History of the FA Cup

[Dexter]

1872 FA Cup founded as knockout tournament for amateur clubs
1883 First FA Cup win by professional club (Blackburn Olympic)
1884 First club from outside England to reach the final (Queen's Park)
1889 League began - First FA Cup / League double (Preston North End)
1897 Second FA Cup / League double (Aston Villa)
1901 Only FA Cup win by non-league club since League began (Tottenham Hotspur)
1923 FA Cup final moved to Wembley
1927 Only FA Cup win by a club from outside England (Cardiff City)
1946 Two-legged ties for one season after the end of World War 2
1961 Third FA Cup / League double (Tottenham Hotspur)
1971 Fourth FA Cup / League double (Arsenal)
1986 Fifth FA Cup / League double (Liverpool)
1993 First FA Cup / League Cup double (Arsenal)
1994 Sixth FA Cup / League double (Manchester United)
1996 7th FA Cup / League double (Manchester United)
1998 8th FA Cup / League double (Arsenal)
1999 Unique FA Cup / League / European Cup treble (Manchester United)
2001 FA Cup final moved to Cardiff while Wembley rebuilt
Unique treble of FA Cup / League Cup / UEFA Cup
(and Second FA Cup / League Cup double) (Liverpool)
2002 10th FA Cup / League double (Arsenal)
2005 First FA Cup final decided on penalties (Arsenal)
2006 Second consecutive FA Cup final decided on penalties (Liverpool)

[Kelly]

That's an excellent post but is there something in there regarding 1st team not to defend the FA Cup?

Man Utd dropped out in 2000 to partake in the inaugural World Club Cup in Brasil Not big or clever I know but Politics inside the Halls of Power at the FA had a lot to do with it

[Toffee]

To be honest there was something fishy about that. There are 99.9% of teams wish they could win that trophy never mind defend it.