# 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 |
| Darlington | bye | | |
| Walsall Swifts | bye | |
| Darwen | 2–2 | Derby Junction | 31 October 1885 |
| Dulwich | 1–2 | South Reading | 31 October 1885 |
| Preston North End | walkover | Great Lever | |
| Stoke | 2–2 | Crewe Alexandra | 31 October 1885 |
| Barnes | 1–7 | Lancing Old Boys | 31 October 1885 |
| Royal Engineers | 1–5 | Old Foresters | 31 October 1885 |
| Marlow | 3–0 | Luton Town | 31 October 1885 |
| Clapham Rovers | 12–0 | 1st Surrey Rifles | 31 October 1885 |
| Queen's Park | 5–1 | Partick Thistle | 31 October 1885 |
| Upton Park | 4–2 | United London Scottish | 24 October 1885 |
| Old Etonians | walkover | Bournemouth Rovers | |
| Swifts | 7–1 | Casuals | 31 October 1885 |
| Rochester | 6–1 | Reading | 31 October 1885 |
| Old Wykehamists | 5–0 | Uxbridge | 31 October 1885 |
| Old Harrovians | walkover | St James (Forest Gate) | |
| Notts County | 15–0 | Rotherham Town | 24 October 1885 |
| Hendon | 0–4 | Clapton | 24 October 1885 |
| Nottingham Forest | 6–2 | Mellors Limited | 31 October 1885 |
| Brentwood | 3–0 | Maidenhead | 31 October 1885 |
| Hanover United | 1–1 | Romford | 31 October 1885 |
| Stafford Road | 7–0 | Matlock | 31 October 1885 |
| Blackburn Olympic | 4–2 match void | Church | 31 October 1885 |
| Astley Bridge | 3–2 | Southport Central | 31 October 1885 |
| Staveley | 1–1 | Mexborough | 31 October 1885 |
| Small Heath Alliance | 9–2 | Burton Wanderers | 31 October 1885 |
| Sheffield Heeley | 2–1 | Eckington Works | 19 October 1885 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 6–0 | Eagley | 17 October 1885 |
| Accrington | 5–4 | Witton | 17 October 1885 |
| Wednesbury Old Athletic | 5–1 | Burton Swifts | 31 October 1885 |
| Lockwood Brothers | 2–2 | Notts Rangers | 31 October 1885 |
| Chatham | 0–2 | Old Carthusians | 31 October 1885 |
| Walsall Town | 0–5 | Aston Villa | 17 October 1885 |
| Clitheroe | 0–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 24 October 1885 |
| Halliwell | 2–1 | Fishwick Ramblers | 31 October 1885 |
| Macclesfield Town | 4–1 | Northwich Victoria | 31 October 1885 |
| Old Westminsters | 3–1 | Hotspur | 31 October 1885 |
| Redcar | 3–0 | Sunderland | 24 October 1885 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 7–0 | Derby St Luke's | 31 October 1885 |
| Rossendale | 6–2 | Low Moor | 24 October 1885 |
| Birmingham Excelsior | 1-2 | Derby Midland | 31 October 1885 |
| Davenham | 2–1 | Goldenhill | 31 October 1885 |
| Hurst | 2–1 match void | Bradshaw | 31 October 1885 |
| Long Eaton Rangers | 2–0 | The Wednesday | 31 October 1885 |
| Middlesbrough | walkover | Horncastle | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 4–1 | Aston Unity | 31 October 1885 |
| Padiham | walkover | Heart of Midlothian | |
| Hartford St John's | 1–3 | Newtown | 24 October 1885 |
| Leek | 6–3 | Wrexham Olympic | 31 October 1885 |
| Newark | 0–3 | Sheffield | 31 October 1885 |
| Nottingham Wanderers | 2–2 | Notts Olympic | 31 October 1885 |
| Derby County | 3–0 | Mitchell St George's | 31 October 1885 |
| Old Brightonians | 2–1 | Acton | 31 October 1885 |
| Darwen Old Wanderers | 11–0 | Burnley | 17 October 1885 |
| Rawtenstall | walkover | Rangers | |
| Lincoln City | 0–2 | Grimsby Town | 31 October 1885 |
| Luton Wanderers | 3–2 | Chesham | 31 October 1885 |
| Oswaldtwistle Rovers | 3–1 | Lower Darwen | 31 October 1885 |
| Stafford Rangers | 1–4 | Druids | 31 October 1885 |
| Higher Walton | 3–4 | South Shore | 17 October 1885 |
| Bollington | 0–5 | Oswestry | 24 October 1885 |
| Burslem Port Vale | 3–0 | Chirk | 24 October 1885 |
| Lincoln Lindum | 4–0 | Grimsby & District | 17 October 1885 |
| Third Lanark | 4–2 | Blackburn Park Road | 17 October 1885 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | 4–1 | Grantham | 24 October 1885 |

### Replays

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Darwen | 4–0 | Derby Junction | 7 November 1885 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 1–0 | Stoke | 7 November 1885 |
| Romford | 3–0 | Hanover United | 7 November 1885 |
| Church | 2–2 | Blackburn Olympic | 4 November 1885 |
| Staveley | walkover | Mexborough | |
| Notts Rangers | 4–0 | Lockwood Brothers | 7 November 1885 |
| Bradshaw | 1–1 match void | Hurst | 4 November 1885 |
| Notts Olympic | 4–1 | Notts Wanderers | 7 November 1885 |

### Second replays

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Church | 3–1 | Blackburn Olympic | 9 November 1885 |
| Hurst | 3–2 | Bradshaw | 9 November 1885 |

## Second round

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Preston North End | 11–3 | Astley Bridge | 18 November 1885 |
| Marlow | 6–1 | Old Etonians | 21 November 1885 |
| Clapham Rovers | bye | | |
| Swifts | 5–1 | Rochester | 21 November 1885 |
| Druids | 2–2 | Burslem Port Vale | 21 November 1885 |
| Old Wykehamists | 10–0 | Luton Wanderers | 21 November 1885 |
| Old Harrovians | 2–1 | Old Foresters | 21 November 1885 |
| Notts County | 8–0 | Sheffield | 21 November 1885 |
| Nottingham Forest | 4–1 | Notts Olympic | 21 November 1885 |
| Romford | bye | | |
| Brentwood | 6–1 | Lancing Old Boys | 14 November 1885 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1–0 | Oswaldtwistle Rovers | 21 November 1885 |
| Old Carthusians | 6–0 | Upton Park | 21 November 1885 |
| Small Heath Alliance | 3–1 | Darwen | 14 November 1885 |
| Sheffield Heeley | 1–6 | Notts Rangers | 21 November 1885 |
| Grimsby Town | 8–0 | Darlington | 21 November 1885 |
| South Shore | walkover | Queen's Park | |
| Church | walkover | Third Lanark | |
| Oswestry Town | 1–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 21 November 1885 |
| South Reading | 1–1 | Clapton | 21 November 1885 |
| Old Westminsters | 3–0 | Old Brightonians | 21 November 1885 |
| Redcar | 2–0 | Lincoln Lindum | 21 November 1885 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–2 | Stafford Road | 21 November 1885 |
| Rossendale | 9–1 | Padiham | 21 November 1885 |
| Derby Midland | 1–3 | Walsall Swifts | 21 November 1885 |
| Davenham | 8–1 | Macclesfield Town | 21 November 1885 |
| Hurst | 3–1 match void | Halliwell | 18 November 1885 |
| Long Eaton Rangers | 1–4 | Staveley | 21 November 1885 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 3–2 | Wednesbury Old Athletic | 21 November 1885 |
| Leek | walkover | Newtown | |
| Derby County | 2–0 | Aston Villa | 14 November 1885 |
| Darwen Old Wanderers | 2–1 | Accrington | 21 November 1885 |
| Rawtenstall | 3–3 Rawtenstall disqualified | Bolton Wanderers | 21 November 1885 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | 1–2 | Middlesbrough | 21 November 1885 |

### Replays

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Burslem Port Vale | 5–1 | Druids | 28 November 1885 |
| Crewe Alexandra | Oswestry disqualified | Oswestry | |
| South Reading | Clapton disqualified | Clapton | |
| Halliwell | walkover | Hurst | |

## Third round

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Marlow | both teams disqualified | Old Wykehamists | |
| Swifts | Old Harrovians disqualified | Old Harrovians | |
| Notts County | 3–0 | Notts Rangers | 12 December 1885 |
| Brentwood | bye | | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 6–1 | Darwen Old Wanderers | 5 December 1885 |
| Old Carthusians | bye | | |
| Staveley | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | 12 December 1885 |
| Small Heath Alliance | 4–2 | Derby County | 12 December 1885 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 2–3 Preston North End disqualified | Preston North End | 12 December 1885 |
| Church | 5–1 | Rossendale | 12 December 1885 |
| Halliwell | 1–6 | South Shore | 19 December 1885 |
| South Reading | Clapham Rovers disqualified | Clapham Rovers | |
| Old Westminsters | 5–1 | Romford | 12 December 1885 |
| Redcar | bye | | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Walsall Swifts | 12 December 1885 |
| Davenham | 2–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 12 December 1885 |
| Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Grimsby Town | 19 December 1885 |
| West Bromwich Albion | bye | | |
| Leek | 2–3 match void | Burslem Port Vale | 19 December 1885 |

### Replay

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Burslem Port Vale | walkover | Leek | |

## Fourth round

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Swifts | bye | | |
| Notts County | bye | | |
| Blackburn Rovers | bye | | |
| Old Carthusians | bye | | |
| Staveley | bye | | |
| Small Heath Alliance | bye | | |
| Bolton Wanderers | bye | | |
| South Shore | bye | | |
| Church | bye | | |
| South Reading | 0–3 | Brentwood | 2 January 1886 |
| Old Westminsters | bye | | |
| Redcar | bye | | |
| Davenham | bye | | |
| Middlesbrough | bye | | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 3–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 January 1886 |
| Burslem Port Vale | bye | | |

## Fifth round

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Blackburn Rovers | 7–1 | Staveley | 23 January 1886 |
| South Shore | 2–1 | Notts County | 23 January 1886 |
| Church | 2–6 | Swifts | 16 January 1886 |
| Old Westminsters | Bolton Wanderers disqualified | Bolton Wanderers | |
| Redcar and Coatham | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | 23 January 1886 |
| Davenham | 1–2 | Small Heath Alliance | 16 January 1886 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1–0 | Old Carthusians | 23 January 1886 |
| Burslem Port Vale | 2–1 match void | Brentwood | 16 January 1886 |

### Replay

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Brentwood | 3–3 | Burslem Port Vale | 30 January 1886 |

### Second replay

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Brentwood | walkover | Burslem Port Vale | |

## Sixth round

| Home | Score | Away | Date |
| Brentwood | 1–3 | Blackburn Rovers | 27 February 1886 |
| Small Heath Alliance | 2–0 | Redcar | 13 February 1886 |
| South Shore | 1–2 | Swifts | 13 February 1886 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 6–0 | Old Westminsters | 13 February 1886 |

## Semi-finals

| | Score | | Date | Venue |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2–1 | Swifts | 13 March 1886 | County Cricket Ground, Derby |
| West Bromwich Albion | 4–0 | Small Heath Alliance | 6 March 1886 | Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham |

## Final

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

### Replay

| | Score | | Date | Venue |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 10 April 1886 | Racecourse Ground, Derby |