1872–73 FA Cup

FA Cup 1872–73
Country  England
 Scotland
Teams 16
Defending champions Wanderers
Champions Wanderers
Runners-up Oxford University
Matches played 13
Goals scored 35 (2.69 per match)

The Football Association Challenge Cup 1872–73 was the second staging of the FA Cup, England's oldest national football tournament. Sixteen teams entered, one more than the previous season, although two of the sixteen teams never actually played a match.

In keeping with the original concept of it being a "challenge" cup, the holders, Wanderers, were given a bye all the way to the final, for which they were also allowed to select the venue. This was the only season in which the holders were granted these privileges.

Queen's Park were given byes until the semi-finals in order to reduce the amount of travelling necessary, but then withdrew anyway when scheduled to play Oxford University, who therefore received a walk-over to the final.

Format

First Round: 14 teams (all except Queen's Park and defending champions Wanderers) would play, each match eliminating the loser

Second Round: 6 teams (Royal Engineers getting a bye) would play, the winners advancing

Third Round: The 3 winners and Royal Engineers would play. The winners would advance

Fourth Round: The two remaining teams from the Third Round would play, the winner facing Queen's Park

Semi-Final: The Fourth Round team would face Queen's Park. However, this was not needed as Queen's Park withdrew

Final: The Semi-Final team would face Wanderers, the defending champion.

Calendar

Round Date Fixtures Clubs New entries this round
Original Replays Walkovers Byes
First round 19 - 26 October 1872 7 0 1 2 16 → 9 14
Second round 23 November - 7 December 1872 3 0 0 3 9 → 6 none
Third round 9 - 21 December 1872 2 0 0 2 6 → 4 none
Fourth round 3 February 1873 1 0 0 2 4 → 3 none
Semi-final none 1 0 1 1 3 → 2 1
Final 29 March 1873 1 0 0 0 2 → 1 1

First round

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Barnes 0–1 South Norwood 19 October 1872
Civil Service 0–3 Royal Engineers 26 October 1872
Maidenhead 1–0 Marlow 26 October 1872
Reigate Priory 2–4 Windsor Home Park 26 October 1872
Upton Park 0–2 1st Surrey Rifles 26 October 1872
Crystal Palace 2–3 Oxford University 26 October 1872
Clapham Rovers Walkover Hitchin
Queen's Park Bye

Second round

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Clapham Rovers 0–3 Oxford University 23 November 1872
1st Surrey Rifles 0–3 Maidenhead 7 December 1872
Windsor Home Park 3–0[1] South Norwood 7 December 1872
Queen's Park Bye
Royal Engineers Bye

Third round

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Oxford University 1–0 Royal Engineers 9 December 1872
Windsor Home Park 0–1 Maidenhead 21 December 1872
Queen's Park Bye

Fourth round

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Oxford University 4–0 Maidenhead 3 February 1873
Queen's Park Bye

Semi-Final

Home Club Score Away Club Attendance Date
Oxford University Walkover Queen's Park

Final

Main article: 1873 FA Cup Final

Wanderers were exempt until the final as the 1871–72 Cup winners.

29 March 1873
11:30 BSTr
Wanderers 2-0 Oxford University
Kinnaird  27'
Wollaston  80'
Lillie Bridge
Attendance: 3000
Referee: Alfred Stair (Upton Park F.C.)


The final was played at Lillie Bridge. The attendance of 3,000 was considered low and attributed to the Boat Race occurring later in the same day, so few turned up or in fact stayed for the whole duration of the game.

References

  1. Originally played 23 November 1872 at South Norwood's ground, South Norwood winning 1-0. The match was ruled as void, and ordered to be replayed.
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