150 Years of the FA Cup
The Football Association’s Challenge Cup, a knock out tournament in domestic men’s English football (soccer), is celebrating 150 years of competition this season.
From the first winners Wanderers FC, to Leicester City in 2021, every year brings exciting contests and the promise of giant-killing upsets as lower league under-dogs take on the top teams, all vying to lift the trophy. We take a look back at the AP’s photo coverage of the FA Cup and some dramatic moments along the way.
A Graf Zeppelin flying over Wembley Stadium in London, England on April 26, 1930, while the football cup final match between Huddersfield and Arsenal was in progress. (AP Photo)
A view of play around the Manchester City goal during the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, in London, England, on April 29, 1933. Everton beat Manchester City by 3-0. (AP Photo/Sidney Beadel)
Joe Hulme of Arsenal, in a tussle with three Barnsley defenders at Highbury, during the sixth round of the FA Cup soccer match, on Feb. 29, 1936. (AP Photo/Sidney Beadel)
The crowded car park at Wembley Stadium, London, England on the afternoon of the FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Sheffield United, on Apr. 25, 1936. (AP Photo)
The two captains shaking hands before the FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Sheffield United at Wembley stadium, London, England, on Apr. 25, 1936. Harry Hooper of Sheffield United is on the left and Alex James of Arsenal is on the right. The referee Harry Nattrass is in the center. The final score was 1-0 to Arsenal. (AP Photo)
Alex James, the Arsenal captain, being lifted up after the presentation of the Cup, after the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, England on Apr. 25, 1936. Also seen left to right, Arsenal Manager George Allison, Ray Bowden, Jack Crayston, George Male, Eddie Hapgood, and Joe Hulme. (AP Photo)
Preston North End’s George Mutch scoring the winning goal in extra time, a fast ball, it was quite impossible for Bob Hesford, Huddersfield Towns goal keeper to keep it out of the net, during the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on April 30, 1938. Neither team scored before the regulation time and a further 15 minutes was allowed. The teams changed sides, and just before the end, Mutch, inside right for Preston, scored from a penalty. (AP Photo/Len Puttnam)
A section of the enormous crowd watching the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London, on April 30, 1938, showing the result board at the back, Huddersfield Town 0, Preston North End 1. (AP Photo/Len Puttnam)
Enthusiastic crowds congratulating Tom Smith, Preston North End’s captain, after he had received the FA Cup from the King, at Wembley Stadium, London, on April 30, 1938. (AP Photo/Len Puttnam)
Captain Tom Smith, holding the coveted FA Cup at Wembley, London, on April 30, 1938. (AP Photo/Len Puttnam)
Nearly 100,000 people were in the stadium some time before the game started to watch the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium, London, on April 29, 1939. Harry Walker, the Portsmouth goalkeeper shown as he punched the ball clear from a Wolves corner. Portsmouth defeated Wolves 4-1. (AP Photo)
King George VI presenting the FA Cup to Tom Smith, Preston North End’s captain, after his team beat Huddersfield Town, on April 30, 1938, at Wembley, England. (AP Photo/Len Puttnam)
Britain's Princess Elizabeth presents the FA Cup to Billy Wright, the captain of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium, London, on April 30, 1949. Wolves defeated Leicester City by 3-1. (AP Photo/Pool)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II presents the FA Cup to Jack Burkitt, captain of Nottingham Forest at London's Wembley Stadium, on May 2, 1959, after his team beat Luton Town 2-1, in the cup final. (AP Photo)
Goalie Eddie Hopkinson of Bolton Wanderers, left, looks like he's falling to the ground as he kicks the ball away from high jumping Peter Broadbent of Wolverhampton Wanderers, during an FA Cup match at Bolton, England, March 1, 1958. Bolton won match, 2-1. (AP Photo)
Manchester City and Newcastle United battle for the coveted FA Cup trophy before 100,000 people, at Wembley, on May 9, 1955. (British Movietone/AP Archive)
Goalie Ron Baynham of Luton Town reaches for shot by Norwich City, in a semi-final replay of game at Birmingham, England, March 18, 1959. Errol Crossan, front, Norwich City forward, was one of two pressing the attack. In the background is Ken Hawkes, Luton Town left back. Luton won, 1-0, and will meet Nottingham Forest in the final at Wembley. (AP Photo)
The Duke of Edinburgh shakes hands with Tottenham forward Jimmy Greaves, as Spurs captain Danny Blanchflower introduces his team before the start of the FA Cup final against Burnley, at Wembley Stadium, London on May 5, 1962. (AP Photo/Robert Rider-Rider)
Watched by referee James Finney, the two team captains Danny Blanchflower of Tottenham, left, and Jimmy Adamson of Burnley, shake hands before the start of this year's FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on May 5, 1962. (AP Photo/Robert Rider-Rider)
Fulham goalkeeper Tony Macedo tips a shot from Port Vale center-forward Bert Llewellyn over the crossbar during a fifth round FA Cup match, at Craven Cottage, London, on Feb. 17, 1962. Fulham won 1-0 from a penalty scored only five minutes from time. (AP Photo/Leonard Brown)
Manchester United's center-forward, Bobby Charlton, helps his team mate, left-half, Nobby Stiles, left, clear the ball, in the FA cup semi-final match between Manchester United and Everton at Burnden Park Ground, Bolton, Lancashire, England on April 23, 1966. Everton won the match 1-0. (AP Photo/Leonard Brown)
Unnoticed by most of the other passengers on the Central Line underground train, West Ham United manger Ron Greenwood holds the Football Association Cup, wrapped in a red cloth, as he takes a corner seat at Tottenham Court Road Station, in London, on May 4, 1964. Greenwood was taking the Cup back to West Ham after he and his team had watched a special West End showing of a Cinemascope color film of highlights of Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday. West Ham beat Preston North End 3-2. (AP Photo/Robert Dear)
Leeds United defender Paul Reaney, left, heads the goal bound ball off the line while Leeds goalkeeper David Harvey hangs in the air, after being beaten by Sunderland's shot, during the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, in London, England, on May 5, 1973. Sunderland, Second Division underdogs, beat Leeds 1-0 to win the trophy. (AP Photo/Robert Dear)
Malcolm Allison, the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club, wearing a hat, gives the thumbs down to his opponents in front of the fans at Stamford Bridge, in London, on Feb 14, 1976. Palace beat Chelsea 3-2 in the FA Cup match. (AP Photo/Peter Kemp)
The Arsenal football team ride through the streets of Islington, in north London, with the FA Cup, May 9, 1971, after defeating Liverpool in the FA Cup final. The team are heading to a town hall civic reception. (AP Photo/Robert Dear)
Everton's Andy Gray, left, heads the ball with a Watford defender and goalkeeper Steve Sherwood jumping for the same ball, during the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on May 19, 1984. Everton won by two goals to nil. (AP Photo)
Everton players kiss the FA Cup during the celebrations in Wembley Stadium, London, on May 19, 1984, after they had defeated Watford Football Club in the Final by two goals to nil. (AP photo)
Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar remonstrates with a Liverpool supporter, watched by teammate Peter Beardsley, left, after hundreds of fans invaded the pitch at the end of the FA Cup Final between Liverpool and Everton at Wembley stadium, London, May 20, 1989. Perimeter fencing was recently removed from the ground after last month's Hillsborough disaster. Liverpool won the Merseyside derby 3-2. (AP Photo/Tony White)
Manchester United's Denis Irwin is up-ended by Chelsea's Eddie Newton, on ground, a yard inside the penalty area during the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London, May 14, 1994. The referee gave a penalty for the foul which contributed to Manchester United's 4-0 win, enabling them to win 'The Double' of the League and the Cup. (AP Photo/Max Nash)
Tottenham Hotspur celebrate with the FA Cup after they defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1 after extra time at Wembley Stadium, in London, England on May 18, 1991. Kneeling at the front at left is Gary Lineker. (AP Photo/Dave Caulkin)
Liverpool soccer players wave to fans during an open top bus parade through the streets of Liverpool, England, Sunday May 14 2006, following their FA Cup Final victory against West Ham United Saturday. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Portsmouth's Fredrique Piquionne, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, April 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Bradford’s Mark Yeates celebrates after scoring a goal during the English FA Cup 4th round match between Bradford City and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, London, England, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. Bradford won the match 4-2. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Leicester's manager Brendan Rodgers is thrown into the air by his players as they celebrate at the end of the FA Cup final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in London, England, Saturday, May 15, 2021. Leicester won the match 1-0. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)