The FA Cup is something quite special isn’t it? Renowned for its magic every year we welcome another incredible moment into the history books. Whether it be a goal, a piece of skill, or an upset, the footballing world welcomes a new household name every year thanks to the competition. But what about those forgotten heroes?
Since the dawn of the competition in 1871, The FA Cup has transformed a team full of plumbers into world beaters. It’s seen sportsmanship that make it more than just a game. It’s produced moments which will make us laugh, moments which make us cry.
At UKSoccershop we like to recognise everyone in football, from the star man to the kitman, the club mascot to the fans who buy the latest football shirts and turn up on a weekly basis.
That was the case back in 2012 when Andrew Deaner was taking a break from his day job as a cardiologist to watch his beloved Spurs take on Bolton Wanderers. Little did he know that he’d later be at the heart of the action, saving the life of midfielder Fabrice Muamba.
Deaner hit the headlines for his heroics, and four years on from that fateful day he commented, “”As a doctor it’s very rewarding to have been involved in an incident with such an excellent outcome.
“The impact that Fabrice’s successful resuscitation has had on the wider public has been very positive. Everyone saw that CPR works effectively. It has encouraged many people to learn how to do CPR. In addition, Fabrice has done a huge amount to support campaigns to raise money to purchase much needed public access defibrillators. Hopefully this means many more lives will be saved”
We remember Mark Robins too, who saved the skin of Sir Alex Ferguson when he was almost through the door at Old Trafford. Yet one goal in the 1990 FA Cup from Robins paved the way for the most remarkable career in football management.
Charting 10 of the most influential figures in cup history, our infographic below really proves why this competition is the greatest in world football. And there’s not a Ronaldo, Cantona, or Thierry Henry in sight. Even Ryan Giggs’ chest hair hasn’t made the cut.
Take a read at some of these incredible players from the very beginning of the FA Cup. We’d love to know a unsung hero from your club…
Take a read at some of these incredible players from the very beginning of the FA Cup. We’d love to know a unsung hero from your club…
