FA Cup 1872

So 13 teams had thrashed out and agreed a set of rules and code which was the blueprint for the next 150 years of football, the next step was to take these rules and exhibit them to the public in a unified game.  This took place on Saturday 8^th January 1864 at Battersea Park and was played amongst some of the better know players of the time.

It was the assignment of Wanderers legend Charles W Alcock to the Committee of the FA in 1866 that spearheaded another revolution in the game, he was the brainchild of the Football Association Challenge Cup, on November 11^th 1871 the ever football matches in the world oldest current competition were played, Barnes beat Civil Service 2-0, Hitchin and Crystal Palace (not related to the Crystal Palace currently residing in the championship) played out a goalless draw and both progressed to the next round, Maidenhead scored two without reply against Marlow and Clapham Rovers romped home to a convincing 3-0 win against Upton Park, Ironically at West Ham Park.

Hamstead Heathens were given a bye as there were only 15 entrants and there were walk overs for both the eventual finalists Wanderers and Royal Engineers, the other fixture between Scottish Team Queens Park and Donington School was put back to the next round due to disagreements on the venue and even then wasn’t played as Donington School later withdrew meaning Queens Park made it to the quarter finals and then again received a bye to make the semis which pitched them against Wanderers, they played out a 0-0 draw, a replay was never carried out as the Scottish team could afford a return trip to London and withdrew, they had already forked out the £1 entry fee which was about a sixth of the clubs annual budget. 

The Wanderers met Royal Engineers in the first FA Cup Final at the Kensington Oval in front of less than 2,000 spectators on the 16^th March 1872.  The Engineers (from Charlton) had been in sparkling form to reach the final with big wins against Hitchin, Hamstead Heathens and Crystal Palace 5-0, 3-0 and 3-0 respectively.  The Wanderers in contrast had only scored 1 goal to get this far, Thomas Pellham in a 1-0 against Clapham Rovers in the second round, the other games against Crystal Palace and Queens Park all ending without goals but in crazy early FA Cup tradition still able to qualify for the next round.

Despite the form guide the Wanderers won it with a goal on 15 minutes from Morton Pato Betts latching on to Vidal’s dazzling dribble and cross and slotting home from an acute angle. It was another famous first for the FA Cup, the first giant killing.