Famous FA Cup giant-killings: Biggest upsets in English football's most prestigious knockout tournament

The FA Cup's typical giant-killing story unfolded in classic fashion: a challenging pitch, grim weather, a non-league underdog hosting a top-tier powerhouse, and an electrified crowd witnessing an unforgettable strike etched into football folklore. This clash had it all.

Hereford United, representing the Southern League, had already defied the odds by earning a 2-2 draw at St. James' Park, forcing a replay against Newcastle United. Despite their heroic effort in the first leg, few believed they could go further. The Magpies struck first, yet Hereford leveled the score through a thunderous long-range effort by Ronnie Radford, a moment that remains one of the most celebrated goals in FA Cup history, sending the match into extra time.

The drama continued when substitute Ricky George stepped up to score the decisive goal, sealing a famous 2-1 victory for the Bulls and cementing their place in FA Cup folklore. The scenes at Edgar Street were unforgettable, with jubilant fans storming the pitch in celebration.

While Radford's iconic goal wasn't the match-winner, it sparked wild celebrations and captured the essence of FA Cup magic. Tragically, Radford passed away in November 2023, but his legacy as one of the competition's original heroes endures.

Interestingly, this replay faced several postponements due to a waterlogged pitch at Hereford's home ground, eventually taking place on the day scheduled for the fourth round, adding yet another layer of intrigue to an already extraordinary tale.

This list of unforgettable FA Cup moments wouldn't be complete without a nod to the heroic, breathtaking, and occasionally bizarre goals etched into its rich history. Among them is the decisive strike from Burnley’s clash with Liverpool at a frosty Turf Moor—an own goal by Djimi Traore that sealed the Championship side's upset victory.

The match marked former Reds manager Rafa Benitez's first experience in the competition during his debut season at Anfield. Opting to rest several key players, Benitez inadvertently handed Steve Cotterill's Burnley, a team languishing in the lower half of the Championship table, a golden opportunity.

The decisive moment came in the second half. A low cross from Richard Chaplow forced Traore into a moment of calamity. Attempting an audacious 360-degree drag-back near the far post, the French defender misjudged it entirely, inadvertently bundling the ball into his own net before ending up tangled in the goal's netting.

Ironically, this humbling FA Cup exit came just months before Liverpool capped the 2004-05 season with one of the most remarkable comebacks in football history, defeating AC Milan in Istanbul to claim the Champions League crown. What a dramatic shift in fortunes.

The gulf between Wrexham and Arsenal was enormous—an astonishing 81 league places separated the two sides as they met at the Racecourse Ground. The Red Dragons, struggling in 18th place in the Fourth Division, squared off against the reigning First Division champions, Arsenal, who were sitting seventh in the top tier. On paper, it seemed like a straightforward assignment for George Graham's Gunners.

Initially, everything appeared to be going as expected. Alan Smith put Arsenal ahead before halftime, and with just 10 minutes left, it seemed the Welsh underdogs were set to bow out respectably. However, Wrexham had other plans, and their determination soon turned the game into a classic chapter in FA Cup folklore.

In the 82nd minute, Mickey Thomas, a 37-year-old veteran, unleashed a sensational 25-yard free-kick to level the scores. The strike not only brought the game to life but also secured Thomas' place in FA Cup history. With momentum firmly in their favor, Wrexham piled on the pressure, and just two minutes later, Steve Watkin delivered the decisive blow, bundling home the winner.

As the final whistle blew, jubilant fans stormed the pitch, celebrating one of the most memorable "giant killings" the competition has ever seen. This unforgettable upset is yet another reminder of the enduring magic of the FA Cup.

In one of the most stunning upsets in FA Cup history, the Black Cats pulled off a 1–0 triumph, becoming the first Second Division team to hoist the trophy since West Bromwich Albion achieved the feat in 1931. This victory marked Sunderland's last major Cup success for nearly half a century until their EFL Trophy win in 2021. As of 2024, it remains their most recent domestic silverware.

At the time, Sunderland were competing in the old Division Two and faced a formidable Leeds United side, who were dominating English football’s top tier, in the final of the 1972-73 FA Cup. Refusing to be intimidated by their high-flying opponents, the Black Cats produced one of the tournament's most iconic upsets.

Ian Porterfield etched his name into Sunderland folklore with a first-half strike that proved decisive, while goalkeeper Jim Montgomery delivered a breathtaking performance. His incredible reflex save remains one of the most celebrated moments in FA Cup history, ensuring Bob Stokoe's team held on for a historic victory at Wembley.

Since the Premier League's formation in 1992, such fairy-tale results have become increasingly rare due to the financial gulf between England's top clubs and the lower leagues. This third-round victory at Broadhall Way marked only the third occasion in two decades that a fourth-tier team had toppled a top-flight side.

League Two side Stevenage pulled off a remarkable giant-killing act against Premier League outfit Newcastle United, securing a relatively comfortable 3-1 victory that stunned the footballing world.

The Hertfordshire club took a 2-0 lead heading into stoppage time, with Joey Barton briefly reigniting the Magpies’ hopes by scoring a long-range effort. However, the drama wasn't over as Peter Winn put the game to bed moments later, ensuring Stevenage's place in FA Cup folklore. The Magpies’ task had been made even harder after Cheick Tiote was sent off in the 71st minute for a reckless tackle.

While Graham Westley's men bowed out to Reading in the next round, they ended the season on a high note, clinching promotion through the League Two playoffs.

It seemed like a routine fourth-round triumph was on the horizon for Premier League giants Chelsea when they surged into a two-goal lead at Stamford Bridge against a League One side ranked 49 places below them. Yet, Bradford City had no intention of playing the role of underdog without a fight, launching an extraordinary comeback to leave Jose Mourinho's Blues shell-shocked.

Goals from Jon Stead, Filipe Morais, Andy Halliday, and Mark Yeates turned the game on its head as the Bantams swept past their illustrious hosts with a 4-2 victory. The remarkable turnaround sent Bradford into the FA Cup quarter-finals, defying all expectations and leaving Mourinho's Chelsea stunned.

While Mourinho went on to clinch his third Premier League title with Chelsea in 2015, their dreams of a domestic double were shattered by a resilient Bradford side. Having reached the League Cup final in 2013 as a League Two club, the Bantams once again proved their cup pedigree by overturning a two-goal deficit against a side featuring the likes of Petr Cech and Didier Drogba, etching their name in FA Cup history.

In theory, this was the seventh-ranked team in English football toppling the nation's best—a result that might not scream upset when compared to the massive gaps in league standings seen elsewhere in FA Cup history. However, Wimbledon's triumph over Liverpool in the 1988 final remains one of the competition's most iconic moments for reasons that go far beyond the numbers.

Dubbed the "Crazy Gang," Wimbledon were the brash underdogs, clawing their way up through sheer grit and an unyielding playing style. They stood in stark contrast to Liverpool, the epitome of class and success in 1980s English football. Kenny Dalglish's Reds epitomized how the game "ought to be played," dominating the top flight with style and amassing trophies at will. Fresh off a commanding Division One title win, Liverpool were overwhelming favorites to complete the domestic double.

Yet, Lawrie Sanchez turned the script upside down with a looping header that found the net just before halftime, handing Wimbledon a shocking lead. Despite Liverpool’s relentless efforts, there was no way back, as Dave Beasant etched his name into history by becoming the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in a Wembley FA Cup final, denying John Aldridge from the spot.

As the final whistle blew, BBC commentator John Motson delivered the now-famous line: "The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club."

The result sent shockwaves across the football world as then-Third Division side Bournemouth, under the guidance of a young Harry Redknapp, stunned the reigning FA Cup champions by knocking them out of the tournament.

Despite boasting international stars like Bryan Robson and Norman Whiteside, Manchester United struggled to impose their authority on the game. For the first hour, Bournemouth held their own, matching their illustrious opponents stride for stride. Then came a whirlwind five minutes of chaos, as Milton Graham struck first, quickly followed by Ian Thompson, giving the hosts a 2-0 advantage and cementing Redknapp's place in FA Cup folklore with one of the competition's most memorable giant-killings.

As the final whistle loomed, tensions boiled over with United's fans storming the pitch in a desperate bid to halt the inevitable. But when the whistle finally blew, it marked the beginning of a scene of unrestrained jubilation for Bournemouth and their supporters.