cfdemarco;2286189 said:
Hey guys,
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this, but one thing that I've always been confused about are all the tournaments in England. I hear about the English Cup, the FA Cup, the Carling Cup, etc...what's the difference between all of them, or are they different names for the same thing, or what?
I'd appreciate it if someone could explain this to me...thanks in advance.
Okay, in addition to the Premiership (EPL) there are two major "cup" competitions.
Also the English League is structured thus;
FA Barclaycard Premiership (20 teams) Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea etc.
The bottom three teams are relegated to;
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The Coca Cola Football League Championship (2nd tier - 24 teams)
Top two are promoted, 3rd-6th enter Playoff competition for promotion. Three are relegated to;
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The CocaCola Football league One (effectively the 3rd division)
(same format as Championship)
The CocaCola Football League Two (the final "League" tier)
(as above, but two drop down)
The Nationwide Football Conference (Non - League's highest tier)
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The main knockout competition in England is the FA (Football Association Challenge) Cup. Basically this encompasses every semi professional and professional club in England. (Also known as the English Cup) Preliminary rounds start as early as August, as the smallest teams in the land try to break into the First round proper (when the Conference and League 1,2 teams enter the draw) Round two is contested of the winners of the 1st round ties (The matches are one off KO format (unless a replay is required)
Round three is where the fun begins, the big boys of the PremierLeague enter the draw (along with the winners of round 2). The format continues until the Semi Finals (when the ties are at Neutral venues and replays are replaced with extra time and penalties)
The FA cup is the most famous and oldest knockout competition in the World, most famously associated with Wembley Stadium (Venue of the final). While Wembley was demolished and rebuilt, the Cardiff Millennium Stadium has hosted the 2001,2,3,4,5,6 finals - Wembley is due to host this years' final in May. Current holders of the FA Cup are Liverpool, who defeated a valiant West Ham in a thrilling Cup final last year. Man Utd have won the cup more times than anyone (11), Arsenal have done it one less with 10.
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The secondary cup competition (the one Chelsea won on Sunday) is the League Cup. The Cup has undergone several name changes over time as different sponsors have taken over funding the cup.
Currently it's title is "The Carling Cup" previous years have seen it's name include;
The Worthington Cup,
The CocaCola Cup,
The Rumbelows Cup,
The Milk cup (yes really)
The Carling (League Cup) follows a similar format to the FA Cup (however only teams in the "Football League" - Premiership to League 2 can enter) The quarter and semi finals are played in a two legged format - with the away goal rule in effect.
So there you go.
Mike