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Kennington Oval
Kennington Oval
Full name The Oval
Owners Duchy of Cornwall
Location Kennington
London, SE11
Built 1845
Capacity 26,000

The Oval, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Kia Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth, South London. The Oval has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since it was opened in 1845. It was the first ground in England to host international Test cricket in September 1880. The final Test match of the English season is traditionally played there.

Football[]

The Oval was also an important site in the historical development of football, before a separate national stadium was constructed specifically for the sport. Football had been played in this part of London for many years prior to the inauguration of The Oval: "The Gymnastic Society", arguably the world's first football club, met regularly at Kennington Common during the second half of the eighteenth century to play the game.

First international football match[]

The Oval was the venue for the first ever international football match on 5 March 1870, England against Scotland, organised by The Football Association. The game resulted in a 1–1 draw. Similar international matches between England and Scotland took place at The Oval until February 1872. On 8 March 1873, the England national team beat Scotland 4–2 in the first officially recognized international match played in England. England would continue to play occasionally at The Oval until 1889.

Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
Date Result Opponent Competition Winner
5 March 1870 1–1 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly (unofficial) Draw
19 November 1870 1–0 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly (unofficial) Flag of England
25 February 1871 1–1 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly (unofficial) Draw
17 November 1871 2–1 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly (unofficial) Flag of England
24 February 1872 1–0 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly (unofficial) Flag of England
8 March 1873 4–2 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly Flag of England
6 March 1875 2–2 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly Draw
3 March 1877 1–3 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly Flag of Scotland
19 January 1879 2–1 Flag of Wales Wales Friendly Flag of England
5 April 1879 5–4 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly Flag of England
12 March 1881 1–6 Flag of Scotland Scotland Friendly Flag of Scotland
3 February 1883 5–0 Flag of Wales Wales Friendly Flag of England
21 March 1885 1–1 Flag of Scotland Scotland Home International Draw
26 February 1887 4–0 Flag of Wales Wales Home International Flag of England
13 April 1889 2–3 Flag of Scotland Scotland Home International Flag of Scotland

First FA Cup final[]

On 16 March 1872, The Wanderers beat the Royal Engineers 1–0 to win the first ever FA Cup. This final was notable for the Engineers' modern footballing style of teamwork rather than individual play. C. W. Alcock, Secretary of The Football Association, was the prime mover of the competition. He had just become Secretary of Surrey so that The Oval was the natural choice of venue for the final. Alcock also captained the successful Wanderers side. The Oval hosted all subsequent FA Cup finals (1873 excluded) up until 1892.

The Oval is one of two grounds (Bramall Lane in Sheffield being the other) to have staged both England football and cricket internationals, and also FA Cup finals. The Oval also hosted the second ever Rugby Union international between England and Scotland in 1872 (the first was hosted at Raeburn Place a year earlier).

Results of FA Cup finals at The Oval[]

Year Attendance Winner Runner-up Notes
1872 2,000 Wanderers 1 Royal Engineers 0
1874 2,000 Oxford University 2 Royal Engineers 0
1875 3,000 Royal Engineers 1 Old Etonians 1
Replay 3,000 Royal Engineers 2 Old Etonians 0
1876 3,500 Wanderers 1 Old Etonians 1
Replay 1,500 Wanderers 3 Old Etonians 0
1877 3,000 Wanderers 2 Oxford University 1
1878 4,500 Wanderers 3 Royal Engineers 1
1879 5,000 Old Etonians 1 Clapham Rovers 0
1880 6,000 Clapham Rovers 1 Oxford University 0
1881 4,500 Old Carthusians 3 Old Etonians 0
1882 6,500 Old Etonians 1 Blackburn Rovers 0
1883 8,000 Blackburn Olympic 2 Old Etonians 1
1884 12,000 Blackburn Rovers 2 Queen's Park 1
1885 12,500 Blackburn Rovers 2 Queen's Park 0
1886 15,000 Blackburn Rovers 0 West Bromwich Albion 0 2–0 in the replay at the Racecourse Ground, Derby
1887 15,500 Aston Villa 2 West Bromwich Albion 0
1888 19,000 West Bromwich Albion 2 Preston North End 1
1889 22,000 Preston North End 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
1890 20,000 Blackburn Rovers 6 Sheffield Wednesday 1
1891 23,000 Blackburn Rovers 3 Notts County 1
1892 32,810 West Bromwich Albion 3 Aston Villa 0

External links[]

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