If football employed Hollywood scriptwriters, the 2024/25 season was all about one of a pensmith’s most-favoured narrative tools: the redemption arc. Not one, not two but three English clubs all won trophies for the first time in a long time; creating some stellar, lifelong memories for fanbases that have been starved of them for decades.
Newcastle United were first up, lifting the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win over Liverpool in the final at Wembley. Other than the miniscule Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Intertoto Cup and Anglo-Italian Cup, this was the Magpies’ first piece of silverware since lifting the FA Cup in 1955.
Next up was Crystal Palace, who defied the odds to defeat Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup. This was a particularly poignant victory, who won something called the Full Members Cup back in 1991 as well as the Second Division title in 1994. Otherwise, their trophy cabinet is bare.
Last but by no means least were Tottenham, who salvaged some pride from a wretched campaign by lifting the Europa League trophy – this was their first significant piece of silverware since landing the League Cup back in 2008. Hoodoo be gone. But for others, of course, the trophy drought goes on… so which significant English clubs have now waited the longest to get their hands on some silverware?
The Longest Trophy Drought in English Football
We don’t want to just give away the English club with the longest trophy hoodoo – where’s the fun in that? So, let us first build up to the reveal by teasing you with some near misses. It’s amazing to think that some of the bastions of English football – clubs that have been in, or around, the Premier League for three decades – have gone so long without lifting a cup or championship.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa, for example, haven’t won a significant trophy since 1996, when they landed the League Cup. Yes, they won the Championship play-offs in 2019 and got a makeshift trophy to commemorate that, but it doesn’t really count in the grand scheme of things.
Everton
Everton can go one better than that: they have now gone 30 years, and counting, without earning some major silverware. That came back in 1995, when Paul Rideout’s goal was enough to secure a famous FA Cup victory over Manchester United in a Wembley final.
Nottingham Forest
From kings of Europe to… well, little else. Nottingham Forest were the best team on the continent in 1979/80, landing the European Cup and Super Cup. But it’s been a period of mostly drought since, with a League Cup win in 1990 the only trophy hoisted by the Tricky Trees since… aside from the Second Division title, if you count that.
Norwich City
Others that have previously played in the Premier League have had to wait four decades or more for a significant win. Norwich City fans are now 40 years into their trophy hoodoo; if we don’t count the commemorative cup that comes with winning the Championship, which they received in 2004, 2019 and 2021.
Ipswich Town
The Canaries’ bitter rivals, Ipswich Town, have endured a similar length of hoodoo – some 44 years. They won the UEFA Cup in 1981, although like Norwich they also got their hands on a cup for winning Division Two back in 1992.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers are one of the oldest clubs in England, and a regular fixture in the Premier League. But their last major trophy? That came way back in 1980, when they prevailed in the League Cup. Only League One and Championship-winning silverware has been forthcoming since.
Southampton
Southampton won’t end their trophy drought before it ticks over to 50 years – their last big silverware coming in 1976, when they landed the FA Cup. But the Saints have come so close in the meantime, losing in the final of the FA Cup in 2003 and the League Cup in 2017.
Sunderland & Stoke City
A whole host of one-time Premier League clubs have been forced to wait 50 or more years for a significant trophy. Sunderland last bolstered their silverware collection in 1973 with the FA Cup, while the last trophy of Stoke City came a year prior to that in 1972.
West Brom & QPR
You’ll have to go back to 1968 for the last West Brom trophy hoist; that being their FA Cup triumph over Everton, while the League Cup triumph of QPR in 1967 was their most recent halcyon day.
Burnley
And how about the plight of Burnley? A two-time First Division champion, the Clarets have also won other league titles and even played in Europe. But their last significant cup lift… well, that came all the way back in 1960 when they were crowned champions of England. How much longer will their supporters have to wait to see their beloved lift some silverware?
Spare a Thought for Sheffield United Fans…
For a club that has often frequented the Premier League or its forerunner Division One, it’s amazing how little silverware has been won by Sheffield United. In fact, in 2025, the Blades ‘celebrated’ a century without a major trophy! And yet, their history is long and illustrious. They were the first English sports club ever to use ‘United’ in their name back in 1854, and they were undoubtedly the best football club in the land during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
They hoovered up trophies at a tremendous rate. Sheffield United won the FA Cup four times between 1899 and 1925, as well as the First Division championship in 1897/98. Since then, it’s been a barren old time for the Blades. They won the Second Division title in 1953, as well as League One in 2017, but as far as major silverware is concerned, it’s all the way back to 1925 that we go. So the next time that you’re bemoaning the lack of silverware won by your club, remember the long old hoodoo experienced by Sheffield United supporters!
