⚽FA CUP
No matter where you travel around the globe, everyone knows about the English FA Cup. The FA Cup is the oldest and most revered knockout football competition in the world. It was the first of its kind ever created, and one that has since been cherished by fans over many generations.
The rich traditions associated with the competition, plus the knockout format and the prospect of authentic David versus Goliath encounters, are all ingredients that make the FA Cup an outstanding competition that intrigues and inspires. This inevitably creates huge interest whenever the draw for each round is made, when teams learn who they will face on the road to Wembley.
Some ties generate added interest, particularly whenever leading Premier League sides clash, or alternatively, when they are pitted against lower league sides away from home. Both scenarios lead to a unique sense of occasion, creating winner-takes-all duels and one-off encounters.
Here at Zenseats, we always pay close attention to the FA Cup and can’t wait for the drawing of each round. Once the fixture dates and kick-off times are confirmed, we make sure we have all of the best ticketing options available for you. This includes the semi-finals and the showpiece final itself, all of which are now held at iconic Wembley Stadium in London. Now, let’s explore what makes the FA Cup so special.
History & Origins
The Football Association in England was founded in 1863. After the Laws of the Game were cemented and organised football matches were growing in popularity, FA Secretary Charles W. Alcock decided it was time for something new in 1871. Alcock made an historic written proposal to his fellow members of the FA committee for “a Challenge Cup established in connection with the Association, for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete.” In November of 1871, the first edition of The Football Association Challenge Cup was approved and launched.
In all, fifty clubs were invited to compete in the first FA Cup tournament, yet just twelve accepted. All were amateur sides based in or around London, with the sole exception of Scottish side Queens Park. Only seven matches were played in the First Round, due to withdrawals and byes, leading to Queens Park reaching the semi-finals without even kicking a ball.
After drawing at home against Wanderers in the semi-finals, Queens Park were unable to afford the trip south and they too had to withdraw. The inaugural FA Cup Final was played at Kennington Oval in London on 16th March 1872, as Wanderers beat Royal Engineers 1-0 to lift the original trophy.
Format & Traditions
For the most part, the format of the FA Cup has largely remained the same. It features an entirely open and random draw to pair teams in each round. While there’s no seeding of teams in each round, due to the sheer number of clubs involved and the increased number of rounds, the modern FA Cup format began to take shape in the 1888-89 season. This was also the same year when the English Football League was founded.
The year of 1888-89 saw the introduction of qualifying rounds, as teams aimed to reach the competition ‘proper’ and the First Round. This format has been preserved and expanded to the present day - six qualifying rounds for teams playing from levels five to ten of the English game. At the end, 32 of those teams reach the magical First Round. Due to the sheer numbers in the competition, teams from the Premier League and Championship only enter at the Third Round stage.
Given the possibility of non-league teams and top level professional teams crossing paths, ‘giant-killing’ upsets have become one of the most appealing aspects of the FA Cup. Football fans always cherish the opportunity to see underdog teams beat illustrious rivals.
As the iconic symbol of the competition, the current FA Cup trophy design was created in 1911. This trophy saw continued use until 1992, when it was retired so it could be preserved. An exact replica based on the original design was reproduced. Amusingly, damage to the trophy caused by winning teams have meant there have been a number of subsequent replicas and repair jobs.
Wembley Stadium
One of the most emblematic venues in world football, Wembley Stadium is the traditional home of the showpiece FA Cup Final. Although this wasn’t always the case. The inaugural 1872 final was held at Kennington Oval cricket ground, before just 2,000 fans, while the second in 1873 was hosted at the Lille Bridge sports ground, with 3,000 in attendance.
Kennington Oval continued to host finals until 1892, with the sole exception of the 1886 final, played at the Racecourse Ground in Derby. After appearing at the Fallowfield Stadium in Manchester and Goodison Park in Liverpool, Crystal Palace in London became the main venue for the FA Cup Final, before moving to several venues around England.
Originally built and named the Empire Stadium, the 1923 FA Cup Final was the first official football match to be hosted at the original Wembley venue. It saw Bolton Wanderers win 2-0 against West Ham United. Although 126,047 is often cited as the official attendance, registering the number of tickets sold, the true attendance still remains unknown to this day. Police reports at the time suggest it was actually around 300,000 or more!
Wembley has remained the home of FA Cup finals ever since, with few exceptions. After Chelsea and Leeds United drew the 1970 final, the replay was hosted at Old Trafford. The last final at the original Wembley Stadium was in 2000. This was followed by six years at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, as a completely new Wembley venue was built. The year 2007 marked the return of the FA Cup Final at the modern Wembley Stadium, much to the delight of fans.
Do you want to experience the roar of the FA Cup crowd, a suspense-packed knockout clash, the glory of victory? Nothing compares to experiencing the FA Cup live. With Zenseats, you're just a click away from securing your seat at one of football's most iconic competitions. Whether you're cheering for a top Premier League club or supporting a heroic underdog, we ensure you have the best options for your unforgettable FA Cup journey. Don't just witness history – be a part of it. Book your tickets now.
FA Cup Winners
|
Team
|
No. titles
|
Year(s) of title
|
|
Arsenal
|
14
|
1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020
|
|
Manchester United
|
12
|
1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2016
|
|
Chelsea
|
8
|
1970, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018
|
|
Tottenham Hotspur
|
8
|
1901, 1921, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1981, 1982, 1991
|
|
Liverpool
|
8
|
1965, 1974, 1986, 1989, 1992, 2001, 2006,2022
|
|
Aston Villa
|
7
|
1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957
|
|
Newcastle United
|
6
|
1910, 1924, 1932, 1951, 1952, 1955
|
|
Manchester City
|
7
|
1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011, 2019,2023
|
|
Blackburn Rovers
|
6
|
1884, 1885, 1886, 1890, 1891, 1928
|
|
Everton
|
5
|
1906, 1933, 1966, 1984, 1995
|
|
West Bromwich Albion
|
5
|
1888, 1892, 1931, 1954, 1968
|
|
Wanderers
|
5
|
1872, 1873, 1876, 1877, 1878
|
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers
|
4
|
1893, 1908, 1949, 1960
|
|
Bolton Wanderers
|
4
|
1923, 1926, 1929, 1958
|
|
Sheffield United
|
4
|
1899, 1902, 1915, 1925
|
|
Sheffield Wednesday
|
3
|
1896, 196, 1935
|
|
West Ham United
|
3
|
1964, 1975, 1980
|
|
Preston North End
|
2
|
1889, 1938
|
|
Old Etonians
|
2
|
1879, 1882
|
|
Portsmouth
|
2
|
1939, 2008
|
|
Sunderland
|
2
|
1937, 1973
|
|
Nottingham Forest
|
2
|
1898, 1959
|
|
Bury
|
2
|
1900, 1903
|
|
Huddersfield Town
|
1
|
1922
|
|
Leicester City
|
1
|
2021
|
|
Oxford University
|
1
|
1874
|
|
Royal Engineers
|
1
|
1875
|
|
Derby County
|
1
|
1946
|
|
Leeds United
|
1
|
1972
|
|
Southampton
|
1
|
1976
|
|
Burnley
|
1
|
1914
|
|
Cardiff City
|
1
|
1927
|
|
Blackpool
|
1
|
1953
|
|
Clapham Rovers
|
1
|
1880
|
|
Notts County
|
1
|
1894
|
|
Barnsley
|
1
|
1912
|
|
Charlton Athletic
|
1
|
1947
|
|
Old Carthusians
|
1
|
1881
|
|
Blackburn Olympic
|
1
|
1883
|
|
Bradford City
|
1
|
1911
|
|
Ipswich Town
|
1
|
1978
|
|
Coventry City
|
1
|
1987
|
|
Wimbledon
|
1
|
1988
|
|
Wigan Athletic
|
1
|
2013
|
|
FA Cup Records
Most FA Cup wins:
Arsenal
14
Most FA Cup final appearances:
Arsenal, Manchester United
21
Most consecutive final wins:
Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers
3
Most consecutive final defeats:
Chelsea
3
Biggest FA Cup final win:
Bury Derby County (1903)
6
Biggest FA Cup final win:
Manchester City Watford (2019)
6
Biggest FA Cup win (all rounds):
Preston North End Hyde United (1887)
26
Most FA Cup player wins:
Ashley Cole (Arsenal, Chelsea)
7
Most FA Cup manager wins:
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
7
Career FA Cup goals:
Harry Cursham (Notts County) 1877-1889
49
Most goals in a season:
Jimmy Ross (Preston North End) 1887-88
19
Most goals in 1 game:
Ted MacDougall, Bournemouth vs Margate, 1971
9
