Crystal Palace secures first major trophy in historic FA Cup final victory
In short: In a tournament that stands as the oldest in football, the 2024–25 season delivered a major upset. Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City at Wembley Stadium to claim their first ever major trophy, marking a significant shift in the landscape of England's premier domestic knockout competition.
The 2024–25 FA Cup, the 144th season of the Football Association Challenge Cup, concluded on 17 May 2025 at Wembley Stadium. The final saw Crystal Palace emerge victorious against Manchester City, marking the first time the club has won a major trophy. For Manchester City, the match represented their third consecutive final appearance, though it resulted in their second consecutive defeat.
This edition of the tournament introduced several structural shifts. For the first time since 2020–21, the proper rounds were played without replays. Furthermore, a six-year deal between the Premier League and The Football Association rescheduled the final to occur seven days prior to the Premier League season ending, aiming to coordinate the domestic schedule with broader UEFA competitions.
The tournament's scale was significant, featuring 745 total entrants—an increase of 13 from the previous year and the highest number since the 2012–13 season. The competition structure involved 124 teams in the proper rounds, including 92 teams from the Football League system and 32 survivors from the 653 teams that began in the qualifying rounds. While the changes to the schedule were intended to ease fixture congestion, they drew criticism from those who viewed replays as a vital revenue source for lower-league clubs.
Technological and individual milestones also defined the season. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology was implemented in all matches from the fifth round onwards. On an individual level, Ashford United's Gary Lockyer earned the FA Cup Golden Ball Award, having scored 10 goals from the extra preliminary round through to the final.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2024–25 FA Cup
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