FA Sunday Cup
The FA Sunday Cup is a knock-out competition founded in 1964 for English Sunday league football teams.
 | |
| Founded | 1964 |
|---|---|
| Region | England |
| Current champions | Aylesbury Flooring FC |
| Most successful club(s) | Hetton Lyons Cricket Club (4 titles) |
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 are Aylesbury Flooring FC who after falling behind; came back to beat Birstall Stamford 3-1 in dramatic fashion. Aylesbury Flooring equalised in the 80th minute through Ty Deacon. A penalty was awarded to Flooring in the 90th minute which was dispatched by Ryan Freshwater. Lynton Goss added another a few minutes later to give Aylesbury Flooring their first ever FA Sunday Cup.
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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
References
- "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.