Crystal Palace’s cup history is defined by giant-killings, epic semi‑finals and, at last, a long‑awaited first major trophy in 2025. From early FA Cup shocks to modern Wembley glory, these runs have shaped the club’s identity.
Early FA Cup Shocks
One of Palace’s first famous FA Cup victories came in 1975, when the Third Division Eagles stunned top-flight Chelsea 4-0 at Stamford Bridge, announcing themselves as classic giant-killers. That same 1975–76 run saw Palace reach the semi-finals as a Third Division side, knocking out Leeds United along the way before losing to Southampton at Stamford Bridge.
The 1990 FA Cup Fairy Tale
The 1989–90 FA Cup run remains one of Palace’s most iconic stories, culminating in a 4-3 extra‑time semi-final victory over reigning champions Liverpool at Villa Park. Palace then drew 3-3 with Manchester United in a pulsating Wembley final, with Gary O’Reilly and Ian Wright (twice) scoring, before narrowly losing the replay 1-0. This was the club’s first FA Cup final, cementing that side’s place in history.
Pardew’s 2016 Final and Semi-Final Wins
Alan Pardew’s Palace reached another FA Cup final in 2015–16, beating Tottenham and then Watford 2-1 in the semi-final at Wembley thanks to goals from Yannick Bolasie and Connor Wickham. In the final, Jason Puncheon put Palace ahead against Manchester United before they eventually lost 2-1 after extra time, echoing the heartbreak of 1990.
2025 FA Cup Winners at Last
The 2024–25 season finally delivered Crystal Palace’s first major trophy as the Eagles beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Eberechi Eze scored the only goal, becoming just the fourth Palace player ever to score in an FA Cup final at Wembley after Gary O’Reilly, Ian Wright and Jason Puncheon. The run included impressive wins over Premier League sides such as Fulham and Aston Villa, and secured subsequent Community Shield success.
Record Cup Victories
Palace’s record FA Cup wins are 7-0 scorelines against Clapham (1905) and Luton Town (1929), standing as their biggest margins in the competition. In the League Cup, an 8-0 demolition of Southend United on 25 September 1990 remains the club’s record win in that tournament. In Europe, the modern era brought a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv in 2025, Palace’s record European win and part of their first continental campaign earned via the FA Cup triumph.
Memorable Cup Runs & Victories Table
| Season | Competition | Stage / Match | Opponent & Result | Why It’s Memorable | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–76 | FA Cup | Quarter-final run (Third Division) | 4-0 v Chelsea (Stamford Bridge) | Classic giant-killing over top-flight side on way to semi-final | FA Cup history |
| 1989–90 | FA Cup | Semi-final | 4-3 AET v Liverpool | Legendary Villa Park comeback to reach first FA Cup final | Semi-final report |
| 1989–90 | FA Cup | Final | 3-3 AET v Man Utd (then 0-1 in replay) | First FA Cup final; Wright’s iconic brace in original tie | 1990 final |
| 1990–91 | League Cup | Second round | 8-0 v Southend United | Record League Cup win | Records & stats |
| 2015–16 | FA Cup | Semi-final | 2-1 v Watford | Bolasie & Wickham send Palace to second FA Cup final | FA report |
| 2015–16 | FA Cup | Final | 1-2 AET v Man Utd | Puncheon goal; another agonising extra-time defeat | BBC Wembley trips |
| 2024–25 | FA Cup | Final | 1-0 v Man City | First major trophy in club history, Eze winner | Trophy history |
| 2025–26 | Community Shield | Final | Winners v Man City | Backing up FA Cup triumph with Wembley Shield success | Trophies list |
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