The FA Cup is one of the most popular competitions in the United Kingdom for one reason: Upsets. It’s one of the only tournaments in the world in which non-league competition can slay the giants of the Premier League, while also offering local spectators a chance to see their favourite top-tier sides without the need to travel the country. In this article, we look at the best FA Cup runs of all time, including underdog stories and historic runs that went completely against the FA Cup odds at the time!
Best FA Cup Runs by Non-League Teams
Non-league teams have left an indelible mark on the competition with their remarkable FA Cup runs. Wrexham made history when they reached the Fourth Round in 2022/23 and Hereford United’s exceptional performance in the Fourth Round of 1971/72 remains etched in football folklore.
Wrexham (Fourth Round, 2022/23)
Wrexham stunned everyone by making it to the fourth round of the FA Cup in the 2022/23 season. They achieved something incredible by beating First Division side Coventry City, which was a major upset.
This victory reminded many of their powerful run 18 years prior, where they reached the fifth round. Although their journey ended with an 8-0 stomping against Norwich City, this performance by Wrexham is seen as one of the most memorable for a non-league team in the history of this football tournament.
Hereford United (Fourth Round, 1971/72)
Hereford United made waves in the 1971/72 FA Cup as a Southern League team. They knocked out Cheltenham Town, King’s Lynn, and Northampton on their way to the fourth round. Their campaign became legendary when they faced Newcastle United.
After a 2-2 draw, they won the replay 2-1. Ronnie Radford scored a spectacular goal from 30 yards, which is still celebrated today. Despite losing to West Ham 3-1 in a subsequent replay, Hereford’s performance remains one of the most impressive and is often considered to be the greatest upset of all time.
Yeovil Town (Fifth Round, 1948/49)
As a Southern League club, Yeovil Town made headlines by reaching the fifth round of the competition. Their most memorable match was beating Sunderland, a First Division team at the time, with a score of 2-1 after extra time.
The win against Sunderland led to joyful fans invading the pitch, celebrating an iconic underdog triumph. However, their adventure ended when Manchester United handed them an 8-0 defeat in the fifth round.
Blyth Spartans (Fifth Round, 1977/78)
Blyth Spartans, a non-league team, would set off on an extraordinary adventure that won over football enthusiasts all over the country in the 1977/78 FA Cup. Kick-starting with an assertive 3-0 triumph over Shildon in the first qualifying round, they demonstrated their strength from the start.
Their path to success led them to triumph over Crook Town with a 3-0 win after a 1-1 draw. Blyth Spartans would then out Consett 4-1, and squeeze past Bishop Auckland by a small margin of 1-0.
Their tenacity resulted in a 1-0 win over Enfield in the third round, paving the way for a memorable fifth-round face-off with Wrexham. Despite earning a draw (1-1) against Wrexham at first, their dream journey concluded after narrowly losing the replay 2-1.
Crawley Town (Fifth Round, 2010/11)
Crawley Town’s journey during the 2010/11 season captured the imagination of football fans everywhere. They kicked off from the fourth qualifying round with a narrow win against Newport, securing a 1-0 victory that set the tone for their cup run.
The first major test came when they faced Guiseley, triumphing with an emphatic 5-0 win which displayed their attacking capabilities. As they progressed through to the second and third rounds, Crawley Town continued to show resilience and skill. A challenging tie against Swindon ended in a draw (1-1), but they emerged victorious in the replay after extra time, winning 3-2.
Their determination became even more evident when they defeated Derby 2-1 in the third round and edged past Torquay with a single-goal margin (0-1) in the fourth round. Despite eventually succumbing to Manchester United with a close scoreline of 1-0 in the fifth round, this non-league club’s memorable journey into such advanced stages of one of football’s oldest tournaments was nothing short of remarkable.
It’s also worth mentioning that Crawley Town would finish top of the Football Conference (Now known as the National League) during the same season, earning them promotion to League 2. Crawley finished third in the league the following season, and went on to secure back-to-back promotions.
Historic FA Cup Runs by League Teams
While league teams winning in the FA Cup is nothing new, there are still some spectacular David vs Goliath matches that can be found in the history books!
Millwall (2003/04)
Millwall were so close to pulling off one of the greatest FA Cup upsets in history back in the 2003/04 season, when they embarked on possibly the best FA Cup run ever. After finishing the season in 11th place in the old Division 1, the Lions were granted a grand day out at the Millennium Stadium where they met Premier League giants Manchester United.
Starting off with victories over Walsall and Telford United, the Lions stormed into the Quarter finals with a third straight win against Burnley. After a 0-0 draw, a replay was required to overcome Tranmere Rovers before a trip to Old Trafford to face Sunderland.
An historic 1-0 win over the Black Cats saw them reach the final where they met a Manchester United team featuring a young Cristiano Ronaldo alongside household names such as Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, and Ruud van Nistelrooy. It wasn’t to be for Millwall as they succumbed 3-0 to one of the FA Cups most successful clubs, but their 2003/04 season will always be remembered for featuring one of the best FA Cup runs in history.
Sheffield Wednesday (Finalists, 1889/90)
In 1889/90, The Wednesday made it to the FA Cup Final but suffered a decisive 6-1 loss against Blackburn Rovers. They faced Swifts in the first round and clinched a convincing 6-1 victory.
Moving onto the second round, they secured a narrow 2-1 win over Accrington. In the quarter-finals, they again triumphed with a close 2-1 result against Notts County. Their success continued as they defeated Bolton by another tight margin of 2-1 in the semi-finals.
Despite falling short in the final, their spirited performances throughout cemented their place in football history as one of the standout teams from that era.
Tottenham Hotspur (Winners, 1900/01)
Tottenham Hotspur, who were part of the Southern Football League at the time, achieved a remarkable victory in the 1900/01 FA Cup, carving their path to triumph through determined efforts. The journey commenced with a 1-1 draw against Preston in the initial round and ended with an exhilarating win over Sheffield United in the final replay, securing a memorable 3-1 victory, thanks to goals from John Cameron, Tom Smith, and Alexander Browner.
This cemented Tottenham as the only non-league team to win the FA Cup, a statistic that has held true to this day.
Wigan Athletic (2012/2013)
Wigan Athletic secured a historic 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final thanks to a late header by Ben Watson, marking a first major trophy win and an unprecedented achievement as the club became the first team to clinch the FA Cup.
Unfortunately for Wigan, however, the Lactics were relegated from the Premier League in the same season, ending their run in the top flight of English football and making them the only team to win the FA Cup and suffer relegation in the same season.
This win continues to be celebrated as one of the most remarkable underdog performances in FA Cup history, emphasising the tournament’s unpredictability and delivering an emotional ending.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Best FA Cup Runs
The greatest upset in the history of the FA Cup was arguably achieved by Hereford United in the fourth round of the 1971/72 tournament, where they beat Newcastle United 2-1.
Yes, a non-league team has won the FA Cup once in the history of the tournament. This was achieved by Tottenham Hotspur in 1901, who were part of the Southern Football League at the time.
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