FA Youth Cup
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football tournament
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.
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.<ref>FA Youth Cup history: TheFA.com website.</ref>
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.<ref name="inglis">Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name="inglis"/>
Manchester United are the competition's most successful club, winning it eleven times. The current holders are Aston Villa, who defeated Manchester City 3–1 in the 2025 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
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Performance by clubs
| Club | Title(s) | Runners-up | Seasons won | Seasons runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 11 | 4 | 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1964, 1992, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2022 | 1982, 1986, 1993, 2007 |
| Chelsea | 9 | 4 | 1960, 1961, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | 1958, 2008, 2013, 2020 |
| Arsenal | 7 | 3 | 1966, 1971, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2009 | 1965, 2018, 2023 |
| Aston Villa | 5 | 3 | 1972, 1980, 2002, 2021, 2025 | 1978, 2004, 2010 |
| Manchester City | 4 | 9 | 1986, 2008, 2020, 2024 | 1979, 1980, 1989, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2025 |
| West Ham United | 4 | 4 | 1963, 1981, 1999, 2023 | 1957, 1959, 1975, 1996 |
| Liverpool | 4 | 4 | 1996, 2006, 2007, 2019 | 1963, 1972, 2009, 2021 |
| Everton | 3 | 4 | 1965, 1984, 1998 | 1961, 1977, 1983, 2002 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 2 | 1970, 1974, 1990 | 1981, 1995 |
| Ipswich Town | 3 | 0 | 1973, 1975, 2005 | |
| Crystal Palace | 2 | 2 | 1977, 1978 | 1992, 1997 |
| Sunderland | 2 | 1 | 1967, 1969 | 1966 |
| Millwall | 2 | 1 | 1979, 1991 | 1994 |
| Watford | 2 | 1 | 1982, 1989 | 1985 |
| Leeds United | 2 | 1 | 1993, 1997 | 2024 |
| Newcastle United | 2 | 0 | 1962, 1985 | |
| Norwich City | 2 | 0 | 1983, 2013 | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | 4 | 1958 | 1953, 1954, 1962, 1976 |
| Coventry City | 1 | 4 | 1987 | 1968, 1970, 1999, 2000 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 3 | 1959 | 1998, 2001, 2012 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1 | 2 | 1976 | 1955, 1969 |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 2 | 2004 | 1990, 2003 |
| Burnley | 1 | 0 | 1968 | |
| Chesterfield | 0 | 1 | 1956 | |
| Preston North End | 0 | 1 | 1960 | |
| Swindon Town | 0 | 1 | 1964 | |
| Birmingham City | 0 | 1 | 1967 | |
| Cardiff City | 0 | 1 | 1971 | |
| Bristol City | 0 | 1 | 1973 | |
| Huddersfield Town | 0 | 1 | 1974 | |
| Stoke City | 0 | 1 | 1984 | |
| Charlton Athletic | 0 | 1 | 1987 | |
| Doncaster Rovers | 0 | 1 | 1988 | |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | 1 | 1991 | |
| Southampton | 0 | 1 | 2005 | |
| Sheffield United | 0 | 1 | 2011 | |
| Fulham | 0 | 1 | 2014 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | 1 | 2022 |
Hat-tricks
Including qualifying and preliminary round matches.
| Player | Year | Match | Notes | Ref(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duncan Edwards | 1953/54 | Manchester United ?–? Bradford Park Avenue | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Duncan Edwards | 1953/54 | Manchester United ?–? Rotherham United | <ref name="United50s" /> | ||
| Gordon Bolland | 1960 | Chelsea 10–0 West Thurrock Athletic | Scored four goals in the game. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Gordon Bolland | 1960 | Chelsea 9–1 Colchester United | Scored four goals in the game. | <ref name="Chelsea1960" /> | |
| Gordon Bolland | 1960 | Chelsea 11–0 Ford United | A match with two hat-tricks. | <ref name="Chelsea1960" /> | |
| Colin Shaw | 1960 | Chelsea 11–0 Ford United | Scored four goals in the game, in a match with two hat-tricks. | <ref name="Chelsea1960" /> | |
| Bert Murray | 1960 | Preston North End 1–4 Chelsea | <ref name="Chelsea1960" /> | ||
| Albert Kinsey | 1964 | Manchester United 4–1 Manchester City | <ref name="United50s" /> | ||
| David Sadler | 1964 | Manchester United ?–? Swindon | <ref name="United50s" /> | ||
| Michael Owen | 1996 | Liverpool 3–2 Manchester United | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> | |
| Michael Owen | 1996 | Liverpool 4–2 Crystal Palace | <ref name="MichaelOwen" /> | ||
| Aaron Lennon | 2002 | Leeds United 4–0 Gillingham | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Dominic Solanke | 2013 | Chelsea 4–0 Dartford | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Tammy Abraham | 2015 | Chelsea 6–1 Huddersfield Town | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| C. Horner | 2015 | F.C. United of Manchester 6–2 Southport | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| J. Mpofu | 2016 | Tamworth 5–3 Hednesford Town | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| D. Florence | 2016 | Luton Town 2–2 (4–3 Template:Aet) Dagenham & Redbridge | Scored for the losing team, in a match with two hat-tricks. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| J. Snelus | 2016 | Luton Town 2–2 (4–3 Template:Aet) Dagenham & Redbridge | Scored for the winning team, in a match with two hat-tricks. One of the longest hat-tricks in history (104 minutes). | <ref name=":0" /> | |
| Ike Ugbo | 2017 | Chelsea 7–1 Tottenham Hotspur | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| C. Guy | 2017 | South Shields 10–0 ? | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Mason Mount | 2017 | Birmingham City 0–5 Chelsea | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Mason Greenwood | 2018 | Manchester United 4–3 Chelsea | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Jake Young | 2018 | Guiseley 12–0 Harrogate Town | Scored five goals in the game, in a match with two hat-tricks. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Tabish Hussain | 2018 | Guiseley 12–0 Harrogate Town | Scored five goals in the game, in a match with two hat-tricks. | <ref name="Guiseley2018" /> | |
| Tabish Hussain | 2018 | Guiseley 11–0 Rossington Main | <ref name="Guiseley2018" /> | ||
| Joe Hugill | 2019 | Shrewsbury Town 2–5 Sunderland | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| S. Towse | 2019 | Hornchurch 11–0 Dagenham & Redbridge | A match with two hat-tricks. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| S. Dutton | 2019 | Hornchurch 11–0 Dagenham & Redbridge | A match with two hat-tricks. | <ref name="Hornchurch2019" /> | |
| Armando Broja | 2020 | Chelsea 4–0 Huddersfield Town | <ref>https://www.chelseafc.com/en/videos/last-time-out--fa-youth-cup-v-huddersfield-rma3qxaje6qxs_epq17upo4vjsttro5h Template:Bare URL inline</ref> | ||
| Lewis Johnson | 2020 | MK Dons 8–1 Hertford Town | <ref>https://www.mkdons.com/news/2020/november/ifollow-insider-lewis-johnson-on-fa-youth-cup-hat-trick/ Template:Bare URL inline</ref> | ||
| C. Parks | 2020 | Holbeach United 8–0 Harborough Town | A match with two hat-tricks. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| James Clark | 2020 | Holbeach United 8–0 Harborough Town | A match with two hat-tricks. | <ref name="Holbeach" /> | |
| Mateusz Musiałowski | 2021 | Liverpool 4–0 Fleetwood Town | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| James Balagizi | 2021 | Leicester City 1–5 Liverpool | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| L. Stone | 2021 | Rugby Town 3–1 Solihull Moors | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Abu Kamara | 2021 | Norwich City 4–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| J. Simms | 2021 | Bradford City ?–? Oldham Athletic | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| B. Singh | 2022 | Eastleigh 8–3 Yeovil Town | A match with two hat-tricks. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| M. Dotse | 2022 | Eastleigh 8–3 Yeovil Town | A match with two hat-tricks. | <ref name="Eastleigh2022" /> | |
| R. Oudnie-Morgan | 2022 | Ipswich Town 9–0 Aveley | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| A. Sbaiti | 2022 | Sutton Common Rovers 5–0 Loxwood | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| R. Wyatt | 2022 | Peterborough United 2–3 Northampton Town | <ref>https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2022/november/youth_cup_011122/ Template:Bare URL inline</ref> | ||
| Dom Ballard | 2022 | Coventry City 2–3 Southampton | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Henry Sandat | 2022 | Billericay Town 1–4 Southend United | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Patrick Casey | 2023 | Bury Town 1–4 Charlton Athletic | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Justin Oboavwoduo | 2023 | Manchester City 5–0 Fleetwood Town | <ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> | ||
| P. Croker | 2023 | Oxford City 5–1 Street F.C. | <ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> | ||
| J. Lyons | 2023 | Rusthall 5–2 Chatham Town | Lyons' first goal, scored within seconds, was one of the fastest in history and the fastest in an under-18 match. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| E. Wenham | 2023 | Maidstone United 5–1 Dartford | <ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> | ||
| Divin Mubama | 2023 | West Ham 6–1 Southampton | <ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> | ||
| Olly Sully | 2023 | Forest Green Rovers 6–3 Thame United | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Cameron Gardner | 2023 | South Shields 1–5 Grimsby Town | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| J. Naylor | 2023 | Sunderland RCA 1–6 Consett | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| S. Tomlinson | 2023 | Mickleover Academy 8–0 Leicester Nirvana | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Lewis Koumas | 2024 | Liverpool 7–1 Arsenal | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Z. Hardy | 2024 | Sherwood Colliery 1–5 Boston United | |||
| Harrison Armstrong | 2024 | Everton 7–0 Nottingham Forest | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
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.
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Hat-tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Gordon Bolland | Chelsea | 3 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Duncan Edwards | Manchester United | 2 |
| Template:Flagicon Michael Owen | Liverpool | ||
| Template:Flagicon Tabish Hussain | Guiseley |
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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 23 February 1966 |
| Shay Brennan | FW | Manchester United | 1955 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 5 May 1965 |
| Fred Pickering | DF | Blackburn Rovers | 1959 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 27 May 1964 |
| Mike England | DF | Blackburn Rovers | 1959 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 11 April 1962 |
| Phil Kelly | DF | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1958 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 28 September 1960 |
| Joe Carolan | MF | Manchester United | 1956 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 1 November 1959 |
| Wilf McGuinness | MF | Manchester United | 1954, 1955, 1956 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 4 October 1958 |
| Bobby Charlton | FW | Manchester United | 1954, 1955, 1956 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 19 April 1958 |
| David Pegg | FW | Manchester United | 1953, 1954 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 19 May 1957 |
| Billy Whelan | FW | Manchester United | 1953 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 10 May 1956 |
| Duncan Edwards | MF, FW | Manchester United | 1953, 1954, 1955 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 2 April 1955 |
1960s
| Player | Pos | Club | Year | National team | International debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Rimmer | GK | Manchester United | 1964 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 28 May 1976 |
| Billy Hughes | FW | Sunderland | 1967 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 16 April 1975 |
| Dave Thomas | FW | Burnley | 1968 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 30 October 1974 |
| Dennis Yaager | MF | Everton | 1965 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 4 November 1970 |
| Sammy Nelson | FW | Arsenal | 1966 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 21 April 1970 |
| Pat Rice | DF | Arsenal | 1966 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 10 September 1968 |
| Bobby Moncur | FW | Newcastle United | 1962 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 30 May 1968 |
| David Sadler | FW | Manchester United | 1964 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 22 November 1967 |
| Peter Bonetti | GK | Chelsea | 1960 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 3 July 1966 |
| Terry Venables | MF | Chelsea | 1960, 1961 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 21 October 1964 |
| George Best | FW | Manchester United | 1964 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 15 April 1964 |
| Bobby Tambling | FW | Chelsea | 1960 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 21 November 1962 |
1970s
1980s
| Player | Pos | Club | Year | National team | International debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David James | GK | Watford | 1989 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 29 March 1997 |
| Andy Hinchcliffe | DF | Manchester City | 1986 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 1 September 1996 |
| David White | MF | Manchester City | 1986 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 9 September 1992 |
| Mark Walters | MF | Aston Villa | 1980 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 3 June 1991 |
| Jeremy Goss | MF | Norwich City | 1983 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 1 May 1991 |
| Steve Morrow | DF | Arsenal | 1988 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 19 May 1990 |
| Pat Scully | DF | Arsenal | 1988 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 19 October 1988 |
| Paul Gascoigne | MF | Newcastle United | 1985 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 14 September 1988 |
| Tony Rees | FW | Aston Villa | 1980 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 6 June 1984 |
| John Barnes | FW | Watford | 1982 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 28 May 1983 |
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
| Player | Pos | Club | Year | National team | International debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cieran Slicker | GK | Manchester City | 2020 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 6 June 2025 |
| Taylor Harwood-Bellis | DF | Manchester City | 2020 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 17 November 2024 |
| Morgan Rogers | MF | Manchester City | 2020 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 14 November 2024 |
| Maxi Oyedele | MF | Manchester United | 2022 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 12 October 2024 |
| Kobbie Mainoo | MF | Manchester United | 2022 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 23 March 2024 |
| Cole Palmer | FW | Manchester City | 2020 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 17 November 2023 |
| Oscar Bobb | FW | Manchester City | 2020 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 12 October 2023 |
| Callum Marshall | FW | West Ham United | 2023 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 16 June 2023 |
| Alejandro Garnacho | FW | Manchester United | 2022 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 15 June 2023 |
| Alexander Robertson | MF | Manchester City | 2020 | Template:Fb | v Template:Fb, 24 March 2023 |
See also
References
External links
- The FA Youth Cup at The Football Association official website
Template:FA Youth Cup Seasons Template:Reserve and Youth football in England