1994–95 FA Cup

The FA Cup 1994-95 was the 114th staging of the world's oldest cup competition, the Football Association Cup or FA Cup. The competition was won by Everton, with a shock victory over Manchester United, who were strong favourites to add to the previous year's trophy but were beaten 1-0. This tournament was the 50th to be officially held since World War II (Wembley finals did not take place during the war). The winning manager, Joe Royle was notable for the fact that he would be the last English manager to lift the FA Cup up to and including the 2008 final, when Harry Redknapp broke this run.

Calendar

First round proper

The First Round featured those non-league teams who had come through the qualifying rounds and the teams from the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system. The matches were played on 12 November 1994. There were eleven replays, with one tie requiring a penalty shootout to settle it.

Second round proper

The second round of the competition featured the winners of the first round ties. The matches were played on 3 December 1994, with five replays and no penalty shootouts required.

Third round proper

The third round of the season's FA Cup was scheduled for 7 January and marked the point at which the teams in the two highest divisions in the English league system, the Premier League and the Football League First Division (now known as the Football League Championship). There were twelve replays, with one of these games going to penalties to settle it.

Fourth round proper

The fourth round featured the thirty-two winning teams from the previous round, and was played on the weekend of 28 January. There were five replays and two penalty shootouts.

Fifth round proper

The eight fifth round ties were played on the weekend of the 18th February, with three replays being required.

Sixth round proper

The sixth round, or quarter-final, ties were scheduled for the weekend of 11 March. The Crystal Palace–Wolverhampton Wanderers match went to a replay 11 days later.

Tottenham Hotspur progressed to the semi-finals of a competition that they had to appeal to compete in after being banned for financial irregularities, and their quarter-final victory over Liverpool ended their opposition's hopes of an FA Cup/League Cup double.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, the last non-Premiership side in the competition, were stuffed 4-1 at home by Crystal Palace in the replay after a 1-1 draw in the first game.

QPR's hopes of instant success under new player-manager Ray Wilkins were ended when they were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United, one of his former clubs.

Semi-Finals

Manchester United, also chasing the Premier League title, needed a replay to see off a Crystal Palace side who were battling against relegation.

Everton, meanwhile, blew apart a Tottenham side who had started the season banned from the competition for financial irregularities until an appeal saw them reinstated.

Replay

Final

The final was contested between Manchester United and Everton at Wembley Stadium, London on 20 May 1995. Everton won the match 1-0 through a Paul Rideout goal after half an hour. It was the first time in six years that United were left without a major trophy, while Everton had won their first major trophy in eight years.

External links

• BBC FA Cup news
• 1994-95 FA Cup Archive on FA website
• Resource detailing results for each team (source for penalty shootout results)