English teams had been banned from Europe following the Heysel Stadium disaster at the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus. The Football League started a new tournament for sides in the top two leagues to increase revenues, particularly for sides who had lost revenue through the lack of European football. The 1987–88 Full Members' Cup saw Reading start in the first round of the competition, while Luton were given a bye to the third round following their high league position in the previous season. Reading defeated a top division side in all rounds, excluding the quarter-finals.