1985–86 Associate Members' Cup

The 1985–86 Associate Members' Cup, known as the 1985–86 Freight Rover Trophy, was the fifth staging of a secondary football league tournament, and the third staging of the Associate Members' Cup, 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 faced each other in the combined final for the honour of the trophy.

Preliminary round Northern Section

Southern Section

Quarter-finals

Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team18 FebruaryWigan Athletic3–0Rotherham United10 MarchScunthorpe United1–1Port ValePort Vale won 4–3 on penaltiesAfter extra-time.11 MarchBolton Wanderers2–1Tranmere Rovers27 MarchDarlington3–0Mansfield Town

Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team19 FebruarySwansea City1–0Torquay United24 FebruaryGillingham2–0Cambridge United24 MarchLeyton Orient1–2Hereford United27 MarchBristol City3–2Northampton Town

Area semi-finals

Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team26 MarchPort Vale1–2Wigan Athletic1 MayDarlington0–3Bolton Wanderers

Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team2 AprilBristol City3–0Gillingham2 AprilHereford United0–0Swansea CityHereford United won 5–4 on penalties

Area finals

Northern Area final

Southern Area final

Final

Notes General statto.com

Specific