FA Youth Cup

The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an annual knockout football competition in domestic English football 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.

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.FA Youth Cup history: TheFA.com website.

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. 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.

Manchester United are the competition's most successful club, winning it eleven times. The current holders are Manchester City, who defeated Manchester United 2–1 in the 2026 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

Season Winners Score Runners-up NotesTwo-legged format1952–53Manchester United9–3Wolverhampton Wanderers1953–54Manchester United5–4Wolverhampton Wanderers1954–55Manchester United7–1West Bromwich Albion1955–56Manchester United4–3Chesterfield1956–57Manchester United8–2West Ham United1957–58Wolverhampton Wanderers7–6Chelsea1958–59Blackburn Rovers2–1West Ham United1959–60Chelsea5–2Preston North End1960–61Chelsea5–3Everton1961–62Newcastle United2–1Wolverhampton Wanderers1962–63West Ham United6–5Liverpool1963–64Manchester United5–2Swindon Town1964–65Everton3–2Arsenal1965–66Arsenal5–3Sunderland1966–67Sunderland2–0Birmingham City1967–68Burnley3–2Coventry City1968–69Sunderland6–3West Bromwich Albion1969–70Tottenham Hotspur1–1Coventry CityReplay 2–2; second replay 1–01970–71Arsenal2–0Cardiff City1971–72Aston Villa5–2Liverpool1972–73Ipswich Town4–1Bristol City1973–74Tottenham Hotspur2–1Huddersfield Town1974–75Ipswich Town5–1West Ham United1975–76West Bromwich Albion5–0Wolverhampton Wanderers1976–77Crystal Palace1–0Everton1977–78Crystal Palace1–0Aston Villa1978–79Millwall2–0Manchester City1979–80Aston Villa3–2Manchester City1980–81West Ham United2–1Tottenham Hotspur1981–82Watford7–6Manchester United1982–83Norwich City6–5EvertonAggregated extra time1983–84Everton4–2Stoke City1984–85Newcastle United4–1Watford1985–86Manchester City3–1 Manchester United1986–87Coventry City2–1Charlton Athletic1987–88Arsenal6–1Doncaster Rovers1988–89Watford2–1Manchester CityAggregated extra time1989–90Tottenham Hotspur3–2Middlesbrough1990–91Millwall3–0Sheffield Wednesday1991–92Manchester United6–3Crystal Palace1992–93Leeds United4–1Manchester United1993–94Arsenal5–3Millwall1994–95Manchester United2–2Tottenham HotspurAggregated (no extra time played); 4–3 on penalty shoot-out1995–96Liverpool4–1West Ham United1996–97Leeds United3–1Crystal Palace1997–98Everton5–3Blackburn Rovers1998–99West Ham United9–0Coventry City1999–2000Arsenal5–1Coventry City2000–01Arsenal6–3Blackburn Rovers2001–02Aston Villa4–2Everton2002–03Manchester United3–1Middlesbrough2003–04Middlesbrough4–0Aston Villa2004–05Ipswich Town3–2SouthamptonAggregated extra time2005–06Liverpool3–2Manchester City2006–07Liverpool2–2Manchester UnitedAggregated extra time; 4–3 on penalty shoot-out2007–08Manchester City4–2Chelsea2008–09Arsenal6–2Liverpool2009–10Chelsea3–2Aston Villa2010–11Manchester United6–3Sheffield United2011–12Chelsea4–1Blackburn Rovers2012–13Norwich City4–2Chelsea2013–14Chelsea7–6Fulham2014–15Chelsea5–2Manchester City2015–16Chelsea4–2Manchester City2016–17Chelsea6–2Manchester City2017–18Chelsea7–1ArsenalSingle match format2018–19Liverpool1–1Manchester CityAfter extra time; 5–3 on penalty shoot-out2019–20Manchester City3–2Chelsea2020–21Aston Villa2–1Liverpool2021–22Manchester United3–1Nottingham Forest2022–23West Ham United5–1Arsenal2023–24Manchester City4–0Leeds United2024–25Aston Villa3–1Manchester City2025–26Manchester City2–1Manchester United

Performance by clubs Club Title(s) Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-upManchester United1151953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1964, 1992, 1995, 2003, 2011, 20221982, 1986, 1993, 2007, 2026Chelsea941960, 1961, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 20181958, 2008, 2013, 2020Arsenal731966, 1971, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2001, 20091965, 2018, 2023Manchester City591986, 2008, 2020, 2024, 20261979, 1980, 1989, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2025Aston Villa531972, 1980, 2002, 2021, 20251978, 2004, 2010 West Ham United441963, 1981, 1999, 20231957, 1959, 1975, 1996Liverpool441996, 2006, 2007, 20191963, 1972, 2009, 2021Everton341965, 1984, 19981961, 1977, 1983, 2002Tottenham Hotspur321970, 1974, 19901981, 1995Ipswich Town301973, 1975, 2005Crystal Palace221977, 19781992, 1997Sunderland211967, 19691966Millwall211979, 19911994Watford211982, 19891985Leeds United211993, 19972024Newcastle United201962, 1985Norwich City201983, 2013Wolverhampton Wanderers1419581953, 1954, 1962, 1976Coventry City1419871968, 1970, 1999, 2000Blackburn Rovers1319591998, 2001, 2012West Bromwich Albion1219761955, 1969Middlesbrough1220041990, 2003Burnley101968Chesterfield011956Preston North End011960Swindon Town011964Birmingham City011967Cardiff City011971Bristol City011973Huddersfield Town011974Stoke City011984Charlton Athletic011987Doncaster Rovers011988Sheffield Wednesday011991Southampton012005Sheffield United012011Fulham012014Nottingham Forest012022

Hat-tricks Including qualifying and preliminary round matches. PlayerYearMatchNotesRef(s)Duncan Edwards1953/54Manchester United ?–? Bradford Park AvenueDuncan Edwards1953/54Manchester United ?–? Rotherham UnitedGordon Bolland1960Chelsea 10–0 West Thurrock AthleticScored four goals in the game.Gordon Bolland1960Chelsea 9–1 Colchester UnitedScored four goals in the game.Gordon Bolland1960Chelsea 11–0 Ford UnitedA match with two hat-tricks.Colin Shaw1960Chelsea 11–0 Ford UnitedScored four goals in the game, in a match with two hat-tricks.Bert Murray1960Preston North End 1–4 ChelseaAlbert Kinsey1964Manchester United 4–1 Manchester CityDavid Sadler1964Manchester United ?–? SwindonMichael Owen1996Liverpool 3–2 Manchester UnitedMichael Owen1996Liverpool 4–2 Crystal PalaceAaron Lennon2002Leeds United 4–0 GillinghamDominic Solanke2013Chelsea 4–0 DartfordTammy Abraham2015Chelsea 6–1 Huddersfield TownC. Horner2015F.C. United of Manchester 6–2 SouthportJ. Mpofu2016Tamworth 5–3 Hednesford TownD. Florence2016Luton Town 2–2 (4–3 ) Dagenham & RedbridgeScored for the losing team, in a match with two hat-tricks.J. Snelus2016Luton Town 2–2 (4–3 ) Dagenham & RedbridgeScored for the winning team, in a match with two hat-tricks. One of the longest hat-tricks in history (104 minutes).Ike Ugbo2017Chelsea 7–1 Tottenham HotspurC. Guy2017South Shields 10–0 ?Mason Mount2017Birmingham City 0–5 ChelseaMason Greenwood2018Manchester United 4–3 ChelseaJake Young2018Guiseley 12–0 Harrogate TownScored five goals in the game, in a match with two hat-tricks.Tabish Hussain2018Guiseley 12–0 Harrogate TownScored five goals in the game, in a match with two hat-tricks.Tabish Hussain2018Guiseley 11–0 Rossington MainJoe Hugill2019Shrewsbury Town 2–5 SunderlandS. Towse2019Hornchurch 11–0 Dagenham & RedbridgeA match with two hat-tricks.S. Dutton2019Hornchurch 11–0 Dagenham & RedbridgeA match with two hat-tricks.Armando Broja2020Chelsea 4–0 Huddersfield Town Lewis Johnson2020MK Dons 8–1 Hertford TownC. Parks2020Holbeach United 8–0 Harborough TownA match with two hat-tricks.James Clark2020Holbeach United 8–0 Harborough TownA match with two hat-tricks.Mateusz Musiałowski2021Liverpool 4–0 Fleetwood TownJames Balagizi2021Leicester City 1–5 LiverpoolL. Stone2021Rugby Town 3–1 Solihull MoorsAbu Kamara2021Norwich City 4–2 Wolverhampton WanderersJ. Simms2021Bradford City ?–? Oldham AthleticB. Singh2022Eastleigh 8–3 Yeovil TownA match with two hat-tricks.M. Dotse2022Eastleigh 8–3 Yeovil TownA match with two hat-tricks.R. Oudnie-Morgan2022Ipswich Town 9–0 AveleyA. Sbaiti2022Sutton Common Rovers 5–0 LoxwoodR. Wyatt2022Peterborough United 2–3 Northampton TownDom Ballard2022Coventry City 2–3 SouthamptonHenry Sandat2022Billericay Town 1–4 Southend UnitedPatrick Casey2023Bury Town 1–4 Charlton AthleticJustin Oboavwoduo2023Manchester City 5–0 Fleetwood TownP. Croker2023Oxford City 5–1 Street F.C.J. Lyons2023Rusthall 5–2 Chatham TownLyons' first goal, scored within seconds, was one of the fastest in history and the fastest in an under-18 match.E. Wenham2023Maidstone United 5–1 DartfordDivin Mubama2023West Ham 6–1 SouthamptonOlly Sully2023Forest Green Rovers 6–3 Thame UnitedCameron Gardner2023South Shields 1–5 Grimsby TownJ. Naylor2023Sunderland RCA 1–6 ConsettS. Tomlinson2023Mickleover Academy 8–0 Leicester NirvanaLewis Koumas2024Liverpool 7–1 ArsenalZ. Hardy2024Sherwood Colliery 1–5 Boston UnitedHarrison Armstrong 2024Everton 7–0 Nottingham ForestAlex Huntsman2026Bridlington Town 12-0 Beverley TownLewis Blanchard2026Bridlington Town 12-0 Beverley Town

Multiple hat-tricks Players 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. RankPlayerClub(s)Hat-tricks1 Gordon BollandChelsea32 Duncan EdwardsManchester United2 Michael OwenLiverpool Tabish HussainGuiseley

Attendance record The 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.

International capped winners Tables are ordered by date of first cap.

1950s

Player Pos Club Year National team International debut Keith Newton DF Blackburn Rovers 1959 v , 23 February 1966 Shay Brennan FW Manchester United 1955 v , 5 May 1965 Fred Pickering DF Blackburn Rovers 1959 v , 27 May 1964 Mike England DF Blackburn Rovers 1959 v , 11 April 1962 Phil Kelly DF Wolverhampton Wanderers 1958 v , 28 September 1960 Joe Carolan MF Manchester United 1956 v , 1 November 1959 Wilf McGuinness MF Manchester United 1954, 1955, 1956 v , 4 October 1958 Bobby Charlton FW Manchester United 1954, 1955, 1956 v , 19 April 1958 David Pegg FW Manchester United 1953, 1954 v , 19 May 1957 Billy Whelan FW Manchester United 1953 v , 10 May 1956 Duncan Edwards MF, FW Manchester United 1953, 1954, 1955 v , 2 April 1955

1960s