To date this remains the only time that both finalists in a major English cup competition were relegated at the end of the season.
However, on 31 May 1985 all English clubs were banned from European competitions on an indefinite basis as a result of the Heysel Stadium disaster two days previously, meaning that Norwich City were unable to compete in the 1985–86 UEFA Cup.
Norwich and Sunderland were both playing in the First Division and both entered the competition at the second round stage, under the tournament format in place at the time which saw First Division teams enter in this round. Norwich had reached the Football League Cup final on three occaisions, winning one of them.[4] Sunderland had never reached a final - the closest they came was the 1962–63 edition where they were semi-finalists.[5] Norwich faced Preston North End in their second round tie, and played out a 3–3 stalemate in the first leg.[6] In the second leg they defeated Preston 6–1, a 9–4 victory on aggregate.[7] Having drawn the third round game against Aldershot 0–0,[8] Norwich beat Aldershot in the replay 4–0 to progress to the next round.[9] A tie against Second Division side Notts County awaited Norwich in the fourth tound, which they won 3–0.[10] They dispatched Grimsby Town 1–0 in the fifth round to set up an all East Anglian semi-final with Ipswich Town.[11] Ipswich had beaten Norwich 1–0 in the first leg,[12] but Norwich ultimiately prevailed by winning 2–0 in the second leg, and 2–1 on aggregate.[13]
North East Sunderland began the tournament against Crystal Palace, winning it 2–1 on aggregate, which was the same score as the first leg.[14] Next Sunderland beat Nottingham Forest 1–0 in the third round replay,[15] having drawn 1–1 in the original match.[16] The fourth round went similarly the third, Sunderland played out a 0–0 draw at Roker Park forcing the game into a replay.[17] Goals from Gordon Chisholm and Clive Walker in the replay ensured that Sunderland would progress in the fifth round.[18] Sunderland beat Watford in the fifth round to seal a tie against Chelsea in the semi-finals.[19] Sunderland beat Chelsea 5–2 on aggregate and secured their first ever League Cup final spot.[20][21]
