TheFootball Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as theFA Cup, is aknockout competition in Englishassociation football. It is the oldest football competition in the world, having commenced in 1871.
Although the competition is the national cup of England, numerous clubs from outside England have participated in the tournament, with some still doing so as of 2016.
Scottish clubs competed from the tournaments inauguration until 1887, while clubs fromIreland, in what is now Northern Ireland, competed from 1887 until 1891.
All clubs from Wales were eligible for the FA Cup until the formation of theLeague of Wales in 1992. Since then only clubs remaining in the English football pyramid have competed. In 1927Cardiff City won the tournament making them the only non English team to win the competition. Prior to this, the tournament was often referred to as the 'English Cup' however use of the term died out after Cardiff's win.
Teams from the Channel Islands have competed in the qualifying rounds in recent years.
AlthoughSt. Martins andVale Recreation have competed in theFA Vase,Guernsey FC are the only club from theBailiwick of Guernsey to have competed in the FA Cup. Formed in 2011, they first entered the competition in 2013, reaching the 2nd qualifying round. Under FA rules, Guernsey must play any home replay at a neutral English venue – as of 2015, they had played six games in the competition – four away and two 'home' replays in England.[1]
Although sides from Isle of Man and Jersey had competed in theFA Vase, Guernsey FC remained the only club from thecrown dependencies to have played in the FA Cup untilJersey Bulls in 2021. The football associations of each crown dependency hasCounty Football Association status withinthe Football Association.
| Club | Years | Best performance | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guernsey | 2013–14 to 2016–17 | 2nd qualifying round –2013–14 | [2] |
Between 1887–88 and 1890–91, six Irish clubs entered the FA Cup. In 1887,Distillery became the first club from Ireland to enter the competition.Cliftonville andLinfield Athletic were the last clubs from the island to appear, both competing in 1890–91. Cliftonville progressed further in the competition than any other Irish club, reaching the 3rd round in 1886–87 before crashing out 11–0 toPartick Thistle. Following the introduction of qualifying rounds, Linfield Athletic progressed through the most rounds of any Irish club, winning three ties in1888–89 to reach the first round proper. Linfield's 7–0 victory over Cliftonville during the1888–89 fourth qualifying round is notable for being the only FA Cup match ever to be played onChristmas Day.[3]
All six clubs were located in what is nowNorthern Ireland. However, the entire island ofIreland was still a part of theUnited Kingdom at the time, as Northern Ireland was not created until thepartition of Ireland in 1921.
| Club | Years | Best performance | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast YMCA | 1888–89 & 1889–90 | 3rd qualifying round –1889–90 | [4] |
| Cliftonville | 1886–87 to 1890–91 | 3rd round –1886–87 | [4] |
| Distillery | 1887–88 & 1889–90 | 2nd round –1887–88 | [4] |
| Linfield Athletic | 1888–89 to 1890–91 | 1st round –1888–89 | [4] |
| North End Athletic | 1889–90 | 2nd qualifying round –1889–90 | [4] |
| Ulster | 1888–89 | 2nd qualifying round –1888–89 | [4] |
Jersey Bulls are the only club from theBailiwick of Jersey to have competed in the FA Cup. Formed in 2018, they first entered the competition in 2021, reaching the 3rd qualifying round.
Although a team from theIsle of Man and several other Channel Island teams have competed in theFA Vase, Jersey Bulls andGuernsey FC are the only two clubs from thecrown dependencies to have played in the FA Cup. The football associations of each crown dependency hasCounty Football Association status withinthe Football Association.
| Club | Years | Best performance | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Bulls | 2021–22 & 2023–24 | 3rd qualifying round –2021–22 | [5] |
The first Scottish club to enter wasQueen's Park, who accepted an invitation to take part inthe very first competition after a number of the clubs which had originally entered withdrew.[6] TheGlasgow team were by far the dominant force in Scottish football, and no other team had even managed to score a goal against them.[7] Because of a combination ofbyes and the withdrawal of opponents, "Queen's" reached the semi-finals without playing a match, but after holdingWanderers to a draw the Scottish club was forced to withdraw as the funds could not be raised to return for a replay.[6] The following season Queen's entered the competition again and, to ease the travelling expenses required to take part in a competition in which virtually every other team was based in thehome counties, were afforded byes all the way to the semi-finals.[6] At this stage the club was drawn againstOxford University, whereupon the Scots withdrew from the competition,[8] although one account states that Queen's in fact beat Oxford only to then withdraw as the team could not afford to travel to London for the final.[6] In 1873, the newly formedScottish Football Association launched theScottish Cup,[9] but Queen's Park continued to enter the FA Cup draw, although for unknown reasons the club withdrew each time without playing.[10][11][12][13][14]
In 1883, Queen's returned to the FA Cup and reached the final, scoring resounding wins overCrewe Alexandra (10–0) andManchester F.C. (15–0) en route, only to be defeated byBlackburn Rovers.[15] The match against Manchester was the first FA Cup tie to be staged in Scotland, hosted atTitwood, the home ofClydesdale CC.[16] A year later Queens met Blackburn Rovers in the final once again, with the English team again emerging victorious.[17] The1885–86 competition saw the first participation by other Scottish clubs, as Queen's were joined byPartick Thistle,Third Lanark,Rangers andHeart of Midlothian, although the latter two withdrew without playing a match.[18] These clubs all returned for the1886–87 competition, along with newcomersRenton andCowlairs.[19]
In 1887, the Scottish Football Association banned its members from taking any further part in the FA Cup.[20] No more Scottish clubs participated untilGretna F.C. entered the competition in the 1980s. Because the town ofGretna is located extremely close to theborder, the local football club had opted to play in theEnglish football league system and by the 1980s had reached theNorthern Premier League,[21] making the team eligible to enter the FA Cup. Gretna played in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup for nineteen seasons, making the first round proper twice, until the club joined theScottish Football League in 2002.[21]
| Club | Years | Best performance | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowlairs | 1886–87 | 3rd round –1886–87 | [22] |
| Gretna | 1983–84 to 2001–02 | 1st round –1991–92 and1993–94 | [23] |
| Heart of Midlothian | 1886–87 | 1st round –1886–87 | [24] |
| Partick Thistle | 1885–86 to 1886–87 | 5th Round –1886–87 | [25] |
| Queen's Park | 1871–72 to 1872–73 & 1883–84 to 1886–87 | Final –1883–84 and1884–85 | [26] |
| Rangers | 1886–87 | Semi-final –1886–87 | [27] |
| Renton | 1886–87 | 3rd round –1886–87 | [28] |
| Third Lanark | 1885–86 to 1886–87 | 2nd Round –1885–86 and1886–87 | [24] |
Until the founding of theLeague of Wales in 1992, most senior Welsh sides were included within the English league system, and could therefore be eligible for entry into the FA Cup. Since that time, all but a handful of Welsh teams have joined the Welsh league system and are no longer eligible.
In 1927 Cardiff defeated holders Bolton on their way to the final, where they defeated Arsenal 1–0, making them the first, and as yet only, non-English team to win the FA cup. The event was the first FA Cup final broadcast live on radio by the BBC.
| Club | Years | Best performance | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberaman & Aberdare | 1945–46 to 1947–48 | 1st qualifying round –1945–46,1946–47 | [29] |
| Aberaman Athletic | 1902–03, 1920–21 to 1921–22 & 1935–36 to 1938–39 | 3rd qualifying round –1902–03 | [30] |
| Aberaman United | 1921–22 | Extra preliminary round –1921–22 | [31] |
| Abercarn | 1921–22 | Extra preliminary round –1921–22 | [32] |
| Aberdare Amateurs | 1919–20 | Extra preliminary round –1919–20 | [33] |
| Aberdare Athletic | 1912–13 to 1913–14 & 1920–21 to 1928–29 | 3rd round –1925–26 | [34] |
| Abergavenny Thursdays | 1963–64 to 1971–72 | 2nd qualifying round –1968–69,1969–70,1971–72 | [35] |
| Aberystwyth Town | 1896–97 to 1900–01 & 1909–10 | 4th qualifying round –1897–98 | [36] |
| Abertillery | 1914–15 to 1921–22 | 2nd qualifying round –1920–21 | [37] |
| Ammanford Town | 1976–77 | 1st qualifying round –1976–77 | [38] |
| Bangor City | 1896–97 to 1898–99, 1924–25 to 1985–86 & 1987–88 to 1991–92 | 2nd round –1960–61,1969–70,1972–73,1983–84 | [39] |
| Bargoed | 1914–15 to 1921–22 | 1st qualifying round –1914–15,1919–20 | [40] |
| Barry Town | 1911–12 to 1991–92 | 2nd round –1929–30 | [41] |
| Bedouins | 1931–32 & 1933–34 to 1935–36 | Extra preliminary round –1931–32,1933–34,1934–35,1935–36, | [42] |
| Bethesda Athletic | 1969–70 & 1974–75 to 1976–77 | 2nd qualifying round –1969–70,1974–75,1976–77 | [43] |
| Blackwood Town | 1921–22 | Extra preliminary round –1921–22 | [44] |
| Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateur | 1972–73 to 1974–75 | 1st qualifying round –1972–73,1973–74,1974–75 | [45] |
| Borough United | 1962–63 to 1966–67 | 3rd qualifying round –1962–63,1964–65,1965–66 | [46] |
| Bridgend Town | 1921–22 & 1973–74 to 1991–92 | 4th qualifying round –1979–80 | [47] |
| Buckley | 1896–97 to 1897–98 | 3rd qualifying round –1896–97 | [48] |
| Buckley United | 1920–21 to 1921–22 | 4th qualifying round –1920–21 | [49] |
| Buckley Victoria | 1900–01 | 1st qualifying round –1900–01 | [50] |
| Caerau Rovers | 1914–15 to 1921–22 | Preliminary round –1919–20,1920–21 | [51] |
| Caerleon Athletic | 1913–14 to 1914–15 | 1st qualifying round –1913–14 | [52] |
| Caernarfon Town | 1979–80 to 1995–96 | 3rd round –1986–87 | [53] |
| Caernarvon Athletic | 1929–30 to 1930–31 | 2nd round –1929–30 | [54] |
| Caernarvon Wanderers | 1886–87 | 1st round –1886–87 | [55] |
| Caerphilly | 1902–03, 1913–14 & 1921–22 | 2nd qualifying round –1902–03 | [56] |
| Cardiff Albion | 1920–21 | Preliminary round –1920–21 | [57] |
| Cardiff City | 1910–11 to present | Winners –1926–27 | [58] |
| Cardiff Corinthians | 1911–12 to 1949–50 | 3rd qualifying round –1922–23 | [59] |
| Chirk | 1884–85 to 1888–89, 1890–91, 1897–98 to 1898–99, 1900–01 to 1902–03, 1904–05 to 1907–08, 1909–10 & 1922–23 to 1924–25 | 5th round –1886–87 | [60] |
| Colwyn Bay | 1927–28 to 1937–38, 1965–66 to 1966–67 & 1979–80 to 2018–19 | 2nd round –1995–96 | [61] |
| Connah's Quay | 1909–10 to 1914–15 | 2nd qualifying round –1909–10 | [62] |
| Connah's Quay & Shotton | 1921–22 & 1926–27 to 1931–32 | 3rd qualifying round –1926–27 | [63] |
| Connah's Quay Nomads | 1971–72 to 1973–74 | 2nd qualifying round –1971–72,1973–74 | [64] |
| Cross Keys | 1921–22 | Extra preliminary round –1921–22 | [65] |
| Cwmbran Town | 1988–89 to 1991–92 | 2nd qualifying round –1989–90 | [66] |
| Denbigh Town | 1910–11 | Preliminary round –1910–11 | [67] |
| Druids | 1876–77 to 1877–78, 1882–83 to 1887–88, 1889–90 to 1890–91, 1895–96 to 1900–01, 1904–05 & 1906–07 to 1910–11 | 5th round –1882–83 | [68] |
| Ebbw Vale | 1919–20 to 1923–24 & 1929–30 to 1962–63 | 3rd qualifying round –1952–53 | [69] |
| Ferndale Athletic | 1972–73 | 1st qualifying round –1972–73 | [70] |
| Flint Town United | 1892–93 to 1894–95, 1928–29 & 1950–51 to 1961–62 | 3rd qualifying round –1894–95,1952–53,1954–55 | [71] |
| Gilfach | 1921–22 | Extra preliminary round –1921–22 | [72] |
| Gresford | 1921–22 | Preliminary round –1921–22 | [73] |
| Haverfordwest County | 1981–82 to 1984–85 | 3rd qualifying round –1981–82 | [74] |
| Holyhead Town | 1964–65 to 1965–66, 1967–68 to 1968–69 & 1970–71 | 2nd qualifying round –1967–68 | [75] |
| Llandudno | 1914–15, 1923–24 to 1952–53, 1954–55 to 1964–65 & 1966–67 | 3rd qualifying round –1929–30,1958–59 | [76] |
| Llandudno Swifts | 1896–97 to 1897–98 & 1899–1900 to 1900–01 | 2nd qualifying round –1899–1900 | [77] |
| Llanelli | 1911–12 to 1913–14, 1919–20 to 1924–25 & 1931–32 to 1987–88 | 2nd round –1952–53 | [78] |
| Llanhilleth | 1921–22 | Preliminary round –1921–22 | [79] |
| Lovells Athletic | 1921–22 & 1921–22 to 1968–69 | 3rd round –1945–46 | [80] |
| Lysaghts Excelsior | 1912–13 to 1913–14 | Preliminary round –1912–13,1913–14 | [81] |
| Machynlleth | 1921–22 | Extra preliminary round –1921–22 | [82] |
| Maesteg Park | 1985–86 to 1991–92 | 2nd qualifying round –1988–89,1991–92 | [83] |
| Mardy | 1910–11 to 1914–15 & 1921–22 | 3rd qualifying round –1921–22 | [84] |
| Merthyr Town [1] | 1910–11 to 1934–35 | 2nd round –1928–29 | [85] |
| Merthyr Town [2] | 2010–11 to present | 3rd qualifying round –2012–13 | [85] |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1946–47 to 2009–10 | 2nd round –1946–47,1954–55,1973–74,1979–80,1989–90,1990–91 | [86] |
| Mid Rhondda | 1913–14 to 1921–22 & 1925–26 | 5th qualifying round –1921–22 | [87] |
| Milford Town | 1911–12 & 1913–14 to 1914–15 | 1st qualifying round –1914–15 | [88] |
| Mold | 1925–26 to 1926–27 | 1st round –1925–26 | [89] |
| Mond Nickel Works | 1913–14 to 1914–15 | Preliminary round –1913–14,1914–15 | [90] |
| Monmouth Town | 1937–38 to 1945–46 | 2nd qualifying round –1945–46 | [91] |
| New Tredegar | 1921–22 | Extra preliminary round –1921–22 | [92] |
| Newport (Monmouth) | 1906–07 | 2nd qualifying round –1906–07 | [93] |
| Newport County [1] | 1913–14 to 1930–31 & 1932–33 to 1988–89 | 5th round –1948–49 | [94] |
| Newport County [2] | 1992–93 to present | 5th round –2018–19 | [95] |
| Newport Barbarians | 1914–15 to 1921–22 | 1st qualifying round –1919–20 | [96] |
| Newtown | 1884–85 to 1885–86, 1891–92 to 1899–1900 & 1990–91 to 1991–92 | 2nd round –1884–85,1885–86 | [97] |
| Pembroke Dock | 1913–14 to 1914–15 & 1921–22 | Preliminary round –1913–14,1914–15,1921–22 | [98] |
| Oakdale | 1920–21 to 1921–22 | Extra preliminary round –1920–21,1921–22 | [99] |
| Pontypridd | 1912–13 to 1913–14 & 1919–20 to 1925–26 | 4th qualifying round –1924–25 | [100] |
| Port Talbot Town | 1912–13 to 1914–15 | Preliminary round –1912–13,1913–14,1914–15 | [101] |
| Porth Athletic | 1921–22 to 1922–23 | 2nd qualifying round –1921–22 | [102] |
| Porthmadog | 1967–68 to 1980–81 | 3rd qualifying round –1973–74 | [103] |
| Pwllheli & District | 1953–54 to 1963–64, 1967–68 to 1971–72 & 1975–76 | 4th qualifying round –1954–55 | [104] |
| Rhiwderin | 1914–15 to 1919–20 & 1921–22 | Preliminary round –1914–15,1919–20 | [105] |
| Rhosllanerchrugog | 1890–91 to 1892–93 | 2nd qualifying round –1890–91 | [106] |
| Rhyl | 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03, 1904–05 to 1909–10, 1911–12, 1923–24, 1925–26 to 1933–34 & 1935–36 to 1991–92 | 4th round –1956–57 | [107] |
| Rhymney Town | 1914–15 & 1921–22 | 2nd qualifying round –1914–15 | [108] |
| Risca Stars | 1921–22 | Extra preliminary round –1921–22 | [109] |
| Rogerstone | 1919–20 to 1921–22 | Preliminary round –1919–20,1920–21,1921–22 | [110] |
| Swansea City | 1913–14 to present | Semi-final –1925–26,1963–64 | [111] |
| Ton Pentre | 1909–10, 1919–20 to 1922–23 & 1968–69 to 1991–92 | 1st round –1986–87 | [112] |
| Treherbert | 1921–22 | Preliminary round –1921–22 | [113] |
| Troedyrhiw | 1948–49 to 1953–54 | 1st qualifying round –1948–49,1949–50,1950–51,1951–52,1952–53,1953–54 | [114] |
| Troedyrhiw Stars | 1914–15 | Preliminary round –1914–15 | [115] |
| Vale of Llangollen | 1887–88 to 1888–89 | 1st round –1887–88 | [116] |
| Welshpool Town | 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03 & 1904–05 to 1908–09 | 3rd qualifying round –1900–01 | [117] |
| Wrexham | 1883–84 to present | 6th round –1973–74,1977–78 &1996–97 | [118] |