Bill Townley scored the first Cup Final hat trick in front of 20,000 spectators. Townley was one nine internationals in the Rovers' team, who were a serious professional unit.
Referee Colonel Francis Arthur Marindin KCMG, officiated his eight and last Cup Final. He was one of the founders of the FA Cup, a founder member of the Royal Engineers FC, twice played in the final, an Old Etonian, captain, ref and administrator. One of the great men to set up our big game. He lived between 1838 and 1900.
He stepped down gracefully from his post as FA President, once he saw that professionalism had taken over football.
On March 29th 1924, Billy Meredith played for Manchester City in the Cup Final against Newcastle United. He was 49 years old and 8 months old, one of the great players.
The Football Alliance was formed in 1889 as an alternative to the Football League that was running, founded in 1882. Twelve clubs originally joined the Alliance, from the north and midlands. The two leagues joined in 1892 to create two division in the F.L.
Clubs included Ardwick, Birmingham St Georges, Bootle, Burton Swifts, Crewe Alex, Darwen, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Long Eaton Rangers, Newton heath, Nottingham Forest, Small Heath, Stoke, Sunderland Albion, The Wednesday, Wallsall Town Swifts.
The Wednesday, Stoke and Nottingham Forest were champions on each of the three years that the F. Alliance ran.
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