The FA Cup

The FA Cup trophy

This weekend were the semi-finals in the 2022/23 FA Cup season. In the first match Manchester City defeated Sheffield United 3-0, whereas Manchester United and Brighton&Hove needed penalty shoot-outs after 120 minutes in which neither team managed to score. Eventually, the ''Red Devils'', as the United team is nicknamed, won 7-6. I know right, you would expect this score in tennis😂😂😂. So, there we have it. Both teams from Manchester will meet on Wembley on June 3rd for the grand final. Ok, back to our main topic. How old is this competition?

Well, the first edition was played in 1871 when to monarch of the UK was queen Victoria. As a comparison, the first World Cup edition was played in 1930. Wanderers F.C was to the first club to win the trophy after beating Royal Engineers in the final. Morton Betts scored the only goal. Following this outstanding performance, the team managed to win 4 more FA Cups, before being dissolved in the 1880's.

Morton Betts

A photo of the Wanderers F.C.

Now, some interesting facts and statistics about the competition:

• Most successful club: Arsenal (14 trophies)
• Biggest win in a final: 6 (Bury-Derby County 6-0 in 1903 and Man. City-Watford 6-0 in 2019. I saw the second match btw. It was incredible)
• Most goals in a final: 7 (Blackburn Rovers-Sheffield Wednesday 6-1 in 1890 and Blackpool-Bolton 4-3 in 1953) 
• Player with most FA Cup trophies: Ashley Cole (7)
• All-time goalscorer: Harry Cursham (44 goals scored between 1877-1888)