This story brough to you by willhill.co.uk, www.williamhill.co.uk

Alan Hardaker was the brains behind The Carling Cup. Hardaker was the secretary for the Football League from 1957 to 1979 and he started a tournament based on two legged ties because he believed that this would appeal more to lower league teams finically more than the FA Cup, where the smaller teams could go for a long while before getting a money spinning home tie. willhill.co.uk

It wasn’t until the season of 1960 – 1961 that the big teams started to take notice of the Carling Cup, when second division Rotherham United finished runners up to Aston Villa and then the nest season Rochdale became the first fourth division team to reach a Cup Final. 1963 was the first year that was a top division final and Birmingham City won when they beat rivals Aston Villa in final. The Lure of this Cup was now growing fast for all the top flight teams and 1965 saw Chelsea taking part and beating Leicester 3-2 on aggregate.

willhill.co.uk provides information that in 1969 to 1970 The Carling Cup started to boast bigger crowds than the FA cup. Tottenham Hotspur became the first club to win The Carling Cup twice, when the beat Norwich City 1-0 in 1973. All major premiership teams take part in this great competition each year, with all one goal in mind to win The Great Carling Cup! Who will be the winners of The Carling Cup 2007 – 2008 is still to be decided! www.williamhill.co.uk