FA Sunday Cup
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| Founded | 1964 |
|---|---|
| Region | England |
| Current champions | Campfield FC (2 titles) |
| Most successful club(s) | Hetton Lyons Cricket Club (4 titles) |
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 Sunday Cup trophy was presented to the FA by the Shah of Iran as a gift to mark the centenary of the FA in 1963. It was created by Iranian silversmiths.[2]
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 2017��18 were 80. Since its inception in 1964-65 (53 years ago) the competition has been won by 42 different sides.
The most successful team is Hetton Lyons Cricket Club FC with 4 wins, in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012. St Joseph's (Luton) have appeared in a record five finals, winning on two occasions in 1995 and '96. Seven other teams have been successful on two occasions – Carlton United in 1967 and '73, Newtown Unity in 1972 and '74, Fantail in 1980 and '81, Nicosia in 1991 and 2004, Oyster Martyrs in 2011 and '13, Humbledon Plains Farm in 1990 and 2014 and Hardwick Social in 2017 and 2018.
Hardwick Social FC became the first club for 22 years to retain the trophy since St Joseph's (Luton) in 1995-96.
Current holders Campfield FC were crowned as the 2019-20 FA Sunday Cup winners at St. George's Park, following their narrow 1-0 victory over St. Josephs (Luton) FC.
After a tight Final at the national football centre in Burton, it took an extra-time goal from Elliott Nevitt to seal it for Campfield as they take their FA Sunday Cup haul to two titles following their previous title in 2015.
The Liverpool Business Houses Football League Premier Division, faced St Josephs of the Bedfordshire County Football League after initially starting their journey to the Final back in 2019.
But with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the 2019-20 competition to roll into the 2020-21 campaign, the Final was staged on neutral ground at St. George's Park.
It was a typically close encounter as the clubs pitted it out to claim the biggest title in Sunday League football with the score at 0-0 after 90 minutes.
And when Campfield's number nine Nevitt rose highest in the box to crash home a header in just the third minute of extra time from a corner, it proved enough to seal it for Campfield.
Finals 1961-1964[]
The results of the first finals before the Cup was sanctioned by the FA.
| Season | Winner | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960–61 | Walsall Waflers | 2-0 | Stamford Rovers |
| 1961–62 | Forest Gate Mount Athletic | 2–0 | Ashford Victoria (Kent) |
| 1962-63 | Forest Gate Mount Athletic | 3-3, aet 5-3 |
Chiswick East Barnes |
| 1963–64 | Forest Gate Mount Athletic | 4-1 | Hull Analaby |
Finals since 1965 (FA sanctioned)[]
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 | Aldridge 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 | Almithak | 3–1 | East Levenshulme |
| 1989–90 | Humbledon Plains Farm | 2–1 | Marston Sports |
| 1990–91 | Nicosia (Liverpool) | 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) |
| 1999–2000 | 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 | Magnet 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 |
| 2014–15 | Campfield FC | 2–0 | OJM |
| 2015–16 | New Salamis | 1–1, 4–3 penalties | Barnes AFC |
| 2016–17 | Hardwick Social | 1–1, 3–1 penalties. | New Salamis |
| 2017-18 | Hardwick Social | 2-0 a.e.t | Gym United |
| 2018-19 | Aylesbury Flooring | 3–1 | Birstall Stamford |
| 2019-20 | Campfield FC | 1-0 A.E.T | St. Joseph's (Luton) |
References[]
- ^ a b "F.A. Sunday Cup History". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 2006-03-26. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
- ^ David Charters (2002-09-07). "Pub team's prize piece of Persian heritage; Britannia's pride of place for Shah's silver legacy". David Post. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- ^ Association, The Football. "New Salamis lift FA Sunday Cup after shootout victory – The FA Sunday Cup | The FA". www.thefa.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
- ^ Hajiloizis, Mario. "New Salamis FC win the FA Sunday Cup | News". www.sigmalive.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
External links[]
- Football cup competitions in England