1972 Watney Cup

Third edition of the Watney Cup February 2026 February 2026 1972 Watney Cup Watney Mann Invitation Cup EnglandWales 29 July – 5 August 8 Bristol Rovers 1 Sheffield United 7 12 81,537 Bruce BannisterTony CurrieAlan Woodward(2 goals each) 1971 1973 The 1972 Watney Cup was the third edition of the Watney Mann Invitation Cup, a short-lived invitational association football tournament. It was won by Bristol Rovers, who beat Sheffield United in the final at Eastville.https://www.stevesfootballstats.uk/watney_cup_results.html Watney Cup results stevesfootballstats.uk 20 February 2026 Background The Watney Cup was introduced in 1970 to help increase the competitiveness of pre-season fixtures. Its name was a result of a sponsorship from brewing company Watney Combe & Reid. The tournament featured eight invited teams, with two selected from each division of the Football League. Those chosen to participate were the top two highest scoring teams from each division who had not gained promotion nor earned a place in a European competition the previous season.https://taleoftwohalves.uk/columnist/innovation-finest-watney-cup/ Innovation at its finest: The Watney Cup taleoftwohalves.uk 13 July 2025 20 February 2026 Format The competition was a straight knockout tournament. In continuation from the second edition of the Watney Cup, games that ended level proceeded straight to penalties. In the inaugural edition, an additional 30 minutes of extra time was played to determine a winner prior to a penalty shoot-out.https://www.footballsite.co.uk/History/The%20Watney%20Cup.htm The Watney Cup footballsite.co.uk 20 February 2026 Teams 15em start First Division Sheffield United Wolverhampton Wanderers 15em break Second Division Blackpool Burnley 15em break Third Division Bristol Rovers Notts County 15em break Fourth Division Lincoln City Peterborough United end Tournament Quarter-finals 29 July 1972 2–0 Report Bristol Rovers (3) Bannister 26 pen.Stephens 88 Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) Eastville Stadium Bristol 12,489 29 July 1972 0–1 Report Lincoln City (4) Burnley (2) James Sincil Bank Lincoln 7,428 29 July 1972 0–3 Report Notts County (3) Sheffield United (1) Woodward Currie Meadow Lane Nottingham 14,405 29 July 1972 0–0 Report 7–6 Peterborough United (4) Blackpool (2) London Road Stadium Peterborough 7,651 Semi-finals 2 August 1972 0–2 Report Burnley (2) Bristol Rovers (3) Prince 15Bannister 49 Turf Moor Burnley 10,589 2 August 1972 0–4 Report Peterborough United (4) Sheffield United (1) MacKenzie 17Dearden Woodward 68 pen.Hemsley London Road Stadium Peterborough 9,207 Final 1972 Watney Cup final 1972 Watney Cup Bristol Rovers 0 Sheffield United 0 Bristol Rovers won 7–6 on penalties 5 August 1972 Eastville Stadium Bristol John Yates (Redditch) 19,768 1971 1973 The 1972 Watney Cup final was held at Eastville Stadium in Bristol on 5 August 1972 and had an attendance of 19,768. It was contested by Bristol Rovers and Sheffield United.https://www.stevesfootballstats.uk/watney_cup_results.html Watney Cup results stevesfootballstats.uk 31 October 2025https://worldfootballindex.com/2018/08/stoke-city-and-the-watney-cup/ Stoke City And The Watney Cup worldfootballindex.com 15 August 2018 31 October 2025https://www.footballsite.co.uk/History/The%20Watney%20Cup.htm The Watney Cup footballsite.co.uk 31 October 2025https://readtheleague.com/the-big-feature/the-wonderful-watney-cup THE WONDERFUL WATNEY CUP readtheleague.com 20 February 2024 31 October 2025 Bristol Rovers won the match 7–6 on penalties, following a 0–0 draw. Match details 5 August 1972 15:00 (BST) 0–0 7–6 Report Bristol Rovers Roberts Godfrey Green Bannister Allan Parsons B. Jones Sheffield United Woodward Eddy Currie Dearden Colquhoun Scullion Hemsley Eastville Stadium, Bristol 19,768 John Yates (Redditch) _whiteborder _vneckwhite _whiteborder 090088 090088 090088 FFFFFF FFFFFF Bristol Rovers _redlower _red_stripes _redlower _redtop FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 000000 Sheffield United GK 1 ENG Dick Sheppard RB 2 WAL Phil Roberts CB 5 ENG Stuart Taylor CB 4 ENG Mike Green LB 3 ENG Lindsay Parsons RM 7 ENG Kenny Stephens CM 8 WAL Wayne Jones CM 6 WAL Frankie Prince 85 LM 11 WAL Brian Godfrey (c) CF 12 ENG Bruce Bannister CF 9 SCO Sandy AllanSubstitutes: CM 14 WAL Bryn Jones 85Manager:ENG Don Megson GK 1 SCO Tom McAlister RB 2 ENG Steve Goulding CB 5 SCO Eddie Colquhoun (c) CB 4 ENG Ian MacKenzie LB 3 ENG Ted Hemsley DM 6 WAL Trevor Hockey CM 10 ENG Tony Currie CM 8 ENG Geoff Salmons 90 RW 7 ENG Alan Woodward CF 9 ENG Bill Dearden LW 11 SCO Stewart ScullionSubstitutes: CM 12 ENG Keith Eddy 90Manager:SCO John Harris MATCH RULES 90 minutes. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Maximum of two substitutions. Goalscorers RankPlayerClubGoals 1 ENG Bruce Bannister Bristol Rovers 2 ENG Tony Currie Sheffield United ENG Alan Woodward Sheffield United 2 6 players Various 1 References External links Watney Cup history Bristol Rovers' route to the final Sheff Utd's route to the final Category:1972–73 in English men's football cups Category:Watney Cup