1872–73 FA Cup

FA Cup 1872–73
Country England
Champions Wanderers
Runner-up Oxford University

The Football Association Challenge Cup 1872–73 was the second staging of the FA Cup, England's oldest football tournament. Sixteen teams entered, one more than the previous season, although two of the sixteen never actually played a match.

In keeping with the original concept of it being a "challenge" cup, the holders, Wanderers, were given a bye all the way to the final, for which they were also allowed to select the venue. This was the only season in which the holders were granted these privileges.

Queen's Park were given byes until the semi-finals in order to reduce the amount of travelling necessary, but then withdrew anyway when scheduled to play Oxford University, who therefore received a walk-over to the final.

Contents

First round

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Barnes 0–1 South Norwood 1,200 19 October 1872
Maidenhead 1–0 Marlow 1,390 26 October 1872
Clapham Rovers Walkover Hitchin
Queen's Park Bye
Reigate Priory 2–4 Windsor Home Park 800 26 October 1872
Civil Service 0–3 Royal Engineers 1,000 26 October 1872
Upton Park 0–2 1st Surrey Rifles 1,500 26 October 1872
Crystal Palace 2–3 Oxford University 1,459 26 October 1872

Second round

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Royal Engineers Bye
Clapham Rovers 0–3 Oxford University 1,562 23 November 1872
Queen's Park Bye
1st Surrey Rifles 0–3 Maidenhead 700 23 November 1872
South Norwood 1–0 Match void Windsor Home Park 800 23 November 1872

Replay

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Windsor Home Park 3–0 South Norwood 900 7 December 1872

Third round

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Windsor Home Park 0–1 Maidenhead 900 21 December 1872
Oxford University 1–0 Royal Engineers 800 9 December 1872
Queen's Park Bye

Fourth round

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Oxford University 4–0 Maidenhead 800 3 February 1873
Queen's Park Bye

Semi-Final

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Oxford University Walkover Queen's Park

Final

Wanderers were exempt until the final as the 1871–72 Cup winners.

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Wanderers 2–0 Oxford University 3,000 29 March 1873

The final was played at Lillie Bridge. The attendance of 3,000 was considered low and attributed to the Boat Race occurring later in the same day, so few turned up or in fact stayed for the whole duration of the game.

References