Did the Peaky Blinders Stole The FA Cup? Football’s Unsolved Mystery

Take that cup at Peaky Blinders' request. We do not know if the infamous Birmingham gang used these phrases to carry out one of the biggest crimes in English history, but from a distance of 120 years, we may reconstruct the path and steps taken to steal the FA Cup trophy that Aston Villa won in 1895.

The FA Cup final between West Bomwich and Aston Villa took place on April 20, 1895 at Crystal Palace Stadium, also known as "Selhurst Park," and the latter team triumphed thanks to a goal that set a record for the fastest goal ever scored in an English cup final for 114 years.

Aston Villa, a youthful club, won it for the second time, and as a result of their success, the administrators chose to publicize the trophy in Birmingham. On Newtown Row, the route that connects the city of Birmingham with Villa Park Stadium, the trophy was on display at a William Shillcock sports store.

A gang of people broke into the business the night of September 10 and 11 and stole it covertly. Without success, the store owner and the Aston Villa team pleaded for information for a very long time and even offered a prize of 10/10 to anyone who came forward. After the issue was resolved, Aston Villa requested that the federation make another cup.

However, hesitations managed to stay. Who had snatched the cup? It was later revealed that one of the gang members was John 'Stosher' Stait, who had participated in the cup robbery. His grandchildren or relatives confirmed this in their testimonies.

In the long history of the world's oldest football event, the stolen trophy is the only original specimen that has gone missing. The cup was never found, but Aston Villa proudly displays the replica made a few years later by the federation.