A Guide to the History of the FA Cup

What You Need to Know

The FA Cup is the oldest club competition in the world, having been established back in 1871.
Just 15 teams took part in the first cup, compared to around 600 that start off in the qualifying rounds of the present-day competition.
Bolton Wanderers were the first ever winners.
The final of the tournament was moved to Wembey in 1923 and is still played there today.
Between the years 2001 and 2006, the final was held in Cardiff while Wembley was being renovated.
Manchester United hold the record for the team with the most FA Cup wins, having won the tournament 11 times.
Ashley Cole, meanwhile, holds the record for the player with the most wins to his name with six.
Every year hundreds of millions of people around the world watch FA cup action on TV.

Beginnings of the FA Cup

Arguably the greatest trophy in world club football, if not all sport, the FA cup was proposed on 20 July 1871 by honorary secretary of the Football Association, Charles Alcock. Three months later, his plan was approved and the FA Cup was born.

Just 15 teams took part in the first competition during the 1871-1872 season. It was won by Bolton Wanderers, a team of former public school boys and ex-university players. They beat Royal Engineers by a goal to nil in front of 2,000 spectators, all of whom had paid a shilling to watch the match at Kennington Oval.

Until 1895, the trophy was smaller than the one with which we are familiar today. It was stolen that year – presumably for its princely value of £20 – and never recovered. The current cup is the fourth in the competition’s history. It was made in 1992 and is an exact replica of the third cup.

The Move to Wembley

The first final to take place at Wembley Stadium was in 1923. The match between West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers (who won 2-0) became known as the White Horse Final. This was because police officer George Scorey was so very prominent atop his white steed, Billy, as he helped control the crowd of 200,000-or-so good spectators.

The FA Cup in the Present Day

As of 2011, around 600 clubs enter the modern-day FA Cup, with the earliest qualifying rounds taking place in early August and coming to an end with a showpiece final the following May. The tournament has maintained its knockout format, with all games being played over one leg, expect when a match is drawn, in which case a replay is held, with this second game to be decided through extra time or penalties if necessary.

From its humble beginnings, the FA Cup is now widely-regarded as one of the world’s top club football competition, attracting widespread attention all around the world, particularly the final, which is played in front of a global TV audience in the hundreds of millions.

Notable Records

As of 2011, the FA Cup has been won by 42 different clubs, with Manchester United claiming it the most times (11).
Manchester United also hold the record of the greatest number of appearances in a final, with 18.
On an individual level, Ashley Cole is the player who has won the cup the most times, with six medals to his name.
The biggest win in the history of the competition is Preston North End’s 26-0 drubbing of Hyde United in the first round of the 1887 tournament.

A Guide to the History of the FA Cup

What You Need to Know

Beginnings of the FA Cup

The Move to Wembley

The FA Cup in the Present Day

Notable Records

Further Reading

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