Non-English football clubs in the FA Cup

The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout competition in English association football. It is the oldest football competition in the world, having commenced in 1871.

Although the competition is the national cup of England, numerous clubs from outside England have participated in the tournament, with some still doing so as of 2016.

Guernsey

Although St. Martins and Vale Recreation have competed in the FA Vase, Guernsey FC are the only club from the Bailiwick of Guernsey to have competed in the FA Cup. Formed in 2011, they first entered the competition in 2013, reaching the 2nd qualifying round. Under FA rules, Guernsey must play any home replay at a neutral English venue – as of 2015, they had played six games in the competition – four away and two 'home' replays in England.

Although sides from Isle of Man and Jersey had competed in the FA Vase, Guernsey FC remained the only club from the crown dependencies to have played in the FA Cup until Jersey Bulls in 2021. The football associations of each crown dependency has County Football Association status within the Football Association.

Club Years Best performance Ref
Guernsey 2013–14 to 2016–17 2nd qualifying round – 2013–14

Ireland

Between 1887–88 and 1890–91, five Irish clubs competed in the FA Cup. In 1887, Distillery became the first club from Ireland to enter the competition. Cliftonville and Linfield Athletic were the last clubs from the island to appear, both competing in 1890–91. Cliftonville progressed further in the competition than any other Irish club, reaching the 3rd round in 1886–87 before crashing out 11–0 to Partick Thistle. Following the introduction of qualifying rounds, Linfield Athletic progressed through the most rounds of any Irish club, winning three ties in 1888–89 to reach the first round proper. Linfield's 7–0 victory over Cliftonville during the 1888–89 fourth qualifying round is notable for being the only FA Cup match ever to be played on Christmas Day.

All five clubs were located in what is now Northern Ireland. However, the entire island of Ireland was still a part of the United Kingdom at the time, as Northern Ireland was not created until the partition of Ireland in 1921.

Club Years Best performance Ref
Belfast YMCA 1888–89 & 1889–90 3rd qualifying round – 1889–90
Cliftonville 1886–87 to 1890–91 3rd round1886–87
Distillery 1887–88 & 1889–90 2nd round1887–88
Linfield Athletic 1888–89 to 1890–91 1st round1888–89
Ulster 1888–89 2nd qualifying round – 1888–89

Jersey

Jersey Bulls are the only club from the Bailiwick of Jersey to have competed in the FA Cup. Formed in 2018, they first entered the competition in 2021, reaching the 3rd qualifying round.

Although a team from the Isle of Man and several other Channel Island teams have competed in the FA Vase, Jersey Bulls and Guernsey FC are the only two clubs from the crown dependencies to have played in the FA Cup. The football associations of each crown dependency has County Football Association status within the Football Association.

Club Years Best performance Ref
Jersey Bulls 2021–22 & 2023–24 3rd qualifying round – 2021–22

Scotland

The first Scottish club to enter was Queen's Park, who accepted an invitation to take part in the very first competition after a number of the clubs which had originally entered withdrew. The Glasgow team were by far the dominant force in Scottish football, and no other team had even managed to score a goal against them. Because of a combination of byes and the withdrawal of opponents, "Queen's" reached the semi-finals without playing a match, but after holding Wanderers to a draw the Scottish club was forced to withdraw as the funds could not be raised to return for a replay. The following season Queen's entered the competition again and, to ease the travelling expenses required to take part in a competition in which virtually every other team was based in the home counties, were afforded byes all the way to the semi-finals. At this stage the club was drawn against Oxford University, whereupon the Scots withdrew from the competition, although one account states that Queen's in fact beat Oxford only to then withdraw as the team could not afford to travel to London for the final. In 1873, the newly formed Scottish Football Association launched the Scottish Cup, but Queen's Park continued to enter the FA Cup draw, although for unknown reasons the club withdrew each time without playing.

In 1883, Queen's returned to the FA Cup and reached the final, scoring resounding wins over Crewe Alexandra (10–0) and Manchester F.C. (15–0) en route, only to be defeated by Blackburn Rovers. The match against Manchester was the first FA Cup tie to be staged in Scotland, hosted at Titwood, the home of Clydesdale CC. A year later Queens met Blackburn Rovers in the final once again, with the English team again emerging victorious. The 1885–86 competition saw the first participation by other Scottish clubs, as Queen's were joined by Partick Thistle, Third Lanark, Rangers and Heart of Midlothian, although the latter two withdrew without playing a match. These clubs all returned for the 1886–87 competition, along with newcomers Renton and Cowlairs.

In 1887, the Scottish Football Association banned its members from taking any further part in the FA Cup. No more Scottish clubs participated until Gretna F.C. entered the competition in the 1980s. Because the town of Gretna is located extremely close to the border, the local football club had opted to play in the English football league system and by the 1980s had reached the Northern Premier League, making the team eligible to enter the FA Cup. Gretna played in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup for nineteen seasons, making the first round proper twice, until the club joined the Scottish Football League in 2002.

Club Years Best performance Ref
Cowlairs 1886–87 3rd round1886–87
Gretna 1983–84 to 2001–02 1st round1991–92 and 1993–94
Heart of Midlothian 1886–87 1st round1886–87
Partick Thistle 1885–86 to 1886–87 5th Round1886–87
Queen's Park 1871–72 to 1872–73 & 1883–84 to 1886–87 Final1883–84 and 1884–85
Rangers 1886–87 Semi-final1886–87
Renton 1886–87 3rd round1886–87
Third Lanark 1885–86 to 1886–87 2nd Round1885–86 and 1886–87

Wales

Until the founding of the League of Wales in 1991, most senior Welsh sides were included within the English league system, and could therefore be eligible for entry into the FA Cup. Since that time, all but a handful of Welsh teams have joined the Welsh league system and are no longer eligible.

Club Years Best performance Ref
Aberaman & Aberdare 1945–46 to 1947–48 1st qualifying round – 1945–46, 1946–47
Aberaman Athletic 1902–03, 1920–21 to 1921–22 & 1935–36 to 1938–39 3rd qualifying round – 1902–03
Aberaman United 1921–22 Extra preliminary round – 1921–22
Abercarn 1921–22 Extra preliminary round – 1921–22
Aberdare Amateurs 1919–20 Extra preliminary round – 1919–20
Aberdare Athletic 1912–13 to 1913–14 & 1920–21 to 1928–29 3rd round1925–26
Abergavenny Thursdays 1963–64 to 1971–72 2nd qualifying round – 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72
Aberystwyth Town 1896–97 to 1900–01 & 1909–10 4th qualifying round – 1897–98
Abertillery 1914–15 to 1921–22 2nd qualifying round – 1920–21
Ammanford Town 1976–77 1st qualifying round – 1976–77
Bangor City 1896–97 to 1898–99, 1924–25 to 1985–86 & 1987–88 to 1991–92 2nd round1960–61, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1983–84
Bargoed 1914–15 to 1921–22 1st qualifying round – 1914–15, 1919–20
Barry Town 1911–12 to 1991–92 2nd round1929–30
Bedouins 1931–32 & 1933–34 to 1935–36 Extra preliminary round – 1931–32, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36,
Bethesda Athletic 1969–70 & 1974–75 to 1976–77 2nd qualifying round – 1969–70, 1974–75, 1976–77
Blackwood Town 1921–22 Extra preliminary round – 1921–22
Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateur 1972–73 to 1974–75 1st qualifying round – 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75
Borough United 1962-63 to 1966-67 3rd qualifying round – 1962-63, 1964-65, 1965-66
Bridgend Town 1921–22 & 1973–74 to 1991–92 4th qualifying round – 1979–80
Buckley 1896–97 to 1897–98 3rd qualifying round – 1896–97
Buckley United 1920–21 to 1921–22 4th qualifying round – 1920–21
Buckley Victoria 1900–01 1st qualifying round – 1900–01
Caerau Rovers 1914–15 to 1921–22 Preliminary round – 1919–20, 1920–21
Caerleon Athletic 1913–14 to 1914–15 1st qualifying round – 1913–14
Caernarfon Town 1979–80 to 1995–96 3rd round1986–87
Caernarvon Athletic 1929–30 to 1930–31 2nd round1929–30
Caernarvon Wanderers 1886–87 1st round1886–87
Caerphilly 1902–03, 1913–14 & 1921–22 2nd qualifying round – 1902–03
Cardiff Albion 1920–21 Preliminary round – 1920–21
Cardiff City 1910–11 to present Winners1926–27
Cardiff Corinthians 1911–12 to 1949–50 3rd qualifying round – 1922–23
Chirk 1884–85 to 1888–89, 1890–91, 1897–98 to 1898–99, 1900–01 to 1902–03, 1904–05 to 1907–08, 1909–10 & 1922–23 to 1924–25 5th round1886–87
Colwyn Bay 1927–28 to 1937–38, 1965–66 to 1966–67 & 1979–80 to 2018-19 2nd round1995–96
Connah's Quay 1909–10 to 1914–15 2nd qualifying round – 1909–10
Connah's Quay & Shotton 1921–22 & 1926–27 to 1931–32 3rd qualifying round – 1926–27
Connah's Quay Nomads 1971–72 to 1973–74 2nd qualifying round – 1971–72, 1973–74
Cross Keys 1921–22 Extra preliminary round – 1921–22
Cwmbran Town 1988–89 to 1991–92 2nd qualifying round – 1989–90
Denbigh Town 1910–11 Preliminary round – 1910–11
Druids 1876–77 to 1877–78, 1882–83 to 1887–88, 1889–90 to 1890–91, 1895–96 to 1900–01, 1904–05 & 1906–07 to 1910–11 5th round1882–83
Ebbw Vale 1919–20 to 1923–24 & 1929–30 to 1962–63 3rd qualifying round – 1952–53
Ferndale Athletic 1972–73 1st qualifying round – 1972–73
Flint Town United 1892–93 to 1894–95, 1928–29 & 1950–51 to 1961–62 3rd qualifying round – 1894–95, 1952–53, 1954–55
Gilfach 1921–22 Extra preliminary round – 1921–22
Gresford 1921–22 Preliminary round – 1921–22
Haverfordwest County 1981–82 to 1984–85 3rd qualifying round – 1981–82
Holyhead Town 1964–65 to 1965–66, 1967–68 to 1968–69 & 1970–71 2nd qualifying round – 1967–68
Llandudno 1914–15, 1923–24 to 1952–53, 1954–55 to 1964–65 & 1966–67 3rd qualifying round – 1929–30, 1958–59
Llandudno Swifts 1896–97 to 1897–98 & 1899–1900 to 1900–01 2nd qualifying round – 1899–1900
Llanelli 1911–12 to 1913–14, 1919–20 to 1924–25 & 1931–32 to 1987–88 2nd round – 1952–53
Llangollen 1887–88 to 1888–89 1st round1887–88
Llanhilleth 1921–22 Preliminary round – 1921–22
Lovells Athletic 1921–22 & 1921–22 to 1968–69 3rd round – 1945–46
Lysagths Excelsior 1912–13 to 1913–14 Preliminary round – 1912–13, 1913–14
Machynlleth 1921–22 Extra preliminary round – 1921–22
Maesteg Park 1985–86 to 1991–92 2nd qualifying round – 1988–89, 1991–92
Mardy 1910–11 to 1914–15 & 1921–22 3rd qualifying round – 1921–22
Merthyr Town [1] 1910–11 to 1934–35 2nd round1928–29
Merthyr Town [2] 2010–11 to present 3rd qualifying round – 2012–13
Merthyr Tydfil 1946–47 to 2009–10 2nd round1946–47, 1954–55, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1989–90, 1990–91
Mid Rhondda 1913–14 to 1921–22 & 1925–26 5th qualifying round – 1921–22
Milford Town 1911–12 & 1913–14 to 1914–15 1st qualifying round – 1914–15
Mold 1925–26 to 1926–27 1st round1925–26
Mond Nickel Works 1913–14 to 1914–15 Preliminary round – 1913–14, 1914–15
Monmouth Town 1937–38 to 1945–46 2nd qualifying round – 1945–46
New Tredegar 1921–22 Extra preliminary round – 1921–22
Newport (Monmouth) 1906–07 2nd qualifying round – 1906–07
Newport County [1] 1913–14 to 1930–31 & 1932–33 to 1988–89 5th round1948–49
Newport County [2] 1992–93 to present 5th round2018–19
Newport Barbarians 1914–15 to 1921–22 1st qualifying round – 1919–20
Newtown 1884–85 to 1885–86, 1891–92 to 1899–1900 & 1990–91 to 1991–92 2nd round1884–85, 1885–86
Pembroke Dock 1913–14 to 1914–15 & 1921–22 Preliminary round – 1913–14, 1914–15, 1921–22
Oakdale 1920–21 to 1921–22 Extra preliminary round – 1920–21, 1921–22
Pontypridd 1912–13 to 1913–14 & 1919–20 to 1925–26 4th qualifying round – 1924–25
Port Talbot Town 1912–13 to 1914–15 Preliminary round – 1912–13, 1913–14, 1914–15
Porth Athletic 1921–22 to 1922–23 2nd qualifying round – 1921–22
Porthmadog 1967–68 to 1980–81 3rd qualifying round – 1973–74
Pwllheli & District 1953–54 to 1963–64, 1967–68 to 1971–72 & 1975–76 4th qualifying round – 1954–55
Rhiwderin 1914–15 to 1919–20 & 1921–22 Preliminary round – 1914–15, 1919–20
Rhosllanerchrugog 1890–91 to 1892–93 2nd qualifying round – 1890–91
Rhyl 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03, 1904–05 to 1909–10, 1911–12, 1923–24, 1925–26 to 1933–34 & 1935–36 to 1991–92 4th round1956–57
Rhymney Town 1914–15 & 1921–22 2nd qualifying round – 1914–15
Risca Stars 1921–22 Extra preliminary round – 1921–22
Rogerstone 1919–20 to 1921–22 Preliminary round – 1919–20, 1920–21, 1921–22
Swansea City 1913–14 to present Semi-final1925–26, 1963–64
Ton Pentre 1909–10, 1919–20 to 1922–23 & 1968–69 to 1991–92 1st round1986–87
Treherbert 1921–22 Preliminary round – 1921–22
Troedyrhiw 1948–49 to 1953–54 1st qualifying round – 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54
Troedyrhiw Stars 1914–15 Preliminary round – 1914–15
Welshpool Town 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03 & 1904–05 to 1908–09 3rd qualifying round – 1900–01
Wrexham 1883–84 to present 6th round1973–74, 1977–78 & 1996–97

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