If one thing defines the romance of The FA Cup above all others it is undoubtedly its famous tales of giant-killing acts.
Davids overcoming Goliaths and unlikely heroes given their moment in the footballing spotlight.
For the past three seasons The FA has been giving fans the opportunity to vote for their most memorable Cup upset each campaign, and with it the honour of receiving the Ronnie Radford Award.
The Ronnie Radford Award Results
- MACCLESFIELD TOWN 4-0 Swindon Town, First Round - 16.7%
- Peterborough United 2-3 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS, Third Round - 11.51%
- ROCHDALE 2-0 Leeds United, Third Round - 9.56%
- Aston Villa 1-2 SHEFFIELD UNITED, Third Round - 62.23%
Launched in 2010-11, The Ronnie Radford Award – named after the former Hereford United midfielder who famously scored a 30-yard screamer in that 1972 replay against Newcastle United to haul the then-trailing Bulls back into the tie – honours the team that produces the biggest Cup upset during the season.
As ever, this year’s competition has also thrown up its fair share of shock results.
Conference Premier side Macclesfield Town’s resounding 4-0 First Round victory over League One side Swindon Town. Fifth-tier Kidderminster Harriers’ 3-2 victory at Peterborough United in the Third Round or Rochdale’s 2-0 ousting of Leeds United – all of which were contenders for the 2013-14 award.
But with a whopping 62 per cent of the vote, the overwhelming victors this season are Sheffield United for their 2-1 win at Premier League Aston Villa in the Third Round.
It would be the first of many upsets inflicted by the Blades as Nigel Clough’s men marched all the way to Wembley Stadium for a Semi-Final with Hull City.
As well as the win at Villa Park, it was a run that would see them dispose of Colchester United, Cambridge United, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Charlton Athletic. But it was undoubtedly the memorable day at Villa Park that stuck in the memories of supporters.
Ronnie Radford Award - Previous Winners
- CRAWLEY TOWN 2-1 Derby County (Third Round 2011)
- SWINDON TOWN 2-1 Wigan Athletic (Third Round 2012)
- Norwich City 0-1 LUTON TOWN (Fourth Round 2013)
The Blades stunned the home side when they took the lead through a deflected Jamie Murphy strike. Nicklas Helenius fired in an equaliser for the Villans, but Ryan Flynn unleashed a left-foot strike into the top corner for the winner and a place in Round Four.
It was a result that manager Clough admitted his late father Brian would have been proud of. “My dad wanted to win everything,” said the former England man.
“Is this a reminder of what The Cup can be? It is for us.
“You saw how much it meant. It’s still a special, special competition.”
Sheffield United will receive their award at The FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
