Carling Cup 2009

The Carling Cup, also known without sponsorship as the “ FA League Cup”, is the English Football Association’s (The FA) secondary cup competition. It is not as prestigious or important as the FA Cup, and is only open to teams from the top professional divisions of the Football League, unlike the FA Cup which is open to the entire Football League – amateur, semi-professional and professional. A feature of this tournament in recent years has been the habit of the big teams in playing their reserve and youth team players, due to their commitments in Europe. This makes the Carling Cup a bit more competitive, as the smaller teams stand a better chance. However, it has also served to illustrate the gulf in class between teams, as Arsenal have reached the semis, final, and semis in consecutive years with primarily youth team players. Recent winners include Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool.

The Carling Cup: An alternate route into Europe

One of the top reasons to win the Carling Cup is that the winner gains entry into Europe club play, via the UEFA Cup. It’s been another reason why the “big” clubs have ignored the Carling Cup’s importance over the years, because they are likely to qualify for Europe via the league. However, smaller teams like Tottenham and Blackburn have long seen it as their best possible chance of getting into UEFA-sponsored competitions. Unlike the FA Cup however, where the runners-up get the UEFA Cup spot if the winners are already qualified for Europe through the league, the Carling Cup runners-up have no such luck.

Carling Cup 2008/2009 on OleOle

This community on OleOle will keep you up to date on everything happening in Carling Cup - this is right place to interact with other fans, contribute your opinion, and discuss everything from player rumours and transfers to match results! Drag widgets to move them around the page, change the settings on each widget and choose how much Carling Cup news or information to display. Upload the Carling Cup logo or badge (the official logo is subject to copyright).

Carling Cup News

Fans can discuss Carling Cup news, comment on the fan wall, and comment and vote on blogs, news, gossip or any media – photos, videos and more! Fans can start and write their own football blog dedicated to the Carling Cup. If you’re breaking news or want to write a pre-match or post-match commentary, your blog might even get featured on the OleOle home page for everyone to read. Any fan can also browse or upload Carling Cup photos and videos and desktop wallpapers and vote for their favourites.

Live Carling Cup Scores and Results

You’ll find Carling Cup results and live football scores here, too. The Scores and Results widget lists the match schedule and you can also find past match results and current standings. Check the Carling Cup schedule and follow teams as they progress from qualification to group to final stages of the tournament. Click through to the OleOle MatchCentre to follow live matches and discuss the play by play with other fans in real-time! Anyone can be a match commentator on OleOle – it’s your change to give other fans your take on the match you see it. Live football scores will keep you updated with the latest results in real-time, all the time.

Carling Cup Facts and History

The history of the Carling Cup can also be found here, and you can help to write it! Using an open collaboration system called a wiki, you can document past teams, players, tournament champions, and most goals scored, awards, trophies, and results on the Premier League history wiki. Find out about the Carling Cup, its officials and executives, president and their predecessors. Help other users understand how the tournament works through qualifying, how venues are selected, who manages the tournament and more on the Carling Cup Facts wiki.

Buy Carling Cup Tickets

Carling Cup tickets are always in high demand and are usually sold out months before the semi-final and final matches. OleOle can secure great seats for just about any match, including the final on at Wembley stadium where we have category 1, 2, and category 3 tickets available for pre-purchase. OleOle is the place to go to buy match tickets online for Carling Cup - you can be at the matches there to experience it in person and support your team with Carling Cup tickets. Visit our Tickets and Travel section to find the latest tickets, tickets and travel packages, London city accommodations and hospitality packages and programmes. Just choose the match you want to see, pick your seats or category, and make your travel arrangements to get to England. Order your Carling Cup tickets today.