1986 Football League Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1986 Milk Cup Final was a football
match held on 20 April 1986 between Oxford United
and Queens Park Rangers
. Oxford won the match 3–0 to capture the League Cup
— their first major honour. Trevor Hebberd
opened the scoring in the first half, and Ray Houghton
added a second. Jeremy Charles
scored the third following up when John Aldridge
had a shot saved by QPR goalkeeper Paul Barron
. The match was played at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,396 spectators.
Because UEFA
voted that the ban on English clubs in European competitions (beginning after the Heysel
disaster in May 1985) would continue for a second season, Oxford United were denied a place in the 1986-87 UEFA Cup.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
QUEENS PARK RANGERS:
|
GK
1
Paul Barron
DF
2
Alan McDonald
DF
3
Ian Dawes
DF
4
Warren Neill
MF
5
Steve Wicks
DF
6
Terry Fenwick
MF
7
Martin Allen
MF
8
Robbie James
FW
9
Gary Bannister
FW
10
John Byrne
MF
11
Michael Robinson
Substitute:
FW
12
Leroy Rosenior
Manager:
Jim Smith
Oxford United and Queens Park Rangers were both playing in the First Division
and both entered the competition at the second round stage, under the tournament format in place at the time which saw First Division teams enter in this round. Oxford had never previously progressed past the quarter finals, which they reached in the 1969–70 and 1983–84 seasons. Queens Park Rangers on the other hand, were victorious in the 1967 final
where they defeated West Bromwich Albion
. In the second round, Oxford defeated Northampton Town
of the Fourth Division
4–1 on aggregate after two legs. The 2–1 away victory at County Cricket Ground
was Oxford's first and only away win at Northampton in cup competitions. After a third round home win against Newcastle United
, Oxford United faced Second Division side and cup holders Norwich City
in the fourth round, winning 3–1. In the fifth round Oxford defeated Portsmouth
3–1, making it the third consecutive round where a 3–1 home victory was recorded. Despite the fifth round tie, the attendance for the game was around 400 lower than the league average, after a boycott was organized due to increased ticket prices. The semi-final against First Division Aston Villa was contested over two legs. The first at Villa Park
finished 2–2, with the return leg ending in a 2–1 victory for Oxford after goals from Jeremy Charles
and Les Phillips
.
The London
-based club began the competition against Second Division team Hull City
, winning 8–1 on aggregate, including a 5–1 away victory at Boothferry Park
. In the third round they beat Watford
of the First Division 1–0 at Vicarage Road
. The "Hoops" defeated another First Division team, Nottingham Forest
, in the fourth round, but found the fifth round tougher against Chelsea
. After the first match ended in a 1–1 draw at Loftus Road
, the reply held at Stamford Bridge
ended in a 2–0 win with goals from Alan McDonald and Michael Robinson. In the semi-finals, Queens Park Rangers took on Liverpool
. QPR went through 3–2 on aggregate after a 1–0 home win was followed by a 2–2 draw at Anfield
. Apart from the second round tie against Hull City, all of the teams that Queens Park Rangers defeated on their way to Wembley played in the First Division, including champions Liverpool. In contrast, Oxford United only faced two, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
match held on 20 April 1986 between 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...
and 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...
. Oxford won the match 3–0 to capture the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
— their first major honour. Trevor Hebberd
Trevor Hebberd
Trevor Neal Hebberd is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder.-Southampton:He signed for Southampton on leaving school in 1974 and made his first team debut two years later in a 2–2 draw against Hull City at Boothferry Park in the Second Division. He managed 12 league appearances...
opened the scoring in the first half, and Ray Houghton
Ray Houghton
Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father...
added a second. Jeremy Charles
Jeremy Charles
Jeremy Melvyn Charles is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international. Normally a centre-forward, he was equally adept as a centre-half. He played for Oxford United, Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers...
scored the third following up when John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
had a shot saved by QPR goalkeeper Paul Barron
Paul Barron
Paul George Barron is an English former football goalkeeper. He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:...
. The match was played at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,396 spectators.
Because UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
voted that the ban on English clubs in European competitions (beginning after the Heysel
Heysel
Heysel or Heizel , is an area in Brussels and may in particular refer to:* Heysel Park, a part of Brussels* Heysel Metro Station, one of the metro stations on line 6 of the Brussels Metro...
disaster in May 1985) would continue for a second season, Oxford United were denied a place in the 1986-87 UEFA Cup.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | OXFORD UNITED: | ||
| GK | 1 | Alan Judge |
|
| DF | 2 | Dave Langan |
|
| DF | 3 | John Trewick John Trewick John Trewick is an English football coach and former midfielder. He is currently Senior Coach at Shrewsbury Town. He was first team coach at Hereford United from 2004-2009... |
|
| MF | 4 | Les Phillips Les Phillips Leslie Michael Phillips was an English football midfielder.Phillips began his career at Birmingham City, making his debut in a 2-2 draw at West Ham in 1982. In all he played 44 league games for Birmingham, scoring 3 goals, before he was transferred to Oxford United in March 1984... |
|
| DF | 5 | Gary Briggs Gary Briggs (footballer) __FORCETOC__Gary Briggs is a retired English professional football player. He made over 500 league appearances in an eighteen-year playing career, during which he became known as a no-nonsense, tough-tackling defender, hence his "Rambo" nickname.-Career:In the 1977-78 season, at the age of... |
|
| DF | 6 | Malcolm Shotton Malcolm Shotton Malcolm Shotton is an English former professional footballer and manager. He was on the books of Leicester City as an apprentice but failed to make the break into senior football there. He played for Atherstone United and Nuneaton Borough in non-league football before signing for Oxford United in... |
|
| MF | 7 | Ray Houghton Ray Houghton Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father... |
|
| FW | 8 | John Aldridge John Aldridge John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager... |
|
| FW | 9 | Jeremy Charles Jeremy Charles Jeremy Melvyn Charles is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international. Normally a centre-forward, he was equally adept as a centre-half. He played for Oxford United, Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers... |
|
| MF | 10 | Trevor Hebberd Trevor Hebberd Trevor Neal Hebberd is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder.-Southampton:He signed for Southampton on leaving school in 1974 and made his first team debut two years later in a 2–2 draw against Hull City at Boothferry Park in the Second Division. He managed 12 league appearances... |
|
| MF | 11 | Kevin Brock |
|
| Substitute: | |||
| FW | 12 | Andy Thomas Andy Thomas (footballer born 1962) Andy Thomas is an English retired professional footballer who played for Oxford United, Fulham, Derby County, Newcastle United, Bradford City and Plymouth Argyle. He later became player-manager of Oxford City.-External links:*... |
|
| Manager: | |||
| Maurice Evans Maurice Evans (footballer) Maurice George Evans was a football player with Reading Football Club, and later manager of Shrewsbury, Reading and Oxford United.... |
|||
Paul BarronPaul Barron
Paul George Barron is an English former football goalkeeper. He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:...
Alan McDonald Ian DawesIan Dawes
Ian Robert Dawes is an English former professional footballer, born in Croydon Surrey, who made more than 200 appearance in the Football League for each of his two clubs, Queens Park Rangers and Millwall, playing as a left back....
Warren NeillWarren Neill
Warren Anthony Neill is a former footballer, most notably with Queens Park Rangers, where he also worked as a coach.Neill made his QPR debut against Chelsea in 1980 and went on to play 181 league games scoring 3 goals...
Steve WicksSteve Wicks
Steve Wicks is an English former professional footballer. He was a tall, solid imposing player who played as a centre half. He most notably played for Chelsea, Derby County and Queens Park Rangers in the 1970s and 1980s...
Terry FenwickTerry Fenwick
Terence William 'Terry' Fenwick is an English football coach and former player. He is the current head coach for San Juan Jabloteh of the TT Pro League in Trinidad and Tobago.- Player :...
Martin Allen Robbie JamesRobbie James
Robert "Robbie" Mark James was a Welsh international footballer who played for many teams including Swansea City, Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers...
Gary BannisterGary Bannister
Gary Bannister is a former English professional footballer who played for Coventry City , Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion, Oxford United, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Lincoln City and Darlington...
John ByrneJohn Byrne (Irish footballer)
John Frederick Byrne is an English-born Irish former international footballer in the 1980s and 1990s.-Club career:...
Michael Robinson Leroy RoseniorLeroy Rosenior
Leroy Rosenior is a professional football coach and pundit. He is a former professional footballer whose clubs included Fulham, Queens Park Rangers , Bristol City and West Ham United.As one of the few black football managers in England, Rosenior has spoken openly about the racism...
Jim SmithJim Smith (footballer)
James Michael "Jim" Smith is a retired English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of The Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United, and played for three-and-a-half years for Boston United of the...
MATCH RULES
|
Route to the final
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Northampton Town Northampton Town F.C. Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season... (h) |
2–0 |
| Northampton Town (a) | 2–1 | |
| Aggregate score 4–1 | ||
| 3rd | 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... (h) |
3–1 |
| 4th | 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... (h) |
3–1 |
| 5th | 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... (h) |
3–1 |
| Semi-final | Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... (a) |
2–2 |
| Aston Villa (h) | 2–1 | |
| Aggregate score 4–3 | ||
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... (h) |
3–0 |
| Hull City (a) | 5–1 | |
| Aggregate score 8–1 | ||
| 3rd | Watford Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... (a) |
1–0 |
| 4th | 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... (h) |
3–1 |
| 5th | 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... (h) |
1–1 |
| replay | Chelsea (a) | 2–0 |
| Semi-final | 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... (h) |
1–0 |
| Liverpool (a) | 2–2 | |
| Aggregate score 3–2 | ||
Oxford United and Queens Park Rangers were both playing in the 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 both entered the competition at the second round stage, under the tournament format in place at the time which saw First Division teams enter in this round. Oxford had never previously progressed past the quarter finals, which they reached in the 1969–70 and 1983–84 seasons. Queens Park Rangers on the other hand, were victorious in the 1967 final
1967 Football League Cup Final
The 1967 Football League Cup Final took place on 4 March 1967 at Wembley Stadium. It was the seventh final and the first to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Queens Park Rangers of the Third Division and West Bromwich Albion of the First Division...
where they defeated 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...
. In the second round, Oxford defeated Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
of the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
4–1 on aggregate after two legs. The 2–1 away victory at County Cricket Ground
County Cricket Ground, Northampton
The County Ground, is a cricket venue on Wantage Road in the Abington area of Northampton, UK. It is home to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club....
was Oxford's first and only away win at Northampton in cup competitions. After a third round home win against 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...
, Oxford United faced Second Division side and cup holders 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...
in the fourth round, winning 3–1. In the fifth round Oxford defeated 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...
3–1, making it the third consecutive round where a 3–1 home victory was recorded. Despite the fifth round tie, the attendance for the game was around 400 lower than the league average, after a boycott was organized due to increased ticket prices. The semi-final against First Division Aston Villa was contested over two legs. The first at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
finished 2–2, with the return leg ending in a 2–1 victory for Oxford after goals from Jeremy Charles
Jeremy Charles
Jeremy Melvyn Charles is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international. Normally a centre-forward, he was equally adept as a centre-half. He played for Oxford United, Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers...
and Les Phillips
Les Phillips
Leslie Michael Phillips was an English football midfielder.Phillips began his career at Birmingham City, making his debut in a 2-2 draw at West Ham in 1982. In all he played 44 league games for Birmingham, scoring 3 goals, before he was transferred to Oxford United in March 1984...
.
The London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based club began the competition against Second Division team Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, winning 8–1 on aggregate, including a 5–1 away victory at Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park was a football stadium in Kingston upon Hull, and was home to the football club Hull City for over 50 years from 31 August 1946 until December 2002, when they moved to the Kingston Communications Stadium....
. In the third round they beat Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
of the First Division 1–0 at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
. The "Hoops" defeated another First Division team, 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...
, in the fourth round, but found the fifth round tougher against 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...
. After the first match ended in a 1–1 draw at Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
, the reply held at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
ended in a 2–0 win with goals from Alan McDonald and Michael Robinson. In the semi-finals, Queens Park Rangers took on 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...
. QPR went through 3–2 on aggregate after a 1–0 home win was followed by a 2–2 draw at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
. Apart from the second round tie against Hull City, all of the teams that Queens Park Rangers defeated on their way to Wembley played in the First Division, including champions Liverpool. In contrast, Oxford United only faced two, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.