Freight Rover Trophy 1985-86 
Winners: Bristol City Runners-up: Bolton Wanderers Winners from previous season: Wigan Athletic Preliminary round
| Northern section
| | Group 1 | | 14 January 1986 | Crewe Alexandra | 4 | - | 1 | Stockport County | 994 | Gresty Road, Crewe | | 20 January 1986 | Stockport County | 2 | - | 2 | Bolton Wanderers | 1,874 | Edgeley Park, Stockport | | 28 January 1986 | Bolton Wanderers | 1 | - | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 2,428 | Burnden Park, Bolton | | Final Group 1 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Bolton Wanderers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | | 2 | Crewe Alexandra | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | | 3 | Stockport County | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | -4 |
| Group 2
| | 14 January 1986 | Darlington | 2 | - | 0 | Chesterfield | 1,057 | Feethams, Darlington | | 21 January 1986 | Chesterfield | 1 | - | 2 | Burnley | 1,053 | Recreation Ground, Chesterfield | | 13 March 1986 | Burnley | 1 | - | 1 | Darlington | 1,138 | Turf Moor, Burnley | | Final Group 2 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Darlington | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | | 2 | Burnley | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | | 3 | Chesterfield | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | -3 |
| Group 3
| | 15 January 1986 | Lincoln City | 1 | - | 3 | Scunthorpe United | 1,235 | Sincil Bank, Lincoln | | 21 January 1986 | Scunthorpe United | 3 | - | 2 | Halifax Town | 1,244 | Old Show Ground, Scunthorpe | | 11 February 1986 | Halifax Town | 1 | - | 1 | Lincoln City | 150 | The Shay, Halifax | | Final Group 3 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Scunthorpe United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | | 2 | Halifax Town | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | -1 | | 3 | Lincoln City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | -2 |
| Group 4
| | 14 January 1986 | York City | 0 | - | 0 | Rotherham United | 2,212 | Bootham Crescent, York | | 21 January 1986 | Rotherham United | 3 | - | 0 | Hartlepool United | 1,309 | Millmoor, Rotherham | | 28 January 1986 | Hartlepool United | 3 | - | 2 | York City | 1,080 | Victoria Park, Hartlepool | | Final Group 4 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Rotherham United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | | 2 | Hartlepool United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | -2 | | 3 | York City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
| Group 5
| | 20 January 1986 | Tranmere Rovers | 2 | - | 0 | Preston North End | 1,047 | Prenton Park, Birkenhead | | 29 January 1986 | Preston North End | 2 | - | 0 | Bury | 751 | Deepdale, Preston | | 26 February 1986 | Bury | 1 | - | 2 | Tranmere Rovers | 461 | Gigg Lane, Bury | | Final Group 5 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Tranmere Rovers | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 4 | | 2 | Preston North End | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | | 3 | Bury | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | -3 |
| Group 6
| | 20 January 1986 | Rochdale | 1 | - | 0 | Chester City | 1,164 | Spotland, Rochdale | | 22 January 1986 | Chester City | 0 | - | 2 | Wigan Athletic | 1,375 | Sealand Road, Chester | | 28 January 1986 | Wigan Athletic | 6 | - | 0 | Rochdale | 2,106 | Springfield Park, Wigan | | Final Group 6 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Wigan Athletic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 8 | | 2 | Rochdale | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | -5 | | 3 | Chester City | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -3 |
| Group 7
| | 21 January 1986 | Wrexham | 1 | - | 1 | Port Vale | 992 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | | 23 January 1986 | Blackpool | 2 | - | 2 | Wrexham | 1,611 | Bloomfield Road, Blackpool | | 10 February 1986 | Port Vale | 3 | - | 1 | Blackpool | 1,569 | Vale Park, Burslem | | Final Group 7 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Port Vale | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | | 2 | Wrexham | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | | 3 | Blackpool | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | -2 |
| Group 8
| | 16 January 1986 | Notts County | 1 | - | 0 | Doncaster Rovers | 1,642 | Meadow Lane, Nottingham | | 21 January 1986 | Doncaster Rovers | 1 | - | 0 | Mansfield Town | 1,584 | Belle Vue, Doncaster | | 11 March 1986 | Mansfield Town | 1 | - | 0 | Notts County | 3,447 | Field Mill, Mansfield | | Final Group 8 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | | 2 | Mansfield Town | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | | 3 | Notts County | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Group 8 Play-Offs | | 17 March 1986 | Mansfield Town | 4 | - | 2 | Doncaster Rovers | 2,895 | Field Mill, Mansfield | | 20 March 1986 | Notts County | 0 | - | 1 | Mansfield Town | 2,409 | Meadow Lane, Nottingham | Southern Section
| Group 1 | | 14 January 1986 | Orient | 3 | - | 1 | AFC Bournemouth | 947 | Brisbane Road, London | | 21 January 1986 | AFC Bournemouth | 5 | - | 0 | Reading | 1,974 | Dean Court, Bournemouth | | 6 March 1986 | Reading | 0 | - | 3 | Orient | 1,403 | Elm Park, Reading | | Final Group 1 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Orient | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 | | 2 | AFC Bournemouth | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | 3 | Reading | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | -8 |
| Group 2
| | 14 January 1986 | Colchester United | 4 | - | 1 | Southend United | 1,364 | Layer Road, Colchester | | 21 January 1986 | Northampton Town | 2 | - | 1 | Colchester United | 1,958 | County Ground, Northampton | | 13 March 1986 | Southend United | 1 | - | 3 | Northampton Town | 683 | Roots Hall, Southend | | Final Group 2 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Northampton Town | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 3 | | 2 | Colchester United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | | 3 | Southend United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | -5 |
| Group 3
| | 15 January 1986 | Brentford | 0 | - | 0 | Derby County | 2,531 | Griffin Park, London | | 22 January 1986 | Derby County | 0 | - | 2 | Gillingham | 3,721 | Baseball Ground, Derby | | 29 January 1986 | Gillingham | 1 | - | 1 | Brentford | 1,464 | Priestfield, Gillingham | | Final Group 3 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Gillingham | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | | 2 | Brentford | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | | 3 | Derby County | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -2 |
| Group 4 | | 15 January 1986 | Hereford United | 2 | - | 0 | Bristol Rovers | 1,770 | Edgar Street, Hereford | | 21 January 1986 | Bristol Rovers | 2 | - | 1 | Swindon Town | 2,335 | Eastville, Bristol | | 11 March 1986 | Swindon Town | 1 | - | 1 | Hereford United | 3,692 | County Ground, Swindon | | Final Group 4 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Hereford United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | | 2 | Bristol Rovers | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | -1 | | 3 | Swindon Town | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
Group 5 | | 14 January 1986 | Aldershot | 0 | - | 1 | Cambridge United | 826 | Recreation Ground, Aldershot | | 21 January 1986 | Cambridge United | 4 | - | 1 | Peterborough United | 2,253 | Abbey Stadium, Cambridge | | 17 April 1986 | Peterborough United | 2 | - | 0 | Aldershot | 279 | London Road, Peterborough | | Final Group 5 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Cambridge United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 | | 2 | Peterborough United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | -1 | | 3 | Aldershot | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -3 |
| Group 6
| | 14 January 1986 | Bristol City | 0 | - | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | 2,402 | Ashton Gate, Bristol | | 21 January 1986 | Plymouth Argyle | 0 | - | 1 | Walsall | 3,198 | Home Park, Plymouth | | 28 January 1986 | Walsall | 1 | - | 2 | Bristol City | 2,625 | Fellows Park, Walsall | | Final Group 6 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Bristol City | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | | 2 | Walsall | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | | 3 | Plymouth Argyle | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Group 7
| | 20 January 1986 | Swansea City | 1 | - | 1 | Newport County | 2,863 | Vetch Field, Swansea | | 21 January 1986 | Newport County | 1 | - | 0 | Cardiff City | 1,863 | Somerton Park, Newport | | 28 January 1986 | Cardiff City | 0 | - | 2 | Swansea City | 1,006 | Ninian Park, Cardiff | | Final Group 7 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Swansea City | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | | 2 | Newport County | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | | 3 | Cardiff City | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -3 |
| Group 8
| | 14 January 1986 | Exeter City | 1 | - | 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1,278 | St James's Park, Exeter | | 22 January 1986 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | - | 1 | Torquay United | 1,618 | Molineux, Wolverhampton | | 29 January 1986 | Torquay United | 1 | - | 0 | Exeter City | 1,046 | Plainmoor, Torquay | | Final Group 8 table | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Goal Diff | | 1 | Torquay United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | | 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | | 3 | Exeter City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| Quarter-finals | Northern section | | 18 February 1986 | Wigan Athletic | 3 | - | 0 | Rotherham United | 2,597 | Springfield Park, Wigan | | 10 March 1986 | Scunthorpe United | 1 | - | 1 | Port Vale (won 3-4 on pens.) | 1,415 | Old Show Ground, Scunthorpe (aet) | | 11 March 1986 | Bolton Wanderers | 2 | - | 1 | Tranmere Rovers | 3,865 | Burnden Park, Bolton | | 27 March 1986 | Darlington | 3 | - | 0 | Mansfield Town | 1,425 | Feethams, Darlington | Southern section | | 19 February 1986 | Swansea City | 1 | - | 0 | Torquay United | 2,200 | Vetch Field, Swansea | | 24 February 1986 | Gillingham | 2 | - | 0 | Cambridge United | 1,812 | Priestfield, Gillingham | | 24 March 1986 | Orient | 1 | - | 2 | Hereford United | 1,113 | Brisbane Road, London | | 27 March 1986 | Bristol City | 3 | - | 2 | Northampton Town | 3,038 | Ashton Gate, Bristol | | Semi-finals | | Northern section | | 26 March 1986 | Port Vale | 1 | - | 2 | Wigan Athletic | 4,832 | Vale Park, Burslem | | 1 May 1986 | Darlington | 0 | - | 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 3,771 | Feethams, Darlington | Southern section | | 2 April 1986 | Hereford United (won 5-4 on pens.) | 0 | - | 0 | Swansea City | 3,725 | Edgar Street, Hereford (aet) | | 16 April 1986 | Bristol City | 3 | - | 0 | Gillingham | 5,707 | Ashton Gate, Bristol | Final | Northern section: 1st leg | | 6 May 1986 | Wigan Athletic | 0 | - | 1 | Bolton Wanderers | 6,975 | Springfield Park, Wigan | Southern section: 1st leg | | 6 May 1986 | Hereford United | 2 | - | 0 | Bristol City | 7,608 | Edgar Street, Hereford | Northern section: 2nd leg | | 9 May 1986 | Bolton Wanderers | 2 | - | 1 | Wigan Athletic | 12,120 | Burnden Park, Bolton | (Bolton Wanderers win 3-1 on aggregate) | | Southern section: 2nd leg | | 9 May 1986 | Bristol City | 3 | - | 0 | Hereford United | 11,558 | Ashton Gate, Bristol | (Bristol City win 3-2 on aggregate) | | National final | | 24 May 1986 | Bristol City | 3 | - | 0 | Bolton Wanderers | 54,502 | Wembley Stadium, London |
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