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FA Cup
1995–96
Region England England
Flag of Wales Wales
Defending champions Everton
Champions Manchester United
Runner-up Liverpool
Top goal scorer Robbie Fowler
(6 goals)
 ← 1994–95
1996–97 → 

The 1995–96 FA Cup (known as The FA Cup sponsored by Littlewoods for sponsorship reasons) was the 115th staging of the FA Cup. The competition was won outright by Manchester United, who won the final through a goal from Eric Cantona five minutes from the end of the game. It gave Manchester United a league and cup double after they secured their third league title in four years. It was also United's third straight FA Cup Final.

The tournament began with teams from non-league football competing in preliminary and qualifying rounds in order to make it to the competition proper. Details of the qualifying tournament and all the rounds through to the final are available at FA Cup archives. Teams from Divisions 1 to 3 entered at the first round, while Premiership teams entered in the third round.

Calendar[]

Round Initial Matches New Entries Clubs
Preliminary Round Saturday --- August 1995 342 575 → 404
First Round Qualifying Saturday 9 September 1995 117 404 → 260
Second Round Qualifying Saturday 23 September 1995 none 260 → 188
Third Round Qualifying Saturday 7 October 1995 none 188 → 152
Fourth Round Qualifying Saturday 21 October 1995 20 152 → 124
First Round Proper Saturday 11 November 1995 52 124 → 84
Second Round Proper Saturday 2 December 1995 none 84 → 64
Third Round Proper Saturday 6 January 1996 44 64 → 32
Fourth Round Proper Saturday 27 January 1996 none 32 → 16
Fifth Round Proper Saturday 17 February 1996 none 16 → 8
Sixth Round Proper Saturday 9 March 1996 none 8 → 4
Semi-Finals Sunday 31 March 1996 none 4 → 2
Final Saturday 11 May 1996 none 2 → 1

First round proper[]

For the qualifying rounds, see 1995–96 FA Cup Qualifying Rounds.

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 11 November 1995. There were ten replays, with two ties requiring a penalty shootout to settle them. Fulham's 7–0 victory over Swansea City was an FA Cup record margin of victory against a team from a higher division.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Attendance
1 Blackpool 2–1 Chester City 11 November 1995
2 Bournemouth 0–0 Bristol City 11 November 1995
Replay Bristol City 0–1 Bournemouth 21 November 1995
3 Barnet 2–2 Woking 11 November 1995
Replay Woking 2–1 Barnet 21 November 1995
4 Barrow 2–1 Nuneaton Borough 11 November 1995
5 Burnley 1–3 Walsall 10 November 1995
6 Bury 0–2 Blyth Spartans 11 November 1995
7 Canvey Island 2–2 Brighton & Hove Albion 12 November 1995
Replay Brighton & Hove Albion 4–1 Canvey Island 21 November 1995
8 Rochdale 5–3 Rotherham United 11 November 1995
9 Northwich Victoria 1–3 Scunthorpe United 11 November 1995
10 Swindon Town 4–1 Cambridge United 11 November 1995
11 Scarborough 0–2 Chesterfield 11 November 1995
12 Shrewsbury Town 11–2 Marine 11 November 1995
13 Stockport County 5–0 Lincoln City 11 November 1995
14 Wycombe Wanderers 1–1 Gillingham 13 November 1995
Replay Gillingham 1–0 Wycombe Wanderers 21 November 1995
15 Kidderminster Harriers 2–2 Sutton United 11 November 1995
Replay Sutton United 1–1 Kidderminster Harriers 21 November 1995
Sutton United won 3–1 on penalties
16 Fulham 7–0 Swansea City 11 November 1995
17 Brentford 1–1 Farnborough Town 11 November 1995
Replay Farnborough Town 0–4 Brentford 22 November 1995
18 Northampton Town 1–0 Hayes 11 November 1995
19 Bradford City 4–3 Burton Albion 11 November 1995
20 Hull City 0–0 Wrexham 11 November 1995
Replay Wrexham 0–0 Hull City 21 November 1995
Wrexham won 3–1 on penalties
21 Carlisle United 1–2 Preston North End 11 November 1995
22 Spennymoor United 0–1 Colwyn Bay 11 November 1995
23 Hitchin Town 2–1 Bristol Rovers 11 November 1995
24 Altrincham 0–2 Crewe Alexandra 22 November 1995
25 Exeter City 0–1 Peterborough United 11 November 1995
26 Bognor Regis Town 1–1 Ashford Town 11 November 1995
Replay Ashford Town 0–1 Bognor Regis Town 21 November 1995
27 Mansfield Town 4–2 Doncaster Rovers 11 November 1995
28 Kingstonian 5–1 Wisbech Town 11 November 1995
29 Runcorn 1–1 Wigan Athletic 11 November 1995
Replay Wigan Athletic 4–2 Runcorn 21 November 1995
30 Torquay United 1–0 Leyton Orient 11 November 1995
31 York City 0–1 Notts County 12 November 1995
32 Hereford United 2–1 Stevenage Borough 11 November 1995
33 Newport (IOW) 1–1 Enfield 11 November 1995
Replay Enfield 2–1 Newport (IOW) 21 November 1995
34 Gravesend & Northfleet 2–0 Colchester United 11 November 1995
35 Slough Town 0–2 Plymouth Argyle 11 November 1995
36 Cinderford Town 2–1 Bromsgrove Rovers 11 November 1995
37 Oxford United 9–1 Dorchester Town 11 November 1995
38 Telford United 2–1 Witton Albion 11 November 1995
39 Hartlepool United 2–4 Darlington 11 November 1995
40 Rushden & Diamonds 1–3 Cardiff City 11 November 1995

Second round proper[]

The second round of the competition featured the winners of the first round ties. The matches were played on 2 December 1995, with six replays and one penalty shootout required.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Attendance
1 Enfield 1–1 Woking 2 December 1995
Replay Woking 2–1 Enfield 12 December 1995
2 Blackpool 2–0 Colwyn Bay 2 December 1995
3 Bournemouth 0–1 Brentford 2 December 1995
4 Barrow 0–4 Wigan Athletic 2 December 1995
5 Rochdale 2–2 Darlington 2 December 1995
Replay Darlington 0–1 Rochdale 12 December 1995
6 Gillingham 3–0 Hitchin Town 2 December 1995
7 Crewe Alexandra 2–0 Mansfield Town 2 December 1995
8 Swindon Town 2–0 Cardiff City 2 December 1995
9 Wrexham 3–2 Chesterfield 2 December 1995
10 Stockport County 2–0 Blyth Spartans 2 December 1995
11 Fulham 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion 2 December 1995
Replay Brighton & Hove Albion 0–0 Fulham 14 December 1995
Fulham won 4–1 on penalties
12 Bradford City 2–1 Preston North End 2 December 1995
13 Scunthorpe United 1–1 Shrewsbury Town 2 December 1995
Replay Shrewsbury Town 2–1 Scunthorpe United 12 December 1995
14 Kingstonian 1–2 Plymouth Argyle 3 December 1995
15 Torquay United 1–1 Walsall 2 December 1995
Replay Walsall 8–4 Torquay United 12 December 1995
16 Hereford United 2–0 Sutton United 2 December 1995
17 Peterborough United 4–0 Bognor Regis Town 2 December 1995
18 Cinderford Town 1–1 Gravesend & Northfleet 2 December 1995
Replay Gravesend & Northfleet 3–0 Cinderford Town 14 December 1995
19 Oxford United 2–0 Northampton Town 2 December 1995
20 Telford United 0–2 Notts County 2 December 1995

Third round proper[]

The third round of the season's FA Cup was scheduled for 6 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 fourteen replays, with only one of these games going to penalties to settle it.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Attendance
1 Liverpool 7–0 Rochdale 28,126
2 Southampton 3–0 Portsmouth 7 January 1996
3 Watford 1–1 Wimbledon 6 January 1996
Replay Wimbledon 1–0 Watford 17 January 1996
4 Reading 3–1 Gillingham 6 January 1996
5 Walsall 1–0 Wigan Athletic 6 January 1996
6 Leicester City 0–0 Manchester City 6 January 1996
Replay Manchester City 5–0 Leicester City 17 January 1996
7 Notts County 1–2 Middlesbrough 6 January 1996
8 Aston Villa 3–0 Gravesend & Northfleet 6 January 1996
9 Grimsby Town 7–1 Luton Town 6 January 1996
10 Crewe Alexandra 4–3 West Bromwich Albion 6 January 1996
11 Derby County 2–4 Leeds United 7 January 1996
12 Everton 2–2 Stockport County 7 January 1996
Replay Stockport County 2–3 Everton 17 January 1996
13 Swindon Town 2–0 Woking 6 January 1996
14 Ipswich Town 0–0 Blackburn Rovers 6 January 1996
Replay Blackburn Rovers 0–1 Ipswich Town 16 January 1996
15 Tranmere Rovers 0–2 Queens Park Rangers 6 January 1996
16 Fulham 1–1 Shrewsbury Town 6 January 1996
Replay Shrewsbury Town 2–1 Fulham 16 January 1996
17 Barnsley 0–0 Oldham Athletic 6 January 1996
Replay Oldham Athletic 2–1 Barnsley 23 January 1996
18 West Ham United 2–0 Southend United 6 January 1996
19 Manchester United 2–2 Sunderland 6 January 1996
Replay Sunderland 1–2 Manchester United 16 January 1996
20 Norwich City 1–2 Brentford 6 January 1996
21 Plymouth Argyle 1–3 Coventry City 6 January 1996
22 Bradford City 0–3 Bolton Wanderers 6 January 1996
23 Millwall 3–3 Oxford United 6 January 1996
Replay Oxford United 1–0 Millwall 16 January 1996
24 Crystal Palace 0–0 Port Vale 6 January 1996
Replay Port Vale 4–3 Crystal Palace 16 January 1996
25 Chelsea 1–1 Newcastle United 7 January 1996
Replay Newcastle United 2–2 Chelsea 17 January 1996
Chelsea won 4–2 on penalties
26 Huddersfield Town 2–1 Blackpool 6 January 1996
27 Charlton Athletic 2–0 Sheffield Wednesday 6 January 1996
28 Arsenal 1–1 Sheffield United 6 January 1996
Replay Sheffield United 1–0 Arsenal 17 January 1996
29 Hereford United 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur 6 January 1996
Replay Tottenham Hotspur 5–1 Hereford United 17 January 1996
30 Stoke City 1–1 Nottingham Forest 6 January 1996
Replay Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stoke City 17 January 1996
31 Peterborough United 1–0 Wrexham 6 January 1996
32 Birmingham City 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 6 January 1996
Replay Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Birmingham City 17 January 1996

Fourth round proper[]

The Fourth Round ties were played with the thirty-two winners of the previous round. The matches were originally scheduled for Saturday, 27 January, although only four matches were played that weekend, and only two of these matches resulted in a victory for one side. There were seven replays but no penalty shootouts.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Attendance
1 Southampton 1–1 Crewe Alexandra 7 February 1996
Replay Crewe Alexandra 2–3 Southampton 13 February 1996
2 Reading 0–3 Manchester United 27 January 1996
3 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Oxford United 7 February 1996
Replay Oxford United 0–3 Nottingham Forest 13 February 1996
4 Bolton Wanderers 0–1 Leeds United 14 February 1996
5 Middlesbrough 0–0 Wimbledon 7 February 1996
Replay Wimbledon 1–0 Middlesbrough 13 February 1996
6 Everton 2–2 Port Vale 27 January 1996
Replay Port Vale 2–1 Everton 14 February 1996
7 Swindon Town 1–0 Oldham Athletic 12 February 1996
8 Shrewsbury Town 0–4 Liverpool 7,752
9 Sheffield United 0–1 Aston Villa 28 January 1996
10 Ipswich Town 1–0 Walsall 13 February 1996
11 Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 27 January 1996
Replay Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–2 Tottenham Hotspur 7 February 1996
12 Queens Park Rangers 1–2 Chelsea 29 January 1996
13 Coventry City 2–2 Manchester City 7 February 1996
Replay Manchester City 2–1 Coventry City 14 February 1996
14 West Ham United 1–1 Grimsby Town 7 February 1996
Replay Grimsby Town 3–0 West Ham United 14 February 1996
15 Huddersfield Town 2–0 Peterborough United 6 February 1996
16 Charlton Athletic 3–2 Brentford 7 February 1996

Fifth round proper[]

The Fifth Round matches were scheduled for 17 February. There were five replays and one penalty shootout.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Attendance
1 Liverpool 2–1 Charlton Athletic 36,818
2 Nottingham Forest 2–2 Tottenham Hotspur 28 February 1996
Replay Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 Nottingham Forest 9 March 1996
Nottingham Forest won 3–1 on penalties
3 Grimsby Town 0–0 Chelsea 21 February 1996
Replay Chelsea 4–1 Grimsby Town 28 February 1996
4 Swindon Town 1–1 Southampton 17 February 1996
Replay Southampton 2–0 Swindon Town 28 February 1996
5 Ipswich Town 1–3 Aston Villa 17 February 1996
6 Manchester United 2–1 Manchester City 18 February 1996
7 Huddersfield Town 2–2 Wimbledon 17 February 1996
Replay Wimbledon 3–1 Huddersfield Town 28 February 1996
8 Leeds United 0–0 Port Vale 21 February 1996
Replay Port Vale 1–2 Leeds United 27 February 1996

Sixth round[]

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on the weekend of 9 and 10 March 1996. There were two replays, between Liverpool and Leeds and Wimbledon & Chelsea. These were played on 20 March 1996.

This was a rare occurrence of all eight quarter-finals being from the top division.

9 March 1996
15:00 GMT
Chelsea 2 – 2 Wimbledon Stamford Bridge, London
Attendance: 30,805
M. Hughes Goal 70'
Gullit Goal 80'
Earle Goal 54'
Holdsworth Goal 81'
10 March 1996
16:00 GMT
Leeds United 0 – 0 Liverpool Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 24,632
11 March 1996
20:00 GMT
Manchester United 2 – 0 Southampton Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 45,446
Cantona Goal 49'
Sharpe Goal 90'
13 March 1996
19:45 GMT
Nottingham Forest 0 – 1 Aston Villa City Ground, Nottingham
Attendance: 21,067
Carr Goal 26'

Replays[]

20 March 1996
19:45 GMT
Wimbledon 1 – 3 Chelsea Selhurst Park, London
Goodman Goal 39' Petrescu Goal 20'
Duberry Goal 79'
M. Hughes Goal 84'
20 March 1996
19:45 GMT
Liverpool 3 – 0 Leeds United Anfield, Liverpool
Attendance: 30,812
McManaman Goal 57'73'
Fowler Goal 83'

Semi finals[]

The semi final ties were played at neutral venues on 31 March 1996. Manchester United and Liverpool beat Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively to reach the final. At this stage, Manchester United were top of the league and looking good bets for a unique second double two years after their first one, while Liverpool were hopeful of a similar triumph as they were third in the league and still in with a slim chance of a second double 10 years after their first one.

Just weeks before accepting the role as England manager, Glenn Hoddle watched his Chelsea side throw away their chances of major trophy late in the season for the third year running, one year after losing in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals and two years after losing the FA Cup final.

Aston Villa's defeat ended their hopes of emulating Arsenal's 1993 triumph of an FA Cup/League Cup double, as they had lifted the League Cup the previous weekend.

31 March 1996
13:30 BST
Manchester United 2 – 1 Chelsea Villa Park, Birmingham
Attendance: 38,421
Cole Goal 55'
Beckham Goal 59'
Report Gullit Goal 35'

31 March 1996
16:00 BST
Liverpool 3 – 0 Aston Villa Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 39,072
Fowler Goal 16'86'
McAteer Goal 90'
Report

Final[]

Main article: 1996 FA Cup Final

A late goal from Eric Cantona, United's top scorer and the FWA Player of the Year just a year after being vilified for the assault on a spectator which saw him banned from football for eight months, saw a United side featuring some of the Premier League's youngest players clinch a 1–0 win over Liverpool to become the first team to win the double twice, two years after their first double.

11 May 1996
15:00 BST
Manchester United 1 – 0 Liverpool Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 79,007
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire)
Cantona Goal 85'

Media coverage[]

For the eighth consecutive season in the United Kingdom, the BBC were the free to air broadcasters while Sky Sports were the subscription broadcasters.

The matches shown live on the BBC were: Chelsea 1–1 Newcastle United (R3); Sheffield United 0–1 Aston Villa (R4); Manchester United 2–1 Manchester City (R5); Leeds United 0–0 Liverpool (QF); Manchester United 2–1 Chelsea (SF) and Manchester United 1–0 Liverpool (Final).

External links[]

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