The FA Cup semi-finals are confirmed, and it is an all-Premier League skirmish bar Coventry in the final four. But, who was the last non-Premier League team to reach the FA Cup semi-finals?
The FA Cup is, as you’d expect, a tournament dominated by teams in the Premier League. This season, amongst the big hitters, Coventry will feature at Wembley after a remarkable smash-and-grab Victory against Wolves in the quarter-finals.
Despite a spirted effort from Championship leaders Leicester against Chelsea, the FA Cup has just one team outside the top-flight remaining.
Sheffield United, The Last Non-Premier League Team To Reach The FA Cup Semi-Final
Despite not many non-Premier teams reaching the semi-final, you only have to look back to last season (2022/23) to find the most recent team to do it. That team was Sheffield United.
They entered the tournament in the third round and beat Millwall, Wrexham, Tottenham, and Blackburn on their way to the semi-final. Of those teams, it was Wrexham who gave them the biggest test, forcing a replay in the fourth round after a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Racecourse Ground.
The Blades, who were promoted back to the Premier League in the same season, met Manchester City at Wembley. As many expected, City beat Sheffield United, winning 3-0 under the Wembley arch.
What Other Non-Premier League Teams Have Reached The FA Cup Semi-Final?
You have to go back to 2015 for the last non-Premier League team before Sheffield United to reach the FA Cup semi-finals. Reading, then in the Championship, faced up against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals. The Royals managed to take the Premier League side to extra-time, eventually losing 2-1.
Reading enjoyed a relatively easy run to the final. They beat Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Derby County, and Bradford City before their trip to Wembley.
The season before Reading reached the semi-finals, we had two non-Premier League clubs in the semi-finals. Sheffield United again reached an FA Cup semi-final, this time as a League One side, as well as the then Championship side Wigan Athletic. Both teams were knocked out by Premier League opposition in their respective semi-finals.
Cardiff City’s Run To The Final
While none of the previously mentioned teams reached the FA Cup final, the last non-Premier League side to meet the final was Cardiff City in the 2007/08 season.
They entered the tournament in the third round, beating Chasetown, Hereford United, Wolves, Middlesbrough, and Barnsley on route to the final. Their meeting with Barnsley was an all-Championship clash in the semi-final.
Their side at the time included youngsters like Kasper Schmeichel, Joe Ledley, and Aaron Ramsey. They also had experienced professionals like Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in their squad. This mixture of young talent and ex-Premier League players proved to be effective in the cup as they reached the final.
In the final, they faced the then Premier League side Portsmouth, who had a wealth of talent on their side. Pompey were captained by Sol Campbell, had David James in goal and Nwankwo Kanu leading the line. This was enough to see off Cardiff, but only just. Kanu scored the game’s only goal in the 37th minute, to end the Cardiff City dream.
Has A Non-Premier League Club Won The FA Cup Before?
While we have had a few non-Premier League teams reach the FA Cup semi-final, not many have gone on to win. You have to go back to 1980 when West Ham United beat Arsenal while being in the second division (now the Championship) to find the last non-Premier League team to win the famous trophy.
West Ham beating Arsenal was a big cup upset at the time. The Gunners were the cupholders and were expected to walk over the Hammers, but West Ham beat Arsenal 1-0 in front of 100,000 fans thanks to a Sir Trevor Brooking goal.
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