The 5 Biggest Heroes in FA Cup History

The FA Cup returns for the fourth round on Friday, as 32 clubs do battle with the aim of making it to the final at Wembley in May.

Since 1871, the FA Cup has become the most prestigious domestic cup competition in the world. Today, it is still loved for its ability to produce wonderful stories and create heroes.

Here I list five of the FA Cup's biggest heroes over the last 144 years.

Bert Trautmann

If you look at the old footage of the Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann collecting his FA Cup winner's medal after beating Birmingham City in the 1956 FA Cup final, you can see him holding his neck and wincing in pain.

In the 73rd minute of the final, the former prisoner of war injured his neck in a collision with Birmingham’s Peter Murphy. It was later discovered he had broken several vertebrae, but he insisted on carrying on to make sure City lifted the FA Cup.

That same season, he also became the first goalkeeper and foreigner to be voted English football’s Footballer of the Year, but he will forever be known for his bravery beneath the twin towers at Wembley.

Ronnie Radford

More than four decades later, Ronnie Radford’s goal for Hereford United against Newcastle United still symbolises the unique romanticism of the FA Cup.

In January 1972, on that famously muddy pitch in a third-round replay, Radford hit an unstoppable shot from distance to equalise for the Southern League side against Newcastle from the First Division to spark a pitch invasion and scenes of utter delirium at Edgar Road.

His team-mate Ricky George would then get the winner in extra time, allowing Hereford to become the first non-league side to knock out First Division opponents in the FA Cup since 1949.

Norman Whiteside

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When Norman Whiteside scored for Manchester United in their 4-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in the 1983 FA Cup final replay aged just 18 years and 18 days, he became the youngest scorer in the history of the final.

But his greatest achievement came two years later, when he scored the winning goal to beat Everton 1-0 in the 1985 final.

The final went into extra time goalless, but it was looking bleak for United, who were up against the reigning champions and had been reduced to ten men after Kevin Moran had become the first man to be sent off in an FA Cup final.

However, in the 110th minute, Whiteside broke free on the right side of the field, cut inside and curled an incredible shot around Neville Southall to get the win for United.

Keith Houchen

These days, the diving header appears to be a dying art, but the 1987 FA Cup final was graced by one of the greatest from Keith Houchen.

Tottenham Hotspur were heavy favourites to win against Coventry City, who had never before won a major honour, and after 40 minutes, the north Londoners were 2-1 in front. 

But Coventry launched their comeback in the second half when Houchen headed in a cross from Dave Bennett to level the game before an own goal from Gary Mabbutt in extra time won the final 3-2 for the Midlands club.

Ashley Cole

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Ashley Cole is not the most popular player in English football, but that should not obscure his incredible and unprecedented achievements in the FA Cup.

The former England international has won the trophy a staggering seven times, three times for Arsenal in 2002, 2003 and 2005 and four times for Chelsea in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

For some perspective, that is as many or more times than 89 of the 92 clubs in the Premier League and Football League.

Only Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham have won the FA Cup more than Ashley Cole.