FA Cup Final 1872

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The 1872 FA Cup Final was the first ever final of the world's oldest football competition, the FA Cup. The match took place on March 16, 1872 at the Kennington Oval, London and was won by the Wanderers with a 1-0 victory over a team from the Royal Engineers.

In 1871, the Football Association consisted of only 30 clubs, and only 15 of those entered the first 'FA Challenge Cup' as it was then known.

[edit] Teams

THE WANDERERS 1 (Betts)
GK Reginald de Courtenay Welch
  C. W. Alcock
  Morton Betts Goal
  Alexander Bonsor
  Edward Bowen
  W. P. Crake
  T. C. Hooman
  Edgar Lubbock
  Albert Thompson
  Robert Vidal
  Charles Wollaston
ROYAL ENGINEERS 0
  capt William Merriman
  capt Francis Marindin
  lieut G. W. Addison
  lieut Edmund Cresswell
  lieut Mitchell
  lieut Henry Renny-Tailyour
  lieut Rich
  lieut Alfred Goodwyn
  lieut Muirhead
  lieut Cotter
  lieut Bogle

[edit] Route to the final

Full results of 1871-72 FA Cup

In the first round Wanderers were drawn against Harrow Chequers and the Engineers faced Reigate Priory. Both matches resulted in walkovers for the home team. In the second round, both teams played away fixtures; Clapham Rovers were beaten 3-1 by the Wanderers whilst the Engineers beat Hitchin 5-0.

The lack of precedent for competitive sporting tournaments made itself evident in the quarter finals, with just four teams taking part. Wanderers drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace (not to be confused with the 1905-founded current club) and in a move alien to modern competition, both clubs were allowed to progress. Engineers beat the Hampstead Heathens 2-0. Scottish club Queen's Park were allowed a bye all the way to the semi-final stage, and were told that should they defeat their opposition, The Wanderers, they would be allowed to play the final the following day. These offers were made because of the costs of travelling from Glasgow to the south-east of England at the time. A club from Donington, Lincolnshire was the second-most northerly in the competition.

In the actual event, after their semi-final at the Oval was drawn 0-0, Queen's Park chose to return to Scotland rather than take part in the replay. The Engineers also drew their semi-final at the Oval 0-0, and beat Crystal Palace 3-0 in the replay. Wanderers were awarded the Queen's Park match by default.

[edit] External links

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