1985–86 Football League Trophy

The 1985–86 Football League Trophy, known as the 1985–86 Freight Rover Trophy, was the third staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in the Third Division and the Fourth Division. The winners were Bristol City and the runners-up were Bolton Wanderers.

The competition began on 14 January 1986 and ended with the final on 24 May 1986 at Wembley Stadium.

In the first round, there were two sections split into eight groups: North and South. In the following rounds each section gradually eliminates teams in knock-out fashion until each has a winning finalist. At this point, the two winning finalists face each other in the combined final for the honour of the trophy.

Preliminary round

Northern Section

Group 1

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Bolton Wanderers 42 1 1 0 3 2 +1
Crewe Alexandra 32 1 0 1 4 2 +2
Stockport County 12 0 1 1 2 6 -3

14 JanCrewe Alexandra 4–1 Stockport County
20 JanStockport County 2–2 Bolton Wanderers
28 JanBolton Wanderers 1–0 Crewe Alexandra

Group 4

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Rotherham United 42 1 1 0 3 0 +3
Hartlepool United 32 1 0 1 3 5 -2
York City 12 0 1 1 2 3 -1

14 JanYork City 0–0 Rotherham United
21 JanRotherham United 3–0 Hartlepool United
28 JanHartlepool United 3–2 York City

Group 7

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Port Vale 42 1 1 0 4 2 +2
Wrexham 22 0 2 0 3 3 0
Blackpool 12 0 1 1 3 5 -2

21 JanWrexham 1–1 Port Vale
23 JanBlackpool 2–2 Wrexham
10 FebPort Vale 3–1 Blackpool

Group 2

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Darlington 42 1 1 0 3 1 +2
Burnley 42 1 1 0 3 2 +1
Chesterfield 02 0 0 2 1 4 -3

14 JanDarlington 2–0 Chesterfield
21 JanChesterfield 1–2 Burnley
13 MarBurnley 1–1 Darlington

Group 5

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Tranmere Rovers 62 2 0 0 4 1 +3
Preston North End 32 1 0 1 2 2 0
Bury 02 0 0 2 1 4 -3

20 JanTranmere Rovers 2–0 Preston North End
29 JanPreston North End 2–0 Bury
26 FebBury 1–2 Tranmere Rovers

Group 8

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Doncaster Rovers 32 1 0 1 1 1 0
Mansfield Town 32 1 0 1 1 1 0
Notts County 32 1 0 1 1 1 0

16 JanNotts County 1–0 Doncaster Rovers
21 JanDoncaster Rovers 1–0 Mansfield Town
11 MarMansfield Town 1–0 Notts County

Group 3

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Scunthorpe United 62 2 0 0 6 3 +3
Halifax Town 12 0 1 1 3 4 -1
Lincoln City 12 0 1 1 2 4 -2

15 JanLincoln City 1–3 Scunthorpe United
21 JanScunthorpe United 3–2 Halifax Town
11 FebHalifax Town 1–1 Lincoln City

Group 6

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Wigan Athletic 62 2 0 0 8 0 +8
Rochdale 32 1 0 1 1 6 -5
Chester City 02 0 0 2 0 3 -3

20 JanRochdale 1–0 Chester City
22 JanChester City 0–2 Wigan Athletic
28 JanWigan Athletic 6–0 Rochdale

Group 8 play-off

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Mansfield Town 62 2 0 0 5 2 +3
Notts County 01 0 0 1 0 1 -1
Doncaster Rovers 01 0 0 1 2 4 -2

17 MarMansfield Town 4–2 Doncaster Rovers
20 MarNotts County 0–1 Mansfield Town

Southern Section

Group 1

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Leyton Orient 62 2 0 0 6 1 +5
Bournemouth 32 1 0 1 6 3 +3
Reading 02 0 0 2 0 8 -8

14 JanLeyton Orient 3–1 Bournemouth
21 JanBournemouth 5–1 Reading
6 MarReading 0–3 Leyton Orient

Group 4

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Hereford United 42 1 1 0 3 1 +2
Bristol Rovers 32 1 0 1 2 3 -1
Swindon Town 12 0 1 1 2 3 -1

15 JanHereford United 2–0 Bristol Rovers
21 JanBristol Rovers 2–1 Swindon Town
11 MarSwindon Town 1–1 Hereford United

Group 7

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Swansea City 42 1 1 0 3 1 +2
Newport County 42 1 1 0 2 1 +1
Cardiff City 02 0 0 2 0 3 -3

20 JanSwansea City 1–1 Newport County
21 JanNewport County 1–0 Cardiff City
28 JanCardiff City 0–2 Swansea City

Group 2

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Northampton Town 62 2 0 0 5 2 +3
Colchester United 32 1 0 1 5 3 +2
Southend United 02 0 0 2 2 7 -5

14 JanColchester United 4–1 Southend United
21 JanNorthampton Town 2–1 Colchester United
13 MarSouthend United 1–3 Northampton Town

Group 5

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Cambridge United 62 2 0 0 5 1 +4
Peterborough United 32 1 0 1 3 4 -1
Aldershot 02 0 0 2 0 3 -3

14 JanAldershot 0–1 Cambridge United
17 JanCambridge United 4–1 Peterborough United
17 AprPeterborough United 2–0 Aldershot

Group 8

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Torquay United 42 1 1 0 2 1 +1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 22 0 2 0 2 2 0
Exeter City 12 0 1 1 1 2 -1

14 JanExeter City 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
22 JanWolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Torquay United
29 JanTorquay United 1–0 Exeter City

Group 3

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Gillingham 42 1 1 0 3 1 +2
Brentford 22 0 2 0 1 1 0
Derby County 12 0 1 1 0 2 -2

15 JanBrentford 0–0 Derby County
22 JanDerby County 0–2 Gillingham
29 JanGillingham 1–1 Brentford

Group 6

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Bristol City 42 1 1 0 2 1 +1
Walsall 32 1 0 1 2 2 0
Plymouth Argyle 12 0 1 1 0 1 -1

14 JanBristol City 0–0 Plymouth Argyle
21 JanPlymouth Argyle 0–1 Walsall
28 JanWalsall 1–2 Bristol City

Quarter-finals

Northern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
18 FebruaryWigan Athletic3 – 0Rotherham United
10 MarchScunthorpe United1 – 1Port Vale
Port Vale won on penalties[1]
11 MarchBolton Wanderers2 – 1Tranmere Rovers
27 MarchDarlington3 – 0Mansfield Town

Southern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
19 FebruarySwansea City1 – 0Torquay United
24 FebruaryGillingham2 – 0Cambridge United
24 MarchLeyton Orient1 – 2Hereford United
27 MarchBristol City3 – 2Northampton Town

Area semi-finals

Northern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
26 MarchPort Vale1 – 2Wigan Athletic
1 MayDarlington0 – 3Bolton Wanderers

Southern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
2 AprilBristol City3 – 0Gillingham
2 AprilHereford United0 – 0Swansea City
Hereford United won on penalties[1]

Area finals

Northern Area final

Southern Area final

Final

Notes

General
Specific
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 After extra-time.