The 12 Biggest FA Cup Wins in History
- Think Football Ideas
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
There’s something undeniably magical about the FA Cup. For over 150 years, it’s been a competition that sparks passion, stirs rivalries, and, now and then, leaves the footballing world stunned by the sheer brutality of its scorelines. It’s a tournament where the game gets elevated to something more, where underdogs often slay giants, and thrashings become part of legend.
But let’s be honest—the FA Cup has also been home to some of the most ruthless, record-smashing beatdowns in football history. And when we say thrashings, we mean the kind of scorelines that echo through time, reminders of just how wild and unforgiving this competition can be. These weren’t just goal-fests—they were moments when football itself felt a little less predictable, and a little more wild.
Here Are The Greatest FA Cup Wins in History
12. Accrington 11-0 Rossendale (1887) – A Forgotten Demolition
In the late 19th century, football was still figuring itself out. But that didn’t stop Accrington from making history. In the first round proper of the 1887 tournament, they steamrolled Rossendale 11–0 in a match that felt over before it even began.
Though this win set records at the time, Accrington’s cup journey was short-lived. They scraped past Burnley in the second round before being halted by Blackburn Rovers in the third. But while their campaign didn’t lead to glory, their name remains in the history books as one of the first to dish out an FA Cup annihilation.
11. Bournemouth 11-0 Margate (1971) – The Ted MacDougall Show
Some wins are about the team. Others belong to a single player. Ted MacDougall turned this first-round tie into his personal goal-fest, scoring a mind-boggling nine goals as Bournemouth obliterated Margate. His finishing was clinical, ruthless, and utterly unstoppable—a feat that has never been matched in modern FA Cup history.
Despite this record-breaking performance, Bournemouth’s run ended in the third round. But MacDougall’s name is forever linked to one of the most dominant FA Cup displays ever seen.
10. Bristol City 11-0 Chichester (1960) – A Statement Victory
By 1960, English football was evolving into the more structured, competitive beast we know today. But Bristol City’s 11-0 thrashing of Chichester was a reminder that, in the FA Cup, mismatches could still lead to absolute carnage.
Bristol’s sheer attacking power tore through their non-league opponents, leaving them completely outclassed. However, their cup dreams ended in the fourth round with a 5-1 defeat to Leicester City, proving once again that an early goal-fest doesn’t guarantee long-term success in the competition.
9. Bury 12-1 Stockton (1897) – From Deadlock to Devastation
Few games in FA Cup history have had such a dramatic shift between one match and the next. When Bury and Stockton met on January 30, 1897, they played out a tense 0-0 draw. A few days later, in the replay, Bury decided they’d had enough of close contests.
What followed was an absolute annihilation. Bury ran riot, slotting 12 goals past a helpless Stockton. The scoreline remains one of the most brutal reversals ever seen in the FA Cup, proving that when a team finds its rhythm, there’s no mercy.
8. Tottenham 13-2 Crewe Alexandra (1960) – The Ruthless Replay
Crewe Alexandra must have thought they had done well when they held Spurs to a 2-2 draw in the first leg. But Tottenham, frustrated by their inability to finish the job, took their revenge in the most brutal way possible.
The North London side obliterated Crewe 13-2 in the replay, with Les Allen scoring five and Bobby Smith adding four. It was the kind of ruthless display that reminds teams never to poke the bear—especially when that bear is Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup.
7. The Wednesday 12-0 Halliwell (1891) – A Day of Carnage
January 17, 1891, will go down as one of the most surreal days in FA Cup history. On this fateful afternoon, three different teams posted record-smashing victories. One of them was The Wednesday, who tore through Halliwell with a 12-0 victory that left no doubt about the gulf in class.
What made this win even more remarkable was that it was only the second-biggest scoreline of the day—a testament to just how wild early FA Cup rounds could be.
6. Aston Villa 13-1 Casuals (1891) – When Football Took a Turn
On the very same day that The Wednesday dismantled Halliwell, Aston Villa were busy doing something even more brutal. Their 13-1 demolition of Casuals FC showcased the tactical advancements they were making under the sport’s first professional manager.
Villa, already a force in English football, would go on to win the FA Cup the following year, showing that their dominant performances weren’t just for show—they were the early signs of a club destined for greatness.
5. Darwen 13-0 Kidderminster (1891) – A One-Sided Replay
Some matches should never need a replay. The first time Darwen and Kidderminster faced off, the game was voided. When they met again, Darwen were clearly determined to settle things once and for all—and they did so by dismantling their opponents 13-0.
Darwen’s FA Cup journey was short-lived, as Sunderland knocked them out in the next round, but their obliteration of Kidderminster remains a legendary FA Cup mauling.
4. Bolton Wanderers 13-0 Sheffield United (1890) – Sheffield’s Worst Nightmare
Bolton weren’t messing around in the 1889/90 FA Cup. They started by hammering Distillery 10-2. Then they went even further. Sheffield United suffered a relentless onslaught. Bolton were sharper, quicker, and completely unforgiving.
There was no let-up. By the end, 13 goals had flown past the helpless Sheffield defence. Bolton’s FA Cup run ended in the semi-finals, but this match remains a staggering piece of history.
3. Clapton 0-14 Nottingham Forest (1891) – A Record-Breaking Away Day
January 17, 1891, was a day of destruction in the FA Cup. While Aston Villa and The Wednesday were both racking up 12-goal wins, Nottingham Forest decided to go even bigger.
They didn’t just beat Clapton—they humiliated them. 14-0. Away from home. To this day, it remains the biggest away win in FA Cup history. For Clapton, it was a day they’d rather erase from memory. For Forest, it was a match that cemented their place in FA Cup folklore.
2. Preston North End 18-0 Reading (1894) – The Almost Record-Breaker
Preston North End were one of England’s first footballing powerhouses. By the time they met Reading in the 1893/94 FA Cup, they were at their ruthless best. The match turned into a demolition job.
Reading simply couldn’t cope. Preston piled on the goals until the final whistle finally put Reading out of their misery. 18-0. It was the second-biggest FA Cup win ever—but Preston weren’t done breaking records yet.
1. Preston North End 26-0 Hyde United (1887) – The Greatest Thrashing of All Time
This was pure footballing destruction. Nothing before or since has come close to what Preston did to Hyde United in 1887. Jimmy Ross scored seven. Jack Gordon hit five. Fred Dewhurst grabbed a hat-trick.
Every Preston attack ended the same way—with the ball in the back of the net. By the end, the scoreline stood at 26-0. It’s the biggest win in FA Cup history, and over 130 years later, it still hasn’t been beaten. Preston reached the FA Cup final that year, but their biggest legacy was this legendary annihilation.
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