Pondering the 1985 FA Cup Final
So, who would add their name to the FA Cup winners list in 1985? Would Everton retain the Cup to make it their third trophy of the season? Or would Manchester United make it two out of three, taking the Cup back from Everton? Sit back, strap yourself in and enjoy the journey…
Norman Whiteside: 1985 FA Cup Icon
Saturday 18 May 1985 saw a compelling FA Cup final between Manchester United and Everton. Held, as always at Wembley Stadium, the match would be the culmination of a season’s effort from both clubs. Manchester United were determined to secure their second FA Cup in three years, having won the Cup in 1983.
Their opponents were last year’s winners, Everton. The Blues had high hopes that they could claim an historic treble. Already they had clinched their first League Title since 1970 when they had beaten QPR 2-0 on 6 May, and then on 15 May, the European Cup Winners’ Cup had been won in Rotterdam as they defeated Rapid Wien 3-1.
The final was a tense affair. Neither team managed to gain the upper hand. Everton’s Peter Reid had the first chance in the first half, as he returned Bailey’s poor clearance goalwards, only for fellow Scouser John Gidman to deflect the ball onto the post for United. Then, Frank Stapelton was offered a great opportunity by a smart dummy from Gordon Strachan. The Irishman stole forward into space but could not beat Neville Southall from distance.
Then, early in the second half, Andy Gray had a great chance for Everton after some good play by Reid down the right wing. The best chance fell to Norman Whiteside who burst through the centre only for Southall to smother his effort.
The game was slowly petering out when in the seventy-eighth minute, Peter Reid broke through the centre. This time, there was a defender, Kevin Moran between him and the goalkeeper. The Irish international mistimed his tackle and sent Reid flying through the air.
Initially, it looked as though referee Peter Willis was merely going to book Moran. However, it soon became apparent that he was off, even though there were no red cards in use at the time. This was the first time that a player had ever been sent off in an FA Cup final.
So, there we were. Everton now had a numerical advantage for the last 10 or so minutes of normal time. Could they find a winner to crown their season with the FA Cup to add to the League and the Cup Winners’ Cup? Sadly for them, it wasn’t to be. United survived to take the game to extra time.
And then, perhaps the strangest of football phenomena. The team down to ten men began to play better than their opponents. It may have been that Everton, seeing that they had not managed to finish the job in 90 minutes had allowed their season to catch up with themselves.
Had the exertions of Wednesday night caught up with them? Or was it that between confirming the League Title and winning the Cup Winners’ Cup they had played an additional 2 league games making it 4 games in 9 days and this final was their fifth game in 12 days?
Either way, you must give United credit because they made light of the numerical disadvantage. Five minutes after the midway point of extra time, found by Mark Hughes, Norman Whiteside cut in from the right wing. Advancing into the penalty area he curled a left-footed shot beyond Pat Van Den Hauwe and the despairing dive of Neville Southall into the bottom corner of the goal. In such dramatic fashion, the cup was won.
What of the teams’ respective journeys to Wembley? Both had been equally thrilling in their own right with potential banana skins avoided for good measure. Perhaps the tie of the whole campaign had been United’s battle against Liverpool in the semi-final that would go down in football lore.
The Road to Wembley: Manchester United and Everton’s Path to the Final
Under the guidance of Liverpool-born Ron Atkinson, Manchester United plotted their route to the final with a series of hard-fought victories. In the third round, they gained revenge against last season’s conquerors Bournemouth with a comfortable 3-0 home win. Next up, another home tie, this time Coventry City were defeated 2-1. The fifth round saw the short trip to Ewood Park and a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers. In the sixth round, another home tie and this time West Ham United were brushed aside in a 4-2 win.
But the defining moment in Manchester United’s journey came against their age-old rivals, Liverpool. The semi-final clash between the two giants at Goodison Park was nothing short of in a febrile atmosphere, the teams played out a 2-2 draw. With three minutes remaining of the 90, Ronnie Whelan’s curled effort had answered Bryan Robson. Then in extra time, Frank Stapelton had made it 2-1 before Paul Walsh bundled the ball over the line to seal the draw with just 60 seconds remaining.
So, the teams regrouped to Maine Road for another go. With an atmosphere that was no less frantic, this time Liverpool took the lead just before half time. They could not resist the second-half onslaught though, as they lost 2-1 to goals from Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes.
Everton, managed by Howard Kendall, boasted a formidable side destined to leave a mark on the season. With a league title nearly within grasp, their FA Cup campaign was equally impressive. Third-round opponents Leeds United, of the second division, could not make home advantage pay as the Toffees wound up 2-0 winners. Then a home tie, and another 2-0 victory over Yorkshire opponents in the shape of Doncaster Rovers.
Then in the fifth round, Everton played party poopers as they ran out victors 3-0 over non-League Telford United. In the sixth round, Ipswich Town earned themselves another crack at Everton after a 2-2 draw at Goodison, but Everton in the shape of Graeme Sharp took the spoils to earn a semifinal spot at Villa Park versus Luton Town. In a hard-fought battle, Everton earned their ticket to Wembley with a 2-1 extra-time win after it had finished 1-1 in the 90.
We have heard briefly about Telford United, but theirs was a fairytale run towards Goodison Park. So now let’s have a closer look at their exploits in getting that far and of course, we shall also examine those other occasions when we were treated to a dose of the FA Cup’s spirit of unpredictability.
Underdog Stories: Giant-Killings of the 1984-85 FA Cup
As we know, the FA Cup is renowned for its giant-killings – the triumph of the underdogs over favourites. In the 1984-85 season, the tournament continued this tradition, giving rise to stories that fans still talk about. Each upset served as a reminder that in football, anything is possible.
One standout moment was when Third Division club York City faced Arsenal at Bootham Crescent. Few expected the Minstermen to pose a serious challenge to the Gunners. However, with the pitch in such a state, having been cleared of snow and ice only in the morning, York City defied the odds, taking what was supposedly Arsenal’s place in the fifth round with a 1-0 win.
A foul by Steve Williams on Keith Houchen as the pair ran into the Arsenal penalty area, in the eighty-ninth minute, meant the referee had no option but to point to the spot. Houchen got up to take the penalty, coolly slotting to the right of John Lukic as he moved in the other direction. Oh, and remember the name… Keith. Houchen.
York’s reward for defeating the Gunners was another home tie, this time against Liverpool. Again, the pitch wasn’t in the best condition, but it was a good deal better than for the Arsenal tie. This time, Ian Rush opened the scoring before Ricky Sbragia earned the Minstermen a draw at Anfield. Unfortunately, there was to be no fairy tale ending as Liverpool ran out 7-0 winners in the replay,
Telford United of the Alliance Premier or Gola League, two levels below the fourth division, had a blast in the FA Cup. That they were paired with relatively unglamorous opposition should not detract from their performance. Neither should their having received a bye to the first round proper.
Lincoln City of the third division were their first scalp. After a 1-1 draw at Sincil Bank, the Buck’s Head saw a famous night as a 2-1 put United into the second round. The reward for this was an away tie at Preston North End, also of the third division. North End were having a dreadful season, which ultimately ended with them getting relegated. This tie did not help their humour as Telford hammered them 4-1.
In the third round, the chairman must have been licking his lips at the prospect of a plum home tie against one of the big boys. However, although a home tie, it was yet another third-division team whose ball followed theirs out of the velvet bag. Bradford City.
The Bantams were having a fabulous season, but they were defeated 2-1. So, to the fourth round, when surely a big team would be visiting the Buck’s Head? Alas, not as fourth division Darlington were drawn. No matter, as a draw at Feethams gave Telford another bite at the cherry, which they took. A 3-0 drubbing saw their name in the fifth round.
Finally, they drew a big team. None came bigger in 1985 than Everton. Current holders of the Cup and motoring in the first division, this was a tall order for Telford. And so it proved as they were knocked out by the Toffees.
As you can tell by how long I’ve spent discussing them, these giant-killing acts are not mere footnotes but integral parts of the FA Cup narrative. They allow smaller clubs to dream that on their day, they can beat one of the goliaths of English football. This belief contributes to the unpredictability of the tournament and encapsulates the true spirit of competition.
1984-85: A Season Reviewed Within the Broader Football Landscape
Looking back, the FA Cup in the 1984-85 season was about more than the action on the pitch; it was a mirror reflecting the turbulence and transition of English. During this time, the sport faced significant challenges, with issues such as hooliganism and stadium safety drawing public attention following tragic incidents.
In the days before the final, we had seen the Bradford City fire on 11 May which resulted in the deaths of 56 spectators. On the same day, we witnessed a riot at St Andrews during the Birmingham City vs Leeds United which saw the death of a fourteen-year-old boy. And little did we know that just eleven days after the Cup final we would be faced with the carnage of Heysel when 32 Italians, four Belgians, two Frenchmen and an Ulsterman people died following a charge by Liverpool fans.
Although the joyous response of the fans of Manchester United to their 1985 FA Cup win should be remembered, it was overshadowed by those tragedies that marred the footballing world. They cast a pall over the event, serving as a stark reminder of safety concerns within stadiums.