Interesting F.A. Cup Facts



After their initial success, Wanderers reached a further four Cup finals, winning them all.

In the 1955-56 season Leeds United were drawn at home to Cardiff City in the Third Round and lost 2-1.

In the next season Leeds United were drawn at home to Cardiff City in the Third Round and lost 2-1.

Remarkably, in the following season, Leeds United were drawn at home to Cardiff City in the Third Round and lost 2-1. The most commonly occurring F.A. Cup finals have been Arsenal / Liverpool, Arsenal / Newcastle United and Aston Villa / West Bromwich Albion, each meeting the other three times. Everton and Liverpool have met in the Cup twenty times, including two finals and five semi-finals. The score is 9-6 in Liverpool's favour, with five matches being drawn.

THE F.A. CUP TODAY

A recent Football Association poll of fans revealed the following as the "F.A. Cup Team of Heroes":

Goalkeeper: Peter Schmiechel (3 times winner with Manchester United in 1994, 96 and 99.)

Left Back: Stuart Pearce (Losing finalist twice, Nottingham Forest 1991, Newcastle 1997.)

Centre Back: Bobby Moore (Winner with West Ham in 1964, loser with Fulham in 1975.)

Centre Back: Tony Adams (Winner with Arsenal 1993, 1998 and 2002.)

Right Back: Denis Irwin (Dual winner with Manchester United in 1994 and 1996)

Midfielder: Ryan Giggs (Four times winner with Manchester United in 1994, 96, 99 and 2004)

Midfielder: Stanley Matthews (Unlikely winner with Bolton in 1953.)

Midfielder: Trevor Brooking (Dual winner with West Ham in 1975 and 1980.

Forward: Ian Rush (3 times winner with Liverpool, in 1986, 1989 and 1992. Five Cup final goals.)

Forward: Eric Cantona (Dual winner with Manchester United in 1994 and 1996.)

Forward: Gary Lineker (3 times finalist winning with Spurs in 1989 and 1991.)

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (5-time winner with Manchester United.)

The venue for the F.A. Cup Final remained Wembley Stadium until 2000. As a result of the rebuilding of Wembley, the 2001 to 2006 final was held in the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, before returning to the new Wembley in 2007. Chelsea won the last final at the old Wembley Stadium and the first one at the new Wembley

F.A. CUP BETTING 2008

Prices as at 28th January 2008.

Outright Betting

Most online betting sites have prices on the outright winners of the 2007-2008 F.A. Cup. Current prices are:

5/2 Chelsea, 7/2 Man Utd. 4/1, Liverpool, 6/1 Arsenal, 11/1 Portsmouth, 25/1 Middlesborough, 40/1 West Brom., 80/1 Sheffield Utd., Wolves, 100/1 BAR.

Each-way terms are ? the odds a place 1, 2.

Outright, without the "Big 4" (Man Utd., Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea)

3/1 Portsmouth, 5/1 Middlesborough, 6/1 West Brom., 7/1 Southampton, Cardiff, 8/1 Wolves, 10/1 Coventry, Sheffield Utd., 16/1 Preston, 28/1 Bristol Rovers, 80/1 Barnsley, 150/1 Huddersfield.

"Big 4" versus the Field

1/6 Man Utd. , Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea to win the F.A. Cup

7/2 Any other team.

Top Goalscorer

Several online bettors are offering prices on the highest scorer in the 2008 F.A. cup:

9/2 C. Ronaldo, 11/2 S. Gerrard, E. Adebayor, 8/1 N. Anelka, P. Crouch, 14/1 W. Rooney, 20/1 BAR.

Each-way terms ? the odds 1, 2, 3, 4.

Individual Matches

Online betting prices for individual matches are generally based on 90 minutes play. Each match has three possible outcomes, as it could end in a draw.

Match prices for 16th February 2008

7/4 Bristol Rovers, 5/4 Southampton, 11/5 Draw

11/10 Cardiff, 2/1 Wolves, 11/5 Draw

1/16 Chelsea, 25/1 Huddersfield, 6/1 Draw

7/4 Coventry, 5/4 West Brom, 11/5 Draw

1/8 Liverpool, 16/1 Barnsley, 5/1 Draw

11/10 Man Utd., 11/4 Arsenal, 9/4 Draw

5/2 Preston, 10/11 Portsmouth, 11/5 Draw

7/4 Sheffield Utd, 5/4 Middlesborough

Other bets available on matches covered by live television include:

Correct Score

First / Last Goalscorer

"Double Result"

Conclusion

The FA Cup has a unique place in English sporting culture and a magic all of its own. It has consistently generated some of the great stories and moments in sport. Over the years, the F.A. Cup has seen some classic finals and it seems that every year the competition produces a clutch of "F.A. Cup heroes."