1873–74 FA Cup


The 1873–74 Football Association Challenge Cup was the third edition of the annual FA Cup, the oldest national football tournament in the world. Entrants increased to 28 teams, 12 more than the previous season; six would never contest a match. It began on 9 October 1873 and ended at the final on 14 March 1874.
Wanderers unsuccessfully defended its second 1873 title at a [|Replay] on 31 January 1874, losing to Oxford University, 1–0.
Oxford University successfully pursued its first FA Cup in the [|Final] on 14 March 1874 in Kennington Oval against the Royal Engineers. 2–0. 2,000 attended.

Format

First round: 28 teams played. The winners moved on.
Second round: 14 teams played. The winner moved on.
Third round: 6 teams, with Swifts getting a bye, played.
Semi-final: 4 teams played.
Final: 2 teams played. Oxford University were the champions.

First round

Home ClubScoreAway ClubAttendanceDate
Pilgrims1–0Great Marlow9 October 1873
Royal Engineers5–0Brondesbury11 October 1873
Woodford Wells3–2Reigate Priory11 October 1873
Swifts1–0Crystal Palace18 October 1873
1st Surrey Rifles0–0Barnes25 October 1873
Cambridge University1–0South Norwood25 October 1873
Uxbridge3–0Gitanos28 October 1873
Upton Park0–4Oxford University29 October 1873
Shropshire Wanderers0–0Sheffield30 October 1873
Clapham RoversWalkoverAmateur Athletic Club
High WycombeWalkoverOld Etonians
MaidenheadWalkoverCivil Service
TrojansWalkoverFarningham
WanderersWalkoverSouthall

Semi-finals

Both semi-finals were played at Kennington Oval, London.