The FA Cup is renowned in England and worldwide for its penchant for providing major upsets – or ‘cupsets’, if you like – and fearless underdog stories every season.
Teams separated by hundreds of league positions can meet in the domestic competition and sides from the former First Division and current Premier League have been dealt catastrophic blows by lower division sides eager for their day in the sun.
The magic of the FA Cup continues to throw up surprise after surprise and its history is filled with plucky underdogs who went toe to toe with the Goliaths of English football and came out on top. Here are some of the best success stories.
Notts County made history in 1894 / Chris Brunskill/GettyImages
Tottenham’s non-league FA Cup winners / Hulton Archive/GettyImages
Barnsley were winners in 1912 / James Williamson – AMA/GettyImages
Wolves’ 1908 FA Cup winners / Hulton Archive/GettyImages
West Brom collect their trophy / brandstaetter images/GettyImages
Colchester reached the fifth round in 1948 / Stephen Pond/GettyImages
It was big year for Yeovil in 1949 / Matthew Ashton/GettyImages
Sunderland defeated Leeds in the 1973 final / Evening Standard/GettyImages
Wimbledon beat Bath City in the first round / Evening Standard/GettyImages
Southampton enjoyed their day in the sun in 1976 / Keystone/GettyImages
Blyth Spartans have enjoyed some big results in the FA Cup / Stu Forster/GettyImages
West Ham beat Arsenal in the 1980 final / David Ashdown/GettyImages
Redknapp was in charge when Bournemouth beat Man Utd in 1984 / Clive Rose/GettyImages
York enjoyed a great run in 1984/85 / Pete Norton/GettyImages
The now defunct Telford United played their home games at New Bucks Head / Matthew Ashton/GettyImages
Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang were victorious / David Cannon/GettyImages
