FIONA'S CUP RUNNETH OVER

On July 20th 1871, in the Sportsman Club in London, the FA Cup was first proposed by FA Secretary Charlie Alcock, an Old Harrovian,(Harrow School old boy) who said "It is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association, for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete."

I first gave this an airing on the 17th October 2014, a blog which was stimulated by Fiona Bruce, so for goodness sake do read this link and get a feel for Fiona. Otherwise there is no point to the title.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/hallam-enjoys-fiona-bruce.html

This other link is less stimulating although it does mention the Youdan Cup.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/its-not-winning-that-counts-is-it-louis.html

The Youdan Cup was held on March 5th by Sheffield FA in 1867, four years after the formation of the FA in 1863. The Youdan involved 12 local teams that played through 2 rounds leaving 3 teams.

In the final, watched by 3,000 people paying 3d for entry, Hallam beat Norfolk and Mackenzie (two clubs) in a three team play off. Drawn games were decided on "rouges" after a draw.
A rouge was achieved by shooting through posts set 8 yards apart either side of the 4 yard goal (as in Aussie Rules). A rouge only counted in the event of a draw.

Of course in Gaelic Football the alternative to their "goal" was a shot over the cross bar as in a rugby conversion.

In 1868, Sheffield FA held the World's second cup tournament known as the Cromwell Cup named after a local benefactor called Oliver (not the famous one).
Wednesday (the original Sheffield Wednesday) beat Garrick 1-0 in a sudden death extra time when the Garrick keeper flipped a high ball into his own goal.


On November 11 1871, the FA Cup began with 50 entrants including a drawn between Crystal Palace and Hitchin although both teams continued in the cup!

The Wanderers (a team of Public School old boys) got a walk over in the first round, beat Clapham Rovers in Round 2, got the bye after 0-0 with Crystal Palace in the 3rd Round and then in the semi-final drew 0-0 with Queen's Park from Glasgow, who were helped with travel expences by a public collection.

The teams fought out the draw but the Scots could not afford to travel for the replay, arranged at the Oval. The Wanderers then beat the Royal Engineers 1-0 in the first final.