The FA Cup

It was first contested in 1871/72, making it the oldest competition in world football.

Format

All Premier League and Football League teams may enter, while non-league clubs may apply if they competed in the previous seasons FA Cup, FA Trophy, or FA Vase competition.

There is no seeding with pairings drawn at random via a televised draw. The draw also determines which team will play at home.

Drawn matches (other than the semi-final or final) are replayed at the ground of the team who were away in the first game. If a replay is drawn it is settled via extra time, and then a penalty shootout if necessary.

The preliminary rounds of the competition begin in August. There are then four qualifying rounds and six rounds of the competition proper, followed by the semi-finals and the final.

Clubs from League One and League Two are given exemption into the First Round proper, while Championship and Premier League teams enter at the third round.

The semi-finals are played at a neutral venue in early April and the final is normally held the Saturday after the Premier League season finishes in May.

Final and Semi-final Venues

Over the years the Cup Final has become synonomous with Wembley. However, up until 1923, a number of venues hosted the final, including, Kennington Oval in 1872 and 1874-92, the Racecourse Ground, Derby in 1886, Bramall Lane in 1912, the Crystal Palace 1895-1914, Stamford Bridge 1920-22, and Lillie Bridge, Fulham, in 1873.

Between 2001 and 2006, due to the extensive redevelopment of Wembley, finals were played at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff.

Semi-finals are contested at neutral venues; usually the home grounds of teams not involved in that semi-final.

Club grounds used since 1990 were Maine Road, Old Trafford, Hillsborough, Highbury, and Villa Park.

The Millenium Stadium and and Wembley have also hosted semi-finals and from 2008, all semi finals will be played at Wembley.

Trophies

The current FA Cup is the fourth version of the trophy. The first, the 'little tin idol', was used from the inception of the Cup in 1871-2 until it was stolen from a Birmingham shop window on September 11, 1895. It was never recovered.

The second trophy was a replica of the first, and was used until 1910 before being presented to the FA's long-serving president Lord Kinnaird.

It was replaced by a new, larger, trophy designed and manufactured by Fattorini’s of Bradford. This trophy still exists but is now too fragile to be used, so an exact replica was made and has been in use since the 1992 final.

Previous Winners

A total of 42 different clubs have won the Cup.

Winners from the lower leagues

Since the foundation of the Football League only eight teams playing outside of the top level have won the competition.

With the exception of Tottenham Hotspur, who won in 1901 while still in the Southern League, the other “non top flight” winners were all playing in the old Second Division at the time. No team lower than the second tier has ever reached the final.

Arguably, the most famous cup final upset was Sunderland’s victory over Leeds United in 1973. Leeds were then one of the powerhouses of English football, while Sunderland were languishing in what was the equivalent of the Championship.

Three years later Second Division Southampton repeated the feat by beating First Division Manchester United by the same 1-0 scoreline.

The following lower league teams have won the Cup;

Cup Trivia

Teams that have won the competition without conceeding a goal;

· Preston North End (1889)· Bury(1900)

Clubs that have won consecutive FA Cups on more than one occasion;

· Wanderers (1872, 1873) and (1876, 1877, 1878), · Blackburn Rovers (1884, 1885, 1886) and (1890, 1891)· Tottenham Hotspur (1961, 1962) and (1981, 1982).

Clubs that have won the League and Cup double;

· Preston North End (1889)· Aston Villa (1897)· Tottenham Hotspur (1961)· Arsenal (1971, 1998, 2002)· Liverpool (1986)· Manchester United (1994, 1996, *1999)

* United’s 1999 achievement was part of a unique treble which included the UEFA Champions League.

Clubs that have won the FA Cup and League Cup double;

· Arsenal (1993)· Liverpool (*2001)· Chelsea (2007)

In 2001, Liverpool won the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup to complete a cup treble.

West Bromwich Albion are the only team to date to win the FA Cup & promotion in the same season (1930-31)

Leicester City hold the unfortunate record of having appeared in four FA Cup finals without ever winning the cup.

Chelsea were the last team to win the F.A. Cup at the old Wembley and the first team to win it at the new Wembley.

The record for most FA Cup wins by a player is 5, jointly held by Charles Wollaston (Wanderers), Arthur Kinnaird (Wanderers & Old Etonions) and Jimmy Forest (Blackburn Rovers)

Mark Hughes (Manchester United & Chelsea), Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane (both Manchester United), David Seaman, Ray Parlour (both Arsenal) and Ashley Cole (Arsenal & Chelsea) are all tied on 4 wins.

Record score in an FA Cup tie; Preston North End 26, Hyde 0 (1897)

Record score in the final; Bury 6, Derby County 0 (1900)

Fastest FA Cup Final Goal: Bob Chatt 30, seconds (Aston Villa vs. West Bromwich Albion, 1895)

Fastest FA Cup Final Goal at Wembley: Roberto di Matteo, 43 seconds (Chelsea vs. Middlesborough, 1997)

First hat trick in the final, William Townley (Blackburn Rovers vs. Sheffield Wednesday, 1890)

First penalty scored in the final: Albert Shepherd (Newcastle vs. Barnsley, 1910)

First penalty missed in the final: Charlie Wallace (Aston Villa vs. Sunderland, 1913)

First penalty saved in the final: Dave Beasant (Wimbledon vs. Liverpool, 1988)

Oldest FA Cup finalist; Walter Hampson (Newcastle United vs Aston Villa, 1924) - 41 years and 257 days

Youngest FA Cup finalist: Curtis Weston (Millwall vs. Manchester United, 2004) - 17 years and 119 days.

Youngest player to score in a final; Norman Whiteside, 18 (Manchester United vs. Brighton, 1983)

First year that substitutes were allowed; 1967

First substitute to score in a final; Eddie Kelly (Arsenal vs. Liverpool, 1971)

First player sent off in a final; Kevin Moran (Manchester United vs. Everton,1985)

First goalkeeper to captain a cup-winning side; Dave Beasant (Wimbledon vs. Liverpool, 1988)

First final broadcast on radio: Cardiff City vs. Arsenal, 1927

First final broadcast on television: Preston North End vs. Huddersfield Town, 1938.

Longest tie in FA Cup history; Alvechurch vs. Oxford , 1971 – 6 games (660 minutes in total)

Most ties played in a season: Bideford, 13 ties over 5 rounds (1974/75)

Most rounds played in a season; 9 – New Brighton (1956-57), Blythe Spartans (1977-78), Harlow Town (1979-80)

First tie won on penalties; Rotherham United vs. Scunthorpe United, 1991 (7-6)

First final won on penalties; Arsenal vs. Manchester United, 2005

First FA Cup final replay; Royal Engineers vs. Old Etonians, 1875

First replay played at Wembley; 1981 Tottenham vs. Manchester City

Last FA Cup final replay; Arsenal vs Sheffield Wednesday, 1993