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1903–04 FA Cup

FieldValue
title1903–04 FA Cup
imageManCity1904.jpg
captionThe Manchester City team following the club's first FA Cup victory
countryEngland
defending_championsBury
winnersManchester City
(1st title)
secondBolton Wanderers
prev_season1902–03
next_season1904–05

(1st title)

The 1903–04 FA Cup was the 33rd season of the world's oldest association soccer competition, the Soccer Association Challenge Cup (more usually known as the FA Cup). Manchester City, the best team, won the competition for the first time, beating Bolton Wanderers 1–0 in the final at Crystal Palace, through a goal scored by Billy Meredith.

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 two preliminary rounds, five qualifying rounds, an intermediate round, three proper rounds, and the semi-finals and final.

RoundDate
Extra Preliminary RoundSaturday 12 September 1903
Preliminary RoundSaturday 19 September 1903
First Round QualifyingSaturday 4 October 1903
Second Round QualifyingSaturday 17 October 1903
Third Round QualifyingSaturday 31 October 1903
Fourth Round QualifyingSaturday 14 November 1903
Fifth Round QualifyingSaturday 28 November 1903
Intermediate RoundSaturday 12 December 1903
First Round ProperSaturday 6 February 1904
Second Round ProperSaturday 20 February 1904
Third Round ProperSaturday 5 March 1904
Semi-finalsSaturday 19 March 1904
FinalSaturday 23 April 1904

Qualifying rounds

This season's competition was notable for the addition of an extra preliminary round to the qualifying stages for the first time. 14 clubs from the south-east of England and 10 clubs from the north-east were required to enter the competition at this stage due to the large number of teams from those areas now seeking to participate in the tournament. The most successful club from this stage was Essex side Leytonstone who progressed to the third qualifying round where they were defeated by Clapton.

The 10 clubs to progress through to the Intermediate Round from the fifth qualifying round were Burton United, Gainsborough Trinity and Burslem Port Vale from the Soccer League Second Division and non-league sides Stockton, Darwen, Shrewsbury Town, Fulham, Brentford, West Ham United and Plymouth Argyle. Fulham and Plymouth Argyle were qualifying for the main competition for the first time, while Shrewsbury Town had only previously featured at this stage in 1887-88 (the season before qualifying rounds were introduced).

Intermediate Round

The Intermediate Round featured 10 ties played between the winners from the fifth qualifying round and 10 teams given byes. Small Heath from the Soccer League First Division and Manchester United, Bristol City, Preston North End, Woolwich Arsenal, Barnsley and Grimsby Town from the Second Division were entered automatically into this round, as were Reading, Bristol Rovers and New Brompton from the Southern League.

The other Second Division sides had to gain entry to this round through qualifying rounds. Burton United and Bradford City were entered in the first qualifying round, while Glossop was entered in the second qualifying round but withdrew from the competition. Blackpool, Burnley, Burslem Port Vale, Chesterfield, Gainsborough Trinity, Leicester Fosse, Lincoln City and Stockport County were all entered in the third qualifying round.

The 10 matches were played on 12 December 1903. Four ties went to replays, with two going to a second replay and one, between Manchester United and Small Heath, to a third replay.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Preston North End2–1Darwen12 December 1903
2Reading1–0Gainsborough Trinity12 December 1903
3Grimsby Town2–0Barnsley12 December 1903
4Burslem Port Vale3–0Burton United12 December 1903
5Stockton2–1Shrewsbury Town12 December 1903
6New Brompton1–1Bristol City12 December 1903
Replay*Bristol City*5–2New Brompton16 December 1903
7Brentford1–1Plymouth Argyle12 December 1903
Replay*Plymouth Argyle*4–1Brentford16 December 1903
8Bristol Rovers1–1Woolwich Arsenal12 December 1903
ReplayWoolwich Arsenal1–1Bristol Rovers16 December 1903
ReplayBristol Rovers0–1*Woolwich Arsenal*21 December 1903
9West Ham United0–1Fulham12 December 1903
10Manchester United1–1Small Heath12 December 1903
ReplaySmall Heath1–1Manchester United16 December 1903
ReplaySmall Heath1–1Manchester United21 December 1903
Replay*Manchester United*3–1Small Heath11 January 1904

First Round Proper

The First Round Proper featured 16 ties between 32 teams. 17 of the 18 First Division sides were given a bye to this round, as were Bolton Wanderers from the Second Division, and non-league Southampton, Portsmouth, Millwall Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur. They joined the ten teams who won in the Intermediate Round.

The matches were played on 6 February 1904. Four matches were drawn, with the replays taking place in the following midweek.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Bristol City1–3Sheffield United6 February 1904
2Bury2–1Newcastle United6 February 1904
3Preston North End1–0Grimsby Town6 February 1904
4Southampton3–0Burslem Port Vale6 February 1904
5Stoke2–3Aston Villa6 February 1904
6Reading1–1Bolton Wanderers6 February 1904
Replay*Bolton Wanderers*3–2Reading10 February 1904
7Notts County3–3Manchester United6 February 1904
Replay*Manchester United*2–1Notts County10 February 1904
8Blackburn Rovers3–1Liverpool6 February 1904
9West Bromwich Albion1–1Nottingham Forest10 February 1904
Replay*Nottingham Forest*3–1West Bromwich Albion13 February 1904
10Everton1–2Tottenham Hotspur6 February 1904
11Stockton1–4Wolverhampton Wanderers6 February 1904
12Woolwich Arsenal1–0Fulham6 February 1904
13Manchester City3–2Sunderland6 February 1904
14Portsmouth2–5Derby County6 February 1904
15Plymouth Argyle2–2The Wednesday6 February 1904
Replay*The Wednesday*2–0Plymouth Argyle10 February 1904
16Millwall Athletic0–2Middlesbrough6 February 1904

Second Round Proper

The eight Second Round Proper matches were scheduled for 20 February 1904. There was one replay – between Derby County and Wolverhampton Wanderers – played in the following midweek, but this was again drawn and went to a second replay a week later. Tottenham were drawn at home to play Aston Villa, the match started on 20 February but abandoned with the score at 1–0 in Villa's favour after crowd trouble. The FA ordered the game to be replayed at Villa Park and fined Tottenham £350.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Bury1–2Sheffield United20 February 1904
2Preston North End0–3Middlesbrough20 February 1904
3Blackburn Rovers3–1Nottingham Forest20 February 1904
4Aston Villa0–1Tottenham Hotspur25 February 1904
5The Wednesday6–0Manchester United20 February 1904
6Bolton Wanderers4–1Southampton20 February 1904
7Derby County2–2Wolverhampton Wanderers20 February 1904
ReplayWolverhampton Wanderers2–2Derby County24 February 1904
Replay*Derby County*1–0Wolverhampton Wanderers29 February 1904
8Woolwich Arsenal0–2Manchester City20 February 1904

Third Round Proper

The four Third Round Proper matches were scheduled for 5 March 1904. Two matches were drawn and replayed in the following midweek.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Derby County2–1Blackburn Rovers5 March 1904
2Sheffield United0–2Bolton Wanderers5 March 1904
3Tottenham Hotspur1–1The Wednesday5 March 1904
Replay*The Wednesday*2–0Tottenham Hotspur9 March 1904
4Manchester City0–0Middlesbrough5 March 1904
ReplayMiddlesbrough1–3*Manchester City*9 March 1904

Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on 19 March 1904.

Final

Main article: 1904 FA Cup final

The final was the first to be contested by two teams from Lancashire: Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers. It was played at Crystal Palace on 23 April 1904. Manchester City won the match 1–0, Billy Meredith scoring the only goal.

Match details

{{Football kitpattern_la =pattern_b =pattern_ra =pattern_so = _2whitestripesleftarm = 22AAFFbody = 22AAFFrightarm = 22AAFFshorts = FFFFFFsocks = 003388title = Manchester City{{Football kitpattern_la =pattern_b =pattern_ra =pattern_so =leftarm = FFFFFFbody = FFFFFFrightarm = FFFFFFshorts = 000077socks = 000077url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/FA_Cup_Finals/1900-1909.htmltitle=FA Cup Final kits, 1900-1909access-date=26 November 2008archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925084712/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/FA_Cup_Finals/1900-1909.htmlarchive-date=25 September 2008url-status=dead}}

References

;General

;Specific

References

  1. Soar, Phil. (1995). "Tottenham Hotspur The Official Illustrated History 1882–1995". Hamlyn.
  2. [http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1904.html Match report at fa-cupfinals.co.uk] {{webarchive. link. (20 July 2009)
  3. "Sporting Chronicle - 1904 FA Cup Final".
  4. "FA Cup Final kits, 1900-1909".
Info: Wikipedia Source

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