1885–86 FA Cup

The 1885–86 Football Association Challenge Cup was the 15th edition of the FA Cup, England's oldest football tournament. There were 130 entrants, sixteen more than in the previous season, although six teams did not play a match. Five Scottish clubs entered but one was eliminated in the first round in an all-Scottish tie and travel constraints caused the rest to withdraw.
Blackburn Rovers became the second team to win the competition in three successive seasons and, as of 2024, they remain the last to do so. The final between Blackburn and West Bromwich Albion is the earliest to have been contested by two extant clubs that are still members of either the Premier League or the English Football League.

First round

Notes. In all rounds, a walkover means the tie was not played and the first-named team progressed to the next round. If a match was declared void for any reason, a replay was necessary.

Home

Score

Away

Date

bye

bye

2–2

1–2

31 October 1885

walkover

2–2

31 October 1885

1–7

31 October 1885

1–5

31 October 1885

3–0

31 October 1885

12–0

31 October 1885

Third round

Disqualifications

Marlow, Old Wykehamists, Old Harrovians, and Clapham Rovers were all disqualified for not turning up for matches, thinking that a deep frost would make the respective pitches unplayable; the Association had no sympathy, declaring that the clubs were at fault for arranging the fixtures on the last possible date of completion. Preston North End was disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.

Fifth round

Disqualification

Bolton Wanderers was disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in its victory over Preston North End in the third round; the hearing of the Preston protest had been delayed until after the draw for the fifth round.

Final

	Score		Date	Venue
Blackburn Rovers	0–0	West Bromwich Albion	3 April 1886	Kennington Oval, London