History Of The FA Cup Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1871-72

Only 12 teams contested the first edition of the FA Cup, with the first round ties taking place on November 11th, 1871. The first FA Cup final was held at Kennington Oval on March 18th, 1872, in front of just 2,000 spectators. Wanderers FC of London defeated Royal Engineers of Chatham 1-0, with Morton Betts scoring the winning goal.

Answer: Queen's Park

Whilst Welsh clubs who are members of the English FA have always participated in the FA Cup, clubs from Scotland and Ireland only did so in the early years before the founding of their associations and cup competitions. Queen's Park, from Glasgow, were the leading lights of Scottish football in the late 19th century, and reached two FA Cup finals. On both occasions, they lost to Blackburn Rovers.

Answer: Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur were members of the Southern League in season 1900-01. In that season's FA Cup, they eliminated Preston North End, Bury, Reading and West Bromwich Albion on their way to a final meeting with Sheffield United. After a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace, Tottenham won the replay 3-1 at Burnden Park, Bolton. Tottenham would go on to join the Football League in 1908 and won the FA Cup a further seven times in the 20th century.

Answer: 1923

The FA Cup final had been held at various locations prior to the opening of the Empire Stadium at Wembley in north London in 1923. The first final there, on April 28th, was between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United. There were chaotic scenes as up to circa 300,000 fans converged on the stadium, although the official attendance was given as 126,047. Police had to usher the crowds behind the touchlines so that the game could go ahead and, when it did, Bolton won the match 2-0.

Answer: Arsenal

Cardiff City were a top tier Football League team in season 1926-27 and went on a terrific FA Cup run. They eliminated Aston Villa, Darlington, Bolton, Chelsea and Reading to set up a meeting with Arsenal at Wembley on April 23rd. Hughie Ferguson scored the game's only goal as the cup made its way to Wales.

Answer: 747

An incredible 747 teams entered the 2025-26 FA Cup, with the first games taking place on August 1st in the extra preliminary round. Those teams entering at this stage would have to win six ties just to reach the First Round proper (two preliminary rounds plus four qualifying rounds), when teams from League One and League Two of the Football League enter the fray.

Another two matches would need to be negotiated for those teams to reach the Third Round proper, when the giants of English football finally enter the draw (44 teams from the League Championship and Premier League).

Answer: Worcester City

Worcester City had spent their entire existence in the non-league system of English football, but they had their brief moment in the sun in season 1958-59. After surviving a Qualifying Round match to reach the tournament proper, they eliminated Chelmsford City and Millwall to set up a Third Round tie at home to the famous Liverpool.

At St Georges Lane on January 15th, Worcester prevailed 2-1, with Tommy Skuse and a Dick White own goal proving decisive. The dream ended in the Fourth Round when they lost 0-2 at home to Sheffield United.

Answer: Stan Mortensen

On May 2nd, 1953, Blackpool faced Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Stanley Matthews inspired Blackpool to recover from a 1-3 deficit to win the match 4-3, and the final was "named" after him. Despite this, Matthews didn't actually score in the game, it was his team-mate Stan Mortensen who scored three of Blackpool's goals.

The decisive goal was scored by Bill Perry in stoppage time.

Answer: Old Trafford

On April 11th 1970, Chelsea and Leeds United drew their FA Cup final 2-2 at Wembley, after extra time. Such was the state of the pitch afterwards that the FA decided to move the replay to Old Trafford in Manchester. On April 29th, Chelsea won 2-1, again after extra time, in what has often been described by many sports commentators as the dirtiest final ever, due to the very physical play by both teams.

Answer: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

The last FA Cup final at the "old" Wembley took place on May 20th, 2000, when Chelsea defeated Aston Villa. Coincidentally, the first final at the "new" Wembley was also won by Chelsea, when they defeated Manchester United on May 19th 2007. In between those games, six finals were held in Wales, at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Arsenal, three times, Liverpool, twice, and Manchester United, once, all won the famous trophy on Welsh soil.