The FA Cup is the oldest domestic football competition in the world. Starting in 1871-72, it has long been one of the most entertaining knockouts throughout the history of the English game. Its DNA is that non-league and lower league teams are handed the opportunity to go head-to-head against the 'big dogs' of the Premier League. There has been a plethora of teams who have undergone a mazy cup run against all odds and got close to playing in the final at Wembley.
But, in recent years, it seems as if the Cup has lost some of its magic feel, and the big clubs always seem to come out on top, even without playing their strongest teams. In the past, in an FA Cup game, anyone could beat anyone on a given day. Non-league sides pray for a big league scalp and the tension of the draw only adds to the excitement of the cup. A tie against a top team, home or away, can be life-changing for small teams financially. Games broadcast live on TV bring in revenue and increased attendance has a huge monetary impact as well.
But this season, with the quarter-finals set, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition is Coventry, who sit ninth in the Championship. Leicester City, who are top of the second division, are the only other non-Premier League side left. Giants Liverpool, Newcastle, both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and mid-table Wolves make up the rest of the draw. However, the absence of any lower league team attests to the theory that the belief of lesser teams being able to go far in the competition is dwindling. Although this is just one season, a minute sample, the consensus in recent years has been that big teams are now on a while different level to the rest and the gap to the rest is increasing.
It has been 11 years since Wigan Athletic infamously beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final with a Ben Watson header. The same year, Wigan were subsequently relegated to the Championship but that FA Cup final was one of the most memorable in recent history and demonstrates the waning magic that the FA Cup is capable of producing.
Will we ever see a lower-league team win the competition again? Or will the big teams continue to dominate until the cup well and truly loses its magical touch?