There have been a number of FA Cup Finals held on March 29th
March 29th 1873 The Wanderers v Oxford University 2-0 at Lillie Bidge. Att: 3,000The Lillie Bridge Grounds, was a sports' ground on the Fulham side of West Brompton, London. It opened in 1866, coinciding with the opening of the local railway station. It was named after the local landowner, Sir John Scott Lillie (1790–1868) and the Lillie Bridge over the West London Line, that links Old Brompton Road with Lillie Road. The grounds were adjacent to the railway on the south side of Lillie Road. Although geographically near to present day Stamford Bridge, there was never direct access, there being the 13 acre now defunct Western Hospital site between the two. The ground was the scene in its day of many sports including athletics, boxing, cricket, cycling and football, and hosted the FA Cup Final in 1873. The Wanderers after winning the first FA Cup final in 1872, were allowed to defend the cup in the second final of 1873 with choice of venue. Not having a ground of their own, they chose Lillie Bridge and Oxford University were defeated 2–0. The attendance was over 1,000 higher than the previous final.Wanderers as winners of the first FA Challenge Cup, “ were responsible for choosing Lillie Bridge as the venue for the 1873 final. As holders they had earned the privilege not only of a bye to the final but also the choice of where the game would be played, and as their name suggests, without a home ground to call their own, club officials decided on the west London ground.
Their opponents were Oxford University, whose appearance in that particular final directly impacted the game's kick-off time. On the same day “ 29 March 1873, “ the annual Oxford-Cambridge University boat race took place on the Thames. As it was scheduled for the afternoon, the FA Cup final was moved to the morning to accommodate spectators who wished to watch both events. Whether this helped the attendance at the football is up for debate; the official attendance at the game was 3000, a figure likely dwarfed by the number of people who would have lined the banks of the river to watch the two crews rowing from Putney to Mortlake. Anyone supporting Oxford University at both events would have been doubly disappointed: the rowers' three length defeat by Cambridge was preceded by defeat at the football. 1879: Old Etonians v Clapham Rovers. 1-0. Att:5,000 1882: Old Etonians beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Att:6,500. 1883: Blackburn Olympic (not Rovers) beat the Old Etonians 1-0 aet. Att:8,000.
On March 29th 1884, Blackburn Rovers began a period of dominance in English football, beating Queen's Park (yes, the Scottish club) at the Oval, 2-1. Att:4,000.
The match was refereed by Major Francis Marindin, an Old Etonian, who reffed 8 finals. It was his 16th year as President of the FA, he was one of the founders of the FA Cup tournament, he helped found the Royal Engineers FC, and was an Officer Of Railways at the Board of Trade. He was knighted in 1897.
In 1885 (not March 29th!) Queen's Park met Blackburn Rovers again and Rovers won 2-0 at The Oval. Marindin reffed. Att:12,500
In 1886 (not 29th March) Rovers and WBA drew 0-0 the Cup Final first (15,000) at The Oval and Rovers won the replay 2-0 (12,000) at The Racecourse Ground, Derby. Marindin reffed.
It closed in 1888 following a riot reported in The Times.
On March 29th 1890, at the Oval, The Battle of the Roses took place, as an FA Cup Final was staged between Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday. It was the Rovers who won 6-1, in front of 20,000. With 9 internationals in their side, Bill Townley, one of them, scored the first hat trick in an FA Cup Final. Sheffield Wednesday were in the Football Alliance at the time. Marindin reffed.
In 1891, at The Oval, Marindin didn't ref, Rovers won the Cup for the 5th time, beating Notts County 3-1. James Forrest won his 5th Cup winners medal. He was the first professional to play for England.
Rovers next Cup Final was in 1928 when Rovers beat the Terriers (Huddersfield Town) 3-1 at a Wembley packed with over a 92,000 crowd. By that time the League programme meant that Cup Finals were played in late April.
This was the first Cup Final since 1910 that BOTH SIDES scored. Rovers narrowly avoided relegation and Town were top dogs! being League Champions in 1924, 1925 and 1926 and runners up in 1927 and 1928.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2DWSkKukB0
Rovers then lost to Wolves in the 1960 Cup Final 0-3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SmzON6BVFw
Ties BEGAN this season, with a Preliminary Rd on August 6th 2022, when 416 clubs joined in. Early upsets included:
The lowest attendance was in the Extra Preliminary Rd:
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P.s, Middlesex County Cricket Club moved to Lillie Bridge in 1869. WG Grace scored several centuries here before the MCCC left in 1872 to find better quality turf at Lord's.
