by Matthew Adams

Created on: December 16, 2009

The FA Cup and League double refers to teams that win both the FA Cup and league title in the same season.  Only a few English clubs and teams have actually won the double, but a number of others have come close.  Prior to '61 it was considered mpossible, as no club had won the double.

That was until Tottenham won the first double in 1961.  This great Spurs team won the league and FA Cup in the same season to prove that the double was not impossible.  Indeed, they would be the first, and not the last team to win the glorious double.

Arsenal had come close to winning the double before Spurs in the 1930s.  However, while they did not win the double then in 1971 they would emulate Spurs.  Bertie Mee's double winning team won the league title with up to 68 points and then beat Liverpool in FA Cup final.  Most impressive was their home form, where they conceded only 6 goals and did not loose a game.

Liverpool had a habit of winning trophies in the '80s.  So, it could not come entirely as a surprise that they would win the double in '86.  With the likes of Rush and co they would win the FA Cup and league double.

For Manchester Utd, their first double was in '94.  A first double was won with a great team that would beat Chelsea 4-0 in the FA-Cup Final. 

A first double, was not their last.  For they would win a further double in '96 with new and exciting players.  Beckham, Scholes and co alongside more established players.

Then, a thrid double was won in '99.  This as part of the treble winning team, that was perhaps one of the great teams.  Overall, they were very exciting with some great forward players.

Arsenal have also won a further two doubles.  In '98 and 2002 with players such as Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, Viera and Overmars they played some fantastic football to bring further domestic honours to the club's impressive trophy cabinet.

So overall, only four clubs have ever won the double.  The big three, and Tottenham's great team that proved the double could be won.  Increasingly, the double seems to be more probable as further teams have narrowly missed the mark.

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