Features

FA Cup takes centre stage

Author: John Harris
Date: 23/01/2010
Football betting

Fifteen clubs begin this weekend with one thing in common, they all have the chance to become the first winners of the FA Cup from outside the top-flight since West Ham United in 1980.

At the fourth round stage of this year's competition there are 11 teams still left standing.

Sheffield United, Cardiff City, Leicester City, Doncaster Rovers, Preston North End, Reading, Ipswich Town, West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Scunthorpe United are all still alive from the Championship.

League One has Southampton, Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion, while Accrington Stanley and Notts County fly the flag for League Two.

With so many lower league clubs still involved in the FA Cup this year, we take a look at some of the red-letter finals when a team from outside the Premier League or the old First Division won the oldest association football competition in the world.

The feat has been achieved on eight occasions but perhaps tellingly not once in the last 20 years.

Can a lower division side win this year's FA Cup? - Latest Football Betting

West Ham 1-0 Arsenal, 1980

The 99th FA Cup Final was a memorable one as it was the last time a club from outside the top-flight triumphed.

Trevor Brooking's 13th-minute header for the Second Division side proved decisive as the might of an Arsenal line-up containing the likes of Liam Brady, Alan Sunderland, David O'Leary and Frank Stapleton was shocked.

Manchester United 0-1 Southampton, 1976

The First Division side started strongly and should have taken the lead but United and their larger than life manager Tommy Docherty were left to rue what might have been.

Bobby Stokes popped up in the 83rd minute to snatch the cup for the Second Division side in one of the biggest shocks in English football history.

Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United, 1973

Holders Leeds were expected to sweep Second Division Sunderland aside with ease in the 50th final to be played at Wembley.

Ian Porterfield's 31st-minute winner was almost eclipsed by the heroic performance of Black Cats goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery on the day.

West Brom 2-1 Birmingham, 1931

Little did the Baggies know that their feat of upsetting a First Division side in the showpiece would not be repeated for more than 40 years.

Their achievement of winning the FA Cup and promotion from the old Second Division in the same season has never been repeated.

Albion legend William "Ginger" Richardson scored both of his side's goals that famous day.

BET NOW