Fa_youth_cup

FA Youth Cup

FA Youth Cup

English football competition for under-18 sides


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.

Quick Facts Founded, Region ...

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

Chelsea players celebrating winning the 2015–16 FA Youth Cup.
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  1. Prior to 2018–19, finals were played over two legs; the aggregate scores are listed.

Performance by clubs

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Hat-tricks

Including qualifying and preliminary round matches.

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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.

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FA Girls' Youth Cup hat-tricks

The 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.

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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.[48]

International capped winners

Tables are ordered by date of first cap.

1950s

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1960s

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1970s

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1980s

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1990s

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2000s

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2010s

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2020s

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See also


References

  1. Inglis, Simon. Football League and the men who made it. Harper Collins. p. 205. ISBN 978-0002182423.
  2. "YOUTH CUP REPORT: LUTON 4 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 3". www.lutontown.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  3. "WSL: Man City v Arsenal - Preview". WSL: Man City v Arsenal - Preview. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  4. FC, Blackburn Rovers. "Walsh treble secures semi-final spot". Blackburn Rovers FC. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  5. "FA Girls' Youth Cup: Man City and Teesside Sport win on pens". OneFootball. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  6. Stone, Simon (11 May 2022). "Record crowd watch Man Utd win FA Youth Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2022.

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