1875–76 FA Cup

1875–76 FA Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Dates23 October 1875 – 18 March 1876
Teams32
Defending championsRoyal Engineers
Final positions
ChampionsWanderers (3rd title)
Runner-upOld Etonians

The 1875–76 Football Association Challenge Cup was the fifth edition of the annual FA Cup, the oldest national football tournament in the world. Entrants increased to 32 teams, 3 more than the previous season; 5 would never contest a match. It began 23 October 1875 and ended at the final replay on 18 March 1876.

Royal Engineers unsuccessfully defended on 29 January 1876 its 1876 title in the Third round losing to Swifts, 1–3.

The Wanderers pursuit of their 1876 Cup was interrupted in the Final on 11 March 1876 in Kennington Oval in the 1-1 draw with Old Etonians. Wanderers successfully pursued for their Cup in a Replay final on 18 March 1876 in Kennington Oval defeating the Old Etonians, 3–0. 3,500 attended.

Format

This Cup was a straight knockout tournament. Semi-finals and final were played at neutral venues.

First round

Date Home club Score Away club Attendance
23 October 1875 Maidenhead 2–0 Ramblers
23 October 1875 Upton Park 1–0 Southall
23 October 1875 Wanderers 5–0 1st Surrey Rifles
30 October 1875 Reigate Priory 1–0 Barnes
3 November 1875 Swifts 2–0 Marlow
6 November 1875 Oxford University 6–0 Forest School
6 November 1875 105th Regiment 0–0 Crystal Palace
6 November 1875 Herts Rangers 4–0 Rochester
6 November 1875 Panthers 1–0 Woodford Wells
9 November 1875 Old Etonians 4–1 Pilgrims
10 November 1875 Royal Engineers 15–0 High Wycombe
Cambridge University Walkover Civil Service
Clapham Rovers Walkover Hitchin
Leyton Walkover Harrow Chequers
Sheffield Walkover Shropshire Wanderers
South Norwood Walkover Clydesdale

Replay

Date Home club Score Away club Venue Attendance
20 November 1875 Crystal Palace 3–0 105th Regiment Kennington Oval 1578

Second round

Date Home club Score Away club Attendance
11 December 1875 Old Etonians 8–0 Maidenhead
11 December 1875 Reigate Priory 0–8 Cambridge University
11 December 1875 South Norwood 0–5 Swifts
11 December 1875 Wanderers 3–0 Crystal Palace
18 December 1875 Clapham Rovers 12–0 Leyton
18 December 1875 Oxford University 8–2 Herts Rangers
Royal Engineers Walkover Panthers
Sheffield Walkover Upton Park

Third round

Date Home club Score Away club Attendance
29 January 1876 Old Etonians 1–0 Clapham Rovers
29 January 1876 Royal Engineers 1–3 Swifts
29 January 1876 Wanderers 2–0 Sheffield
31 January 1876 Cambridge University 0–4 Oxford University

Semi-finals

Date Home club Score Away club Venue Attendance
19 February 1876 Oxford University 0–1 Old Etonians Kennington Oval
26 February 1876 Wanderers 2–1 Swifts Kennington Oval

Final

Main article: 1876 FA Cup Final
Date Home club Score Away club Venue Attendance
11 March 1876 Wanderers 1–1 Old Etonians Kennington Oval 3,000

Replay

Date Home club Score Away club Venue Attendance
18 March 1876 Wanderers 3–0 Old Etonians Kennington Oval 3,500

References