Underdogs, Giants, and Glory: The FA Cup Since 1945

The FA Cup has long been the most exciting domestic soccer cup in the game. As it brings together non-league teams alongside Premier League sides, it is one of the few that combine lower league soccer with the pro game. Usually, the FA Cup giants emerge victorious in their fixtures with lower league teams, but not always. In the postwar period, the TV ensured more global coverage for the FA Cup.

The Postwar Period

In the postwar period, the FA Cup resumed. Then the FA Cup giants came out to play once more, and Man Utd were the first to win the cup in 1948 by beating top league teams in all of their fixtures. Then Utd defeated Blackpool 4-2 at Wembley Stadium to lift the coveted trophy.

One of the more famous FA Cup finals of the 1950s was that of Blackpool V Bolton. Before this match, Blackpool had not lifted the trophy, and when they were trailing 3-1 with about 20 minutes of the final to go, it seemed that the FA Cup would remain out of their trophy cabinet. But then a goal from Mortenson pulled one back for Blackpool, and it was very much game on. Mortenson had a point-blank shot saved by the Bolton keeper before scoring a last-minute equalizer that would take the game into extra time.

Actually, it didn't. For Blackpool piled forward for a fourth winning goal when Matthews cut a diagonal ball back to Perry. Perry shot home inside the near post to make it 4-3 to Blackpool. There was no way back for Bolton, and the seaside club celebrated its first FA Cup triumph. With a record number of goals and an FA Cup hat-trick, it was a classic final.

The 1960s

In the 1960s, Tottenham Hotspur had some great teams. Having already won the league, Tottenham took on Leicester City in the FA Cup final to clinch the double. With a 2 - 0 victory in that game, they were the first to win the double since Aston Villa's double-winning team.

During the 1960s, the first FA Cup games were also broadcast in full color. In 1968, West Brom played Everton in the cup final. This was the first FA Cup final to be on TV as a color final. The game itself was not a classic, with one very late West Brom goal sealing victory in the last minutes of the match.

The 1970s

In the 1970s, FA Cup replays increased in number. During that period, the FA Cup had multiple replays for cup games that were tied. The 1970 FA Cup final was the first to go to a replay as Chelsea drew with Leeds Utd at Wembley. In the replay at Old Trafford, the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. During the extra-time period, Webb scored to seal a 2-1 victory for the Blues.

A record number of games were played in the FA Cup by a single team in the 1974-1975 season. The team that set the record was not Man Utd or Arsenal, but Bideford. They played 13 games, which were largely qualifying matches. Up to five replays were played in one qualifying round.

The Gunners had a strong record in the FA Cup during the 1970s. In 1971, they won the cup to clinch the FA Cup and league double. Later in the decade, they played in three consecutive FA Cup finals, although they only won one of those. Against Utd, they were 2-0 up, but were pulled back to 2-2 with two late goals. However, in the final minutes, Arsenal scored a decisive third goal to seal a 3-2 win for Arsenal.

The 1980s

There were some classic FA Cup games in the 1980s. The 100th FA Cup final between Tottenham and Man City was another that was replayed, but the replay was also at Wembley. In the second game, Tottenham took an early lead, but Man City came back, and when a penalty was given early in the second half, they went 2-1 in front. With 20 minutes left to play, Crooks equalized for Tottenham. Minutes later, the ball was played to Villa from the left, and with a mazy run, he dribbled the ball past a number of City players before slotting the ball into the net. This great FA Cup goal ensured a 3-2 victory for Spurs.

The 1989 final was also an enthralling game. However, the shadow of Hillsborough may well have loomed in the all-Merseyside clash between Everton and Liverpool. A last-minute Everton equalizer took the game into extra time, and then Rush put Liverpool back in front. Everton later equalized, but soon after, a third Liverpool goal sealed a 3-2 victory.

The 1990s

In the 1990s, the FA made a few modifications to the FA Cup. To reduce fixture congestion, the number of FA Cup replays was limited. As an alternative to multiple replays, just one replay with extra time and penalties was played. In 1993, the final FA Cup replay was played between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal before they were abandoned. In that game, Arsenal ran out 2-1 winners.

Later FA Cup semi-finals replays were also abandoned in much the same way as the final. In that game, the giants of the FA Cup, Man Utd and Arsenal, played out an enthralling match. Bergkamp's late penalty, which would surely have clinched victory for the Gunners, was saved. In the extra-time period, 10-man United emerged victorious thanks to a great goal from Giggs. Utd clinched an historic treble with a victory in the FA Cup final against Newcastle.

Man Utd also made history in the FA Cup the season after. To play in the FIFA World Club Championship in Brazil, Man Utd withdrew from the FA Cup. As such, for the first time, the FA Cup holders did not play in the FA Cup. The FA expected that Utd's presence in the FIFA World Club Championship could sway FIFA to select England's bid for the World Cup.

The 2000s

In 2000, the last FA Cup final was played at the old Wembley Stadium. After Chelsea's triumph, the old stadium was demolished to be replaced by a New Wembley Stadium. As the new stadium was constructed, the final was played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, outside of native England for the first time. When the New Wembley was opened, Chelsea once again emerged victorious with a 1-0 win against Man Utd.

Today, the FA Cup surely remains the most exciting national cup in the sport. The cups in Spain and Italy don't quite have the same magic as the FA Cup.