4 reasons why the FA Cup is still relevant

#3: Upsets still happen

Wigan Athletic v Manchester City - The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round — Upsets like Wigan defeating Manchester City make sure the FA Cup remains relevant

Despite there now being a monstrous gulf in quality between the Premier League and even the Championship – let alone League One and League Two – the FA Cup still regularly seems to throw up a handful of upsets each season, and those upsets alone make the competition relevant for both fans and smaller clubs alike.

2017/18’s edition of the cup saw a huge upset in the third round when League Two Coventry defeated Stoke – costing Mark Hughes his job in the process – and other shocking results included both League Two side Newport County and League One team Rochdale forcing Tottenham into replay fixtures before losing, and Wigan Athletic knocking out Premier League Champions elect Manchester City in the fifth round.

Admittedly, some of those bigger clubs probably saw the cup as more of a nuisance to their Premier League plans than anything else, but for those smaller clubs, their FA Cup runs were arguably the highlights of their season.

At the end of the day, football isn’t just about the huge superclubs at the top – it’s about a grassroots game too, and the FA Cup provides a wonderful opportunity for England’s smaller clubs to make their mark each season. And that alone makes it relevant.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Kishan Prasad