| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England Wales |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Manchester United (6th title) |
| Runners-up | Everton |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Top goal scorer | Ian Rush 7 |
The1984–85 FA Cup was the 104th staging of the world's oldestfootball knockout competition,The Football Association Challenge Cup, orFA Cup. The competition was won byManchester United, who defeatedEverton 1–0 atWembley, thus denying Evertonthe double just 3 days after winning theEuropean Cup Winners' Cup. The final was also notable for seeing the first sending off, withKevin Moran obtaining the unwanted distinction.
Most participating clubs that were not members of theFootball League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 28 places available in the first round.
The winners from the fourth qualifying round werePenrith,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 andWindsor & 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 in1973–74, Bognor Regis Town had last done so in1972-73, Tow Law Town had last done so in1968-69, Barry Town had last done so in1961-62, Stalybridge Celtic had last done so in1947-48 and Metropolitan Police had last done so in1931-32.
Additionally, Barry Town - competing exclusively in theWelsh 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 sideDistillery in1889-90.
The 48 teams from theFootball League Third andFourth Divisions entered in this round along with the 28 non-league qualifiers andNorthwich Victoria,Bangor City,Altrincham andTelford 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 theWearside 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 theWelsh Football League National Division, outside the English football system, this season.)
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 theIsthmian League Premier Division and Burton Albion from theNorthern Premier League.
Teams from theFootball League First andSecond 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 theBaseball Ground in Derby) which had ended in a 6–1 win for Leicester.[1] The replay was held at Coventry City'sHighfield Road stadium.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool (1) | 3–0 | Aston Villa (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| 2 | Southampton (1) | 4–0 | Sunderland (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| 3 | Watford (1) | 5–0 | Sheffield United (2) | 5 January 1985 |
| 4 | Gillingham (3) | 2–1 | Cardiff City (2) | 21 January 1985 |
| 5 | Notts County (2) | 2–2 | Grimsby Town (2) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Grimsby Town | 4–2 | Notts County | 8 January 1985 |
| 6 | Nottingham Forest (1) | 1–1 | Newcastle United (1) | 6 January 1985 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 1–3 | Nottingham Forest | 9 January 1985 |
| 7 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (2) | 1–1 | Huddersfield Town (2) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 3–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 23 January 1985 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough (2) | 0–0 | Darlington (4) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Darlington | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | 8 January 1985 |
| 9 | Luton Town (1) | 1–1 | Stoke City (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 2–3 | Luton Town | 9 January 1985 |
| 10 | Shrewsbury Town (2) | 0–2 | Oxford United (2) | 5 January 1985 |
| 11 | Doncaster Rovers (3) | 1–0 | Queens Park Rangers (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| 12 | Tottenham Hotspur (1) | 1–1 | Charlton Athletic (2) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Charlton Athletic | 1–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 23 January 1985 |
| 13 | Fulham (2) | 2–3 | Sheffield Wednesday (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| 14 | Barnsley (2) | 4–3 | Reading (3) | 5 January 1985 |
| 15 | Bristol Rovers (3) | 1–2 | Ipswich Town (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| 16 | Coventry City (1) | 2–1 | Manchester City (2) | 5 January 1985 |
| 17 | Portsmouth (2) | 0–0 | Blackburn Rovers (2) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Blackburn Rovers | 2–1 | Portsmouth | 26 January 1985 |
| 18 | West Ham United (1) | 4–1 | Port Vale (4) | 5 January 1985 |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion (2) | 1–0 | Hull City (3) | 5 January 1985 |
| 20 | Manchester United (1) | 3–0 | AFC Bournemouth (3) | 5 January 1985 |
| 21 | Millwall (3) | 1–1 | Crystal Palace (2) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Crystal Palace | 1–2 | Millwall | 23 January 1985 |
| 22 | Carlisle United (2) | 1–0 | Dagenham (5) | 5 January 1985 |
| 23 | Oldham Athletic (2) | 2–1 | Brentford (3) | 5 January 1985 |
| 24 | Chelsea (1) | 2–2 | Wigan Athletic (3) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Wigan Athletic | 0–5 | Chelsea | 26 January 1985 |
| 25 | Wimbledon (2) | 3–1 | Burnley (3) | 5 January 1985 |
| 26 | Leeds United (2) | 0–2 | Everton (1) | 4 January 1985 |
| 27 | York City (3) | 3–0 | Walsall (3) | 5 January 1985 |
| 28 | Hereford United (4) | 1–1 | Arsenal (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 7–2 | Hereford United | 22 January 1985 |
| 29 | Birmingham City (2) | 0–0 | Norwich City (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 1–1 | Birmingham City | 23 January 1985 |
| Replay | Birmingham City | 1–1 | Norwich City | 26 January 1985 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 1–0 | Birmingham City | 28 January 1985 |
| 30 | Burton Albion (6) | 1–6 | Leicester City (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| Replay | Burton Albion | 0–1 | Leicester City | 16 January 1985 |
| 31 | Orient (3) | 2–1 | West Bromwich Albion (1) | 5 January 1985 |
| 32 | Telford United (5) | 2–1 | Bradford City (3) | 5 January 1985 |
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 theAlliance 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's1900-01 Cup-winning campaign.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darlington | 1–1 | Telford United (5) | 29 January 1985 |
| Replay | Telford United | 3–0 | Darlington | 4 February 1985 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 1–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 27 January 1985 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 1–0 | Carlisle United | 26 January 1985 |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 0–0 | Wimbledon | 26 January 1985 |
| Replay | Wimbledon | 1–0 | Nottingham Forest | 30 January 1985 |
| 5 | Sheffield Wednesday | 5–1 | Oldham Athletic | 26 January 1985 |
| 6 | Grimsby Town | 1–3 | Watford | 26 January 1985 |
| 7 | Luton Town | 2–0 | Huddersfield Town | 26 January 1985 |
| 8 | Everton | 2–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 26 January 1985 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 3–2 | Gillingham | 26 January 1985 |
| 10 | Barnsley | 2–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 26 January 1985 |
| 11 | West Ham United | 2–1 | Norwich City | 4 February 1985 |
| 12 | Manchester United | 2–1 | Coventry City | 26 January 1985 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 2–3 | Millwall | 4 February 1985 |
| 14 | York City | 1–0 | Arsenal | 26 January 1985 |
| 15 | Oxford United | 0–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 30 January 1985 |
| 16 | Orient | 0–2 | Southampton | 26 January 1985 |
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.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southampton | 1–2 | Barnsley | 4 March 1985 |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 0–2 | Manchester United | 15 February 1985 |
| 3 | Luton Town | 0–0 | Watford | 4 March 1985 |
| Replay | Watford | 2–2 | Luton Town | 6 March 1985 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 1–0 | Watford | 9 March 1985 |
| 4 | Everton | 3–0 | Telford United (5) | 16 February 1985 |
| 5 | Ipswich Town | 3–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 4 March 1985 |
| 6 | Millwall | 2–0 | Leicester City | 19 February 1985 |
| 7 | Wimbledon | 1–1 | West Ham United | 4 March 1985 |
| Replay | West Ham United | 5–1 | Wimbledon | 6 March 1985 |
| 8 | York City | 1–1 | Liverpool | 16 February 1985 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 7–0 | York City | 20 February 1985 |
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 managerHarry 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.
| Everton | 2–2 | Ipswich Town |
|---|---|---|
Sheedy 5'Mountfield 85' | Report | Wilson 15' Zondervan 31' |
| Manchester United | 4–2 | West Ham United |
|---|---|---|
| Hughes 21' Whiteside 39',74',88' (pen.) | Hogg 36' (o.g.) Allen 84' |
| Luton Town | 1 – 0 | Millwall |
|---|---|---|
| B. Stein 31' |
| Ipswich Town | 0–1 | Everton |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Sharp 76' (pen.) |
| Everton | 2–1 (a.e.t) | Luton Town |
|---|---|---|
| Sheedy 85' Mountfield 115' | Report | Hill 38' |
| Manchester United | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Everton |
|---|---|---|
Moran 78'Whiteside 110' |
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 RoundBBCMet Police v Dartford (Report only)
Second RoundBBCDagenham v Peterborough United (Report only)
ITVReading v Bognor Regis Town (Highlights shown nationally after the league game Southampton v Arsenal and the World Club Championship match from Tokyo with commentary fromPeter Brackley)
Third RoundBBCLeeds United v Everton (LIVE-Friday Evening)ITVFulham v Sheffield WednesdayHereford United v ArsenalLiverpool v Aston VillaNewcastle United v Nottingham Forest (Midweek replay)Charlton Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur (Midweek replay)
Fourth RoundBBCYork City v ArsenalOrient v SouthamptonGrimsby Town v WatfordWimbledon v Nottingham Forest (Midweek replay)ITVLiverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (LIVE-Sunday Afternoon)
Fifth RoundBBCBlackburn Rovers v Manchester United (LIVE-Friday Evening)Luton Town v Watford (Saturday 2nd replay)ITVYork City v LiverpoolEverton v Telford United
Sixth RoundBBCManchester United v West Ham UnitedEverton v Ipswich TownLuton Town v Millwall (Midweek)Ipswich Town v Everton (Midweek replay)ITVBarnsley v Liverpool (LIVE-Sunday Afternoon)
Semi-FinalsBBCEverton v Luton TownITVLiverpool v Manchester UnitedLiverpool v Manchester United (Midweek replay)
FinalEverton v Manchester United shown Live by both the BBC & ITV.