Authentic Jerseys - 1 Business Day Dispatch - Follow Us @golacokits



English Soccer Post Heysel Tragedy

Posted by John Hickey on

The tragic occurrence in the Heysel Stadium in 1985 is very well known and often remembered. What is not often remembered is how the English soccer calendar was reorganized after the 5 year ban that was given to all clubs from European competitions.

With many open slots available, 2 domestic cups were created. The first one was only held once in 1986 called the Football League Super Cup, where the teams who had qualified for the 1985/86 European competitions (Everton, Norwich, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton) would play against each other. Liverpool lifted the trophy defeating city rivals Everton in the finals by a 7-2 aggregate.

The second cup was held every year from 1985 until the end of the ban in 1992. This was the Full Members Cup, named that way because it was composed by every club within the top 2 divisions who had full voting rights within the English Football League.

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest were crowned champions twice each, while Blackburn, Reading and Crystal Palace once each. Interestingly enough Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United chose to never compete in the cup and instead have those midweeks off to rest.

Once the English clubs were allowed back in UEFA competitions the Full Members Cup was extinguished and left in the past. It is too often forgotten, even by the clubs who won it, but understandably so given the circumstances in which it was created.

0 comments

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published