150 YEARS OF THE FA CUP

150 years of the Football Association Cup, with the Final yesterday and I was entertaining grandchildren who prefered to run around the garden like headless chickens, rather than settled down on the sofa and watch the game. Mind you, they are both under 6 so they have an excuse. You will gather, I was not watching yesterday's FA Cup Final. 

When I was 6 years old, I watched the cup final on the family TV, a very small black and white Bush telly....1957; it was Aston Villa v Manchester United. Won by Villa 2-1 as they became the first club to lift the Cup seven times. Aston Villa lifted the club at four different venues and that season, became the first club to lift the FA Cup after conceding a goal in every round. They were the third club to appear in nine FA Cup Finals!

Photo below from "Villaunderground.com"

In 1872, the Cup was completed after the first ever Cup ties were held in November 1871. 15 teams started, and Hampstead Heathens were awarded the first bye. Maidenhead v Marlow was one of those early games and historically the oldest fixture still possible today. The first goal scored was by Jarvis Kenrick for Clapham Rovers, who best Upton Park 3-0. Jarvis scored two and Clapham of course the first to score three goals in one game.

* Upton Parkwas made up from public school boys from Brentwood and Felstead. Of course, several clubs were formed by old boys of local schools; Clapham Rovers, Barnes FC and Harrow Chequers to name a few.

The first goal less draw in the Cup was between Hitchin FC and the original Crystal Palace in a First Round tie, nevertheless both teams were allowed to continue in the cup, no replays. Reigate Priory and Harrow Chequers (old boys of the Public School), scratched from the competition, giving The Wanderers and The Royal Engineers the first walkover. Hampstead Heathens were awarded the first bye. The first Scottish club to join in the cup, Queen's Park, played one tie through the four rounds, allowed to progress to save travelling and they reached the semi-final, courtesy of the FA, scoring no goals and remaining unbeaten.

The first replay was between Barnes and Hampstead Heathens who drew their first tie 1-1 in Round 2. The Heathens won the replay 1-0. 

1871-2 Final: at the Kennington Oval, Edmund William Cresswell broke his collar bone in the tenth minute of the game, playing for the Royal Engineers v TheWanderers. But stoic, he carried on to the end of the game. Charles W Alcock scored the first ever "disallowed" goal in an FA Cup Final. Morton P. Betts scored the first goal (he was also known as A.H.Chequer...if you search this blog history you will find out why!). Below is Betts.

1874-5 Final: Cuthbert John Ottaway (below-Oxford Dictionary of National Biography) of The Old Etonians became the first player not to complete the full 90 minutes of a Final v The Wanderers. He left the field of play after 37 minutes with a sprained ankle and his team lost 0-1. 

1922-first competition to have over 600 clubs start in the earliest tie. 

1971-2 the first time an FA Cup tie was settled with penalties when Stoke City beat Birmingham City 4-3 after a 0-0 draw in a 3rd/4th Play Off game; AND Ted MacDougall scored 9 in a Proper Cup tie for AFC Bournemouth beating Margate 11-0 in  Round 1. Photo from "Sporting-Heroes.net".

 2022 9 subs/5 substitutions and 6 if needed in extra time!!

 (Reference to Phil Annets FA CUP:150 and www.)