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What is the League Cup?

The League Cup is an annual knockout competition open to the 20 clubs of England’s FA Premier League, and the 72 clubs of England’s Football League, which organizes the competition. It was first played in the 1961, seeing Aston Villa emerge victorious over Rotherham United in a two-leg final. Since 1982, the competition has taken its name from a sponsor and is currently called the Carling Cup.

Quickies …

Did you know …

that in 1993, when Arsenal won the first-ever League Cup/FA Cup double, they faced Sheffield Wednesday FC in the final at both tournaments?

Which teams played in the first FA Cup final?

The first FA Cup final took place at Kennington Oval, London, on Saturday, March 16, 1872, before a crowd of 2,000. At the time, soccer matches were played without crossbars or goalnets. There were also no free kicks or penalties and the pitch markings did not include a centre-circle or a halfway line. The Wanderers defeated the Royal Engineers 1–0 on a goal from A.H. Chequer.