DERBY COUNTY v BURY FC 1903

 

4,000 socially distanced spectators will view the second FA Cup Semi-Final today, played at Wembley, between Leicester City and Southampton.   

On this date, April 18th, in 1903, Derby County met Bury in the season's Cup Final, played at Crystal Palace. The result was at the time a record score of 6-0 to Bury, a record equalled in 2019, when Manchester City beat Watford at Wembley. Shame that City will have the chance to equal or beat that record this season!

The finalists route to the final was:

Rd 1 Bury beat Wolves 1-0:  Derby beat Small Heath 2-1

Rd 2 Bury at Sheffield Utd (the holders) 0-1: Derby beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0

Rd 3 Bury v Notts County 1-0:  Derby v Stoke 3-0

Semi-final Bury beat Aston Villa at Goodison 3-0 and Derby beat Millwall 3-0 at Aston Villa.

Derby had played in three finals and three semi-finals over the previous 8 years (and also got to the semi-final in 1904) but always was the bridesmaid. Derby lost to injury their goalkeeper, Jack Fryer, after 65 minutes, with a previously known groin injury. Bury were leading 5-0, at the time, so going down to 10 men didn't help the situation; mind you they only conceded one goal in that final period.

Steve Bloomer, Derby's "Gascoigne", was injured and didn't make the start of the game, a major loss. Just over 63,000 saw this game. Bury, the cup winners below, had six players who had played in the final three years before.

Note that the finalists (i.e. the more prestigious clubs) only played four rounds to get to the final (1-2-3-SF). A less prestigious club in 1902 joined the cup in The Preliminary Round. There was then a Qualifying Rd 1, Rd 2, Rd 3, Rd 4, Rd 5, then there was an Intermediate Rd when higher ranked clubs such as Manchester United joned in. In Round 1 more prestigious clubs such as Spurs were invited making 16 ties. Round 2 was for 8 ties, R3 was the Quarter-final i.e. four ties, involving Bury/Notts C, Derby/Stoke, Millwall Athletic/Everton and Spurs/Aston Villa. then came the Semi-Final. The final kicked off at 3.27pm (for some reason) maybe waiting for the huge crowds to settle in?

Now the likely finalists would play 5 rounds (from Rd 3-4-5-QF-SF).

As both teams normally wore white shirts and blue shorts, agreement was needed about who should change kit but both clubs claimed priority of choice. The issue was referred to the FA who refused to get involved. Unable to reach agreement, both clubs conceded the argument and neither team wore its normal kit. Bury turned out in Cambridge blue shirts and navy blue shorts, Derby in red shirts and black shorts. 

The Man Utd manager might take note of this genial agreement.