FA Sunday Cup
The FA Sunday Cup is a knock-out competition founded in 1964 for English Sunday league football teams.
Prior to 1960 The Football Association did not permit clubs or players under its jurisdiction to take part in competitive football played on Sunday. A change of policy by the governing body in 1960 allowed Sunday leagues to become affiliated to County Associations and, four years later, The FA started the Sunday Cup to allow Sunday players to compete in a national knock-out tournament.[1]
The magnificent Sunday Cup trophy was presented to The FA, initially as a gift to mark its centenary in 1963, by the Shah of Iran. It has a unique design and is a superb example of Persian craftsmanship.
In the Cup's first season (1964–65), teams representing Sunday players in various counties entered with London winning the two-legged final 6-2 against Staffordshire.[1]
In the first final featuring club sides, Ubique United beat Aldridge Fabrications 1–0 in 1965-66.
After The Sunday Cup’s inaugural season, 1,600 requests for entry forms for the following season’s competition were received. Entries for season 2013-14 were 134 but The Sunday Cup, now in its 49th season, continues to serve its primary purpose. It gives Sunday League clubs a chance to compete outside their own locality against clubs at a similar level in a national FA competition. Since then, the competition has been won by 39 different sides.
St Joseph's (Luton) have appeared in a record five finals winning on two occasions but the most successful team is Hetton Lyons Cricket Club FC with 4 wins in 2006-08-10-12. Seven other teams have been successful on two occasions - Carlton United 1967-73, Newtown Unity 1972-74, Fantail 1980-81, Nicosia 1991-2004, St Joseph's (Luton) 1995-96, Oyster Martyrs 2011-13 and Humbledon Plains Farm 1990-2014.
The 2012-2013 final was played between Oyster Martyrs (Liverpool) and Barnes Albion (West Middx) at the Pirelli Stadium home of Burton Albion FC. Oyster lifting the trophy for the second time in three years after a 4-3 victory thanks in part to a hat-trick from captain Leighton McGivern.
The 2013-2014 final saw Oyster Martyrs (Liverpool) return to the final for the fourth time in the last six seasons to play Humbledon Plains Farm (Sunderland) at Ewood Park,Blackburn, but they were unable to stop Humbledon Plains Farm winning 5-2 to claim the trophy for the second time in their history.
Winners and runners-up
The results of the finals to date:
| Season | Winner | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964–65 | London | 6–2 aggregate | Staffordshire |
| 1965–66 | Ubique United | 1–0 | Albridge Fabrications |
| 1966–67 | Carlton United | 2–0 | Stoke Works |
| 1967–68 | Drovers | 2–0 | Brook United |
| 1968–69 | Leigh Park | 3–1 | Loke United |
| 1969–70 | Vention United | 1–0 | Ubique United |
| 1970–71 | Becontree Rovers | 2–0 | Saltley United |
| 1971–72 | Newtown Unity | 4–0 | Springfield Colts |
| 1972–73 | Carlton United | 2–1 | Wear Valley |
| 1973–74 | Newtown Unity | 3–0 | Brentford East |
| 1974–75 | Fareham Town Centipedes | 1–0 | Players Athletic Engineers |
| 1975–76 | Brandon United | 2–1 | Evergreen |
| 1976–77 | Langley Park Rams Head | 2–0 | Newtown Unity |
| 1977–78 | Arras | 2–1 | Lion Rangers |
| 1978–79 | Lobster | 3–2 | Carlton United |
| 1979–80 | Fantail | 1–0 | Twin Foxes |
| 1980–81 | Fantail | 1–0 | Mackintosh |
| 1981–82 | Dingle Rail | 2–1 | Twin Foxes |
| 1982–83 | Eagle | 1–1, replay 2–1 | Lee Chapel North |
| 1983–84 | Lee Chapel North | 4–3 | Eagle |
| 1984–85 | Hobbies United | 2–2, 1–1 replay, 2–1 second replay | Avenue |
| 1985–86 | Avenue | 1–0 | Glenn Sports |
| 1986–87 | Lodge Cottrell | 1–0 | Avenue |
| 1987–88 | Nexday | 2–0 | Humbledon Plains Farm |
| 1988–89 | Almathak | 3–1 | East Levenshulme |
| 1989–90 | Humbledon Plains Farm | 2–1 | Marston Sports |
| 1900–91 | Nicosia | 3–2 | Ouzavich |
| 1991–92 | Theale | 3–2 | Marston Sports |
| 1992–93 | Seymour | 1–0 | Bedfont Sunday |
| 1993–94 | Ranelagh Sports | 2–0 | Hartlepool Lion Hotel |
| 1994–95 | St Joseph's (Luton) | 2–1 | B & A Scaffolding |
| 1995–96 | St Joseph's (Luton) | 2–1 | Croxteth & Gilmoss RBL |
| 1996–97 | Marston Sports | 1–0 | Northwood |
| 1997–98 | Olympic Star | 1–1, 5–3 penalties | St Joseph's (Luton) |
| 1998–99 | Little Paxton | 2–2, 4–3 penalties | St Joseph's (Luton) |
| 1999-00 | Prestige Brighams | 1–0 | Albion Sports |
| 2000–01 | Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter | 0–0, 3–2 penalties | Houghton Centre |
| 2001–02 | Britannia | 2–0 | Little Paxton |
| 2002–03 | Duke of York | 3–1 | Allerton |
| 2003–04 | Nicosia | 3–1 | U K Flooring |
| 2004–05 | Gossoms End | 3–2 | Albion Sports |
| 2005–06 | Hetton Lyons Cricket Club | 5–3 | St Joseph's (Luton) |
| 2006–07 | Coundon Conservative | 5–0 | Lebeq Tavern Courage |
| 2007–08 | Hetton Lyons Cricket Club | 3–2 | Coundon Conservative |
| 2008–09 | Scots Grey | 4–3 a.e.t | Oyster Martyrs |
| 2009–10 | Hetton Lyons Cricket Club | 4–2 | Manget Tavern |
| 2010–11 | Oyster Martyrs | 1–0 | Paddock |
| 2011-12 | Hetton Lyons Cricket Club | 5-1 | Canada |
| 2012-13 | Oyster Martyrs | 4-3 | Barnes Albion |
| 2013-14 | Humbledon Plains Farm | 5-2 | Oyster Martyrs |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "F.A. Sunday Cup History". The Football Association. Retrieved 2009-03-06.