The magic of the FA Cup is far more than just a cliché. Now in its 150th year of existence, having first been played way back in 1872, the historic competition really has survived the test of time and there are absolutely no questions about how highly it is still regarded in the English game after all these years.
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Season-after-season, fans get to witness to thrills and spills of the FA Cup — with those from the lower leagues, or sometimes even further down the football pyramid, getting to enjoy a day out at some of the best stadiums in the country and perhaps even leave with massive smiles on their faces after causing a huge upset against the odds from SkyBet.
Take this year’s tournament for example. Championship side Nottingham Forest have dispatched of Arsenal and Leicester City en route to progressing to the quarter-finals, non-league Boreham Wood made it to the last 16 before Everton burst their bubble at Goodison Park and National League side Kidderminster Harriers beat Reading before pushing West Ham United to the wire in the four — ultimately losing in extra-time.
Every so often a side comes along and turns the magic of the FA Cup into a fairytale though. Remember League One side Bradford City’s run to the quarter-finals in 2015, beating Premier League sides Chelsea and Sunderland along the way, or Wigan Athletic going all the way and winning the trophy under Roberto Martinez in 2013 — beating Manchester City before being relegated to the Championship just days later.
It is Cinderella stories like these that make us fall in love with the FA Cup over and over. Forest are currently writing their own version, with League Cup winners Liverpool the next possible Premier League scalp for the Midlands outfit, but it is their Championship rivals Middlesbrough who have arguably overshadowed their fine run somewhat.
Not often do you get two lower league sides vying for the title of best giantkiller, especially at this stage of the competition. But for us, it has to be Boro who has the edge — ever so slightly. Chris Wilder’s men went to Old Trafford in the fourth round, coming from a goal down to force extra-time before beating Manchester United 8-7 on penalties — Anthony Elanga missing the crucial spot-kick for Ralf Rangnick’s side.
But the story doesn’t end there for the North East of England outfit. Up next was Tottenham Hotspur, this time at the Riverside Stadium, and Middlesborough piled more misery on Antonio Conte’s men.
It was a fantastic performance from Wilder’s side, who just seemed to want it more than Spurs from the first whistle, and they were finally rewarded for their persistence when 19-year-old Joshua Coburn riffled home to make it 1-0 in added time.
“Beating Manchester United gave us confidence – enjoy it, give it a right good go and see what happens,” Boro captain Jonny Howson said. “If they turned us over with quality you can hold your hands up but we applied ourselves right. You see what happens in this competition and we have another upset.
“Moments like this don’t come around often so you have to enjoy it when they do. My little lad Harry has got into football recently. I was playing against Cristiano Ronaldo and he said you’ll never beat Ronaldo’s team. Now Harry Kane as well, so I can tell him we have beaten them too.”
Up next for Wilder and co. is another home tie, this time against current European champions Chelsea, and with what is currently going on behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge, Boro will feel like they have a big opportunity to knock their third Premier League opponent out of the FA Cup when they meet at the Riverside on March 19th!
