Top Ten: FA Cup shocks

Last updated: 17th March 2008

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In a season of upsets we look back at some of the biggest Cup surprises over the years.

1: Hereford 2 Newcastle 1, 1972

Let's get it out of the way first. Unquestionably the most famous FA Cup shock of all time, this third round replay from the early 70s has gone down in football folklore.

The game had actually been postponed three times due to bad weather and someone somewhere had obviously had enough, because when the match did finally go ahead it was played on an absolute mud-bath at Edgar Street.

The result is most notable for being the first occasion that a non-league side had triumphed over a top-flight club since Yeovil's fourth round victory over Sunderland in 1949.

Malcolm Macdonald had given the Magpies a 1-0 advantage, but with the Hereford players barely able to drag themselves through the mud Ronnie Radford unleashed his now infamous 35-yard thunderbolt and caused Edgar Street to go absolutely mental.

Radford's goal has become so synonymous with the game that it is largely forgotten that Ricky George actually grabbed the extra-time winner, but no-one will ever be allowed to forget the result.

2: Sutton United 2 Coventry 1, 1989

This is the most recent occasion in which a top-flight side has been unceremoniously dumped out of the competition by non-league opposition.

The Sky Blues had won the cup two years earlier, but with no Gary Mabbutt on hand this time to gift them the game they tamely succumbed to an embarrassing defeat.

Coventry sat sixth in the First Division at the time, but goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan helped the U's humble their more illustrious neighbours and spark the biggest knees-up in the club's history.

The fairytale did not last long though as Sutton were brought crashing back down to earth with an 8-0 defeat away at Norwich in the next round.

Everyone's entitled to their 15 minutes of fame though aren't they?

3 Walsall 2 Arsenal 0, 1933

Admittedly this shock occurred well before most of us were born, but the result shook the world not just England. Walsall were Third Division strugglers and Arsenal were considered the best side in the world. Slight mismatch you would have thought.

However, in front of 11,000 hardy souls at Fellows Park, Gilbert Alsop's header and a Bill Sheppard penalty rocked Herbert Chapman's double-chasing side and brought to life the magic of the FA Cup.

Long before Arsene Wenger was reeling off lame excuses for abject performances, Chapman blamed his side's poor showing on an influenza epidemic within the squad and the fact that he had been forced to draft in a number of players from the amateur league.

Whatever the reason though, Arsenal were poor and Walsall were good, let's leave it at that.

4: Worcester 2 Liverpool 1, 1959

Liverpool may have been in the Second Division at the time but that does not excuse being knocked out of English football's biggest club competition at the hands of a Southern League club.

Another game which had been rescheduled due to bad weather, a freezing Thursday night in January saw Worcester take the lead through Tommy Skuse before an own goal doubled their advantage.

A late penalty proved to be nothing more than a consolation for Phil Taylor's side and the Reds parted company with their manager not long after. Liverpool fans had needn't have worried though. The man chosen to replace to Taylor was a certain Mr Bill Shankley. Every cloud...

5: Wrexham 2 Arsenal 1, 1992

The Welsh side were officially the worst side in the country when they met the high-flying Gunners in another game which has secured legendary status over the years.

Sitting bottom of the Third Division Wrexham were given no hope against a George Graham side who were second in the top-flight at the time and everything seemed to be going to plan for the Londoners until 20 minutes from time.

Unpredictable playboy Mickey Thomas levelled the scores with a spectacular free-kick and Steve Watkin grabbed a winner.

In much the same way as Ronnie Radford's strike has become almost as famous as the cup itself, Thomas has gone down in FA Cup history despite not actually scoring a winning goal.

His fantastic strike and wild celebration will be remembered long after his time spent at Her Majesty's pleasure for dealing in funny money has been forgotten and no-one seems to care that he actually played for Manchester United and Chelsea during a successful career.

6: Bournemouth 2 Manchester United 0, 1984

Cup holders United were outplayed and outfought by Harry Redknapp's side as they crashed to an ignominious defeat.

Milton Graham and Ian Thompson got the goals in a game which helped to launch Redknapp's reputation as the master of the underdog.

Bournemouth were a Third Division side at the time and although they have experienced promotion in the years since, this day will arguably go down as one of the greatest results in the club's history.

7: Shrewsbury 2 Everton 1, 2003

Yet another game played on an absolute disgrace of a surface pitted 18th in Division Three against 5th in the Premier League, but league form was well and truly thrown out of the window on this occasion.

Former Nottingham Forest duo Ian Woan and Nigel Jemson were inspirational for the Shrews as they booked a glamorous fourth round date with Chelsea.

Jemson gave the home side the lead shortly before half-time with a pinpoint free-kick, but Niclas Alexandersson restored parity for the Toffees on the hour mark. With time almost up Jemson grabbed the winner with a close range header and sent Gay Meadow into delirium.

8: Burnley 1 Liverpool 0, 2005

The night which will probably haunt Djimi Traore for the rest of his career. Rafa Benitez had decided that the FA Cup was not important enough for him to waste his time with and played a severely under-strength side at Turf Moor, a decision he would live to regret.

Already facing stiff criticism before kick-off for demeaning the competition the Spaniard must have been hoping that his second-string could do the business and ease the pressure on him. They couldn't.

Six minutes into the second-half a harmless cross from the left by Richard Chaplow fell to the feet of Traore six-yards out. No danger there you would think, but the defender was determined to add some excitement to what had been a pretty dull affair up to that point. It's unclear precisely what the Frenchman attempted to do next but the result was one of the most ridiculous own-goals of all-time, not just in FA Cup history.

This one moment of madness ended Liverpool's cup run before it had even begun and made helped make Benitez acutely aware of what the competition means to people in this country.

9: Burnley 0 Wimbledon 1, 1975

The Dons became the first non-league side to win away at a First Division side since 1920 when they emerged victorious at Turf Moor.

Wimbledon were a Southern League side and had already successfully navigated six games to reach the third round.

Mick Mahon got the only goal of the game to set up a dream clash with League champions Leeds at Elland Road in the next round.

Their amazing run continued in Yorkshire as they somehow held on for a 0-0 draw, with Peter Lorimer even missing a penalty for the First Division side. They went on to lose the replay, but Wimbledon's time was to come when they shocked Liverpool to claim the trophy in 1988.

10: Cardiff 2 Leeds 1, 2002

This game was always going to be tasty but no-one was expecting the Division Two side to upset a Leeds team who were top of the Premier League at the time.

Cardiff owner Sam Hamann had whipped the crowd into a frenzy before kick-off and the match itself didn't disappoint.

Mark Viduka cracked in a 20-yard screamer to give the visitors the lead, but in true FA Cup tradition it was yet another free-kick which pulled the Bluebirds level, Irish midfielder Graham Kavangh giving Nigel Martyn no chance with a perfectly placed effort from the edge of the box.

Alan Smith was then given his marching orders and with five minutes left local boy Scott Young raised the roof of Ninian Park.

Cardiff hung on for a famous win and at the whistle the only sure-fire event of the whole occasion occurred - all hell broke loose.

Comments

Ian Jackson (Halifax Town fan) says...

Halifax Town (DIV 4) 1-0 Man City (DIV 1) at the Shay Stadium in the 1979/80 season... Goalscoring hero Paul Hendrie's muddy boot will be long remembered! RIP Shaymen! LONG LIVE PRO FOOTBALL IN HALIFAX!!!

Posted 15:12 8th June 2008

Jacob Blair (Barnsley fan) says...

Barnsley 1-0 Chelsea and Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley! How come they are not up there? Barnsley by far are the best!

Posted 18:42 4th June 2008

Rob Jackson (Middlesbrough fan) says...

What about Blackburn's 4-1 defeat to Coventry in this seasons 4th round tie at Ewood Park? Coventry, struggling in the championship, to beat a fairly strong blackburn side at Ewood Park, is an FA Cup shock surely.

Posted 19:55 1st June 2008

Justin Dale (Manchester City fan) says...

What about Spurs 3 Man City 4,(4th round, FA Cup, 4th Feb 2004) City 3-0 down at half time, Bad boy Barton sent off for dissent in the interval, then City scoring 4 in the second half; Without doubt the best City cup match ever (well second half anyway!)

Posted 20:25 29th May 2008

Bryan Gibson (Barnsley fan) says...

What about Barnsley's wins over Liverpool and Chelsea this year?!

Posted 18:28 28th May 2008

Gary Crawford (Southampton fan) says...

What about 1976 Tommy Doherty and his mighty Man U were beaten by a Bobby Stokes goal to give Second divison Saints the FA Cup

Posted 12:00 28th May 2008

Phil Huckle (Brentford fan) says...

What about Brentford's 2-1 win over Sunderland in 2005, two goals from DJ Campbell!

Posted 21:44 26th May 2008

Oliver Hazell (Chelsea fan) says...

No Chelsea 0 : 1 Barnsley!, Total dissapointment! You were way off on that one Sky Sports!

Posted 18:58 19th May 2008

Matt Youds (Tranmere Rovers fan) says...

Tranmere 4 - 3 Southampton.... down three nil at half time and then to come back with a Paul Ridout hatrick and Barlow with the late winner, unbelievable. Not sure what year it was in but it was when Southampton were in the EPL

Posted 09:43 19th May 2008

Joel Williams (Coventry City fan) says...

what about conventry hammering blackburn 4 : 1 07 08 unbelievable

Posted 11:40 17th May 2008

Dave Abbott (afc wimbledon fan) (Liverpool fan) says...

Liverpool 0 - 1 Wimbledon (1988 FA Cup Final) - ?

Posted 12:00 14th May 2008

John Grant (Leyton Orient fan) says...

What about Portsmouth 1 - 4 Leyton Orient FA cup 2001-2002.

Posted 17:06 13th May 2008

Peter Willmott (Altrincham fan) says...

What no Alty? Birmingham City 1 - 2 Altrincham, FA Cup 3rd Rd, 14 January 1986 The last time a non-league side beat top flight opposition away from home. A scandalous omission.

Posted 12:50 11th May 2008

Jamie Lavington (Crystal Palace fan) says...

Did everyone forget the 1989/90 FA Cup Semi Final game between Palace and Liverpool. Liverpool who had earlier in the season beaten Palace 9-0 were odds on favourite for this semi final yet the boys in red and blue triumphed 4-3 after extra time in surely one of the greatest ever semi finals

Posted 21:57 28th April 2008

Hemal Mistry (Arsenal fan) says...

For shocks it has to be 1998 when Barnsley made the trip to Old Trafford and came awayas 3-2 victors, impressive to win at old trafford as the away team, doubly if you are struggling in the league and triply when you consider they got smackd for 7 by Man U at Old Trafford earlier in the season

Posted 19:55 28th April 2008

Tom Owen (Everton fan) says...

I can't understand why the Liverpool and Barnsley game isn't up there. Also Oldham beating Everton.

Posted 15:49 28th April 2008

Greg Bruver (Manchester United fan) says...

i reckon this years FA Cup came up with the best barnsley beating both liverpool and chelsea!!!! and the main reason being luke steele who had a match at wembley taken from him when the loan if i remember right expired so harsh it also finished their chances in my opinion 5-2 to liverpool against that non league side but they went up twice which was amazing

Posted 13:36 23rd April 2008

Matt Siggins (Colchester United fan) says...

what about colchester 3 - 2 leeds in 1971?

Posted 10:13 22nd April 2008

Bernie Traynor (Sunderland fan) says...

1973 Sunderland 1 Leeds 0 is the greatest cup result of all time.

Posted 05:12 22nd April 2008

Simon Kirton says...

what about 1973 cup final when sunderland beat high flying leeds united?

Posted 19:26 15th April 2008

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