I have just bought a wonderful book, "Lifting the Cup" plotting the history of Barnsley FC from 1909-12, a period when the club got to the FA Cup Final twice.
In the 1909-10 Cup there were 6 qualifying rounds and Barnsley joined in with ther big clubs at Round One. There were then five rounds before the final.
In 1910 the First Round tie was played between two Division 2 teams, Blackpool being their opponents. This tie was held on Saturday 15th January. 8,000 watched the game which was drawn 1-1 at Bloomfield Road.
In the replay on the 20th, at Oakwell, nearly 14,000 turned up on a Thursday when everyone should have been working! The good news was that the day was deemed a holiday due to the General Election proceedings taking place. There was no narrow victory in this replay however as Blackpool were hammered 6-0.
In the 1910 Cup Final, Barnsley lost to Newcastle after a replay, playing first at the old Crystal Palace in front of 77,747 (1-1) and then at Goodison Park losing 0-2 with 69,090 watching.
It is a long story, but this is Amos the Barnsley Cup mascot in 1910, Perhaps stolen from Blackpool beach? the team did train at Lytham St Annes prior to the tie.
Two years later (1911-12) Barnsley got to the final again and met West Bromwich Albion, at the Crystal Palace, drawing 0-0 (54,556) and winning the replay at Bramall Lane 1-0 (38,555). There were seven qualifying rounds and five more before the final.
This is the only time Barnsley have won the Cup. There was much celebration.
The coincidence is that this year, Barnsley play away at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool in their "first" round (actually it is the 3rd Round but you get my drift). We dare to dream of another visit to Wembley.
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