1908 FA Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1908 FA Cup Final was contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers
and Newcastle United
at Crystal Palace Park. Newcastle had just finished fourth in the First Division
during this season
, after two successive league titles and this was their third FA Cup final appearance in four years (although they had yet to win). Their 6–0 thrashing of Fulham in the semi-final is a record win for a semi final. By contrast, Wolves had finished ninth in the Second Division
.
Nevertheless, Wolves upset the odds by winning the match 3–1, with goals by Kenneth Hunt
, George Hedley
and Billy Harrison. James Howey scored the Magpies' reply. The Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Bell, then handed the trophy to Wolves' Billy Wooldridge
.
James Howie gave Newcastle hope as he scored after a corner in the 73rd minute, their first Cup Final goal in three attempts, and they pushed for the equaliser. However, Wolves managed to break away and winger Billy Harrison sealed the victory to clinch the cup for a second time for the Molineux
men.
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NEWCASTLE UNITED:
Jimmy Lawrence
Billy McCracken
Dick Pudan
Alex Gardner
Colin Veitch
(c)
Peter McWilliam
Jock Rutherford
James Howie
Bill Appleyard
Finlay Speedie
George Wilson
Manager:
Frank Watt
1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Round 2: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Bury
Round 3: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Swindon Town
Quarter-final: Stoke City
0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Semi-final: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Southampton
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Round 2: Newcastle United 2–0 West Ham United
Round 3: Newcastle United 3–1 Liverpool
Quarter-final: Newcastle United 5–1 Grimsby Town
Semi-final: Newcastle United 6–0 Fulham
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Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
at Crystal Palace Park. Newcastle had just finished fourth in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
during this season
1907-08 in English football
The 1907–08 season was the 37th season of competitive football in England. Manchester United were Football League champions for the first time, while Bradford City won the Second Division and Wolverhampton Wanderers won the FA Cup...
, after two successive league titles and this was their third FA Cup final appearance in four years (although they had yet to win). Their 6–0 thrashing of Fulham in the semi-final is a record win for a semi final. By contrast, Wolves had finished ninth in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
Nevertheless, Wolves upset the odds by winning the match 3–1, with goals by Kenneth Hunt
Kenneth Hunt
Reverend Kenneth Reginald Gunnery Hunt was an English amateur football player, Oxford Blue, F.A...
, George Hedley
George Hedley
George Albert Hedley was a professional footballer who won the 1902 and 1908 FA Cup finals with Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, scoring in both.He was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough....
and Billy Harrison. James Howey scored the Magpies' reply. The Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Bell, then handed the trophy to Wolves' Billy Wooldridge
Billy Wooldridge
William Thomas Wooldridge was an English footballer who spent his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers.-Career:Wooldridge played for Wednesbury Old Athletic during its successful 1899-1900 campaign, and was a key member of the side that won the Walsall & District League championship, the...
.
Match summary
Newcastle began the more composed side and launched several early attacks. They had the majority of the possession, but Wolves managed to stand resolute. On the 40 minute mark, a hurried clearance from a scramble in the Newcastle penalty area fell to Kenneth Hunt, who hit the ball back ferociously from distance, which Lawrence in the Magpies' goal could only help into the net. This was the first goal Hunt had ever scored for the club. Wolves grew in confidence with this strike and George Hedley quickly doubled their advantage with swift shot into the far corner after eluding two tackles.James Howie gave Newcastle hope as he scored after a corner in the 73rd minute, their first Cup Final goal in three attempts, and they pushed for the equaliser. However, Wolves managed to break away and winger Billy Harrison sealed the victory to clinch the cup for a second time for the Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
men.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: | ||
| Tommy Lunn Tommy Lunn Thomas Henry 'Tommy' Lunn was an English professional footballer who played for Brownhills Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Stockport County.- Football career :... |
|||
| Jack Jones Jack Jones (footballer) Jack Jones is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League , who played for the Essendon Football Club.-Early life:... |
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| Ted Collins |
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| Kenneth Hunt Kenneth Hunt Reverend Kenneth Reginald Gunnery Hunt was an English amateur football player, Oxford Blue, F.A... |
|||
| Billy Wooldridge Billy Wooldridge William Thomas Wooldridge was an English footballer who spent his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers.-Career:Wooldridge played for Wednesbury Old Athletic during its successful 1899-1900 campaign, and was a key member of the side that won the Walsall & District League championship, the... (c) |
|||
| Alf Bishop |
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| Billy Harrison |
|||
| Jack Shelton Jack Shelton (footballer) John Shelton was an English footballer. He was the elder brother of George Shelton.-Playing career:Shelton played for Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Port Vale in August 1911... |
|||
| George Hedley George Hedley George Albert Hedley was a professional footballer who won the 1902 and 1908 FA Cup finals with Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, scoring in both.He was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough.... |
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| Wally Radford Wally Radford Walter Robert "Wally" Radford was an English footballer, who played as an inside-forward in the 1900s with Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1908.-Football career:... |
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| Jack Pedley |
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| Manager: | |||
| Jack Addenbrooke Jack Addenbrooke John Henry "Jack" Addenbrooke was an English football player and manager, who spent his career with .-Career:... |
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Jimmy LawrenceJimmy Lawrence
James "Jimmy" Lawrence was a Scottish football player and later manager. A goalkeeper he played for Newcastle United between 1904 and 1921....
Billy McCrackenBilly McCracken
Billy McCracken was a Northern Irish association football player. His position was defender....
Dick PudanDick Pudan
Albert Ernest "Dick" Pudan was a professional footballer, who played as a full back for Clapton, West Ham United, Bristol Rovers, Newcastle United and Leicester Fosse....
Alex GardnerAlex Gardner (footballer)
Alex Gardner was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a right half.-Career:Born in Leith, Willis played for Newcastle United, making nearly 300 appearances in the Football League....
Colin VeitchColin Veitch
Colin Campbell McKechnie Veitch was an English football player in the early 20th century for Newcastle United and manager of Bradford City.-Newcastle United:Veitch was born in the Heaton area of Newcastle upon Tyne...
(c)
Peter McWilliamPeter McWilliam
Peter McWilliam was a Scottish footballer who played at left-half for Inverness Thistle, Newcastle United and Scotland. He went on to manage both Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough....
Jock RutherfordJock Rutherford
John "Jock" Rutherford , also known as Jackie Rutherford, was an English footballer.-Football career:Born in Percy Main, Northumberland, Rutherford was known for his longevity; he played nearly six hundred Football League and FA Cup matches, despite four seasons of football being cancelled due to...
James HowieJames Howie
James "Jimmy" Howie was a Scottish footballer who later became a manager.Born in Galston, Ayrshire, he joined Kilmarnock from local side Galston Athletic in 1898. He was in the side which won the 1899 Second Division title and the following season earned selection to the Scottish League...
Bill AppleyardBill Appleyard
William "Bill" Appleyard was an English footballer, whose career at the highest level was cut short through injury.-Football career:...
Finlay SpeedieFinlay Speedie
Finlay Ballantyne Speedie was a Scottish footballer who played for Rangers and Newcastle United in the 1900s. He was a versatile forward who was most at home at inside left....
George WilsonGeorge Wilson (Scottish footballer)
George W. Wilson was a Scottish professional international footballer, who spent the greatest part of his career with Newcastle United.-Playing career:...
Frank WattFrank Watt
----Frank Watt was the unofficial manager of Newcastle United from 1895 to 1935. He did not have control over team selection so technically he was not manager but rather the club secretary, as a member of the committee that at the time owned the club....
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Round 1: Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Replay: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
Round 2: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
Round 3: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
Quarter-final: Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Semi-final: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
-
- (at Stamford BridgeStamford Bridge (stadium)Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
)
- (at Stamford Bridge
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Newcastle United
Round 1: Newcastle United 2–0 Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
Round 2: Newcastle United 2–0 West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
Round 3: Newcastle United 3–1 Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
Quarter-final: Newcastle United 5–1 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
Semi-final: Newcastle United 6–0 Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
-
- (at AnfieldAnfieldAnfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
)
- (at Anfield
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