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Giant Killings

West Ham Online's Football Forum
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only1billybonds
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Carabao Cup Giant Killings

Post only1billybonds »

Our league cup game at Mansfield in the 60's has had a couple of mentions this morning and it got me thinking of some of the classic cup shocks I've seen over the years. 

One that really stands out is Colchester beating the (then) great Leeds team 3-2 in the FA cup 5th round back in 71. Was the biggest football shock most of my generation had seen up to that point, plenty more were to follow. 
Anyone else?
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BRANDED
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Re: Giant Killings

Post BRANDED »

Good opportunity for the players who played to get a full game. If we’d lost it wouldnt have been so good but. 
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El Scorchio
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Re: Giant Killings

Post El Scorchio »

The top clubs have comfortably two full sides of quality players who could compete against most other sides and win to pick from so it's unsurprising they make a hatful of changes especially in early rounds and sometimes all the way through.

It's understandable in our position fighting against relegation and teams chasing promotion to safeguard the key players- particularly away against lower league opposition where the pitch might be a bit dodgy and the opposition might be a bit overexuberant. If we were comfortably mid table we'd have made less changes. It was a gamble with the team we sent out but for us it really is about priorities this season, sadly. I think Nuno has taken it seriously enough so far though and the QPR game undoubtedly kickstarted our season.
Eastside surge
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Re: Giant Killings

Post Eastside surge »

Used to enjoy a giant killing especially if it was at the hands of a rival so as to get the chance to take the piss out of anyone who was on the wrong end of it . Not the same nowadays though as most premier league teams simply see the fa cup as an inconvenience and as we did on Saturday virtually change the entire eleven.

Even championship teams now play weaker teams if they’ve got a sniff of promotion sad to see the slow demise of what was once the season highlight for me , although if we get to the final I’m up for tickets if anyone has spares obviously 🙄 
Gank
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Re: Giant Killings

Post Gank »

Whilst it's nice to be romantic, nostalgic or even get a chance to show off how far back you remember being such a great West Ham or football supporter, the greatest FA Cup shock in history happened this very season with Macclesfield knocking out the champions. 

That kills the romance off a little bit even though we were all hoping for the giant killing.
eusebiovic
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Re: Giant Killings

Post eusebiovic »

The Mercernary" wrote: 15 Feb 2026, 15:31 Fourth Division Rochdale got to the 1962 League Cup final - imagine the social media frenzy if something like that ever happens again.
I'm pretty sure that it did happen again about 12 years ago.

Swansea beat Bradford 5-0 in the league cup final. Phil Parkinson who is now ripping up the leagues with Wrexham was the Bradford boss. 
only1billybonds
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Re: Giant Killings

Post only1billybonds »

FC.

I remember the Swindon/Arsenal game.
Brian Moore doing his absolute nut as Don Rogers waltz around Bob Wilson.



 
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The Mercernary
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Re: Giant Killings

Post The Mercernary »

Fourth Division Rochdale got to the 1962 League Cup final - imagine the social media frenzy if something like that ever happens again.
Chip Shop Charlie
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Re: Giant Killings

Post Chip Shop Charlie »

Far Cough UKunt" wrote: 15 Feb 2026, 10:34 Hereford beating Newcastle, Ronnie Radford
 
 
Here are the highlights...the pitch makes Grimsby's pitch look like a bowling green in comparison 
https://youtu.be/ZnjEmscMDR4?si=4OpWDaEoKKb_RMXz
Pitch invasions galore. 
honky cat
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Re: Giant Killings

Post honky cat »

Bournemouth  v Man Utd 1980's

Harry was manager and an ex hammer with just a few appearances for us - Ev LaRonde. He was a lovely fella used to work around Canary Wharf.
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Manuel
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Re: Giant Killings

Post Manuel »

Alfs wrote: 15 Feb 2026, 11:56 York City beat Man Utd at OT 3-0 in the league cup.  1995, I think.
IIRC York beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup early 80's I think, might have been a last min pen.
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Far Cough UKunt
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Re: Giant Killings

Post Far Cough UKunt »

Who is old enough to remember little third division Swindon Town beating Arsenal 3-1 in the 1969 league cup final?
Don Rogers was the standout for Swindon.
the coming of gary
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Re: Giant Killings

Post the coming of gary »

As recently as 2008, the two FA Cup semi finals were -

West Bromwich v Portsmouth 
Barnsley v Cardiff

Seems impossible now.

The 2013 league cup final was Swansea v Bradford
.
Alfs
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Re: Giant Killings

Post Alfs »

York City beat Man Utd at OT 3-0 in the league cup.  1995, I think.
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One Sunny Day
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Re: Giant Killings

Post One Sunny Day »

Harlow Town of the diadora league, or something, knocking out Gary Lineker and Leicester City
 
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Far Cough UKunt
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Re: Giant Killings

Post Far Cough UKunt »

Didn't Yeovil beat the Arse on their fucked up pitch?
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El Scorchio
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Re: Giant Killings

Post El Scorchio »

Manuel wrote: 15 Feb 2026, 10:41 Giant-killings in the FA Cup are well documented, suspect we all know what most of them are. Wrexham beating Arse and Sutton beating Cov are two that spring to mind. Man Utd losing at home to Leeds.
I was thinking of Sutton. Didn’t they then lose 8-0 to Norwich in the next round or something?
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ragingbull
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Re: Giant Killings

Post ragingbull »

I think we were second division when we lost to Newport does that count as a giant killing,they certainly smelt blood yesterday for a live game.
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Manuel
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Re: Giant Killings

Post Manuel »

Giant-killings in the FA Cup are well documented, suspect we all know what most of them are. Wrexham beating Arse and Sutton beating Cov are two that spring to mind. Man Utd losing at home to Leeds.
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El Scorchio
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Re: Giant Killings

Post El Scorchio »

Bradford beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. 
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Far Cough UKunt
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Re: Giant Killings

Post Far Cough UKunt »

Hereford beating Newcastle, Ronnie Radford
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