By Opta Analyst | Created at 2025-01-09 13:29:55 | Updated at 2025-01-09 22:39:37
9 hours ago
Tamworth host Tottenham in the FA Cup third round this weekend, but do they have any hope of achieving one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition?
This weekend will see National League side Tamworth host Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur at the Lamb Ground in the third round of the FA Cup. One of only two non-league clubs remaining in the 2024-25 edition, alongside Dagenham & Redbridge (who play away at Millwall), Tamworth will be looking to produce their own David vs Goliath giant-killing on Sunday afternoon.
Across the Premier League era, there have been 50 FA Cup ties played between top-flight sides and non-league clubs. Amazingly, despite there being at least four tiers between them, there have been two victories for non-league teams in that 33-year period.
Eight of those 50 ties have seen the non-league club earn a lucrative replay, but of course, that can’t happen this season with replays now scrapped in an attempt to reduce the number of matches played by teams.
So, who do Tamworth need to look at for inspiration ahead of Sunday’s clash with Ange Postecoglou’s side? Here, we look back at the two non-league sides to defeat Premier League clubs in the FA Cup.
Non-League Clubs to Defeat Premier League Opposition
Norwich City 0-1 Luton Town
Round 4 in 2012-13
Luton Town travelled to Norwich City in January 2013 hoping to become the first non-league club to knock out top-flight opposition in the FA Cup since Sutton United eliminated Coventry City in 1989.
The two sides were in the same division just six years earlier, facing each other in the Championship, but three successive relegations and a raft of financial problems led to the Hatters’ rapid fall through the leagues. The 2012-13 season was their fourth successive non-league campaign, while Norwich sat in 13th place in the Premier League coming into this clash in Norfolk.
Luton had already navigated their way through four rounds, defeating Cambridge United in the fourth qualifying round, before knocking out fellow non-league clubs Nuneaton Town and Dorchester Town in the first and second rounds. A cupset win over Championship club Wolves at Kenilworth Road in the third round then earned them this trip to Carrow Road.
Norwich, who had Harry Kane in attack, struggled to break down the stubborn Hatters’ defence and Luton eventually took advantage. Scott Rendell’s goal in the 80th minute was one of only two shots on target for the non-league side, but it was enough to seal a memorable victory.
With this win, Luton became the first non-league side to beat a top-flight club away from home in a competitive English game since Altrincham defeated Birmingham City 2-1 in the 1985-86 third round.
They were drawn at home versus Millwall in the fifth round, but eventually lost 3-0 to the Championship club and exited the competition.
The next non-league club to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup had a bit more success…
Burnley 0-1 Lincoln City
Round 5 in 2016-17
Lincoln City became the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals thanks to a dramatic last-minute win over Premier League side Burnley at Turf Moor in February 2017.
Danny Cowley’s side had already knocked out Championship opposition in the previous two rounds, beating Ipswich Town after a replay in round three, before a 3-1 home win over Brighton in the fourth round.
Defender Sean Raggett was the hero, scoring an 89th-minute winner to send the non-league side into the last eight.
His header past Tom Heaton was Lincoln’s only shot on target in the entire match. Raggett’s goal was only given thanks to confirmation via goal-line technology, but it was enough to set up a quarter-final tie against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Coincidently, Andre Gray was in the Burnley side this day having been a member of the Luton team to shock Norwich City in the only previous FA Cup victory by a non-league club over a Premier League team.
Tottenham vs Non-League Opponents
This won’t be the first time Tottenham have faced non-league opposition in the FA Cup.
Since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93, Spurs have played non-league teams three times in the FA Cup, with all three coming in the third round of the competition.
Back in 1992-93, Spurs defeated sixth-tier Marlow 5-1 thanks to goals from Teddy Sheringham, Nicky Barmby (2) and Vinny Samways (2). Marlow were originally drawn at home to Tottenham but requested to switch venues to White Hart Lane based on police advice.
Two years later, Spurs hosted fifth-tier side Altrincham at White Hart Lane and beat them 3-0 in their third-round tie. Sheringham, Ronny Rosenthal and Stuart Nethercott scored the goals for the London club.
Their most recent FA Cup game against non-league opponents came in January 2021, as they travelled to Marine in the third round. Marine were in the eighth tier of the English league pyramid and had already battled through seven rounds of the FA Cup that season, having started their journey in the preliminary round.
Carlos Vinícius scored a 13-minute hat-trick for Spurs in the 5-0 win, with further goals via Lucas Moura and Alfie Devine, who became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer in a competitive match at the age of 16.
Tottenham have lost FA Cup ties against non-league opponents before, but these occurred over 100 years ago when the football pyramid was very different to what it is now.
Their last such FA Cup defeat came in 1914-15 to Norwich City, who were then in the Southern League – technically the third level of English football at the time but outside the two tiers of the Football League.
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