Full Members' Cup
| Company type | Football knockout competition |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Defunct | 1992 |
Area served | England |
| Products | Football tournament |
The Full Members' Cup was an English football knockout competition held between 1985 and 1992, also recognized as the Simod Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems Cup from 1989 until its conclusion in 1992.
This tournament was established following the 1985 Heysel Stadium tragedy and the subsequent prohibition of English clubs from European tournaments. It aimed to offer additional matches for clubs in the top two tiers of the English Football League. The title "Full Members" refers to clubs possessing full membership status and voting privileges within the Football League; meanwhile, teams from lower divisions competed in the Associate Members' Cup, now known as the EFL Trophy. The six clubs that qualified for European competitions in the 1985–86 season instead took part in the Football League Super Cup.
Although the European ban was partially lifted during the 1990–91 season and entirely removed by 1991–92, the Full Members' Cup persisted until it was discontinued after the 1991–92 campaign, coinciding with the inception of the Premier League.
Across its seven editions from 1986 to 1992, the competition witnessed notable achievements, including victories by Second Division sides Blackburn Rovers and Reading. Chelsea and Nottingham Forest emerged as the most decorated clubs, each capturing two titles.
Participants
Entry was open to clubs in both the First and Second Divisions, except those engaged in European contests who participated in the Super Cup instead. Several eligible teams chose not to enter each year; notably, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur never took part throughout the tournament's duration.
The number of participating teams fluctuated annually:
- 1985–86: 21 teams – comprising 5 out of 16 First Division clubs (6 others competed in the Super Cup), and 16 out of 22 Second Division sides
- 1986–87: 36 teams – including 14 of 22 First Division teams and all 22 Second Division squads
- 1987–88: 40 teams – with 17 of 21 First Division clubs and every one of 23 Second Division teams
- 1988–89: 40 teams – made up of 16 out of 20 First Division sides alongside all 24 Second Division clubs
- 1989–90: 37 teams – featuring 13 of 20 First Division teams plus all 24 Second Division participants
- 1990–91: 39 teams – consisting of 15 out of 20 First Division clubs together with all 24 Second Division sides
- 1991–92: 41 teams – including 18 of the 22 First Division teams and 23 out of 24 Second Division clubs (Sunderland abstained)
Finals
Teams from the Second Division are indicated in italics.[1]
External links
- When Saturday Comes – archived article discussing the Full Members' Cup (archived on 12 March 2012)
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