FA Cup 1896–97
Encyclopedia
The 1896–1897 FA Cup was the 26th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup (more usually known as the FA Cup
). The cup was won by Aston Villa, who defeated Everton
3–2 in the final
of the competition, played at Crystal Palace
in London
. In doing so, Aston Villa became only the second team to have won the Double
, as they won the league on the same day as their cup victory (and the only team to do this).
Matches were scheduled to be played at the stadium of the team named first on the date specified for each round, which was always a Saturday. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played, a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week. If the replayed match was drawn further replays would be held at neutral venues until a winner was determined. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay, a 30-minute period of extra time would be played.
, Burton Wanderers, Grimsby Town, Newcastle United and Manchester City from the Second Division. The other Second Division sides were entered into the Third Qualifying Round. Of those sides, only Newton Heath and Burton Swifts qualified to the FA Cup Proper. Eight non-league sides also qualified.
The matches were played on Saturday, 30 January 1897. One match was drawn, with the replay taking place in the following midweek fixture.
.
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. Just under 66,000 supporters attended the match. John Campbell opened the scoring for Villa after 18 minutes. Villa's lead was maintained for only five minutes before Everton equalised, through a goal from Jack Bell
. Everton then went in front after Dickie Boyle scored five minutes later, but that lead only lasted seven minutes, when Fred Wheldon got an equaliser. Jimmy Crabtree
put Villa back in front just before half-time, and Villa managed to come through the second half without conceding, meaning they had become only the second team ever to win the Double
in England.
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
). The cup was won by Aston Villa, who defeated Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
3–2 in the final
1897 FA Cup Final
The 1897 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and Everton at Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 3–2, with goals by John Campbell, Fred Wheldon and Jimmy Crabtree. Everton's goals came from Jack Bell and Dickie Boyle....
of the competition, played at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In doing so, Aston Villa became only the second team to have won the Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
, as they won the league on the same day as their cup victory (and the only team to do this).
Matches were scheduled to be played at the stadium of the team named first on the date specified for each round, which was always a Saturday. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played, a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week. If the replayed match was drawn further replays would be held at neutral venues until a winner was determined. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay, a 30-minute period of extra time would be played.
Calendar
The format of the FA Cup for the season had a preliminary round, five qualifying rounds, three proper rounds, and the semi finals and final. Each of the Rounds Proper were played on a set date, whereas the Preliminary and Qualifying Round matches were played on several dates over a given period of time.| Round | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Round | Saturday 10 October 1896 | |
| First Round Qualifying | Saturday 10 October 1896 | 31 October |
| Second Round Qualifying | Saturday 31 October 1896 | 21 November |
| Third Round Qualifying | Saturday 21 November 1896 | 12 December |
| Fourth Round Qualifying | Saturday 12 December 1896 | 2 January |
| Fifth Round Qualifying | Saturday 2 January 1897 | 16 January |
| First Round Proper | Saturday 30 January 1897 | |
| Second Round Proper | Saturday 13 February 1897 | |
| Third Round Proper | Saturday 27 February 1897 | |
| Semi-Finals | Saturday 20 March 1897 | |
| Final | Saturday 10 April 1897 |
First round proper
The First Round Proper contained 16 ties between 32 teams. The 16 First Division sides were given a bye to this round, as were Notts County, Small HeathBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, Burton Wanderers, Grimsby Town, Newcastle United and Manchester City from the Second Division. The other Second Division sides were entered into the Third Qualifying Round. Of those sides, only Newton Heath and Burton Swifts qualified to the FA Cup Proper. Eight non-league sides also qualified.
The matches were played on Saturday, 30 January 1897. One match was drawn, with the replay taking place in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
4–3 | Burton Swifts | 30 January 1897 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 6–0 | Manchester City | 30 January 1897 |
| 3 | Stoke | 5–2 | Glossop North End Glossop North End A.F.C. Glossop North End A.F.C. are an English football club based in Glossop, Derbyshire. Former members of the Football League, they are currently in the North West Counties League and are members of the Derbyshire County Football Association. They play their home matches at Surrey Street, which has a... |
30 January 1897 |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–1 | Sheffield United | 30 January 1897 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 5–0 | Newcastle United | 30 January 1897 |
| 6 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest | 30 January 1897 |
| 7 | 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... |
0–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 30 January 1897 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 3–3 | 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... |
8 February 1897 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 3–2 | 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... |
11 February 1897 |
| 8 | Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
1–0 | Burnley Burnley F.C. Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888... |
30 January 1897 |
| 9 | Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
8–1 | Barnsley St Peter's | 30 January 1897 |
| 10 | Luton Town | 0–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 30 January 1897 |
| 11 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
5–2 | Burton Wanderers | 30 January 1897 |
| 12 | Newton Heath | 5–1 | Kettering Kettering Town F.C. Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08... |
30 January 1897 |
| 13 | Stockton Stockton F.C. Stockton F.C. was an English football club based in Stockton-on-Tees. The club were known as 'The Ancients' because of their long-standing presence in the town. Their traditional colours were red and black quartered shirts with white shorts.-History:... |
0–0 | 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... |
30 January 1897 |
| Replay | 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... |
12–1 | Stockton Stockton F.C. Stockton F.C. was an English football club based in Stockton-on-Tees. The club were known as 'The Ancients' because of their long-standing presence in the town. Their traditional colours were red and black quartered shirts with white shorts.-History:... |
2 February 1897 |
| 14 | Small Heath Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
1–2 | Notts County | 30 January 1897 |
| 15 | Millwall Athletic Millwall F.C. Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the... |
1–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 30 January 1897 |
| 16 | Southampton St Mary's | 1–1 | Heanor Town Heanor Town F.C. Heanor Town Football Club is a football club established in 1883 and based in Heanor, Derbyshire, England. They have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup six times in their history... |
30 January 1897 |
| Replay | Heanor Town Heanor Town F.C. Heanor Town Football Club is a football club established in 1883 and based in Heanor, Derbyshire, England. They have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup six times in their history... |
0–1 | Southampton St Mary's | 3 February 1897 |
Second Round Proper
The eight Second Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 13 February 1897. There was one replay, played in the following midweek fixture.| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preston North End | 2–1 | Stoke | 13 February 1897 |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 February 1897 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Notts County | 13 February 1897 |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–2 | 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... |
13 February 1897 |
| 5 | Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
1–3 | Nottingham Forest | 13 February 1897 |
| 6 | Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
4–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 13 February 1897 |
| 7 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
3–0 | 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... |
13 February 1897 |
| 8 | Southampton St Mary's | 1–1 | Newton Heath | 13 February 1897 |
| Replay | Newton Heath | 3–1 | Southampton St Mary's | 17 February 1897 |
Third round proper
The four Third Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 27 February 1897. There were two replays, played in the following midweek fixture, of which the Preston North End – Aston Villa match went to a second replay the following week.| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
1–1 | Nottingham Forest | 27 February 1897 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 0–1 | 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... |
3 March 1897 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 1–1 | Aston Villa | 27 February 1897 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 0–0 | Preston North End | 3 March 1897 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 3–2 | Preston North End | 8 March 1897 |
| 3 | Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
2–0 | Newton Heath | 27 February 1897 |
| 4 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
2–0 | Blackburn Rovers | 27 February 1897 |
Semi-Finals
The semi-final matches were both played on Saturday, 20 March 1897. Aston Villa and Everton went on to meet in the final at Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
.
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Final
The final took place on Saturday, 10 April 1897 at Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
. Just under 66,000 supporters attended the match. John Campbell opened the scoring for Villa after 18 minutes. Villa's lead was maintained for only five minutes before Everton equalised, through a goal from Jack Bell
Jack Bell
John Bell was an early Scottish football player and manager. He was instrumental in organising the Association Footballers' Union in February 1898....
. Everton then went in front after Dickie Boyle scored five minutes later, but that lead only lasted seven minutes, when Fred Wheldon got an equaliser. Jimmy Crabtree
Jimmy Crabtree
James William "Jimmy" Crabtree was a gifted English footballer of the end of the 19th century.He began his career at Burnley, but left in 1890 and played in non-league football for two years before returning to Burnley for the 1892–93 season. His performances attracted the attention of FA Cup...
put Villa back in front just before half-time, and Villa managed to come through the second half without conceding, meaning they had become only the second team ever to win the Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
in England.