Division team Charlton Athletic and Second Division side Blackburn Rovers...
for further details.
1988: Reading 4 Luton Town 1
See 1988 Full Members Cup Final1988 Full Members Cup Final
The 1988 Full Members Cup Final was contested by Luton Town and Reading.-Background:English teams were banned from Europe and the FA started a new cup for sides in the top two leagues-Route to the Final:...
for further details.
As Reading won the competition the same season in which they were relegated they were not eligible to defend the tournament the following season.
1989: Nottingham Forest 4 Everton 3 (aet)
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