Women's FA Cup explained

Women's FA Cup
Region:	England Wales
Current:	2023–24 Women's FA Cup
Number Of Teams:	456 (2023–24)
Current Champions:	Manchester United (1st title)
Website:	Women's FA Cup
Most Successful Club:	Arsenal (14 titles)
Broadcasters:	BBC

The Women's FA Challenge Cup Competition is the top annual cup tournament for women's clubs in English football.^{[1] [2]} Founded in 1970, it has been named the WFA Cup, FA Women's Cup, and now Women's FA Cup (currently known as the Adobe Women's FA Cup for sponsorship reasons).

Designed as an equivalent to the FA Cup in men's football, the competition began in 1970–71 as the Mitre Challenge Trophy, organised by the Women's Football Association (WFA).^[3] There were 71 entrants, including teams from Scotland and Wales.^[4]

The WFA ran the competition for the first 23 editions, during which time Southampton won the cup eight times. The Football Association (FA) began administering English women's football in mid-1993.^[5]

Arsenal holds the record for most titles overall, having won fourteen times.^[6] The current cup holders are Manchester United, who defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4–0 in the 2024 final to win their first FA Cup title.

Name

The competition, founded in 1970, was sponsored as the Mitre Challenge Trophy until April 1976.

As a Women's Football Association competition until 1992–93, it was known as the WFA Cup or more informally as the Women's FA Cup. After the running of the competition passed to the FA in 1993–94, the Association renamed it as the FA Women's Cup,^{[7] [8]} until 2015.^{[9] [10]} The name was officially reworded as the Women's FA Cup in June 2015,^[11] before that year's final.^{[12] [13]} The tournament rules, as in the men's FA Cup, name it the Challenge Cup Competition.^[14]

History

Previous national cup competitions included the English Ladies Football Association Challenge Cup in 1922, won by Stoke Ladies.

The first women's Mitre Challenge Trophy matches were played in 1970,^[15] and the first final was held on 9 May 1971 at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.^[16] The WFA was initially named the Ladies Football Association of Great Britain,^[16] and Scottish clubs were successful in reaching the first three finals of this tournament (albeit as runners-up). Two of these clubs were runners-up in England while also winning the Scottish Women's Cup in the same season, Stewarton Thistle in 1971 and Westthorn United in 1973.

Southampton Women's F.C. won eight of the first 11 WFA Cup competitions.

Doncaster Belles reached nearly every final between 1982–83 and 1993–94, and won the trophy six times.

Format

The current entry points as of the 2019–20 season:

• the Second Qualifying round for FA Women's National League Division One teams (47 teams)
• the Second Round Proper for FA Women's National League North & South Premier Division teams (24 teams)
• the Fourth Round Proper for FA WSL and FA Women's Championship teams (33 teams)

All other clubs in the fifth tier or below are drawn to either play in the Extra Preliminary Round or have a bye to the Preliminary Round. After the initial preliminary rounds, there are three qualifying rounds before the First Round Proper. All rounds until the FA WSL and Championship teams enter in the Fourth Round are played on a geographical basis (north and south regions).

Trophies

The original Mitre Challenge Trophy has "disappeared", according to the WFA History records.^[16] This cup was replaced in May 1979 when the Football Association donated a new trophy for the competition's winners, to mark the WFA's tenth anniversary.^[16]

1970–71 cup winner Sue Lopez said it was suspected that a player "tucked it away somewhere in a trophy cabinet", and she was trying to locate the original cup for the National Football Museum in 2015.^[17]

The current Women's FA Cup trophy was one of the first prestigious trophies to be made in the Thomas Lyte silver workshop.^[18]

List of finals

The following is a list of Women's FA Cup seasons and final results.^{[19] [20]}

Finalists are primarily clubs from England, unless denoted with for Scotland.

Where a season's Final is marked in bold, it has a specific article for the match.

Season	width=140px	Winners	width=60px	Score	width=140px	Runners-up	Scorers	Venue
1970–71 (final)	Southampton	4–1		Southampton: Davies (3), Cassell Stewarton: Reilly	Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
1971–72 (final)	Southampton	3–2	Lee's Ladies	Southampton: Judd (2), Lopez Lee's: White, Ferries	Eton Park, Burton upon Trent Attendance: 1,500
1972–73 (final)	Southampton	2–0	Westthorn United	Kenway 70', Hale 75'	Bedford Town FC Attendance: 3,000
1973–74 (final)	Fodens	2–1	Southampton	Fodens: Leatherbarrow (2) Southampton: Davies	Bedford Town FC Attendance: 800
1974–75 (final)	Southampton	4–2	Warminster	Southampton: Chapman, Dickie, Davies, Hale Warminster: Foreman (2; 1 pen.)	Dunstable Town FC
1975–76 (final)	Southampton	2–1	Queen's Park Rangers	Southampton: M. Kirkland, Davies QPR: McGroarty^[21]	Bedford Town FC Attendance: 1,500
1976–77 (final)	Queen's Park Rangers	1–0	Southampton	Staley 25'	Champion Hill, East Dulwich Attendance: 3,000
1977–78 (final)	Southampton	8–2	Queen's Park Rangers	Southampton: Davies, Lopez, Chapman (6) QPR: Choat, Staley	Wexham Park Stadium, Slough Attendance: 200
1978–79 (final)	Southampton	1–0	Lowestoft Ladies	Chapman 6'	Waterlooville FC Attendance: 1,200
1979–80 (final)	St Helens	1–0	Preston North End	Holland 75'	Enfield Town FC
1980–81 (final)	Southampton	4–2	St Helens	Southampton: Chapman 12', 58', England 45', Carter 71' St Helens: Leatherbarrow 26', Ja. Turner 65'	Knowsley Road, St Helens Attendance: 1,352
1981–82 (final)	Lowestoft Ladies	2–0	Cleveland Spartans	Linda Curl 26', Poppy 57'	Loftus Road Attendance: ~1,000^[22]
1982–83 (final)	Doncaster Belles	3–2	St Helens	Doncaster: Stocks (2), J. Hanson St Helens: Leatherbarrow, Deighan	Sincil Bank, Lincoln Attendance: 1,500
1983–84 (final)	Howbury Grange	4–2	Doncaster Belles	Howbury: Baldeo (2), Springett (2) Doncaster: L. Hanson (2)	Sincil Bank, Lincoln
1984–85 (final)	Friends of Fulham	2–0	Doncaster Belles	McAdam 22', Hynes 25'	Craven Cottage, Fulham Attendance: 1,500
1985–86 (final)	Norwich City	4–3	Doncaster Belles	Norwich: Curl 16', Colk 40', Jackson 50', Lawrence 80+2'^[23] Doncaster: J. Hanson 26', Walker 27', 75'	Carrow Road, Norwich
1986–87 (final)	Doncaster Belles	2–0	St Helens	Sherrard 12', Walker 80'	City Ground, Nottingham
1987–88 (final)	Doncaster Belles	3–1	Leasowe Pacific	Doncaster: Walker, Coultard, Sherrard Leasowe: Jackson (pen.)	Gresty Road, Crewe Attendance: 800
1988–89 (final)	Leasowe Pacific	3–2	Friends of Fulham	Leasowe: Murray 7', Thomas 47', McQuiggan 65' Fulham: Powell 8', 40'	Old Trafford, Manchester Attendance: 941
1989–90 (final)	Doncaster Belles	1–0	Friends of Fulham	Coultard 61'	Baseball Ground Attendance: 3,000
1990–91 (final)	Millwall Lionesses	1–0	Doncaster Belles	Baldeo 65'	Prenton Park Attendance:4,000
1991–92 (final)	Doncaster Belles	4–0	Red Star Southampton	Coultard 38', Walker 47', 65' 78'	Prenton Park Attendance:250
1992–93 (final)	Arsenal	3–0	Doncaster Belles	Curley 45', Ball 45', Bampton 80'	Manor Ground, Oxford Attendance: 3,547
1993–94 (final)	Doncaster Belles	1–0	Knowsley United	Walker 38'	Glanford Park Attendance: 1,674
1994–95 (final)	Arsenal	3–2	Liverpool	Arsenal: Lonergan 36', 55', Spacey 81' Liverpool: Burke 24', 41'	Prenton Park
1995–96 (final)	Croydon	1–1 3–2	Liverpool	Liverpool: Burke 22' Croydon: Powell 38'	The New Den Attendance: 2,110
1996–97 (final)	Millwall Lionesses	1–0	Wembley	Waller 51'	Upton Park Attendance: 3,015
1997–98 (final)	Arsenal	3–2	Croydon	Arsenal: Spacey 17', Yankey 52', Few 90+3' Croydon: Broadhurst (pen.) 10', Powell 55'	The New Den
1998–99 (final)	Arsenal	2–0	Southampton Saints	Hayes (o.g.) 14', Wheatley 41'	The Valley Attendance: 6,450
1999–00 (final)	Croydon	2–1	Doncaster Belles	Croydon: C.Walker 40', Hunt 67' Doncaster: Exley 40'	Bramall Lane Attendance: 3,434
2000–01 (final)	Arsenal	1–0	Fulham	Banks 52'	Selhurst Park Attendance: 13,824
2001–02 (final)	Fulham	2–1	Doncaster Belles	Fulham: Yankey 55', Chapman 56' Doncaster: Handley 58'	Selhurst Park Attendance: 10,124
2002–03 (final)	Fulham	3–0	Charlton Athletic	Moore 18', Hills (o.g.) 36', Williams (o.g.) 61'	Selhurst Park Attendance: 10,389
2003–04 (final)	Arsenal	3–0	Charlton Athletic	Fleeting 23', 25', 83'	Loftus Road Attendance: 12,244
2004–05 (final)	Charlton Athletic	1–0	Everton	Aluko 58'	Upton Park Attendance: 8,567
2005–06 (final)	Arsenal	5–0	Leeds United	Ward (o.g.) 3', Fleeting 34', Yankey 35', Smith (pen.) 73', Sanderson 77'	The New Den Attendance: 13,452
2006–07 (final)	Arsenal	4–1	Charlton Athletic	Charlton: Holtham 2' Arsenal: Smith 7', 80', Ludlow 15', 45'	City Ground Attendance: 24,529
2007–08 (final)	Arsenal	4–1	Leeds United	Arsenal: Smith 54', 83', Ludlow 59', Sanderson 60' Leeds: Clarke 69'	City Ground Attendance: 24,582
2008–09 (final)	Arsenal	2–1	Sunderland	Arsenal: Chapman 32', Little 90' Sunderland: McDougall 90'	Pride Park Stadium Attendance: 23,291
2009–10 (final)	Everton	3–2	Arsenal	Arsenal: Little (pen.) 43', Fleeting 54' Everton: Dowie 16', 119', White (o.g.) 45+2'	City Ground Attendance: 17,505^[24]
2010–11 (final)	Arsenal	2–0	Bristol Academy	Little 19', Fleeting 32'	Ricoh Arena Attendance: 13,885^[25]
2011–12 (final)	Birmingham City	2–2	Chelsea	Birmingham City: Williams 90', Carney 111' Chelsea: Lander 69', Longhurst 101'	Ashton Gate Attendance: 8,723
2012–13 (final)	Arsenal	3–0	Bristol Academy	Houghton 2', Nobbs 72', White 90'	Keepmoat Stadium Attendance: 4,988
2013–14 (final)	Arsenal	2–0	Everton	Smith 15', Kinga 61'	Stadium MK Attendance: 15,098
2014–15 (final)	Chelsea	1–0	Notts County	Ji So-yun 39'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 30,710
2015–16 (final)	Arsenal	1–0	Chelsea	Carter 18'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 32,912
2016–17 (final)	Manchester City	4–1	Birmingham City	Manchester City: Bronze 18', Christiansen 25', Lloyd 32', Scott 80' Birmingham City: Wellings 73'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 35,271
2017–18 (final)	Chelsea	3–1	Arsenal	Chelsea: Bachmann 48', 60', Kirby 76' Arsenal: Miedema 73'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 45,423
2018–19 (final)	Manchester City	3–0	West Ham United	Walsh 52', Stanway 81', Hemp 88'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 43,264
2019–20 (final)	Manchester City	3–1	Everton	Manchester City: Mewis 40', Stanway 111', Beckie 120+2' Everton: Gauvin 60'	Wembley Stadium Behind closed doors (COVID-19 pandemic)
2020–21 (final)	Chelsea	3–0	Arsenal	Kirby 3', Kerr 57', 77'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 40,942
2021–22 (final)	Chelsea	3–2	Manchester City	Chelsea: Kerr 33', 99', Cuthbert 63' Manchester City: Hemp 42', Raso 89'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 49,094
2022–23 (final)	Chelsea	1–0	Manchester United	Kerr 68'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 77,390
2023–24 (final)	Manchester United	4–0	Tottenham Hotspur	Toone 45+3', Williams 54', García 57', 74'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 76,082

Results by team

Performances in the Women's FA Cup by club

Club	Title(s)	Runners-up	Seasons won	Seasons runner-up
Arsenal			1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16	2009–10, 2017–18, 2020–21
Southampton Women's			1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81	1973–74, 1976–77
Doncaster Belles			1982–83, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1993–94	1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1999–2000, 2001–02
Chelsea			2014–15, 2017–18, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23	2011–12, 2015–16
Croydon/Charlton Athletic			1995–96, 1999–2000, 2004–05	1997–98, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07
Manchester City			2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20	2021–22
Leasowe Pacific/Everton			1988–89, 2009–10	1987–88, 2004–05, 2013–14, 2019–20
Fulham			2001–02, 2002–03	2000–01
Millwall Lionesses			1990–91, 1996–97	—
St Helens			1979–80	1980–81, 1982–83, 1986–87
	Queen's Park Rangers			1976–77	1975–76, 1977–78
Friends of Fulham			1984–85	1988–89, 1989–90
Lowestoft Ladies			1981–82	1978–79
Birmingham City			2011–12	2016–17
Manchester United			2023–24	2022–23
Fodens			1973–74	—
Howbury Grange			1983–84	—
Norwich City			1985–86	—
Knowsley United/Liverpool			—	1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96
			—	1970–71, 1971–72
Red Star Southampton/ Southampton Saints			—	1991–92, 1998–99
Leeds United			—	2005–06, 2007–08
Bristol Academy			—	2010–11, 2012–13
			—	1972–73
Warminster			—	1974–75
Preston North End			—	1979–80
Cleveland Spartans			—	1981–82
Wembley			—	1996–97
Sunderland			—	2008–09
Notts County			—	2014–15
West Ham United			—	2018–19
Tottenham Hotspur			—	2023–24

Media coverage

United Kingdom

In the late 1980s^[26] and early 1990s,^[27] television coverage of the WFA final was provided by Channel 4.

Between 2001 and 2008, the final of the tournament was covered by the BBC and presented by Celina Hinchcliffe, Rebecca Lowe, Ray Stubbs and Jake Humphrey; the punditry team was usually current players like Sue Scott and commentary usually by Steve Wilson and Lucy Ward or Faye White and always played on the May Day bank holiday. The final was also simulcast on BBC Radio 5 Live. In 2009, the final was moved to ITV1, with commentary from Jon Champion and Lucy Ward. Sky Sports secured a three-year deal for live coverage from 2010 until 2012.^[28]

Sponsorship

Sponsors of the original WFA competition (1970–1993) included Mitre,^[3] Pony wines and Mycil.^[27]

In the FA competition, the sponsors have been UK Living (1995–1998), AXA (1998–2002), Nationwide Building Society (2002–2006) and E.ON^{[29] [30]} (2006–2011). From 2007, Tesco obtained additional branding and advertising rights through their partnership agreement with the FA.^[31]

Despite sponsorship by these major companies, entering the tournament has actually cost clubs more than they often get in prize money. In 2015 it was reported that even if Notts County had won the tournament outright the paltry £8,600 winnings would leave them out of pocket.^[32] The winners of the men's FA Cup in the same year received £1.8 million, with teams not even reaching the first round proper getting more than the women's winners.^[33] In September 2020, the FA announced that health and life insurance and investment company VitalityHealth had signed a deal to become the sponsor of the competition until July 2023.^[34]

In November 2023, after three years with Vitality, the FA announced that Adobe Inc. would become the sponsor of the competition for three years, through to July 2026. The partnership would focus on "increasing fan engagement and raising the profile of the competition". In addition, all 460 clubs that participate in the competition would gain access to, and training on Adobe Express, a graphic design tool.^[35]

Notes

1. News: Women's FA Cup final: 40,000 tickets sold for Wembley showpiece. 2018-05-01. BBC Sport. 2018-05-03. en-GB.
2. News: Relive both Women's FA Cup semi-finals. 2018-04-11. BBC Sport. 2018-05-03. en-GB.
3. News: Women's FA Cup: The history. BBC Sport . 1 May 2003. 8 March 2011.
4. Web site: Women's Football Competitions Fact Sheet . https://web.archive.org/web/20110814201235/http://authoring.armyfa.com/NR/rdonlyres/C80076C7-5420-423C-AF3E-774DA1E8322A/0/WomensCompetitionFactsheet.pdf . dead . 14 August 2011. The Football Association. 28 July 2011 .
5. News: Football: FA forging links to create a permanent partnership: Henry Winter reports on the interest created by the women's FA Cup final in which Arsenal defeated Doncaster Belles 3–0 . The Independent. 1993-04-26. Henry Winter. 2010-10-16.
6. News: England dug-out duo become rivals in FA Women's Cup final at Nottingham. . 2 May 2010. Tony Leighton. 8 March 2011. London.
7. Examples of use in 1993:
   News: ■ FA SUNDAY CUP . 6 October 2020 . Sandwell Evening Mail . 19 November 1993 . 69 . registration.
   News: Derby day for ladies . 6 October 2020 . Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush Gazette . 3 December 1993 . 73 . registration.
8. Web site: The FA Women's Cup (2004) . The Football Association . 6 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040402101129/http://www.thefa.com/Womens/TheFAWomensCup . 2 April 2004.
9. Examples in 2011 and 2014:
   News: Leighton . Tony . Arsenal reclaim FA Women's Cup with win over Bristol Academy . 6 October 2020 . The Guardian . 21 May 2011.
   Web site: FA Cup final (2014) . Arsenal F.C. . June 2014 . 6 October 2020.
10. Examples in 2015:
    Web site: The FA Women's Cup (10 April 2015) . The Football Association . https://web.archive.org/web/20150410134324/http://www.thefa.com/fa-womens-cup . 6 October 2020. 10 April 2015 .
    News: Chelsea secure FA Women's Cup final Wembley date with Notts County . 6 October 2020 . The Football Association . 4 May 2015.
11. News: The FA and SSE agree sponsorship deal . 6 October 2020 . The Football Association . 8 June 2015.
12. Web site: SSE Women's FA Cup Final match report (1 Aug 2015) . The Football Association . 6 October 2020.
13. Web site: SSE Women's FA Cup Final (14 May 2016) . The Football Association . 6 October 2020.
14. Title of "Rules: Women's FA Cup rules" (PDF) on Web site: The Vitality Women's FA Cup - Women's - Competitions . The Football Association . 6 October 2020.
15. "And on the following Sunday [1 November] the Lichfield girls visit Leicester City Supporters L.F.C. in the All British Ladies' F.A. Cup."
    News: PALACE . 21 October 2020 . Lichfield Mercury . 23 October 1970 . 20 . registration.
16. Web site: The WFA Cup . History of the Women's Football Association . 29 April 2017 . 6 October 2020.
17. News: Women's FA Cup: Mystery of missing trophy from first final . BBC Sport . 29 July 2015.
18. http://www.thefa.com/news/competitions/fa-womens-cup/2015/mar/fa-womens-cup-wembley-final FA Women's Cup Final comes to Wembley in August
19. Web site: England – List of Women Cup Winners. RSSSF. 24 July 2011.
20. Book: Slegg . Chris . Gregory . Patricia . A History of the Women's FA Cup Final . 6 May 2021 . The History Press . 978-0750996594 . 6 May 2021.
21. Web site: Cambuslang Hooverettes. 15 June 2014 .
22. Staged as a curtain-raiser to Queens Park Rangers' 1981–82 Football League Second Division fixture against Bolton Wanderers.
23. Norwich Evening News, May 26, 2016, page 12
24. Web site: Lavery . Glenn . Late drama as Dowie downs Arsenal – ARSENAL LFC v EVERTON LFC – 03/05/2010 . TheFA.com . 3 May 2010 . 4 July 2012.
25. Web site: Arsenal complete 11th cup final win . Shekicks.net . 21 May 2011 . 4 July 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312213507/http://shekicks.net/news/view/3088 . 12 March 2012 . dmy-all .
26. Web site: University of Leicester . Fact Sheet 5: Women and Football . 6 March 2011 . March 2002 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110912054507/http://www.le.ac.uk/snccfr/resources/factsheets/fs5.html . 12 September 2011 . dmy .
27. Web site: UK Parliament. MILLWALL LIONESSES FA CUP VICTORY. Joan Ruddock. Joan Ruddock. 17 August 2011. 29 April 1991.
28. News: Community Shield for Sky Sports . TheFA.com . 27 July 2009. 9 March 2011.
29. Web site: FA announces new Cup sponsorship . BBC News . 3 February 2006 . 4 July 2012.
30. Web site: E.ON UK - the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON . 2015-02-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130825084550/http://www.eon-uk.com/thefacup.aspx . 25 August 2013 . dmy-all .
31. Web site: Football Association Joins Forces With Tesco . Sportbusiness.com . 4 July 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120703022526/http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/161592/football-association-joins-forces-with-tesco . 3 July 2012 . dmy .
32. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33726417 BBC article on the sponsorship situation
33. http://www.thefa.com/thefacup/more/prize-fund Prize money list on the FA website
34. Web site: Vitality becomes new sponsor of Women's FA Cup for next three years . . 2 November 2020 . en . 16 September 2020.
35. Web site: Unveiling our three-year partnership with Adobe for the Women's FA Cup . The Football Association. 8 January 2024 . en . 22 November 2023.

See also

• FA Women's National League Cup
• FA Women's League Cup
• List of women's association football clubs