The FA Cup is one of the oldest and most prestigious football competitions in the world. The tournament has a long and fascinating history, with its roots dating back to the mid-19th century.
The Wanderers were the winners of the very first FA Cup final, defeating the Royal Engineers 1-0 in a historic match played at the Kennington Oval in London. The tournament has a rich history and has become one of the most important and prestigious competitions in the world of football.
Read on learn more about the very first FA Cup Final and delve into some interesting facts about the tournament’s early history.
The First FA Cup Final
The first FA Cup final was played on March 16, 1872, between the Wanderers and the Royal Engineers at the Kennington Oval in London. The Wanderers won the match 1-0, with Morton Betts scoring the only goal of the game.
The Road to the Final
The first FA Cup competition featured 15 teams, who played in a single-elimination tournament format. The Wanderers had to win four matches to reach the final, while the Royal Engineers won three matches to reach the same stage.
The Trophy
The trophy awarded to the winners of the first FA Cup final was known as the “Football Association Challenge Cup.” The trophy was designed by a silversmith named Martin Hall and was made of silver and gold. The current FA Cup trophy, which has been used since 1911, is a replica of the original trophy.
The Prize Money
The winners of the first FA Cup final received a prize of £20, while the runners-up received £10. This may seem like a small amount by today’s standards, but it was a significant sum of money in the mid-19th century.
The Attendance
The first FA Cup final was attended by approximately 2,000 spectators, which was a respectable turnout for a football match at the time.
The Umpires
In the early days of football, the officials were known as umpires. The first FA Cup final was officiated by two umpires, R. Barker and J. C. Thring. Nowadays, the match officials are known as referees.
The Wanderers
The Wanderers were a team made up of former public schoolboys who had gone on to attend university. The team was founded in 1859 and went on to win the first five FA Cup competitions.
The Royal Engineers
The Royal Engineers were a team made up of members of the British Army’s Corps of Royal Engineers. The team was founded in 1863 and was known for its disciplined and organized style of play.
The Venue
The Kennington Oval, where the first FA Cup final was played, was originally built for cricket. The ground is still in use today and has hosted many important cricket and football matches over the years.
The Legacy
The first FA Cup final was a significant event in the history of football, marking the beginning of a competition that has become one of the most important and prestigious tournaments in the world.
The tournament has grown in popularity and stature over the years, and the winners of the FA Cup are now considered to be among the greatest teams in the history of football.
With its fascinating stories and traditions, the FA Cup will no doubt continue to captivate fans of the beautiful game for many years to come.
Here are some more frequently asked questions by fans about the first FA Cup Final.
What was the name of the trophy awarded to the winners of the first FA Cup final?
The trophy awarded to the winners of the first FA Cup final was known as the “Football Association Challenge Cup.”
How much prize money was awarded to the winners of the first FA Cup final?
The winners of the first FA Cup final received a prize of £20.
How many spectators attended the first FA Cup final?
The first FA Cup final was attended by approximately 2,000 spectators.
When did the FA Cup Final move from Kennington Oval to Crystal Palace?
The FA Cup Final was played at the Kennington Oval from 1872 until 1892. In 1895, the final was moved to Crystal Palace, which was a larger venue that could accommodate more spectators.
The final was played at Crystal Palace until 1914, except for the years 1897 to 1899 when it was temporarily moved back to the Oval due to a dispute between the Football Association and the owners of Crystal Palace.
The final was then moved to other venues such as Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford during World War I, before finally settling at Wembley Stadium in 1923.
When was the FA Cup Final first played at Wembley?
The FA Cup Final was first played at the old Wembley Stadium in 1923. The stadium was built specifically for the final after the previous venue, Crystal Palace, had become too small to accommodate the growing number of spectators.
The first FA Cup Final at Wembley was between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United, with Bolton Wanderers winning the match 2-0.
Since then, Wembley has become synonymous with the FA Cup Final and has hosted the majority of finals since its opening, except for a few exceptions such as during the rebuilding of the stadium in the early 2000s.
When did the new Wembley open?
The new Wembley Stadium was opened on March 9, 2007. The stadium was built on the site of the old Wembley Stadium, which was demolished in 2002 to make way for the new stadium. The construction of the new stadium took almost four years and cost around £800 million. The first match played at the new Wembley Stadium was the 2007 FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United. Since its opening, Wembley has become one of the most iconic stadiums in world football and has hosted numerous major events, including the 2012 Olympic Games and the UEFA Champions League final.
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