1888–89 FA Cup


The 1888–89 FA Cup was the 18th edition of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup.

Qualifying rounds

The new format for the FA Cup saw 22 teams - the four semi-finalists from the previous season along with eighteen teams invited by the FA - receiving automatic exemption to the first round proper.
The clubs invited did not include Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Notts County and Stoke from the Football League and so those clubs were entered at the first qualifying round stage. Everton withdrew from the competition after being drawn to meet Ulster in Belfast in their first match, while Stoke became the first League club to be eliminated by non-League opponents when they fell to Warwick County at the Victoria Ground also in the first qualifying round. Ultimately only Notts County successfully progressed to the competition proper after Bolton Wanderers lost to Linfield Athletic in Belfast in the third qualifying round.
The nine non-League clubs progressing from the qualifying rounds were Wrexham, Sheffield Heeley, Chatham, Grimsby Town, South Shore, Old Brightonians, Linfield Athletic, Sunderland Albion and Small Heath. Additionally, the twelve non-league clubs receiving exemption to the first round by invitation were Old Westminsters, Witton, Bootle, Swifts, Nottingham Forest, Halliwell, The Wednesday, Birmingham St George's, Walsall Town Swifts, Old Carthusians, Notts Rangers and Long Eaton Rangers.
For information on all matches played from the first qualifying round to the fourth qualifying round, see 1888–89 FA Cup qualifying rounds.

Final

ScoreDateVenue
Preston North End3–0Wolverhampton Wanderers30 March 1889Kennington Oval