The greatest FA Cup underdog stories of all time

The FA Cup is renowned in England and worldwide for its penchant for providing major upsets — or 'cupsets', if you like — and fearless underdog stories every season.

Teams separated by hundreds of league positions can meet in the domestic competition and sides from the former First Division and current Premier League have been dealt catastrophic blows by lower division sides eager for their day in the sun.

The magic of the FA Cup continues to throw up surprise after surprise and its history is filled with plucky underdogs who went toe to toe with the Goliaths of English football and came out on top. Here are some of the best success stories.

If you needed reminding that the FA Cup is really, really old, this was the 23rd edition of the tournament, and it was 130 years ago. This was the first and only time that Notts County managed to win it.

They beat Burnley, Burton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers on their way to the final, where Bolton Wanderers were waiting. An emphatic 4-1 win meant it was glory for one of England’s most historic clubs. Jimmy Logan became the second player to score a hat-trick in an FA Cup final.

FA Cup run

First round — Notts County 1-0 Burnley — 27/01/1894
Second round — Burton Wanderers 1-2 Notts County — 10/02/1894
Third round — Nottingham Forest 1-1 Notts County — 24/02/1894
Third round replay — Notts County 4-1 Nottingham Forest — 03/03/1894
Semi-finals — Notts County 1-0 Blackburn Rovers — 10/03/1894
Final — Notts County 4-1 Bolton Wanderers — 31/03/1894

Tottenham Hotspur became the first and only team to date to win the FA Cup as a non-league side all the way back in 1901.

The north Londoners are one of the competition's more successful clubs these days with eight triumphs.