The FA Youth Cup is England's most prestigious youth football competition, serving as a stage for the stars of tomorrow to shine.
Founded in 1952, the likes of George Best, Paul Gascoigne and David Beckham have graced its games, with many more high-profile players going on to forge respectable professional careers for themselves.
GOAL takes a look at the winners of the Under-18 cup competition, as well as the most successful teams.
FA Youth Cup winners: Full list of champions
Season | Winners | Score* | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
1952-53 | Manchester United | 9-3 | Wolves |
1953-54 | Manchester United | 5-4 | Wolves |
1954-55 | Manchester United | 7-1 | West Brom |
1955-56 | Manchester United | 4-3 | Chesterfield |
1956-57 | Manchester United | 8-2 | West Ham |
1957-58 | Wolves | 7-6 | Chelsea |
1958-59 | Blackburn Rovers | 2-1 | West Ham |
1959-60 | Chelsea | 5-2 | Preston |
1960-61 | Chelsea | 5-3 | Everton |
1961-62 | Newcastle United | 2-1 | Wolves |
1962-63 | West Ham | 6-5 | Liverpool |
1963-64 | Manchester United | 5-2 | Swindon Town |
1964-65 | Everton | 3-2 | Arsenal |
1965-66 | Arsenal | 5-3 | Sunderland |
1966-67 | Sunderland | 2-0 | Birmingham City |
1967-68 | Burnley | 3-2 | Coventry City |
1968-69 | Sunderland | 6-3 | West Brom |
1969-70 | Tottenham | 1-1 / 2-2 / 1-0 | Coventry City |
1970-71 | Arsenal | 2-0 | Cardiff City |
1971-72 | Aston Villa | 5-2 | Liverpool |
1972-73 | Ipswich Town | 4-1 | Bristol City |
1973-74 | Tottenham | 2-1 | Huddersfield Town |
1974-75 | Ipswich Town | 5-1 | West Ham |
1975-76 | West Brom | 5-0 | Wolves |
1976-77 | Crystal Palace | 1-0 | Everton |
1977-78 | Crystal Palace | 1-0 | Aston Villa |
1978-79 | Millwall | 2-0 | Manchester City |
1979-80 | Aston Villa | 3-2 | Manchester City |
1980-81 | West Ham | 2-1 | Tottenham |
1981-82 | Watford | 7-6 | Manchester United |
1982-83 | Norwich City | 6-5 | Everton |
1983-84 | Everton | 4-2 | Stoke City |
1984-85 | Newcastle United | 4-1 | Watford |
1985-86 | Manchester City | 3-1 | Manchester United |
1986-87 | Coventry City | 2-1 | Charlton Athletic |
1987-88 | Arsenal | 6-1 | Doncaster Rovers |
1988-89 | Watford | 2-1 | Manchester City |
1989-90 | Tottenham | 3-2 | Middlesbrough |
1990-91 | Millwall | 3-0 | Sheffield Wednesday |
1991-92 | 6-3 | Crystal Palace | |
1992-93 | Leeds United | 4-1 | Manchester United |
1993-94 | Arsenal | 5-3 | Millwall |
1994-95 | Manchester United | 2-2 (4-3P) | Tottenham |
1995-96 | Liverpool | 4-1 | West Ham |
1996-97 | Leeds United | 3-1 | Crystal Palace |
1997-98 | Everton | 5-3 | Blackburn Rovers |
1998-99 | West Ham | 9-0 | Coventry City |
1999-00 | Arsenal | 5-1 | Coventry City |
2000-01 | Arsenal | 6-3 | Blackburn Rovers |
2001-02 | Aston Villa | 4-2 | Everton |
2002-03 | Manchester United | 3-1 | Middlesbrough |
2003-04 | Middlesbrough | 4-0 | Aston Villa |
2004-05 | Ipswich Town | 3-2 | Southampton |
2005-06 | Liverpool | 3-2 | Manchester City |
2006-07 | Liverpool | 2-2 (4-3P) | Manchester United |
2007-08 | Manchester City | 4-2 | Chelsea |
2008-09 | Arsenal | 6-2 | Liverpool |
2009-10 | Chelsea | 3-2 | Aston Villa |
2010-11 | 6-3 | Sheffield United | |
2011-12 | Chelsea | 4-1 | Blackburn Rovers |
2012-13 | Norwich City | 4-2 | Chelsea |
2013-14 | Chelsea | 7-6 | Fulham |
2014-15 | Chelsea | 5-2 | Manchester City |
2015-16 | Chelsea | 4-2 | Manchester City |
2016-17 | Chelsea | 6-2 | Manchester City |
2017-18 | Chelsea | 7-1 | Arsenal |
2018-19 | 1-1 (5-3P) | Manchester City | |
2019-20 | Manchester City | 3-2 | Chelsea |
2020-21 | 2-1 | Liverpool | |
2021-22 | Manchester United | 3-1 | Nottingham Forest |
*Note: Before 2018-19, finals were played over two legs, so the aggregate score is listed
Manchester United were a dominant force when the FA Youth Cup was first launched in the 1950s, winning the first five trophies, but the Red Devils didn't enjoy much success again in the competition until the 1990s on.
Famously, Manchester United's 1991-92 FA Youth Cup-winning team featured David Beckham, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, who would go on to become household names.
Jack Wilshere featured for Arsenal and Paul Pogba enjoyed victory with Manchester United while, more recently, Conor Gallagher was among those who has tasted success with Chelsea.
As well as Man Utd, the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Ham have been consistent fixtures in the FA Youth Cup finals.
Who has won most FA Youth Cups?
Team | Wins | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
Manchester United | 11 | 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1964, 1992, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2022 |
Chelsea | 9 | 1960, 1961, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
Arsenal | 7 | 1966, 1971, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2009 |
Liverpool | 4 | 1996, 2006, 2007, 2019 |
Aston Villa | 4 | 1972, 1980, 2002, 2021 |
Manchester City | 3 | 1986, 2008, 2020 |
West Ham | 3 | 1963, 1981, 1999 |
Everton | 3 | 1965, 1984, 1998 |
Tottenham | 3 | 1970, 1974, 1990 |
Ipswich Town | 3 | 1973, 1975, 2005 |
Crystal Palace | 2 | 1977, 1978 |
Sunderland | 2 | 1967, 1969 |
Millwall | 2 | 1979, 1991 |
Watford | 2 | 1982, 1989 |
Newcastle United | 2 | 1962, 1985 |
Norwich City | 2 | 1983, 2013 |
Leeds United | 2 | 1993, 1997 |
Wolves | 1 | 1958 |
Coventry City | 1 | 1987 |
Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 1959 |
West Brom | 1 | 1976 |
Middlesbrough | 1 | 2004 |
Burnley | 1 | 1968 |
Manchester United are the most successful team in the history of the FA Youth Cup. As of the beginning of the 2021-22 season, the Red Devils had won the competition 10 times.
Chelsea are not far behind their northern rivals with nine titles thanks to a period of dominance in the 2010s, which saw them appear in six successive finals and win five times in a row.
Arsenal have enjoyed consistent levels of success in the competition, while Liverpool and Aston Villa's youth teams have a long tradition too. Man City have appeared in 11 finals, but they have suffered defeat in eight of those.
What are your memories of the FA Youth Cup? Let us know in the comments 👇
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