FA Sunday Cup

The FA Sunday Cup is a knock-out amateur 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 (1964–65), 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 (53 years ago) 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 (Luton) have appeared in a record seven finals, winning on three occasions in 1995, 1996 and 2023. Eight 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, Hardwick Social in 2017 and 2018, and Campfield FC in 2015 and 2020.

In 2018, Hardwick Social FC became the first club for 22 years to retain the trophy since St Joseph's (Luton) in 1995-96.

The latest holders are St Joseph's (Luton) who were crowned as the 2022-23 FA Sunday Cup winners at Derby's Pride Park as they defeated Aigburth Arms in a 3-2 success. St Joseph's McCafferty scored an equalising goal in the first half, with Watkins scoring the team's second goal. At 90 minutes St Joseph's were 2-1 ahead with 6 minutes of additional time to play; the Aigburth arms then scored an equaliser with a 93rd-minute penalty kick with the winning goal scored by Blake in the final minute of the game.

SFA Finals 1961-1965

The National Sunday Football Association was founded in 1932 and re-formed in 1950. It was not affiliated to, nor recognised by the FA, and asserted itself as an alternative authority to the FA. It inaugurated a national knock-out club competition in 1960/61.

For the first few years it was an authentic national competition. However, the increasing affiliation of regional SFAs and leagues to the FA diminished the competition and it was never truly national after 1963, but it persevered for a number of seasons after the FA started their national competition. Nevertheless, the SFA winners were arguably the leading Sunday clubs remaining outside the FA affiliated Sunday leagues.

The first five finals were played at the Hare & Hounds, Leyton, East London.

SeasonWinnerScoreRunners-up1960–61Walsall Wofflers2-0Stamford Rovers1961–62Forest Gate Mount Athletic 2–0Ashford Victoria 1962-63Forest Gate Mount Athletic 3-3,aet 5-3Chiswick East Barnes1963–64Forest Gate Mount Athletic 4-1Hull Anlaby1964–65Edmonton Park United5-1Hull Esso

Finals since 1965 (FA sanctioned)

The results of the finals to date:

SeasonWinnerScoreRunners-up1964–65London6–2 aggregateStaffordshire1965–66Ubique United1–0Aldridge Fabrications1966–67Carlton United2–0Stoke Works1967–68Drovers2–0Brook United1968–69Leigh Park3–1Loke United1969–70Vention United1–0Ubique United1970–71Becontree Rovers2–0Saltley United1971–72Newtown Unity4–0Springfield Colts1972–73Carlton United2–1Wear Valley1973–74Newtown Unity3–0Brentford East1974–75Fareham Town Centipedes1–0Players Athletic Engineers1975–76Brandon United2–1Evergreen1976–77Langley Park Rams Head2–0Newtown Unity1977–78Arras2–1Lion Rangers1978–79Lobster3–2Carlton United1979–80Fantail1–0Twin Foxes1980–81Fantail1–0Mackintosh1981–82Dingle Rail2–1Twin Foxes1982–83Eagle1–1, replay 2–1Lee Chapel North1983–84Lee Chapel North4–3Eagle1984–85Hobbies United2–2, 1–1 replay, 2–1 second replayAvenue1985–86Avenue1–0Glenn Sports1986–87Lodge Cottrell1–0Avenue1987–88Nexday2–0Humbledon Plains Farm1988–89Almithak3–1East Levenshulme1989–90Humbledon Plains Farm2–1Marston Sports1990–91Nicosia (Liverpool) 3–2Ouzavich1991–92Theale3–2Marston Sports1992–93Seymour1–0Bedfont Sunday1993–94Ranelagh Sports2–0Hartlepool Lion Hotel1994–95St Joseph's (Luton)2–1B & A Scaffolding1995–96St Joseph's (Luton)2–1Croxteth & Gilmoss RBL1996–97Marston Sports1–0Northwood1997–98Olympic Star1–1, 5–3 penaltiesSt Joseph's (Luton)1998–99Little Paxton2–2, 4–3 penaltiesSt Joseph's (Luton)1999–2000Prestige Brighams1–0Albion Sports2000–01Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter0–0, 3–2 penaltiesHoughton Centre2001–02Britannia2–0Little Paxton2002–03Duke of York3–1Allerton2003–04Nicosia3–1U K Flooring2004–05Gossoms End3–2Albion Sports2005–06Hetton Lyons Cricket Club5–3St Joseph's (Luton)2006–07Coundon Conservative5–0Lebeq Tavern Courage2007–08Hetton Lyons Cricket Club3–2Coundon Conservative2008–09Scots Grey4–3 a.e.tOyster Martyrs2009–10Hetton Lyons Cricket Club4–2Magnet Tavern2010–11Oyster Martyrs1–0Paddock2011–12Hetton Lyons Cricket Club5–1Canada2012–13Oyster Martyrs4–3Barnes Albion2013–14Humbledon Plains Farm5–2Oyster Martyrs2014–15Campfield FC2–0OJM2015–16New Salamis1–1, 4–3 penaltiesBarnes AFC2016–17Hardwick Social 1–1, 3–1 penalties.New Salamis2017-18Hardwick Social 2-0 a.e.tGym United 2018-19Aylesbury Flooring 3–1Birstall Stamford2019-20Campfield FC1-0 A.E.TSt. Joseph's (Luton)2021-22Baiteze Squad2-0Highgate Albion2022-23St Joseph’s (Luton)3–2Aigburth Arms2023-24Trooper FC2–1Home Bargains2024-25Highgate Albion3-0 North Solihull Athletic 2025-26 Home Bargains 1–1, 3–1 penalties. Hartlepool AFC Supporters

FA Sunday Cup

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