The FA Cup is the longest running cup competition in the world. It was established in 1871. Giant Killings in the FA Cup is a famous concept. This refers to when a lower level, "small" club defeats a higher ranked team. There's a high chance that there can be at one or two per season. There are a number of examples of this occuring.
Hereford United 2-1 Newcastle United | FA Cup fourth-round replay | 5 February 1972
The FA Cup's typical giant-killing story unfolded in classic fashion: a challenging pitch, grim weather, a non-league underdog hosting a top-tier powerhouse and an electrified crowd witnessing an unforgettable strike etched into football folklore. This clash had it all.
Hereford United, representing the Southern League, had already defied the odds by earning a 2-2 draw at St. James' Park, forcing a replay against Newcastle United. Despite their heroic effort in the first leg, few believed they could go further. The Magpies struck first, yet Hereford leveled the score through a thunderous long-range effort by Ronnie Radford. A moment that remains one of the most celebrated goals in FA Cup history, sending the match into extra time.
Burnley 1-0 Liverpool | FA Cup third-round | 18 January 2005
This list of unforgettable FA Cup moments wouldn't be complete without a nod to the heroic, breathtaking and occasionally bizarre goals etched into its rich history. Among them is the decisive strike from Burnley’s clash with Liverpool at a frosty Turf Moor- an own goal by Djimi Traore that sealed the Championship side's upset victory.
The match marked former Reds manager, Rafa Benitez's first experience in the competition during his debut season at Anfield. Opting to rest several key players, Benitez inadvertently handed Steve Cotterill's Burnley, a team languishing in the lower half of the Championship table, a golden opportunity.
The decisive moment came in the second half. A low cross from Richard Chaplow forced Traore into a moment of calamity. Attempting an audacious 360-degree drag-back near the far post, the French defender misjudged it entirely, inadvertently bundling the ball into his own net before ending up tangled in the goal's netting.
Ironically, this humbling FA Cup exit came just months before Liverpool capped the 2004-05 season with one of the most remarkable comebacks in football history; defeating AC Milan in Istanbul to claim the Champions League crown. What a dramatic shift in fortunes.
Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal | FA Cup third-round | 4 January 1992
The gulf between Wrexham and Arsenal was enormous—an astonishing 81 league places separated the two sides as they met at the Racecourse Ground. The Red Dragons, struggling in 18th place in the Fourth Division, squared off against the reigning First Division champions, Arsenal, who were sitting seventh in the top tier. On paper, it seemed like a straightforward assignment for George Graham's Gunners.
Initially, everything appeared to be going as expected. Alan Smith put Arsenal ahead before half-time and with just 10 minutes left, it seemed the Welsh underdogs were set to bow out respectably. However, Wrexham had other plans and their determination soon turned the game into a classic chapter in FA Cup folklore.
In the 82nd minute, Mickey Thomas, a 37-year-old veteran, unleashed a sensational 25-yard free-kick to level the scores. The strike not only brought the game to life but also secured Thomas' place in FA Cup history. With momentum firmly in their favour, Wrexham piled on the pressure and just two minutes later, Steve Watkin delivered the decisive blow, bundling home the winner.
As the final whistle blew, jubilant fans stormed the pitch, celebrating one of the most memorable "giant killings" the competition has ever seen. This unforgettable upset is yet another reminder of the enduring magic of the FA Cup.
The drama continued when substitute Ricky George stepped up to score the decisive goal, sealing a famous 2-1 victory for the Bulls and cementing their place in FA Cup folklore. The scenes at Edgar Street were unforgettable, with jubilant fans storming the pitch in celebration.
While Radford's iconic goal wasn't the match-winner, it sparked wild celebrations and captured the essence of FA Cup magic. Tragically, Radford passed away in November 2023 but his legacy as one of the competition's original heroes endures.
Interestingly, this replay faced several postponements due to a waterlogged pitch at Hereford's home ground, eventually taking place on the day scheduled for the fourth round, adding yet another layer of intrigue to an already extraordinary tale.
Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United | FA Cup final | 5 May 1973
In one of the most stunning upsets in FA Cup history, the Black Cats pulled off a 1–0 triumph, becoming the first Second Division team to hoist the trophy since West Bromwich Albion achieved the feat in 1931. This victory marked Sunderland's last major Cup success for nearly half a century until their EFL Trophy win in 2021. As of 2024, it remains their most recent domestic silverware.
At the time, Sunderland were competing in the old Division Two and faced a formidable Leeds United side, who were dominating English football’s top tier, in the final of the 1972-73 FA Cup. Refusing to be intimidated by their high-flying opponents, the Black Cats produced one of the tournament's most iconic upsets.
Ian Porterfield etched his name into Sunderland folklore with a first-half strike that proved decisive; while goalkeeper Jim Montgomery delivered a breathtaking performance. His incredible reflex save remains one of the most celebrated moments in FA Cup history, ensuring Bob Stokoe's team held on for a historic victory at Wembley.
Stevenage 3-1 Newcastle United | FA Cup third-round | 8 January 2011
Since the Premier League's formation in 1992, such fairy-tale results have become increasingly rare due to the financial gulf between England's top clubs and the lower leagues. This third-round victory at Broadhall Way marked only the third occasion in two decades that a fourth-tier team had toppled a top-flight side.
League Two side, Stevenage, pulled off a remarkable giant-killing act against Premier League outfit Newcastle United, securing a relatively comfortable 3-1 victory that stunned the footballing world.
The Hertfordshire club took a 2-0 lead heading into stoppage time, with Joey Barton briefly reigniting the Magpies’ hopes by scoring a long-range effort. However, the drama wasn't over as Peter Winn put the game to bed moments later, ensuring Stevenage's place in FA Cup folklore. The Magpies’ task had been made even harder after Cheick Tiote was sent off in the 71st minute for a reckless tackle.
While Graham Westley's men bowed out to Reading in the next round, they ended the season on a high note, clinching promotion through the League Two play-offs.
Chelsea 2-4 Bradford | FA Cup fourth-round | 24 January 2015
It seemed like a routine fourth-round triumph was on the horizon for Premier League giants, Chelsea, when they surged into a two-goal lead at Stamford Bridge against a League One side ranked 49 places below them. Yet, Bradford City had no intention of playing the role of underdog without a fight, launching an extraordinary comeback to leave Jose Mourinho's Blues shell-shocked.
Goals from Jon Stead, Filipe Morais, Andy Halliday and Mark Yeates turned the game on it's head as the Bantams swept past their illustrious hosts with a 4-2 victory. The remarkable turnaround sent Bradford into the FA Cup quarter-finals, defying all expectations and leaving Mourinho's Chelsea stunned.
While Mourinho went on to clinch his third Premier League title with Chelsea in 2015, their dreams of a domestic double were shattered by a resilient Bradford side. Having reached the League Cup final in 2013 as a League Two club, the Bantams once again proved their cup pedigree by overturning a two-goal deficit against a side featuring the likes of Petr Cech and Didier Drogba, etching their name in FA Cup history.
Liverpool 0-1 Wimbledon | FA Cup final | 14 May 1988
In theory, this was the seventh-ranked team in English football toppling the nation's best - a result that might not scream upset when compared to the massive gaps in league standings seen elsewhere in FA Cup history. However, Wimbledon's triumph over Liverpool in the 1988 final remains one of the competition's most iconic moments for reasons that go far beyond the numbers.
Dubbed the, "Crazy Gang," Wimbledon were the brash underdogs, clawing their way up through sheer grit and an unyielding playing style. They stood in stark contrast to Liverpool, the epitome of class and success in 1980's English football. Kenny Dalglish's Reds epitomised how the game "ought to be played," dominating the top flight with style and amassing trophies at will. Fresh off a commanding Division One title win, Liverpool were overwhelming favourites to complete the domestic double.
Yet, Lawrie Sanchez turned the script upside down with a looping header that found the net just before half-time, handing Wimbledon a shocking lead. Despite Liverpool’s relentless efforts, there was no way back, as Dave Beasant etched his name into history by becoming the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in a Wembley FA Cup final, denying John Aldridge from the spot.
As the final whistle blew, BBC commentator John Motson delivered the now-famous line: "The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club."
Bournemouth 2-0 Manchester United | FA Cup third round | 7 January 1984
The result sent shockwaves across the football world as then-Third Division side Bournemouth, under the guidance of a young Harry Redknapp, stunned the reigning FA Cup champions by knocking them out of the tournament.
Despite boasting international stars like Bryan Robson and Norman Whiteside, Manchester United struggled to impose their authority on the game. For the first hour, Bournemouth held their own, matching their illustrious opponents stride for stride. Then came a whirlwind five minutes of chaos, as Milton Graham struck first, quickly followed by Ian Thompson, giving the hosts a 2-0 advantage and cementing Redknapp's place in FA Cup folklore with one of the competition's most memorable giant-killings.
As the final whistle loomed, tensions boiled over with United's fans storming the pitch in a desperate bid to halt the inevitable. But when the whistle finally blew, it marked the beginning of a scene of unrestrained jubilation for Bournemouth and their supporters.
Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Liverpool | FA Cup fourth round | 9 February 2025
Plymouth produced a huge FA Cup upset as Premier League leaders Liverpool were knocked out by the bottom club in the Sky Bet Championship.
Liverpool boss, Arne Slot, gambled with a weakened side in Devon and literally paid the penalty as Ryan Hardie’s second-half spot-kick gave Plymouth a famous 1-0 win and sent them into the fifth round of the competition.
It was only the fourth time that the team starting the day at the top of the Premier League has been eliminated from the FA Cup by a side from outside the top flight. So Liverpool’s quadruple hopes are over and Slot’s team selection will be a hot topic of discussion in the coming days.
Plymouth have kept only two clean sheets in the Championship but Ukrainian defender, Maksym Talovyerov, who celebrated almost every clearance as though it was a goal – was a colossus at the heart of their defence.
Pilgrims boss, Miron Muslic, had hailed Liverpool as the, "best team in the world," but only goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher remained from the side that thrashed Tottenham on Thursday to book a Wembley date in the Carabao Cup.
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister were among those given the day off. Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa and Luis Diaz ensured there was still plenty of firepower against opponents with the worst defensive record in the top four tiers of English football.
There was a carnival atmosphere at kick-off with Home Park sold out and huge green and white flags decorating the stadium. Plymouth pushed for a dream start and Hardie saw his shot blocked by Joe Gomez inside the opening minute.
Gomez was captaining Liverpool on his first appearance since 29 December following a hamstring injury but his afternoon was to end prematurely. The England defender cut a frustrated figure sitting on the ground and limped off after 11 minutes, with Isaac Mabaya coming on to make a senior debut.
With the contest also held up by dental damage to Pilgrims defender Nikola Katic, there was little rhythm to a tie being played out on a lively surface. Plymouth fans appealed for a penalty as Mustapha Bundu and Kostas Tsimikas tangled in the area but referee Sam Barrott instantly waved play on.
James McConnell had the solitary on-target first-half attempt after 36 minutes, the midfielder’s strike deflecting off Darko Gyabi and forcing Conor Hazard into a sprawling save. Callum Wright, a Liverpool fan who grew up idolising Steven Gerrard, saw his powerful effort deflected over by Wataru Endo but Plymouth were soon ahead after 53 minutes.
Gyabi hooked the ball over his head and it struck the hand of Harvey Elliott, which was in an unnatural position above his head. Hardie stepped up with confidence and dispatched the ball into the bottom left hand corner as Kelleher dived the other way.
Slot quickly sent on Darwin Nunez but Plymouth were inches from doubling their advantage in the 62nd minute.
The excellent Katic knocked down a free-kick for Hardie to strike a post after Kelleher’s outstretched foot had applied the faintest of touches. Hardie appeared to be offside but the absence of VAR meant a goal would have stood.
McConnell drove wide following a Plymouth defensive mix-up and Hazard denied Jota and Nunez with outstanding saves, and the Pilgrims survived nine minutes of stoppage time to get the party started.
Plymouth Argyle were drawn against Manchester City for the 5th round.
The magic of the FA Cup is always wonderful. Seeing a lower level club defeating one of the big boys is always a spectacle to see. It only happens once in a blue moon. What's nice as well is that there's no telling how far a club can go once they've killed a giant or two.