<p>
The Football League Cup began in 1960 and has been won by a huge variety of clubs but apart from it's ever changing name what other mysteries does this cup's history hold?</p>
<p>
With more third round fixtures being played tonight here's some history on the trophy which celebrates it's 54th birthday this year:</p>
<p>
The Football League Cup consists of 92 clubs (which include the Premier League Clubs and the 72 Football League Clubs). Winners of the Cup qualify for the UEFA Europa League. </p>
<p>
Currently the prize money for winning the tournament is £100,000 and the runners-up prize is £50,000. This is excluding any ticket sales. </p>
<p>
The League Cup was originally introduced in the 1960s as a mid-week tournament. Many opposed to the Cup as they thought it would distract from the European League (which was set up 5 years earlier) and the Domestic league.</p>
<p>
In total sixteen clubs opposed the competition's creation but thirty-one approved it. Once the cup had been approved the Football League negotiated with UEFA that the winners would qualify for a European competition as long as they were in the domestic first division. This also prompted the final to be held at Wembley to make the cup a lot more appealing to clubs. <span style="line-height: 13.1999998092651px;">Aston Villa won the ever Football League Cup in 1960-61 beating Rotherham 3-2.</span></p>
<p>
In modern times England and France are the only UEFA members who offer a European place for the winners of their second cup competitions. </p>
<p>
Here's some impressive upset's that have been seen over the years in the League Cup:</p>
<ul>
<li>
4th Division Chester beat Leeds 3-0 (1974-75)</li>
<li>
Grimsby Town beat Liverpool 2-1 (2001-02)</li>
<li>
League two Bradford City beat Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa on their way to the final (2012-13)</li>
<li>
This year League one MK Dons beat Manchester Utd 4-0</li>
</ul>
<p>
During it's history the trophy has had a number of different official names:</p>
<ol>
<li>
Football League Cup, 1960 - 1982 (No Sponsor)</li>
<li>
Milk Cup, 1982 - 1986 (Milk Marketing Board)</li>
<li>
Littlewoods, 1986 - 1990 Challenge Cup (Littlewoods)</li>
<li>
Rumbelows Cup, 1990 - 1992 (Rumbelows)</li>
<li>
Coca-Cola Cup, 1992 - 1998 (Coca-Cola)</li>
<li>
Worthington Cup, 1998 - 2003 (Worthington's)</li>
<li>
Carling Cup, 2003 - 2012 (Molson Coors)</li>
<li>
Capital One Cup, 2012-2016 (Capital One)</li>
</ol>
<p>
Knowing it's history would you rather your team go for the Capital One Cup glory and earn a place in Europe or concentrate their efforts elsewhere? Let us know on <a href="http://twitter.com/fitforfootball" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diamondfootball" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/+DiamondFootballCompany/posts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">G+</a>. </p>
