🏆 FA Cup Awards: The nearly men, brilliant back-ups and old-timers | OneFootball

It’s been a recurring theme in recent seasons to bemoan the death of the FA Cup.

But this campaign’s competition has injected new life into the old dog with this weekend’s fourth round being one for the ages.

The Worst Celebration Award

No competition for this one – Declan Rice, what were you doing?!

The Football’s Not All Bad Award

The wife of Hartlepool manager Graeme Lee has been diagnosed with a brain tumour and so to help with her recovery, Saturday’s opponents Crystal Palace and their fans donated £60,000 towards her treatment.

What an astonishing gesture.

The Dream Continues Award

The non-league outfit go marching on!

The Long Time Coming Award

Harvey Elliott suffered a horrific injury in September, one that looked like it could see him out for the season.

But on Sunday he returned to the Liverpool side and scored a brilliant goal to send the Reds through against Cardiff.

Lovely stuff.

The He’s Back Award

Harry Kane has endured an indifferent season with Tottenham but the England international looked back to his best on Saturday as he netted this stunner against Brighton.

The Brilliant Back-up Award

It’s been a difficult 18 months for Kepa at Chelsea.

Going from the world’s most expensive goalkeeper to the world’s most expensive back-up must have been tough, but the Spanish shot-stopper is making a brilliant habit of saving the Blues from the spot.

The ‘I’m Too Old For This Shit’ Award

It took 120 gruelling minutes for Middlesbrough to shock Manchester United on Friday night.

Minutes that clearly took their toll on 37-year-old Sol Bamba at full-time.

The First of Many Award

The Frank Lampard era at Everton got off to a winner start as Yerry Mina netted the first goal in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Brentford.

The Satisfaction Award

Stuart Armstrong’s goal for Southampton against Coventry on Saturday really does get better with every viewing.

The Star Boy Award

It wasn’t to be for Fulham at Manchester City on Saturday but for a brief moment at the start of the game, it looked like an upset was on.

Fabio Carvalho scored within three minutes and although he ended on the losing side we’re definitely going to be seeing more of this brilliant teenager.