FA Cup

The FA Cup is the oldest club football competition in the world and is still considered to be one of the most highly valued prizes in sport. The Cup, first played in 1871-1872, is named after the Football Association and it is open to entries from football teams in England and Wales who play at levels from the Premier League down to level nine of the English National League System. 

In theory, this means that local amateur sides could be drawn to face the best teams in the land, although Premier League and Championship clubs do not join the competition until the third round proper.

In total there are 14 knockout rounds. Six of these are qualifying rounds, which are held at local level. As the competition progresses, teams from higher levels enter and, by the first round proper when League One and League Two clubs join, the competition is being played nationally. 

Each round of the FA Cup is drawn separately, so teams do not know who they will face if they go through to the next round. Except in the semi-finals and finals which are decided 'on the day', drawn matches are replayed, with extra time and penalties if required.

The presence of the smallest and largest clubs in the country in the same competition opens up the possibility of 'giant killings', when a lower league club knocks out a top level team. One of the most famous examples of this came in 1992 when Wrexham, who had finished the previous season bottom of the football league, defeated reigning first division champions Arsenal 2-1 in the third round. 

The first team to win the FA Cup were Wanderers, who beat Royal Engineers 1-0 in the 1872 final. Manchester United hold the record for the most FA Cup wins with 11. They also hold the record for the most appearances in the final with 18. Perhaps the unluckiest team in the FA Cup are Everton, who have been defeated in the final nine times. Leicester City, meanwhile, have been runners up four times but have never actually lifted the trophy. In 1903 Bury recorded the largest ever FA Cup final win when they defeated Derby County 6-0.

The FA Cup final is traditionally held in May and, since 1923 (apart from 2001-2006), has been played at Wembley Stadium in London. Traditionally the two semi-finals would be played at neutral club grounds but, controversially, since 2008 they have also been held at Wembley. 

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