2021–22 Women's FA Cup

For the men's event, see 2021–22 FA Cup.
2021–22 Women's FA Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Teams417
Final positions
ChampionsChelsea (4th title)
Runner-upManchester City
Tournament statistics
Matches played400
Goals scored2,016 (5.04 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Chloe Williams (Liskeard Athletic)
12 goals[1]

The 2021–22 Women's FA Cup was the 52nd staging of the Women's FA Cup, a knockout cup competition for women's football teams in England. Chelsea were the defending champions, having beaten Arsenal 3–0 in the 2020–21 final which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually played on 5 December 2021.

The final was won by Chelsea who beat Manchester City after extra time at Wembley Stadium in front of a record attendance of 49,094.[2]

Teams

A total of 417 teams entered the 2021–22 Women's FA Cup, an increase of 41 from the previous year.[3] Unlike previous years, there were no additional preliminary rounds prior to first round qualifying. Tier 5 teams were given an exemption for the first time, entering at the second round qualifying stage. The 50 teams that play in the FA Women's National League Division One (tier 4) are given exemption to the third round qualifying, while teams in the Northern and Southern Premier Divisions (tier 3) enter at the first round proper. Also for the first time, teams in the FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship (tiers 1 and 2) entered in different rounds with Championship teams exempt until the third round proper, one round earlier than in previous years, while FA WSL teams remained exempt until the fourth round proper.[4]

Round Clubs
remaining		 Clubs
involved		 Winners from
previous round		 Games played Goals scored Prize money[5]
Winner Loser
First round qualifying 417 152 – 68 418 £400 £100
Second round qualifying 341 240[a] 76 115 621 £450 £115
Third round qualifying 221 170[b] 120 82 402 £600 £150
First round 136 112[c] 85 56 272 £850 £215
Second round 80 56 56 28 115 £1,000 £250
Third round 52 40[d] 28 20 78 £1,250 £315
Fourth round 32 32[e] 20 16 56 £2,000 £500
Fifth round 16 16 16 8 28 £3,000 £750
Quarter-final 8 8 8 4 14 £4,000 £1,000
Semi-final 4 4 4 2 7 £5,000 £1,250
Final 2 2 2 1 5 £25,000 £15,000
  1. ^ Tier 5 regional premier division teams added
  2. ^ 50 FA Women's National League Division One teams added
  3. ^ 27 FA Women's National League Premier Division teams added
  4. ^ 12 FA Women's Championship teams added
  5. ^ 12 FA WSL teams added

First round qualifying

The competition started at the first round qualifying stage with 76 matches played in September 2021, made up of teams from the seventh-tier county leagues and randomly drawn tier six regional second division teams.[6]

Second round qualifying

120 matches were played in the second round qualifying in October 2021, made up of the 76 winning teams from the first round qualifying and included the introduction of 164 teams from the fifth-tier regional first division football leagues and the remaining sixth-tier teams.[6]

Third round qualifying

85 matches were played in the third round qualifying in October 2021, made up of the 120 winning teams from the second round qualifying and including the introduction of 50 teams from the fourth-tier FA Women's National League Division One.[4]

First round proper

56 matches were played in the first round proper in November 2021, made up of the 85 winning teams from the third round qualifying and included the introduction of 27 from teams the third-tier FA Women's National League Premier Division.[4]

Second round proper

28 matches were played in the second round proper in November 2021, made up of the 56 winning teams from the first round proper and did not include the introduction of any new teams.[4]

Third round proper

20 matches were played in the third round proper in December 2021, made up of the 28 winning teams from the second round proper and included the introduction of 12 teams from the second-tier FA Women's Championship.[4]

Fourth round proper

16 matches were played in the fourth round proper on 29 and 30 January 2022, made up of the 20 winning teams from the third round proper and included the introduction of 12 teams from the first-tier FA Women's Super League. The fourth round proper was the final round to introduce new teams.[4]

29 January 2022 Nottingham Forest (3)0–8 Manchester City (1) West Bridgford
13:00 Report
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 3,994
29 January 2022 Aston Villa (1)1–3 Chelsea (1) Walsall
13:00
Report
Stadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 1,093
Referee: Abigail Bryne
30 January 2022 Arsenal (1) 1–0London City Lionesses (2)Borehamwood
12:30 Miedema 44' Report 1 Report 2 Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 1,100[18]
30 January 2022 Southampton F.C. (3) 1–0 (a.e.t.)Bristol City (2)Southampton
13:00 Morris 91' Report Stadium: St Mary's Stadium
Attendance: 3,638
30 January 2022 Plymouth Argyle (3)0–6 Charlton Athletic (2) Plymouth
13:00 Report
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 469[19]
30 January 2022 Brighton & Hove Albion (1)2–3 Reading (1) Crawley
13:00
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 631
30 January 2022 Durham (2) 3–1Blackburn Rovers (2)Durham
13:00
Report
Stadium: Maiden Castle
Attendance: 447
30 January 2022 Sheffield United (2)1–4 West Ham United (1) Sheffield
13:00
Report
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 353[20]
30 January 2022 Birmingham City (1) 2–1 (a.e.t.)Sunderland (2)Birmingham
13:00
Report
Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 384[21]
Referee: Magda Golba
30 January 2022 Huddersfield Town (3)0–4 Everton (1) Huddersfield
13:00 Report
Stadium: Kirklees Stadium
Attendance: 1,168
30 January 2022 Newcastle United (4)0–1 Ipswich Town (3) Newcastle upon Tyne
14:00 Report O'Brien 3' Stadium: Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,754
30 January 2022 Liverpool (2) 6–0Lincoln City (4)Birkenhead
14:00
Report Stadium: Prenton Park
30 January 2022 Billericay Town (4)1–1 (a.e.t.)
(2–4 p)		 Coventry United (2) Billericay
14:00
Report
Stadium: New Lodge
Attendance: 415
Referee: Nicolet Bria
Penalties
  • Jones soccer ball with check mark
  • Lockett soccer ball with red X
  • Stimson soccer ball with check mark
  • Rushen soccer ball with red X
30 January 2022 West Bromwich Albion (3) 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)		Exeter City (4)Sutton Coldfield
14:00 Report Stadium: Coles Lane
Penalties
  • George soccer ball with check mark
  • Embley soccer ball with check mark
  • Congrave soccer ball with check mark
  • Stamps soccer ball with check mark
  • soccer ball with red X Watkins
  • soccer ball with check mark Beck
  • soccer ball with check mark Taylor
  • soccer ball with red X Britton
30 January 2022 Bridgwater United (3)0–2 Manchester United (1) Bridgwater
14:00 Report 1 Report 2
Stadium: Fairfax Park
Attendance: 2,500[22]
Referee: Richie Watkins
30 January 2022 Tottenham Hotspur (1)1–3 (a.e.t.) Leicester City (1) Canons Park
14:00
Report
Stadium: The Hive Stadium
Attendance: 596

Fifth round proper

Eight matches were played in the fifth round proper on 26 and 27 February 2022, made up of the 16 winning teams from the fourth round proper.[4]

26 February 2022 Chelsea (1) 7–0Leicester City (1)Kingston upon Thames
13:00
Report
Stadium: Kingsmeadow
Attendance: 2,723
27 February 2022 Liverpool (2)0–4 Arsenal (1) Birkenhead
12:00 Report
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 1,851[23]
27 February 2022 Manchester United (1)1–4 Manchester City (1) Leigh
12:30
Report
Stadium: Leigh Sports Village
Attendance: 2,335
27 February 2022 Charlton Athletic (2)0–2 Everton (1) Bexley
13:00 Report
Stadium: The Oakwood
Attendance: 457
27 February 2022 Durham (2)0–1 Birmingham City (1) Durham
14:00 Report
Stadium: Maiden Castle
Attendance: 593
27 February 2022 West Bromwich Albion (3)2–4 Coventry United (2) Sutton Coldfield
14:00
Stadium: Coles Lane
27 February 2022 Reading (1)0–1 (a.e.t.) West Ham United (1) Reading
14:00 Report
Stadium: Madejski Stadium
27 February 2022 Ipswich Town (3) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)		Southampton (3)Felixstowe
14:00
Report
Stadium: Goldstar Ground
Attendance: 1,167
Penalties
  • O'Brien soccer ball with check mark
  • Bryant soccer ball with check mark
  • Barratt soccer ball with check mark
  • Peake soccer ball with check mark
  • soccer ball with red X Kendall
  • soccer ball with check mark Parnell
  • soccer ball with check mark Rutherford
  • soccer ball with red X Rood

Quarter-finals

Four matches were played in the quarter-finals on 18 and 20 March 2022, made up of the eight winning teams from the fifth round proper.[4]

18 March 2022 Arsenal (1) 4–0Coventry United (2)Borehamwood
19:00
Report Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 761[24]
Referee: Abigail Byrne
20 March 2022 Chelsea (1) 5–0Birmingham City (1)Kingston upon Thames
14:00
Report Stadium: Kingsmeadow
Attendance: 1,869
Referee: Lucy May
20 March 2022 Manchester City (1) 4–0Everton (1)Manchester
12:30
Report Stadium: Academy Stadium
Attendance: 1,214[25]
Referee: Lauren Impey
20 March 2022 Ipswich Town (3)0–1 West Ham United (1) Felixstowe
12:30 Report
Stadium: Goldstar Ground
Attendance: 2,000[26]
Referee: Amy Fearn

Semi-finals

Two matches were played in the semi-finals on 16 and 17 April 2022, made up of the four winning teams from the quarter-finals.[4]

16 April 2022 West Ham United (1)1–4 Manchester City (1) Dagenham
12:15
Report
Stadium: Victoria Road
Attendance: 1,565
Referee: Abigail Byrne
17 April 2022 Arsenal (1)0–2 Chelsea (1) Borehamwood
12:30
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 3,458
Referee: Rebecca Welch

Final

Main article: 2022 Women's FA Cup Final

The final was played at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 15 May 2022.[4]

Chelsea3–2 (a.e.t.)Manchester City
 Report
Attendance: 49,094
Referee: Kirsty Dowle (Kent)[27]

Television rights

Round BBC
Fourth round Arsenal v London City Lionesses (BBC Red Button)
Fifth round Liverpool v Arsenal (BBC Red Button)
Manchester United v Manchester City (BBC Two)
Quarter-finals Ipswich Town v West Ham United (BBC Red Button)
Semi-finals West Ham United v Manchester City (BBC One)
Arsenal v Chelsea (BBC Two)
Final Chelsea v Manchester City (BBC One)

References

  1. ^ "Top scorer award presented for 2021-22 Vitality Women's FA Cup at Wembley". www.thefa.com.
  2. ^ "Women's FA Cup final at Wembley draws record crowd". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ "417 teams accepted for Vitality Women's FA Cup 2021-22 campaign". thefa.com. The Football Association. 6 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Details for the Vitality Women's FA Cup 2021-22 campaign". thefa.com. The Football Association. 6 August 2021.
  5. ^ Association, The Football. "Prize fund". www.thefa.com.
  6. ^ a b "The first two draws of the Vitality Women's FA Cup 2021-22 campaign have been made". thefa.com. The Football Association. 13 August 2021.
  7. ^ Hinson, Paul [@StattoPaul59] (24 October 2021). "Result @FCUnitedWomen 12 (Chambers 2,4,40,57 Donelan 10 Hunt 20 Rigby 26,90 Mather 29,56 Hartley 34 O'Gara 90) BRNESC Women 1 (Brislew 54) Att 115 Reds safely through to the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup after trouncing their Merseyside visitors https://t.co/noE1U7i17d" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Lionesses reinstated to Vitality Women's FA Cup". Salford City FC.
  9. ^ Clapton Community FC [@ClaptonCFC] (25 October 2021). "Official attendance of 268 at Biggleswade United vs Clapton CFC in the Women's FA Cup 👏👏👏 Amazing travelling support up from East London. https://t.co/o8HDjKrZAd" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Clapton Community FC [@ClaptonCFC] (25 October 2021). "@VitalityWFACup Some brilliant Women's FA Cup attendances elsewhere too. 536 at @BromleyLadiesFC, our @GLWFLeague rivals. 1045 saw last week's opponents @WCFC_Ladies, who were away at @afcw_ladies" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Seventh heaven for our ladies in Wimbledon return!". AFC Wimbledon.
  12. ^ Salford City FC [@SalfordCityFC] (16 November 2021). "Sunday's attendance for our Women's FA Cup tie against Alnwick Town Ladies has been confirmed as a new record 214 👏 Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you for the Second Round! #WeAreSalford 🦁🔴 https://t.co/2sswwPUcKZ" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Paul Groundtastic [@paul_gtastic] (14 November 2021). "Sunday 14 November 2021 Park Lane, Canvey Island Women's FA Cup 1st Round Hashtag United Women 17-0 Southend United Ladies Att: 171 | £5 | No prog. https://t.co/xSyq4WNdIo" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Match Report: New Milton Town (A)". 15 November 2021.
  15. ^ "2021/22 - FA Championship". Bristol City.
  16. ^ "Match Report: Crystal Palace (H)". 13 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Portsmouth FC Women vs Southampton Women 2021-12-12". Southampton FC.
  18. ^ "Arsenal beat London City in FA Cup" – via www.bbc.com.
  19. ^ "BBC Sport".
  20. ^ "BBC Sport".
  21. ^ "BBC Sport".
  22. ^ "Match Report: Manchester United (H)". 31 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Arsenal cruise into FA Cup round six" – via www.bbc.com.
  24. ^ "Arsenal vs. Coventry United - Football Match Summary - March 18, 2022 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
  25. ^ "Manchester City vs. Everton - Football Match Summary - March 20, 2022 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
  26. ^ "Tractor Girls' fairy tale FA Cup run comes to an end". East Anglian Daily Times.
  27. ^ "MATCH OFFICIALS CONFIRMED FOR THE EMIRATES FA CUP AND VITALITY WOMEN'S FA CUP FINALS".

For the BBC match Attendances, look under the Line ups section