Six of the greatest Women's FA Cup finals including Arsenal and Chelsea triumphs
Sunday's Women's FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United will be another game for the history books. Not only will it be United's first ever appearance at a final in the competition - but the attendance record is set to be smashed.
The current record for a FA Cup final in the women's game stands at 49,094 spectators which was set at last season's showpiece between Chelsea and Manchester City. This year, a sell-out crowd is expected at Wembley for what is shaping up to be a momentous occasion.
Emma Hayes ' side will hope to secure their third FA Cup victory on the bounce, having won the competition in 2021 and 2022. United, on the other hand, will be ready to pitch themselves against one of the greats in the competition and secure their first piece of silverware since their Championship victory in 2019.
We've taken a look at some of the most historic and memorable occasions in Women's FA Cup history, which includes some huge scorelines, big crowds and penalty shoot-out victories.
Southampton 8-2 QPR
Southampton Women’s FC are one of the most successful teams in FA Cup history. They won eight of the first 11 finals to be played and arguably their most prolific was the 8-2 thumping of Queens Park Rangers in 1978.
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The showpiece took place at Wrexham Park in Slough, now known as Arbour Park. Only 200 spectators watched on, but it was a clinical display from the south coast side.
Pat Chapman, who also represented England during her playing days, netted a record six times on the day. Pat Davies and Sue Lopez were also among the goals for Southampton while Sandra Choat and Carrie Staley found consolations for QPR.
Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United
Arsenal celebrate after winning the Womens FA Cup Final against Leeds United on May 1, 2006 (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)Arsenal are the record holders in the competition with an astonishing 14 titles to their name. The 2005 final against Leeds was one of their most comfortable victories, as five goals were scored without response.
Over 13,000 watched on at Millwall’s home ground the Den. Lucy Ward, now a well-known broadcaster, scored an own-goal inside the opening few minutes. Before half-time, two goals from Julie Fleeting and Rachel Yankey in the space of a couple of minutes gave the Gunners a comfortable lead at the break.
In the second-half Kelly Smith and Lianne Sanderson scored the final two goals of the game to earn Arsenal their seventh FA Cup trophy.
Everton 3-2 Arsenal
The 40th Women’s FA Cup final took place in 2010 and it was contested at Nottingham Forest ’s City ground in front of a crowd of over 17,000. Arsenal sought their 11th victory in the competition but it was Everton who emerged victorious on the day.
Natasha Dowie, who is currently on loan at Liverpool, opened the scoring for the Blues in the first half but Arsenal equalised through a Kim Little penalty on the brink of half-time. It was the midfielder’s 42nd goal of the campaign in all competitions.
Everton celebrate after the Final of the FA Womens Cup against Arsenal at the City Ground on May 3, 2010 (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)The Gunner’s then fell behind a second time after an own goal from Faye White but Fleeting was able to put them back on level terms in the second half to take the game to extra time. Right at the death, Everton clinched it from a Dowie winner after she beat Arsenal keeper Emma Byrne and knocked it into the back of the net from a tight angle.
Birmingham City 2-2 Chelsea (3-2 on penalties)
Birmingham City have won the competition on just one occasion in the club’s history. The 2012 final was contested between the Midlands club and Chelsea - who both made their first ever FA Cup final appearance.
It was a tightly-contested affair at Ashton Gate and it took until the 70th minute for either side to break the deadlock. Helen Ward put Chelsea in front and it seemed it would be the winning goal, that was until Rachel Williams found a last-minute equaliser for Birmingham.
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Chelsea once again took the lead in additional time through Kate Longhurst but Karen Carney, who would eventually sign for the London club a few years later, put Birmingham City back on level terms for a second time.
City eventually triumphed in the penalty shootout 3-2 after Drew Spence, Claire Rafferty and Gemma Bonner all failed to convert their spot-kicks for Chelsea.
Chelsea 1-0 Notts County
The women’s game continued to go from strength to strength and the first ever Women’s FA Cup final was staged at Wembley Stadium for the first time in 2015. Over 30,000 people were in attendance that day as Ji So-yun scored the only goal of the game in the first half to hand Chelsea their first ever trophy in the competition ahead of Notts County.
Sophie Ingle of Chelsea celebrates on the podium with her team following their victory 2015 FA Cup Final (Photo by Naomi Baker - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)Chelsea 3-2 Manchester City
Last season’s final at Wembley Stadium was nail-biting. Just shy of 50,000 supporters were in attendance to watch two Women’s Super League heavyweights go head to head in Chelsea and Manchester City.
Chelsea had won the competition the season before and were looking to make it back-to-back wins. They appeared to be well on their way to do so as Sam Kerr fired them in front after 30 minutes.
City, though, were quick to respond as Lauren Hemp put them back on level terms before half time. Erin Cuthbert had seemingly won it for Chelsea in the second half but Hayley Raso’s 89th minute equaliser took it to extra time.
As she so often does, Kerr stepped up for the London club and won it at the death to secure Chelsea’s fourth title in the competition.
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