The Greatest Giant Killings in English Football History

The classic giant killings

Hereford United 2-1 Newcastle United in 1972 remains one of the most famous FA Cup shocks ever.

Hereford were a non-league Southern League side when they faced First Division Newcastle United in the third round. The first match at St James' Park ended 2-2, forcing a replay at Edgar Street.

Newcastle took the lead in the replay, but Ronnie Radford produced one of the most recognizable goals in FA Cup history, striking from long range to level the match.

Ricky George then scored in extra time to complete a 2-1 victory.

The images of Radford celebrating on a muddy pitch became part of FA Cup folklore, and the result established Hereford as one of the competition's most famous giant killers.

A year later, another underdog produced one of the biggest shocks imaginable.

Sunderland were playing in the Second Division when they reached the 1973 FA Cup final against Leeds United, one of the strongest teams in English soccer at the time.

Ian Porterfield scored the only goal at Wembley, giving Sunderland a 1-0 victory.

Goalkeeper Jim Montgomery also produced one of the final's most famous moments, making a remarkable double save from Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer.

Sunderland became the first team from outside the top flight to win the FA Cup since West Ham United in 1964.

Then came Sutton United in 1989.

Sutton were playing in the Conference when they hosted Coventry City in the third round. Coventry were in the First Division and had won the FA Cup only 19 months earlier.

Sutton won 2-1 at Gander Green Lane.

Tony Rains put the non-league side ahead before Coventry equalized. Matthew Hanlan then scored the winning goal to send Sutton into the fourth round.

It was the first time since 1975 that a non-league team had defeated a top-flight club in the FA Cup.

The modern era produces new shocks

Wrexham produced another famous upset in 1992.

The Welsh club were playing in the Fourth Division and had finished bottom of the division the previous season. Their opponents were Arsenal, the reigning First Division champions.

Arsenal took the lead through Alan Smith, but Wrexham produced a remarkable late comeback.

Mickey Thomas equalized with a spectacular free-kick before Steve Watkin scored the winner.

Wrexham won 2-1 and eliminated the champions of England.

More than two decades later, Bradford City produced one of the greatest comebacks in modern FA Cup history.

Bradford were a League One side when they traveled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in January 2015.

Chelsea led 2-0 through Gary Cahill and Ramires, but Bradford turned the game around.

Jon Stead pulled one back before Filipe Morais, Andy Halliday and Mark Yeates completed a 4-2 victory.

Chelsea had been unbeaten at home during the season, making Bradford's comeback even more remarkable.

Then came Lincoln City in 2017.

Lincoln were playing in the National League when they faced Premier League Burnley at Turf Moor in the fifth round.

The teams were separated by 81 places in the English football pyramid.

With the match approaching full time, Sean Raggett headed Lincoln in front in the 89th minute.

Lincoln held on to win 1-0 and became the first non-league club in 103 years to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals.

The victory was later recognized with the FA Cup's Giant-Killing Award.

Why giant killings remain part of English football

The story did not end with Lincoln.

In January 2026, Macclesfield FC produced an even larger statistical upset.

Macclesfield were playing in the National League North when they hosted Crystal Palace in the third round. Palace were the defending FA Cup champions.

Macclesfield won 2-1.

Paul Dawson put the hosts ahead before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled their lead. Crystal Palace pulled one back through Yéremy Pino, but Macclesfield held on.

The two clubs were separated by 117 league places, the biggest league-position gap between the teams in an FA Cup tie that resulted in an upset.

The FA described it as the greatest upset in FA Cup history, while the victory also made Macclesfield the first non-league club to beat the defending FA Cup holders in 108 years.

That is what makes giant killings so compelling.

The teams involved change, the stadiums change and the gap between the clubs can take different forms, but the basic ingredients remain the same.

A lower-ranked club gets its opportunity.

A favorite is expected to win.

Then, for 90 minutes, the league table stops mattering.

Hereford had Ronnie Radford's thunderbolt. Sutton had Matthew Hanlan's winner. Wrexham had Mickey Thomas and Steve Watkin. Bradford came from two goals down at Stamford Bridge. Lincoln scored in the 89th minute at Turf Moor. Macclesfield defeated the reigning FA Cup champions despite a 117-place gap.

These matches have become part of English soccer history because the result could not simply be predicted from the teams' league positions.

The FA Cup continues to give lower-league clubs the chance to create another one.