1896 FA Cup Final

The 1896 FA Cup Final was won by The Wednesday at the Crystal Palace, in a victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Tournament format
210 teams entered, a record high for the competition, beating the previous record by some 27 clubs. The qualifiers were whittled down to 32 clubs to participate in the competition proper. Clubs competed for a new trophy, which remains the oldest surviving FA Cup trophy, although it was retired from use in 1910.

The Final
Fred Spiksley became the star of the show in this Cup Final, scoring the two goals that gave the Wednesday a 2–1 win. Within the first minute, a run by Harry Davis, the outside-right, set up Spiksley to slot home the first. David Black soon equalised for Wolves with a cunning hook close to the post. Spiksley however smashed a shot against the upright which bounced into the goal and then out again. The referee gave a goal. The score stayed the same till the final whistle to give Wednesday their first FA Cup win.

The Wolves goalkeeper Tennant had been injured during the buildup to the winning goal and was dazed as the ball crashed off his bar, bounced down and back out and did not realise a goal had been given. At the end of the game, he walked up to Jack Earp, the Wednesday captain and asked, "When's the replay?", to which he received the reply "There is no replay old man! We won by two goals to one as you will see when we take the medals!". "But how? for only one shot passed me!". Replied a confused Tennant.

Route to the Final
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The Wednesday
Round 1: Southampton St. Mary's 2–3 The Wednesday

Round 2: The Wednesday 2–1 Sunderland

Quarter-final: The Wednesday 4–0 Everton

Semi-final: The Wednesday 1–1 Bolton Wanderers
 * (at Goodison Park)


 * Replay: Bolton Wanderers 1–3 The Wednesday
 * (at the Town Ground, Nottingham)


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Wolverhampton Wanderers
Round 1: Notts County 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
 * Replay: Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–3 Notts County

Round 2: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Liverpool

Quarter-final: Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Stoke City

Semi-final: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Derby County
 * (at Villa Park)


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