WATNEY CUP 1970 to 1973
The Watney Cup was one of the first sponsored competitions in England. It took place for four seasons from 1970 to 1973 and was played before the regular League season started.
Two teams from each of the four Football League Divisions participated and qualification was based on the highest number of goals scored during the previous League season, providing that the teams weren’t involved in European Football or promoted. A novel feature was that there were no replays – extra time was played and then a penalty shoot-out, if needed.
The Final was a one-leg game, played at the home venue of one of the Finalists.
The Watney Cup was the first football competition to be screened live on television.
| WATNEY CUP 1970 to 1973 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | |||
| Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
| Derby County | Hull City | Fulham | Aldershot |
| Manchester United | Sheffield United | Reading | Peterborough United |
| First Round (1st August 1970) | |||
| Aldershot 0-6 Sheffield United | |||
| Fulham 3-5 (aet) Derby County | |||
| Peterborough United 0-4 Hull City | |||
| Reading 2-3 Manchester United | |||
| Semi-Finals (5th August 1970) | |||
| Derby County 1-0 Sheffield United | |||
| Hull City 1-1 (aet) Manchester United (won on penalties) | |||
| Final (8th August 1970) | |||
| Derby County 4-1 Manchester United (Baseball Ground) | |||
| 1971 | |||
| Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
| Manchester United | Carlisle United | Halifax Town | Colchester United |
| West Bromwich Albion | Luton Town | Wrexham | Crewe Alexandra |
| First Round (31st July 1971) | |||
| Colchester United 1-0 Luton Town | |||
| Crewe Alexandra 1-3 Carlisle United | |||
| Halifax Town 2-1 Manchester United | |||
| Wrexham 1-2 West Bromwich Albion | |||
| Semi-Finals (4th August 1971) | |||
| Colchester United 2-0 Carlisle United | |||
| Halifax Town 0-2 West Bromwich Albion | |||
| Final (7th August 1971) | |||
| Colchester United 4-4 (pens 4-3) West Bromwich Albion (The Hawthorns) | |||
| 1972 | |||
| Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
| Sheffield United | Blackpool | Bristol Rovers | Lincoln City |
| Wolverhampton Wand | Burnley | Notts County | Peterborough United |
| First Round (29th July 1972) | |||
| Bristol Rovers 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers | |||
| Lincoln City 0-1 Burnley | |||
| Notts County 0-3 Sheffield United | |||
| Peterborough United (won on penalties) 0-0 (aet) Blackpool | |||
| Semi-Finals (2nd August 1972) | |||
| Burnley 0-2 Bristol Rovers | |||
| Peterborough United 0-4 Sheffield United | |||
| Final (5th August 1972) | |||
| Bristol Rovers 0-0 (pens 7-6) Sheffield United (Eastville Stadium) | |||
| 1973 | |||
| Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
| Stoke City | Bristol City | Bristol Rovers | Mansfield Town |
| West Ham United | Hull City | Plymouth Argyle | Peterborough United |
| First Round (11th August 1973) | |||
| Bristol Rovers (won on penalties) 0-0 (aet) West Ham United | |||
| Mansfield Town 0-3 Hull City | |||
| Peterborough United 1-2 Bristol City | |||
| Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Stoke City | |||
| Semi-Finals (14th August 1973) | |||
| Bristol Rovers 0-1 Hull City | |||
| Stoke City 4-1 Bristol City | |||
| Final (18th August 1973) | |||
| Stoke City 2-0 Hull City (Victoria Ground) | |||
About the author: Ben Jardine
Ben Jardine is the managing editor of My Football Facts and has covered football since 2014. He writes across football statistics, history and current affairs, from all-time records and World Cup deep dives to live transfer-window coverage, with a focus on rigorously fact-checked, data-led analysis. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn.