# 1874–75 FA Cup

The 1874–75 FA Cup was the fourth edition of the annual FA Cup, the oldest national football tournament in the world. Entrants increased to 29 teams, one more than the previous season; four would never contest a match. It began on 27 February 1875 and ended at Final Replay on 16 March 1875.
Semi-final and final winning results were partly determined through replays. Oxford University unsuccessfully defended its FA Cup in a rematch with their previous season's contestants against the Royal Engineers, 1–0 in the Semi-final on 27 February 1875 in Kennington Oval, London.
Royal Engineers in their third successive final successfully were interrupted by the 13 March 1875 Final match against Old Etonians at Kennington Oval in London, 1–1 draw. 2,000 attended. They would continue the pursuit of their first Cup title at the Final Replay on 16 March 1875 in Kennington Oval, London against Old Etonians, 2–0. 3,000 attended.
The widest win score of the tournament was recorded by two-time FA Cup winners Wanderers, who defeated Farningham 16–0 in the First Round.
Final The 1875 FA Cup Final on 13 March 1875 Royal Engineers and Old Etonians at Kennington Oval in London. 1–1 draw; there would be a replay. 2,000 attended.

## Format

First Round: 28 teams (with Reigate Priory F.C. getting a bye) faced another team. Second Round: 14 First Round teams and Reigate Priory played an opponent, with Old Etonians getting a bye. Third Round: The remaining teams played in a knockout-round style, due to the teams being a power of two. Final: Old Etonians lost in a replay to Royal Engineers

## First round

All 29 teams entered the competition at the First Round stage. Reigate Priory were given a bye to the Second Round due to the odd number of entrants. Three teams – Civil Service, Windsor Home Park and Shropshire Wanderers – were awarded walkovers. Three of the ties finished as draws and went to replays; of these, one had to be decided by a second replay. The widest score difference in the competition came at this stage with the Wanderers' 16–0 win over Farningham.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 10 October 1874 | South Norwood | 1-3 | Pilgrims |
| 24 October 1874 | Upton Park | 0–3 | Barnes |
| 31 October 1874 | Oxford University | 6–0 | Brondesbury |
| 31 October 1874 | Wanderers | 16–0 | Farningham |
| 31 October 1874 | Woodford Wells | 1–0 | High Wycombe |
| 5 November 1874 | Old Etonians | 0–0 | Swifts |
| 7 November 1874 | Clapham Rovers | 3–0 | Panthers |
| 7 November 1874 | Royal Engineers | 3–0 | Marlow |
| 14 November 1874 | Cambridge University | 0–0 | Crystal Palace |
| 14 November 1874 | Hitchin | 0–1 | Maidenhead |
| 14 November 1874 | Southall | 0–0 | Leyton |
| | Civil Service | Walkover | Harrow Chequers |
| | Shropshire Wanderers | Walkover | Sheffield |
| | Windsor Home Park | Walkover | Uxbridge |
| | Reigate Priory | Bye | |

### Replays

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 14 November 1874 | Swifts | 1–1 | Old Etonians |
| 21 November 1874 | Cambridge University | 2–1 | Crystal Palace |
| 26 November 1874 | Old Etonians | 3–0 | Swifts |
| 28 November 1874 | Leyton | 0–5 | Southall |

## Second round

The 15 teams that progressed from the First Round took part in the Second Round.Old Etonians were given a bye to the Third Round due to the odd number of teams. Oxford University were awarded a walkover in their tie against Windsor Home Park. In all but one of the fixtures, the losing teams failed to score. Two matches saw the biggest win of the round: both Royal Engineers and Wanderers beat their respective opponents 5–0. The Civil Service scratched from its replay against the Shropshire Wanderers as its members could not, or would not, travel to Shrewsbury for the replay.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 21 November 1874 | Wanderers | 5–0 | Barnes |
| 5 December 1874 | Clapham Rovers | 2–0 | Pilgrims |
| 5 December 1874 | Maidenhead | 2–1 | Reigate Priory |
| 5 December 1874 | Royal Engineers | 5–0 | Cambridge University |
| 5 December 1874 | Woodford Wells | 3–0 | Southall |
| 12 December 1874 | Civil Service | 1–1 | Shropshire Wanderers |
| | Oxford University | Walkover | Windsor Home Park |
| | Old Etonians | Bye | |

### Replay

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Attendance |
| | Shropshire Wanderers | Walkover | Civil Service | |

## Third round

The eight teams that progressed from the Second Round took part in the Third Round. There was no need for any team to be given a bye to the next round, and there were no walkovers. Only one tie required a replay, in which Shropshire Wanderers recorded the biggest win of the round: a 2–0 win over Woodford Wells.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 23 January 1875 | Old Etonians | 1–0 | Maidenhead |
| 23 January 1875 | Shropshire Wanderers | 1–1 | Woodford Wells |
| 30 January 1875 | Royal Engineers | 3–2 | Clapham Rovers |
| 30 January 1875 | Wanderers | 1–2 | Oxford University |

### Replay

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Attendance |
| 6 February 1875 | Woodford Wells | 0–2 | Shropshire Wanderers | |

## Semi-finals

The four winning teams from the Third Round took part in the Semi-finals. Old Etonians beat Shropshire Wanderers at the first attempt, but Royal Engineers required a replay to beat Oxford University after a 1–1 draw; they won the replay 1–0. All three matches were played at Kennington Oval, London.
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Attendance |
| 27 February 1875 | Old Etonians | 1–0 | Shropshire Wanderers | |
| 27 February 1875 | Royal Engineers | 1–1 | Oxford University | |

### Replay

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Attendance |
| 5 March 1875 | Royal Engineers | 1–0 | Oxford University | |

## Final

The 1875 FA Cup Final was played on 13 March 1875 between Royal Engineers and Old Etonians at Kennington Oval in London. The match was refereed by cup founder C. W. Alcock of Wanderers F.C. It finished as a 1–1 draw, with goals from Henry Renny-Tailyour for Royal Engineers and Alexander Bonsor for Old Etonians, which meant that there would have to be a replay.

### Replay

The replay was played three days later, also at Kennington Oval and refereed by C. W. Alcock. Two goals from Henry Renny-Tailyour gave Royal Engineers a 2–0 win and their first FA Cup title in three attempts.