FA Cup History and Winners List
Journey through 150+ years of the world's oldest football tournament, from Wanderers' 1872 triumph to the modern giants of today.
The Legacy of FA Cup History
The FA Cup stands as a monumental pillar in English football, representing the oldest knockout tournament in the world. Since that inaugural FA Cup final in 1872, this prestigious football competition has witnessed the evolution of the sport from amateur beginnings to the global phenomenon we know today. The FA Cup history is not merely a record of winners and losers, but a tapestry woven with threads of passion, drama, and unforgettable moments that have defined generations of football supporters.
What makes the FA Cup truly remarkable is its ability to simultaneously honor tradition while embracing modernity. The football tournament has survived wars, economic upheavals, and the transformation of football into a multi-billion pound industry, yet retains the magical qualities that made it special in Victorian England. Each season, clubs from the tenth tier of English football dream of creating their own FA Cup history, while established giants seek to add another chapter to their legacy.
The famous FA Cup trophy, with its distinctive design and prestigious heritage, has been lifted by legends and icons, underdog heroes and established superstars. From the early days when Wanderers dominated the competition to the modern era where Arsenal leads the winners list, the FA Cup has provided the stage for football's most compelling narratives. This football championship continues to captivate audiences worldwide, proving that the magic of cup competition football remains undiminished after 150 years.
The Origins: 1871 and the Birth of a Football Tournament
The FA Cup story begins in 1871, when C.W. Alcock, the secretary of the Football Association, proposed a knockout tournament to determine the best club in England. The concept was revolutionary: a cup competition where teams would face elimination after a single defeat, creating sudden-death drama that had never been seen before in football. Fifteen teams entered that first FA Cup, with Wanderers ultimately defeating Royal Engineers 1-0 at Kennington Oval in a match watched by 2,000 spectators.
That first FA Cup final established traditions that continue to this day. The football trophy itself, manufactured by Messrs. Martin, Hall & Co. at a cost of £20, became an iconic symbol of footballing excellence. The knockout format proved instantly popular, capturing the imagination of the Victorian sporting public and establishing the blueprint for countless football tournaments that would follow in its wake.
The early years of FA Cup history were dominated by amateur teams and public school Old Boys' clubs. Wanderers, the most successful club of the era, won the football trophy six times in the first nine years, including three consecutive victories from 1876 to 1878. These pioneers of the FA Cup laid the foundations for what would become the most prestigious domestic cup competition in world football.
First Winner
Wanderers (1872)
Defeated Royal Engineers 1-0 at The Oval
First Final Venue
Kennington Oval
Hosted the first 20 FA Cup finals
Initial Teams
15 Entrants
Competition began with 15 clubs
Evolution of the FA Cup Competition
As English football evolved, so too did the FA Cup. The football tournament expanded dramatically from those humble beginnings, with hundreds of clubs now entering across multiple qualifying rounds. The introduction of league football in 1888 initially threatened the FA Cup's prominence, but instead the cup competition adapted and thrived, becoming the perfect complement to the league season.
The 1923 FA Cup Final, known forever as the "White Horse Final," marked a significant milestone as the first to be held at the iconic Wembley Stadium. Bolton's 2-0 victory over West Ham United was watched by an official crowd of 126,047, with thousands more gatecrashing the match. This football final established Wembley as the spiritual home of the FA Cup, a relationship that would endure (with interruptions for stadium rebuilding) for the next century.
The FA Cup continued to innovate through the decades. The first televised final came in 1938 (Preston vs Huddersfield), bringing the football trophy ceremony into living rooms across Britain. The introduction of penalty shootouts in 1991 replaced replays as the method for deciding drawn finals, while the competition's format has been constantly refined to balance tradition with the demands of the modern football calendar.
Today's FA Cup represents a remarkable blend of the historic and the contemporary. The football tournament includes professional and semi-professional clubs from across the English football pyramid, maintains the magic of the FA Cup draw, and culminates in that spectacular showpiece final at Wembley. The competition's ability to evolve while preserving its core values explains why it remains the most prestigious domestic cup competition in world football.
FA Cup History: Most Successful Clubs
| Club | FA Cup Titles | Final Appearances | Most Recent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 14 | 21 | 2020 |
| Manchester United | 12 | 20 | 2016 |
| Chelsea | 8 | 15 | 2022 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | 10 | 1991 |
| Liverpool | 8 | 15 | 2022 |
| Aston Villa | 7 | 11 | 1957 |
| Manchester City | 7 | 12 | 2024 |
| Newcastle United | 6 | 14 | 1955 |
Arsenal's FA Cup dominance: The Gunners lead the FA Cup winners list with 14 triumphs, their most recent coming in 2020 when they defeated Chelsea 2-1 in a final held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their record includes three consecutive victories from 2013-2015 under Arsène Wenger, cementing their status as the most successful club in FA Cup history.
FA Cup Winners by Decade: A Historical Overview
1870s-1880s: The Pioneer Era
Wanderers, Old Etonians, and Blackburn Olympic dominated these early years of FA Cup history.
Notable Winners: Wanderers (5), Old Etonians (2), Blackburn Olympic (1)
1890s-1900s: The Rise of Professionalism
Professional clubs from the north and midlands began asserting their dominance in the football tournament.
Notable Winners: Aston Villa (5), Sheffield Wednesday (2), Tottenham (1)
1920s-1930s: The Wembley Era Begins
The "White Horse Final" of 1923 inaugurated Wembley as the home of the FA Cup final.
Notable Winners: Bolton (3), West Bromwich (3), Portsmouth (2)
1940s-1950s: Post-War Revival
Football returned after WWII with magical finals like Matthews' 1953 triumph for Blackpool.
Notable Winners: Newcastle (3), Arsenal (3), Blackpool (1)
1960s-1970s: Giant-Killings and Drama
Sunderland's 1973 shock over Leeds and Southampton's 1976 triumph defined this era.
Notable Winners: Tottenham (3), Chelsea (3), Liverpool (2)
1980s-1990s: The Crazy Gang and Beyond
Wimbledon's 1988 upset of Liverpool epitomized the FA Cup's capacity for surprises.
Notable Winners: Manchester United (5), Everton (2), Wimbledon (1)
2000s-2010s: The Big Four Era
Arsenal's dominance (5 wins) and Chelsea's emergence highlighted this period of the FA Cup.
Notable Winners: Arsenal (5), Chelsea (5), Liverpool (3)
2020s-Present: Modern Champions
Wigan's shock 2013 win and Leicester's 2021 triumph continued the FA Cup's upset tradition.
Notable Winners: Manchester City (3), Liverpool (2), Leicester (1)
FA Cup Record Breakers and Milestones
🏆Most Consecutive Wins
Wanderers (1876-1878)
Three straight FA Cup victories established the early dominance of this amateur club in the football tournament's formative years.
📊Most Final Appearances
Arsenal (21 appearances)
The Gunners have featured in more FA Cup finals than any other club, with a winning record that underlines their cup competition pedigree.
⚽Highest Scoring Final
Blackburn 6-1 Sheffield Wednesday (1890)
This remains the most goal-laden FA Cup final in history, with Blackburn's attacking display setting an enduring football tournament record.
👥Largest Final Crowd
126,047 (1923 White Horse Final)
The first Wembley final attracted an enormous crowd that spilled onto the pitch, requiring mounted police to clear the playing surface.
🔥Longest Unbeaten Run
Arsenal (16 matches, 2002-2005)
This incredible run included three consecutive FA Cup triumphs and established Wenger's Arsenal as the cup competition masters.
🎯Most Final Losses
Everton (8 losses)
Despite being FA Cup winners on five occasions, Everton's eight final defeats make them the unluckiest team in football final history.
Memorable FA Cup Finals That Made History
1953: The Matthews Final
Blackpool 4-3 Bolton Wanderers. Stanley Matthews, finally winning the FA Cup at age 38, delivered a masterclass that inspired his comeback from 3-1 down. This football final remains the benchmark for individual performances in cup competition history.
The FA Cup's most famous individual performance
1973: Sunderland's Giant-Killing
Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United. Second Division Sunderland shocked the mighty Leeds, with goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery pulling off perhaps the greatest double save in FA Cup history. Ian Porterfield's goal secured one of the biggest upsets in football tournament history.
A Second Division team conquering the First Division champions
1988: The Crazy Gang Conquers Liverpool
Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool. Lawrie Sanchez's header defeated the all-conquering Liverpool side, proving that the FA Cup's magic could humble even the greatest teams. This football final epitomized the competition's capacity for surprises.
The "Crazy Gang" beats the "Kings of Europe"
2006: Gerrard's Final Heroics
Liverpool 3-3 West Ham (Liverpool won 3-1 on penalties). Steven Gerrard's spectacular 91st-minute equalizer forced extra time in arguably the greatest FA Cup final ever played. The football match had everything: drama, brilliance, and ultimately, penalty shootout heartbreak for the Hammers.
The modern classic of FA Cup finals
2013: Wigan's Fairy Tale
Wigan 1-0 Manchester City. Ben Watson's stoppage-time header secured one of the greatest FA Cup final shocks, as Wigan, facing Premier League relegation, defeated the heavily-favored champions. The football trophy was lifted by a club that seemed destined for the Championship.
The ultimate underdog triumph at Wembley
2022: Liverpool's Historic Shootout
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool (Liverpool won 6-5 on penalties). The first goalless FA Cup final in 20 years was decided by a marathon penalty shootout that saw Liverpool triumph after 21 spot-kicks. Alisson's save from Mason Mount secured the football trophy for the Reds.
The longest penalty shootout in FA Cup history
Complete FA Cup Winners List: Recent Finals
| Year | Winners | Runners-Up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Manchester City | Manchester United | 1-2 |
| 2023 | Manchester City | Manchester United | 2-1 |
| 2022 | Liverpool | Chelsea | 0-0 (6-5 pens) |
| 2021 | Leicester City | Chelsea | 1-0 |
| 2020 | Arsenal | Chelsea | 2-1 |
| 2019 | Manchester City | Watford | 6-0 |
| 2018 | Chelsea | Manchester United | 1-0 |
| 2017 | Arsenal | Chelsea | 2-1 |
| 2016 | Manchester United | Crystal Palace | 2-1 (AET) |
| 2015 | Arsenal | Aston Villa | 4-0 |
FA Cup History Glossary: Key Terms
Competition Structure
- Extra Preliminary Round: The earliest stage where the lowest-ranked clubs enter the FA Cup
- First Round Proper: When League clubs join the football tournament
- Third Round: Premier League and Championship teams enter the competition
- Qualifying Rounds: Preliminary stages for non-league clubs
Historic Terms
- White Horse Final: The 1923 final, named after the police horse that helped clear the pitch
- Giant-Killing: When a lower-league team defeats a club from a higher division
- Cup Run: A team's progression through the football tournament rounds
- Proper: The main competition after qualifying rounds conclude
Modern FA Cup
- Wembley Stadium: The permanent venue for the FA Cup semi-finals and final
- Replays: Matches to decide drawn ties (abolished for quarter-finals onwards in 2018)
- VAR: Video Assistant Referee, used in all FA Cup matches from the third round onwards
- European Place: FA Cup winners qualify for the UEFA Europa League
The Enduring Magic of FA Cup History
From that first FA Cup final in 1872 to the modern spectacles at Wembley, the competition has remained the pinnacle of English football's cup competition tradition. The FA Cup winners list reads like a who's who of English football, yet includes surprise packages that exemplify the tournament's unique capacity for upsets. This football tournament has survived wars, witnessed the transformation of the sport from amateur pastime to global industry, and yet retains the magical qualities that made it special in Victorian England.
The FA Cup's ability to create moments that resonate through generations is unparalleled in football. Whether it's Stanley Matthews finally lifting the football trophy in 1953, Wimbledon's Crazy Gang conquering Liverpool in 1988, or Wigan's shock triumph over Manchester City in 2013, the competition consistently delivers narratives that capture the imagination. The FA Cup history is not merely a record of winners and losers, but a celebration of everything that makes football special: passion, drama, and the possibility that dreams can come true.
As we look to the future of the FA Cup, the competition faces challenges from the modern football landscape, yet its core values remain undiminished. The famous football trophy continues to represent the pinnacle of domestic cup competition achievement. For clubs of all sizes, from the extra preliminary round qualifiers to the Premier League giants, the FA Cup offers the opportunity to create their own piece of FA Cup history and etch their names into football folklore.
Whether you're a seasoned supporter who has witnessed decades of FA Cup magic or a newcomer discovering the tournament's rich heritage, our comprehensive FA Cup Hub provides everything you need to explore this remarkable football competition. From detailed statistics to memorable finals, from legendary players to the complete winners list, the history of the FA Cup awaits your discovery. Join us in celebrating the world's greatest cup competition and the enduring magic of the FA Cup.