Full Members Cup

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The Full Members Cup was an English football cup competition held from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod Cup (1987-89) and the Zenith Data Systems Cup (1989-92).

The competition was created after the Heysel Stadium disaster, when English clubs were banned from European competition, as an additional competition for clubs in the top two divisions (hence the name - these clubs were 'Full Members' of the Football League, with full voting rights. Teams from the lower two divisions were Associate Members and were eligible for the Football League Trophy). However, it was never taken very seriously by either clubs or players - it was optional, and many of the larger clubs did not participate at all in the competition's history, and it was cancelled after 7 seasons, when the Premiership arose from the old Football League First Division and reduced the League to three divisions. Another competition, the Super Cup for the teams who would have qualified for Europe, was introduced at the same time and lasted only one season.