The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under-18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part. It is dominated by the youth sides of professional teams, mostly from the Premier League, but attracts over 400 entrants from throughout the country.
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Founded | 1952 |
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Region |
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Current champions | Manchester City (4th title) |
Most successful club(s) | Manchester United (11 titles) |
Website | The FA Youth Cup |
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At the end of the Second World War the FA organised a Youth Championship for County Associations considering it the best way to stimulate the game among those youngsters not yet old enough to play senior football. The matches did not attract large crowds but outstanding players were selected for Youth Internationals and thousands were given the chance to play in a national contest for the first time. In 1951 it was realised that a competition for clubs would probably have a wider appeal. The FA Youth Challenge Cup (1952–53 season) was restricted to the youth teams of clubs, both professional and amateur, who were members of the FA.[1]
The notion of a youth cup was thought of by Sir Joe Richards, the late President of the Football League. He initially put forward the idea to the league clubs but they were not enthused; Richards then took the idea to the Football Association, who liked the idea and created the competition in the same year.[2] The Youth Cup trophy itself was purchased by the Football League during World War II. However, they never found a use for it. Football League secretary Fred Howarth found the trophy in a cupboard at the Starkie Street office and handed it over to the Football Association.[2]
Manchester United are the competition's most successful club, winning it eleven times. The current holders are Manchester City, who defeated Leeds United 4–0 in the 2024 final.
The tournament has served as a springboard into the professional game for many top British players. The likes of George Best, John Barnes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Frank Lampard, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole, Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, Daniel Sturridge, Jack Wilshere, and Gareth Bale had all won the tournament or played in the final. The 1991–92 FA Youth Cup famously spawned the rise of Fergie's Fledglings.
Finals
edit- ^ Prior to 2018–19, finals were played over two legs; the aggregate scores are listed.
Performance by clubs
editClub | Title(s) | Runners-up | Seasons won | Seasons runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
Manchester United | 11 | 4 | 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1964, 1992, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2022 | 1982, 1986, 1993, 2007 |
Chelsea | 9 | 4 | 1960, 1961, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | 1958, 2008, 2013, 2020 |
Arsenal | 7 | 3 | 1966, 1971, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2009 | 1965, 2018, 2023 |
Manchester City | 4 | 8 | 1986, 2008, 2020, 2024 | 1979, 1980, 1989, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 |
West Ham United | 4 | 4 | 1963, 1981, 1999, 2023 | 1957, 1959, 1975, 1996 |
Liverpool | 4 | 4 | 1996, 2006, 2007, 2019 | 1963, 1972, 2009, 2021 |
Aston Villa | 4 | 3 | 1972, 1980, 2002, 2021 | 1978, 2004, 2010 |
Everton | 3 | 4 | 1965, 1984, 1998 | 1961, 1977, 1983, 2002 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 2 | 1970, 1974, 1990 | 1981, 1995 |
Ipswich Town | 3 | 0 | 1973, 1975, 2005 | |
Crystal Palace | 2 | 2 | 1977, 1978 | 1992, 1997 |
Sunderland | 2 | 1 | 1967, 1969 | 1966 |
Millwall | 2 | 1 | 1979, 1991 | 1994 |
Watford | 2 | 1 | 1982, 1989 | 1985 |
Leeds United | 2 | 1 | 1993, 1997 | 2024 |
Newcastle United | 2 | 0 | 1962, 1985 | |
Norwich City | 2 | 0 | 1983, 2013 | |
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | 4 | 1958 | 1953, 1954, 1962, 1976 |
Coventry City | 1 | 4 | 1987 | 1968, 1970, 1999, 2000 |
Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 3 | 1959 | 1998, 2001, 2012 |
West Bromwich Albion | 1 | 2 | 1976 | 1955, 1969 |
Middlesbrough | 1 | 2 | 2004 | 1990, 2003 |
Burnley | 1 | 0 | 1968 | |
Chesterfield | 0 | 1 | 1956 | |
Preston North End | 0 | 1 | 1960 | |
Swindon Town | 0 | 1 | 1964 | |
Birmingham City | 0 | 1 | 1967 | |
Cardiff City | 0 | 1 | 1971 | |
Bristol City | 0 | 1 | 1973 | |
Huddersfield Town | 0 | 1 | 1974 | |
Stoke City | 0 | 1 | 1984 | |
Charlton Athletic | 0 | 1 | 1987 | |
Doncaster Rovers | 0 | 1 | 1988 | |
Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | 1 | 1991 | |
Southampton | 0 | 1 | 2005 | |
Sheffield United | 0 | 1 | 2011 | |
Fulham | 0 | 1 | 2014 | |
Nottingham Forest | 0 | 1 | 2022 |
Hat-tricks
editIncluding qualifying and preliminary round matches.
Multiple hat-tricks
editPlayers who have scored multiple hat-tricks in the FA Youth Cup. As players are usually only eligible for the FA Youth Cup for one or two seasons (rather than indefinitely/their whole career), scoring multiple hat-tricks is an even more exceptional feat.
Rank | Player | Club(s) | Hat-tricks |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Gordon Bolland | Chelsea | 3 |
2 | Duncan Edwards | Manchester United | 2 |
Michael Owen | Liverpool | ||
Tabish Hussain | Guiseley |
FA Girls' Youth Cup hat-tricks
editThe FA Girls' Youth Cup has been contested since at least 2012, and is the equivalent competition for under-17 women's association football teams. Of the known hat-tricks, all have been in scored in matches featuring Blackburn Rovers W.F.C.: two for Blackburn Rovers and one in the 2012–13 final against them.
Player | Year | Match | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Carla Humphrey | 2013 | Arsenal 3–1 Blackburn Rovers | Scored a hat-trick in the final. | [45] |
Keira Walsh | 2014 | Blackburn Rovers 6–0 Sunderland | Walsh is a defensive midfielder. | [46] |
M. Settle | 2022 | Stoke City 1–5 Blackburn Rovers | [47] |
Attendance record
editThe highest attendance at an FA Youth Cup match was 67,492 for the Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest final at Old Trafford on 11 May 2022, which Manchester United won 3–1.[48]
International capped winners
edit- Tables are ordered by date of first cap.
1950s
editPlayer | Pos | Club | Year | National team | International debut |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Keith Newton | DF | Blackburn Rovers | 1959 | England | v West Germany, 23 February 1966 |
Shay Brennan | FW | Manchester United | 1955 | Republic of Ireland | v Spain, 5 May 1965 |
Fred Pickering | DF | Blackburn Rovers | 1959 | England | v United States, 27 May 1964 |
Mike England | DF | Blackburn Rovers | 1959 | Wales | v Northern Ireland, 11 April 1962 |
Phil Kelly | DF | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1958 | Republic of Ireland | v Wales, 28 September 1960 |
Joe Carolan | MF | Manchester United | 1956 | Republic of Ireland | v Sweden, 1 November 1959 |
Wilf McGuinness | MF | Manchester United | 1954, 1955, 1956 | England | v Northern Ireland, 4 October 1958 |
Bobby Charlton | FW | Manchester United | 1954, 1955, 1956 | England | v Scotland, 19 April 1958 |
David Pegg | FW | Manchester United | 1953, 1954 | England | v Republic of Ireland, 19 May 1957 |
Billy Whelan | FW | Manchester United | 1953 | Republic of Ireland | v Netherlands, 10 May 1956 |
Duncan Edwards | MF, FW | Manchester United | 1953, 1954, 1955 | England | v Scotland, 2 April 1955 |
1960s
editPlayer | Pos | Club | Year | National team | International debut |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jimmy Rimmer | GK | Manchester United | 1964 | England | v Italy, 28 May 1976 |
Billy Hughes | FW | Sunderland | 1967 | Scotland | v Sweden, 16 April 1975 |
Dave Thomas | FW | Burnley | 1968 | England | v Czechoslovakia, 30 October 1974 |
Dennis Yaager | MF | Everton | 1965 | Australia | v Iran, 4 November 1970 |
Sammy Nelson | FW | Arsenal | 1966 | Northern Ireland | v England, 21 April 1970 |
Pat Rice | DF | Arsenal | 1966 | Northern Ireland | v Israel, 10 September 1968 |
Bobby Moncur | FW | Newcastle United | 1962 | Scotland | v Netherlands, 30 May 1968 |
David Sadler | FW | Manchester United | 1964 | England | v Northern Ireland, 22 November 1967 |
Peter Bonetti | GK | Chelsea | 1960 | England | v Denmark, 3 July 1966 |
Terry Venables | MF | Chelsea | 1960, 1961 | England | v Belgium, 21 October 1964 |
George Best | FW | Manchester United | 1964 | Northern Ireland | v Wales, 15 April 1964 |
Bobby Tambling | FW | Chelsea | 1960 | England | v Wales, 21 November 1962 |
1970s
editPlayer | Pos | Club | Year | National team | International debut |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Terry Fenwick | DF | Crystal Palace | 1977, 1978 | England | v Wales, 2 May 1984 |
Derek Statham | DF | West Bromwich Albion | 1976 | England | v Wales, 23 February 1983 |
Steve Lovell | FW | Crystal Palace | 1978 | Wales | v Soviet Union, 18 November 1981 |
Kevin O'Callaghan | MF | Millwall | 1979 | Republic of Ireland | v Czechoslovakia, 29 April 1981 |
Noel Brotherston | MF | Tottenham Hotspur | 1974 | Northern Ireland | v Scotland, 16 May 1980 |
Jerry Murphy | MF | Crystal Palace | 1977, 1978 | Republic of Ireland | v Wales, 11 September 1979 |
Kenny Sansom | DF | Crystal Palace | 1977 | England | v Wales, 23 May 1979 |
Peter Nicholas | MF | Crystal Palace | 1978 | Wales | v Scotland, 19 May 1979 |
John Wark | MF | Ipswich Town | 1975 | Scotland | v Wales, 19 May 1979 |
John Gidman | DF | Aston Villa | 1972 | England | v Luxembourg, 30 March 1977 |
Brian Little | FW | Aston Villa | 1972 | England | v Wales, 21 May 1975 |
Graeme Souness | MF | Tottenham Hotspur | 1970 | Scotland | v East Germany, 30 October 1974 |
1980s
editPlayer | Pos | Club | Year | National team | International debut |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
David James | GK | Watford | 1989 | England | v Mexico, 29 March 1997 |
Andy Hinchcliffe | DF | Manchester City | 1986 | England | v Moldova, 1 September 1996 |
David White | MF | Manchester City | 1986 | England | v Spain, 9 September 1992 |
Mark Walters | MF | Aston Villa | 1980 | England | v New Zealand, 3 June 1991 |
Jeremy Goss | MF | Norwich City | 1983 | Wales | v Iceland, 1 May 1991 |
Steve Morrow | DF | Arsenal | 1988 | Northern Ireland | v Uruguay, 19 May 1990 |
Pat Scully | DF | Arsenal | 1988 | Republic of Ireland | v Tunisia, 19 October 1988 |
Paul Gascoigne | MF | Newcastle United | 1985 | England | v Denmark, 14 September 1988 |
Tony Rees | FW | Aston Villa | 1980 | Wales | v Norway, 6 June 1984 |
John Barnes | FW | Watford | 1982 | England | v Northern Ireland, 28 May 1983 |
1990s
edit2000s
edit2010s
edit2020s
editPlayer | Pos | Club | Year | National team | International debut |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kobbie Mainoo | MF | Manchester United | 2022 | England | v Brazil, 23 March 2024 |
Cole Palmer | FW | Manchester City | 2020 | England | v Malta, 17 November 2023 |
Levi Colwill | DF | Chelsea | 2020 | England | v Australia, 13 October 2023 |
Oscar Bobb | FW | Manchester City | 2020 | Norway | v Cyprus, 12 October 2023 |
Callum Marshall | FW | West Ham United | 2023 | Northern Ireland | v Denmark, 16 June 2023 |
Alejandro Garnacho | FW | Manchester United | 2022 | Argentina | v Australia, 15 June 2023 |
Ben Elliott | MF | Chelsea | 2020 | Cameroon | v Mexico, 11 June 2023 |
Lucas Bergström | GK | Chelsea | 2020 | Finland | v Sweden, 9 January 2023 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ FA Youth Cup history: TheFA.com website.
- ^ a b Inglis, Simon (1988). Football League and the men who made it. Harper Collins. p. 205. ISBN 978-0002182423.
- ^ a b c d "FA Youth Cup". Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "1960 FA Youth Cup". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Liverpool career stats for Michael Owen - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC!". www.lfchistory.net. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ Classic Man Utd Videos and Clips (17 March 2021). Liverpool v Man Utd 1996 FA Youth Cup 5th Rd (Michael Owen Hat-Trick). Retrieved 20 June 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "HAT-TRICK FOR LENNON". www.leedsunited.com. 3 December 2002. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Chelsea through in Youth Cup with win over Dartford". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Tammy's treble fires Chelsea through in FA Youth Cup". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Youth team score six in FA Youth Cup win over Southport". fc-utd.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Mpofu hat-trick fires Tamworth through in FA Youth Cup". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ a b "YOUTH CUP REPORT: LUTON 4 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 3". www.lutontown.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Ugbo fires Chelsea to Youth Cup Final". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/southshieldsfc/posts/video-callum-guy-scored-a-hat-trick-for-the-mariners-in-last-nights-fa-youth-cup/1471078292986891/?_rdr [bare URL]
- ^ "FA Youth Cup holders Chelsea safely through". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Mason Greenwood Scored a Stunning Hat-Trick to Knock Chelsea Out of the FA Youth Cup". www.versus.uk.com. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "Young Lions Into Next Round of the FA Youth Cup With Emphatic 11-0 Victory". Guiseley AFC. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "FA YOUTH CUP: Hugill hat-trick helps Sunderland U18s advance in cup". SportsByte. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Report. Hornchurch 11-0 Dagenham & Redbridge (FA Youth Cup)". Hornchurch FC. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ https://www.chelseafc.com/en/videos/last-time-out--fa-youth-cup-v-huddersfield-rma3qxaje6qxs_epq17upo4vjsttro5h [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.mkdons.com/news/2020/november/ifollow-insider-lewis-johnson-on-fa-youth-cup-hat-trick/ [bare URL]
- ^ a b "Duo hit hat-tricks as Holbeach United under-18s shine on their FA Youth Cup debut - The Voice". 9 September 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Musialowski hat-trick helps U18s beat Fleetwood in FA Youth Cup - Liverpool FC". www.liverpoolfc.com. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Balagizi on Youth Cup hat-trick: 'I'm so happy to have helped the team'". Liverpool FC. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Rugby Town 3-1 Solihull Moors (FA Youth Cup) | Solihull Moors FC". www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Kamara nets a hat-trick in FA Youth Cup win". Norwich City. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Hats off to young star Simms as Latics progress in FA Youth Cup". The Oldham Times. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ a b "FA Youth Cup Report: Spitfires 8-3 Yeovil Town". eastleighfc.com. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Hat-Trick For Oudnie-Morgan as U18s Hit Nine in Youth Cup - Ipswich Town News". TWTD.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "18'S PROGRESS IN FA YOUTH CUP". Sutton Common Rovers FC. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2022/november/youth_cup_011122/ [bare URL]
- ^ "U18 Report: Ballard hits hat-trick in dramatic FA Youth Cup tie". www.southamptonfc.com. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "U18S EASE INTO FA YOUTH CUP THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND". southend united fc. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "FA YOUTH CUP REPORT | Bury Town 1 Charlton 4 | Charlton Athletic Football Club". www.charltonafc.com. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ FA Youth Cup | City 5-0 Fleetwood | Oboavwoduo's hat-trick helps power City into the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals! 🤩 | By Manchester CityFacebook. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ Oxford City FC (19 October 2023). Hat-Trick hero Phil Croker reflects on FA Youth Cup victory. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ https://x.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1699440471712354803 [bare URL]
- ^ 🗣️ We caught up with hat trick hero Elliott Wenham after our FA Youth Cup team beat Dartford 5 - 1 last night. | By Maidstone United (Official)Facebook. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ West Ham United FC (7 April 2023). West Ham 6-1 Southampton | Mubama Hat-Trick Seals Spot In Cup Final | FA Youth Cup Highlights. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/sully-this-is-the-best-week-of-my-life [bare URL]
- ^ "Under-18s defeated in FA Youth Cup second round". South Shields FC. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Consett hit Sunderland RCA for six to progress in FA Youth Cup". 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Tomlinson Hat-trick In Youth Cup Charge – Mickleover Football Club". 5 September 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ Squires, Theo; Killen, Stephen; MacDonald, Keifer (20 January 2024). "Liverpool U18 vs Arsenal highlights - Reds score seven in FA Youth Cup". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "WSL: Man City v Arsenal - Preview". WSL: Man City v Arsenal - Preview. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ FC, Blackburn Rovers. "Walsh treble secures semi-final spot". Blackburn Rovers FC. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "FA Girls' Youth Cup: Man City and Teesside Sport win on pens". OneFootball. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Stone, Simon (11 May 2022). "Record crowd watch Man Utd win FA Youth Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
External links
edit- The FA Youth Cup at The Football Association official website