The Football Association Challenge Cup, which is widely refers to as the FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world, founded on November, 1871 (150 years ago).
The FA Cup is a yearly knockout football competition in local English men’s football organised and named after The Football Association (The FA).
In 2015, after the sponsorship by Emirates Airlines, it has been rename to be known as The Emirates FA Cup with concurrent women’s tournament is also held, The Women’s FA Cup.
Current Holder: Leicester City (1-0 win over Chelsea) with the help of Youri Tielesman’s controversial winning goal which saw the difference of the game.
History of The FA Cup
In 1863, the Football Association published a new Laws of the Game of Association Football, merging the different rules of the game that has been in use before then.
The then FA Secretary, C. W. Alcock on July 20 1871, proposed to the FA committee that “it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in the name of the Association for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to participate”.
The first FA Cup tournament was commenced in November 1871 with Wanderers crowned the winners in the final, on 16 March 1872. They also defend the trophy the following year.
After the 1914/15 season, the competition was suspended due to First World War until 1919/20.
The 1923 FA Cup Final, known as the “White Horse Final”, was the first final to be played at the Empire Stadium (now Wembley Stadium).
Hence, in 1927 final, the now pre-match tradition song of the FA Cup “Abide with Me” is first being sung for the first time at the Cup final.
However, in 1938/39 and 1945/46, the competition was not organised due to the World War II.
In year 2000, the modern practice of finishing the semi-final and final matches on the day was introduced instead of the previous culture of replays after a draw.
Also, the 2001 – 2006 finals saw the finals of the FA Cup being played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, being the first time the cup finals will be played outside England die to the redevelopment of the Wembley Stadium.
The final returned to Wembley in 2007, followed by the semi-finals from 2008.
The FA Cup Sponsorship till date
The FA Cup has being sponsored since the start of the 1994/95 season with only five (5) sponsor to have sponsored the game throughout it’s history till date.
For the FA Cup to protect the competition identity, the name “The FA Cup” has always been included alongside the sponsored name.
Below goes the list of the game sponsorship deal till date.
| Year | Sponsor | Cup Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1871/71 – 1993/94 | No main sponsor | The FA Cup |
| 1994/95 – 1997/98 | Littlewoods | The FA Cup sponsored by Littlewoods |
| 1998/99 – 2001/02 | AXA | The AXA sponsored FA Cup(1998–99) The FA Cup sponsored by AXA (1999–2002) |
| 2002/03 – 2005/06 | No main sponsor | The FA Cup |
| 2006/07 – 2010/11 | E.ON | The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON |
| 2011/12 – 2013/14 | Budweiser | The FA Cup with Budweiser |
| 2014/15 | No main sponsor | The FA Cup |
| 2015/16 – present | Emirates | The Emirates FA Cup (2015-2020) Emirates FA Cup (2020–present) |
“Abide With Me” Lyrics
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free. Come not to sojourn, but abide with me. Come not in terror, as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings; Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea. Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me. Thou on my head in early youth didst smile, And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee. On to the close, O Lord, abide with me. I need Thy presence every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me
Quick Fun Facts about the FA Cup
- Wanderers are the first FA Cup winners, beating Royal Enginerrs by 1-0 at the Kennington Oval in London.
- The FA Cup has been won by 44 different teams.
- Arsenal is the only club with the most FA Cup title (14)
- Tottenham are the only non-League winners of the FA Cup since the League’s creation.
- Only 24 finalists have come from outside English football’s top tier, with a record of 7 wins and 17 runners-up.
- There have only been 8 winners who were not in the top flight: Notts County (1894); Tottenham Hotspur (1901); Wolverhampton Wanderers (1908); Barnsley (1912); West Bromwich Albion (1931); Sunderland (1973), Southampton (1976) and West Ham United (1980).
- Most final appearance: Arsenal (21 final appearance)
- Most final appearance without ever losing: Wanderes (5 final appearance)
- Most goals scored in final: joint record (7 goals)
- Bury 6–0 Derby County (1903)
- Manchester City 6–0 Watford (2019)
- Biggest FA Cup final win: joint record (6-0)
- Bury 6–0 Derby County (1903)
- Manchester City 6–0 Watford (2019)
- Most defeats in a final: joint record (8)
- Everton (1893, 1897, 1907, 1968, 1985, 1986, 1989, 2009)
- Manchester United (1957, 1958, 1976, 1979, 1995, 2005, 2007, 2018)
- Player with most FA Cup title: Ashley Cole (7)
- Manager with most title: Arséne Wenger (7)
- Player with most final appearances: Arthur Kinnaird (9)
- Who has scored in the most fa cup finals: Didier Drogba (4 finals)
- Who scored a hat trick in the fa cup final: joint record (3)
- Billy Townley (Blackburn Rovers) (1890)
- James Logan (Notts County) (1894)
- Stan Mortensen (Blackpool) (1953)
- Youngest player to score in a Final: Norman Whiteside (Manchester United), 18 years and 19 days (1983)
- Oldest player to score in a final: Billy Hampson (Newcastle United), 41 years and 257 days (1924)
- FA Cup Biggest win: Preston North End 26–0 Hyde (First Round, 15 October 1887)
- Longest penalty shootout: 20 penalties each, Tunbridge Wells v. Littlehampton Town (Preliminary Round Replay, 31 August 2005; Tunbridge Wells won 16–15)
- Player with the most fa cup goals: Harry Cursham (50 goals)
- Fastest goal: 4 seconds, Gareth Morris (for Ashton United v. Skelmersdale United, 1st Qualifying Round, 17 September 2001)
- Fastest hat-trick: 2 min 20 sec, Andy Locke (for Nantwich Town v. Droylsden, Preliminary Round, August 1995)
2021/22 FA Cup Prize Funds
| Stage | No of teams | Amount (per club) |
|---|---|---|
| Extra preliminary round winners | 174 | £1,125 |
| Extra preliminary round losers | 174 | £375 |
| Preliminary round winners | 155 | £1,444 |
| Preliminary round losers | 155 | £481 |
| First round qualifying winners | 121 | £2,250 |
| First round qualifying losers | 121 | £750 |
| Second round qualifying winners | 82 | £3,375 |
| Second round qualifying losers | 82 | £1,125 |
| Third round qualifying winners | 41 | £5,625 |
| Third round qualifying losers | 41 | £1,875 |
| Fourth round qualifying winners | 32 | £9,375 |
| Fourth round qualifying losers | 32 | £3,125 |
| First round proper winners | 40 | £22,629 |
| Second round proper winners | 20 | £34,000 |
| Third round proper winners | 32 | £82,000 |
| Fourth round proper winners | 16 | £90,000 |
| Fifth round proper winners | 8 | £180,000 |
| Quarter-final winners | 4 | £360,000 |
| Semi-final winners | 2 | £900,000 |
| Semi-final losers | 2 | £450,000 |
| Final runners-up | 1 | £900,000 |
| Final winners | 1 | £1,800,000 |
Past Winners of the FA Cup – 1871 till date
2021: Leicester City 1-0 Chelsea
2020: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
2019: Manchester City 6-0 Watford
2018: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United
2017: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
2016: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United (AET)
2015: Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa
2014: Arsenal 3-2 Hull City (AET)
2013: Manchester City 0-1 Wigan Athletic
2012: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
2011: Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City
2010: Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth
2009: Chelsea 2-1 Everton
2008: Cardiff City 0-1 Portsmouth
2007: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United (AET)
2006: Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United (AET) – Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties
2005: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (AET) – Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
2004: Manchester United 3-0 Millwall
2003: Arsenal 1-0 Southampton
2002: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea
2001: Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool
2000: Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
1999: Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United
1998: Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United
1997: Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough
1996: Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool
1995: Everton 1-0 Manchester United
1994: Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea
1993: Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (AET)
Replay: Arsenal 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (AET)
1992: Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland
1991: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Nottingham Forest (AET)
1990: Manchester United 3-3 Crystal Palace (AET)
Replay: Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace
1989: Liverpool 3-2 Everton (AET)
1988: Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool
1987: Coventry City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur (AET)
1986: Liverpool 3-1 Everton
1985: Manchester United 1-0 Everton (AET)
1984: Everton 2-0 Watford
1983: Manchester United 2-2 Brighton and Hove Albion (AET)
Replay: Manchester United 4-0Brighton and Hove Albion
1982: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Queens Park Rangers (AET)
Replay: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
1981: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Manchester City (AET)
Replay: Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Manchester City
1980: West Ham United 1-0 Arsenal
1979: Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
1978: Ipswich Town 1-0 Arsenal
1977: Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
1976: Southampton 1-0 Manchester United
1975: West Ham United 2-0 Fulham
1974: Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle United
1973: Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United
1972: Leeds United 1-0 Arsenal
1971: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (AET)
1970: Chelsea 2-2 Leeds United (AET)
Replay: Chelsea 2-0 Leeds United
1969: Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City
1968: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Everton (AET)
1967: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Chelsea
1966: Everton 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday
1965: Liverpool 2-1 Leeds United (AET)
1964: West Ham United 3-2 Preston North End
1963: Manchester United 3-1 Leicester City
1962: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Burnley
1961: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Leicester City
1960: Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
1959: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Luton Town
1958: Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Manchester United
1957: Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
1956: Manchester City 3-1 Birmingham City
1955: Newcastle United 3-1 Manchester City
1954: West Bromwich Albion 3-2 Preston North End
1953: Blackpool 4-3 Bolton Wanderers
1952: Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal
1951: Newcastle United 2-0 Blackpool
1950: Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool
1949: Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1Leicester City
1948: Manchester United 4-2 Blackpool
1947: Charlton Athletic 1-0 Burnley (AET)
1946: Derby County 4-1 Charlton Athletic (AET)
1939: Portsmouth 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1938: Preston North End 1-0 Huddersfield Town (AET).
1937: Sunderland 3-1 Preston North End
1936: Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United
1935: Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 West Bromwich Albion
1934: Manchester City 2-1 Portsmouth
1933: Everton 3-0 Manchester City
1932: Newcastle United 2-1 Arsenal
1931: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Birmingham City
1930: Arsenal 2-0 Huddersfield Town
1929: Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Portsmouth
1928: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Huddersfield Town
1927: Cardiff City 1-0 Arsenal
1926: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Manchester City
1925: Sheffield United 1-0 Cardiff City
1924: Newcastle United 2-0 Aston Villa
1923: Bolton Wanderers 2-0 West Ham United
1922: Huddersfield Town 1-0 Preston North End
1921: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1920: Aston Villa 1-0 Huddersfield Town (AET)
1915: Sheffield United 3-0 Chelsea
1914: Burnley 1-0 Liverpool
1913: Aston Villa 1-0 Sunderland
1912: Barnsley 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
Replay: Barnsley 1-0 West Bromwich Albion
1911: Bradford City 0-0 Newcastle United
Replay: Bradford City 1-0 Newcastle United
1910: Newcastle United 1-1 Barnsley
Replay: Newcastle United 2-0 Barnsley
1909: Manchester United 1-0 Bristol City
1908: Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 Newcastle United
1907: Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Everton
1906: Everton 1-0 Newcastle United
1905: Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle United
1904: Manchester City 1-0 Bolton Wanderers
1903: Bury 6-0 Derby County
1902: Sheffield United 1-1 Southampton
Replay: Sheffield United 2-1 Southampton
1901: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Sheffield United
Replay: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Sheffield United
1900: Bury 4-0 Southampton
1899: Sheffield United 4-1 Derby County
1898: Nottingham Forest 3-1 Derby County
1897: Aston Villa 3-2 Everton
1896: Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1895: Aston Villa 1-0 West Bromwich Albion
1894: Notts County 4-1 Bolton Wanderers
1893: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Everton
1892: West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Aston Villa
1891: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Notts County
1890: Blackburn Rovers 6-1 Sheffield Wednesday
1889: Preston North End 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1888: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Preston North End
1887: Aston Villa 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
1886: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
Replay: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
1885: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Queens Park, Glasgow
1884: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Queens Park, Glasgow
1883: Blackburn Olympic 2-1 Old Etonians (AET)
1882: Old Etonians 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
1881: Old Carthusians 3-0 Old Etonians
1880: Clapham Rovers 1-0 Oxford University
1879: Old Etonians 1-0 Clapham Rovers
1878: Wanderers 3-1 Royal Engineers*
1877: Wanderers 2-1 Oxford University (AET)
1876: Wanderers 1-1 Old Etonians (AET)
Replay: Wanderers 3-0 Old Etonians
1875: Royal Engineers 1-1 Old Etonians (AET)
Replay: Royal Engineers 2-0 Old Etonians
1874: Oxford University 2-0 Royal Engineers
1873: Wanderers 2-0 Oxford University
1872: Wanderers 1-0 Royal Engineers
