FA Sunday Cup


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.
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.
In the Cup's first season, teams representing Sunday players in various counties entered with London winning the two-legged final 6–2 against Staffordshire.
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 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 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 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:
SeasonWinnerScoreRunners-up
1964–65London6–2 aggregateStaffordshire
1965–66Ubique United1–0Aldridge Fabrications
1966–67Carlton United2–0Stoke Works
1967–68Drovers2–0Brook United
1968–69Leigh Park3–1Loke United
1969–70Vention United1–0Ubique United
1970–71Becontree Rovers2–0Saltley United
1971–72Newtown Unity4–0Springfield Colts
1972–73Carlton United2–1Wear Valley
1973–74Newtown Unity3–0Brentford East
1974–75Fareham Town Centipedes1–0Players Athletic Engineers
1975–76Brandon United2–1Evergreen
1976–77Langley Park Rams Head2–0Newtown Unity
1977–78Arras2–1Lion Rangers
1978–79Lobster3–2Carlton United
1979–80Fantail1–0Twin Foxes
1980–81Fantail1–0Mackintosh
1981–82Dingle Rail2–1Twin Foxes
1982–83Eagle1–1, replay 2–1Lee Chapel North
1983–84Lee Chapel North4–3Eagle
1984–85Hobbies United2–2, 1–1 replay, 2–1 second replayAvenue
1985–86Avenue1–0Glenn Sports
1986–87Lodge Cottrell1–0Avenue
1987–88Nexday2–0Humbledon Plains Farm
1988–89Almithak3–1East Levenshulme
1989–90Humbledon Plains Farm2–1Marston Sports
1990–91Nicosia3–2Ouzavich
1991–92Theale3–2Marston Sports
1992–93Seymour1–0Bedfont Sunday
1993–94Ranelagh Sports2–0Hartlepool Lion Hotel
1994–95St Joseph's 2–1B & A Scaffolding
1995–96St Joseph's 2–1Croxteth & Gilmoss RBL
1996–97Marston Sports1–0Northwood
1997–98Olympic Star1–1, 5–3 penaltiesSt Joseph's
1998–99Little Paxton2–2, 4–3 penaltiesSt Joseph's
1999–2000Prestige Brighams1–0Albion Sports
2000–01Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter0–0, 3–2 penaltiesHoughton Centre
2001–02Britannia2–0Little Paxton
2002–03Duke of York3–1Allerton
2003–04Nicosia3–1U K Flooring
2004–05Gossoms End3–2Albion Sports
2005–06Hetton Lyons Cricket Club5–3St Joseph's
2006–07Coundon Conservative5–0Lebeq Tavern Courage
2007–08Hetton Lyons Cricket Club3–2Coundon Conservative
2008–09Scots Grey4–3 a.e.tOyster Martyrs
2009–10Hetton Lyons Cricket Club4–2Magnet Tavern
2010–11Oyster Martyrs1–0Paddock
2011–12Hetton Lyons Cricket Club5–1Canada
2012–13Oyster Martyrs4–3Barnes Albion
2013–14Humbledon Plains Farm5–2Oyster Martyrs
2014–15Campfield2–0OJM
2015–16New Salamis1–1, 4–3 penaltiesBarnes AFC
2016–17Hardwick Social1–1, 3–1 penalties.New Salamis
2017-18Hardwick Social2-0 a.e.tGym United
2018-19Aylesbury Flooring3–1Birstall Stamford