1985–86 Associate Members' Cup

Football tournament season
1985–86 Associate Members Cup
Freight Rover Trophy
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales

The 1985–86 Associate Members' Cup, known as the 1985–86 Freight Rover Trophy, was the third staging of the Associate Members' Cup, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in the Third Division and the Fourth Division. The winners were Bristol City and the runners-up were Bolton Wanderers.

The competition began on 14 January 1986 and ended with the final on 24 May 1986 at Wembley Stadium.

In the first round, there were two sections split into eight groups: North and South. In the following rounds each section gradually eliminates teams in knock-out fashion until each has a winning finalist. At this point, the two winning finalists faced each other in the combined final for the honour of the trophy.

Preliminary round

Northern Section

Group 1
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Bolton Wanderers 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4
Crewe Alexandra 2 1 0 1 4 2 +2 3
Stockport County 2 0 1 1 2 6 −4 1
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
14 Jan Crewe Alexandra 4–1 Stockport County
20 Jan Stockport County 2–2 Bolton Wanderers
28 Jan Bolton Wanderers 1–0 Crewe Alexandra

Group 2
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Darlington 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4
Burnley 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4
Chesterfield 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
14 Jan Darlington 2–0 Chesterfield
21 Jan Chesterfield 1–2 Burnley
13 Mar Burnley 1–1 Darlington

Group 3
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Scunthorpe United 2 2 0 0 6 3 +3 6
Halifax Town 2 0 1 1 3 4 −1 1
Lincoln City 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 1
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
15 Jan Lincoln City 1–3 Scunthorpe United
21 Jan Scunthorpe United 3–2 Halifax Town
11 Feb Halifax Town 1–1 Lincoln City

Group 4
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Rotherham United 2 1 1 0 3 0 +3 4
Hartlepool United 2 1 0 1 3 5 −2 3
York City 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
14 Jan York City 0–0 Rotherham United
21 Jan Rotherham United 3–0 Hartlepool United
28 Jan Hartlepool United 3–2 York City

Group 5
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Tranmere Rovers 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 6
Preston North End 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
Bury 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
20 Jan Tranmere Rovers 2–0 Preston North End
29 Jan Preston North End 2–0 Bury
26 Feb Bury 1–2 Tranmere Rovers

Group 6
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Wigan Athletic 2 2 0 0 8 0 +8 6
Rochdale 2 1 0 1 1 6 −5 3
Chester City 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 0
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
20 Jan Rochdale 1–0 Chester City
22 Jan Chester City 0–2 Wigan Athletic
28 Jan Wigan Athletic 6–0 Rochdale

Group 7
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Port Vale 2 1 1 0 4 2 +2 4
Wrexham 2 0 2 0 3 3 0 2
Blackpool 2 0 1 1 3 5 −2 1
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
21 Jan Wrexham 1–1 Port Vale
23 Jan Blackpool 2–2 Wrexham
10 Feb Port Vale 3–1 Blackpool

Group 8
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Doncaster Rovers 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3
Mansfield Town 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3
Notts County 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
16 Jan Notts County 1–0 Doncaster Rovers
21 Jan Doncaster Rovers 1–0 Mansfield Town
11 Mar Mansfield Town 1–0 Notts County

Group 8 play-off
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Mansfield Town 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 6
Notts County 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
Doncaster Rovers 1 0 0 1 2 4 −2 0
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
17 Mar Mansfield Town 4–2 Doncaster Rovers
20 Mar Notts County 0–1 Mansfield Town

Southern Section

Group 1
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Leyton Orient 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 6
Bournemouth 2 1 0 1 6 3 +3 3
Reading 2 0 0 2 0 8 −8 0
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
14 Jan Leyton Orient 3–1 Bournemouth
21 Jan Bournemouth 5–1 Reading
6 Mar Reading 0–3 Leyton Orient

Group 2
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Northampton Town 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 6
Colchester United 2 1 0 1 5 3 +2 3
Southend United 2 0 0 2 2 7 −5 0
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
14 Jan Colchester United 4–1 Southend United
21 Jan Northampton Town 2–1 Colchester United
13 Mar Southend United 1–3 Northampton Town

Group 3
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Gillingham 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4
Brentford 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 2
Derby County 2 0 1 1 0 2 −2 1
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
15 Jan Brentford 0–0 Derby County
22 Jan Derby County 0–2 Gillingham
29 Jan Gillingham 1–1 Brentford

Group 4
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Hereford United 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4
Bristol Rovers 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3
Swindon Town 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
15 Jan Hereford United 2–0 Bristol Rovers
21 Jan Bristol Rovers 2–1 Swindon Town
11 Mar Swindon Town 1–1 Hereford United

Group 5
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Cambridge United 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4 6
Peterborough United 2 1 0 1 3 4 −1 3
Aldershot 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 0
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
14 Jan Aldershot 0–1 Cambridge United
17 Jan Cambridge United 4–1 Peterborough United
17 Apr Peterborough United 2–0 Aldershot

Group 6
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Bristol City 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4
Walsall 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
Plymouth Argyle 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
14 Jan Bristol City 0–0 Plymouth Argyle
21 Jan Plymouth Argyle 0–1 Walsall
28 Jan Walsall 1–2 Bristol City

Group 7
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Swansea City 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4
Newport County 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4
Cardiff City 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 0
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
20 Jan Swansea City 1–1 Newport County
21 Jan Newport County 1–0 Cardiff City
28 Jan Cardiff City 0–2 Swansea City

Group 8
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Torquay United 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
Exeter City 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1
Source: [citation needed]
Date Team 1  Score  Team 2
14 Jan Exeter City 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
22 Jan Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Torquay United
29 Jan Torquay United 1–0 Exeter City

Quarter-finals

Northern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
18 February Wigan Athletic 3–0 Rotherham United
10 March Scunthorpe United 1–1 Port Vale
Port Vale won 4–3 on penalties[1]
11 March Bolton Wanderers 2–1 Tranmere Rovers
27 March Darlington 3–0 Mansfield Town

Southern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
19 February Swansea City 1–0 Torquay United
24 February Gillingham 2–0 Cambridge United
24 March Leyton Orient 1–2 Hereford United
27 March Bristol City 3–2 Northampton Town

Area semi-finals

Northern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
26 March Port Vale 1–2 Wigan Athletic
1 May Darlington 0–3 Bolton Wanderers

Southern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
2 April Bristol City 3–0 Gillingham
2 April Hereford United 0–0 Swansea City
Hereford United won 5–4 on penalties[1]

Area finals

Northern Area final

Bolton Wanderers(3) 2 – 1 (1)Wigan Athletic

Southern Area final

Hereford United2–0Bristol City
Bristol City(3) 3 – 0 (2)Hereford United

Final

Bristol City3–0Bolton Wanderers
,
  • Pritchard
    		• Report
    Wembley Stadium, London
    Attendance: 54,502
    Referee: G.Tyson (Sunderland)

    Notes

    General

    • statto.com

    Specific

    1. ^ a b After extra-time.
    • v
    • t
    • e
    Football League Group Cup/Football League Trophy (1981–1983)
    Seasons
    Finals
    • 1982
    • 1983
    Associate Members' Cup (1983–1992)
    Seasons
    Finals
    Football League Trophy (1992–2016)
    Seasons
    Finals
    EFL Trophy (2016–present)
    Seasons
    Finals
    • v
    • t
    • e
    National teams
    League competitions
    Levels 1–4
    Level 5
    Levels 6–7
    Levels 8–9
    Cup competitions
    FA cups
    Football League cups
    Club seasons
    First Division
    Second Division
    Third Division
    • Blackpool
    • Bolton Wanderers
    • Bournemouth
    • Brentford
    • Bristol City
    • Bristol Rovers
    • Bury
    • Cardiff City
    • Chesterfield
    • Darlington
    • Derby County
    • Doncaster Rovers
    • Gillingham
    • Lincoln City
    • Newport County
    • Notts County
    • Plymouth Argyle
    • Reading
    • Rotherham United
    • Swansea City
    • Walsall
    • Wigan Athletic
    • Wolverhampton Wanderers
    • York City
    Fourth Division