# 1889–90 FA Cup

The 1889–90 FA Cup was the 19th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup (more usually known as the FA Cup). Blackburn Rovers won the competition for the fourth time, beating The Wednesday 6–1 in the final at Kennington Oval. The match total of seven goals remains the record (equalled in the 1953 final) for the highest number of goals scored in an FA Cup final. Blackburn's own score of six goals remains the record (equalled by Bury in 1903 and by Manchester City in 2019) for the most by one team in an FA Cup final.

## Qualifying rounds

This season's competition saw all Football League clubs granted exemption through to the first round proper. The 10 non-League clubs progressing from the qualifying rounds were Chester, South Shore, Sheffield United, Derby Midland, Lincoln City, Distillery, Newcastle West End, Small Heath, Swifts and Clapton. South Shore and Small Heath had come through the qualifying rounds of the previous season's competition but, of the others, only Sheffield United was featuring at this stage for the first time. Newcastle West End was appearing in the first round for the last time before folding and being absorbed into Newcastle United in 1892.
Distillery's heavy loss to Bolton Wanderers at Pike's Lane also marked the final appearance by an Irish team in the FA Cup.
In order to bring the number of teams up to 32, a further 10 non-League clubs were given byes to the first round. These were Newton Heath, Old Westminsters, Sunderland, The Wednesday, Sunderland Albion, Bootle, Old Carthusians, Nottingham Forest, Grimsby Town and Birmingham St George's.
For information on all matches played from the first round qualifying to the fourth round qualifying, see 1889–90 FA Cup qualifying rounds.

## First round proper

| Home club | Score | Away club | Date |
| Preston North End | 6–1 | Newton Heath | 18 January 1890 |
| Stoke | 3–0 | Old Westminsters | 18 January 1890 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 4–2 | Sunderland | 18 January 1890 |
| The Wednesday | 6–1 | Swifts | 18 January 1890 |
| Bootle | 1–3 Sunderland Albion disqualified | Sunderland Albion | 18 January 1890 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 10–2 | Distillery | 18 January 1890 |
| Accrington | 3–1 Match void | West Bromwich Albion | 18 January 1890 |
| South Shore | 2–4 | Aston Villa | 18 January 1890 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Old Carthusians | 18 January 1890 |
| Derby Midland | 3–0 | Nottingham Forest | 18 January 1890 |
| Lincoln City | 2–0 | Chester | 18 January 1890 |
| Everton | 11–2 | Derby County | 18 January 1890 |
| Newcastle West End | 1–2 | Grimsby Town | 18 January 1890 |
| Birmingham St George's | 4–4 | Notts County | 18 January 1890 |
| Small Heath | 3–1 | Clapton | 18 January 1890 |
| Sheffield United | 2–1 | Burnley | 18 January 1890 |

### Replays

| Home club | Score | Away club | Date |
| Accrington | 3–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 25 January 1890 |
| Notts County | 6–2 | Birmingham St George's | 25 January 1890 |

## Second round proper

| Home club | Score | Away club | Date |
| Preston North End | 4–0 | Lincoln City | 1 February 1890 |
| Stoke | 4–2 | Everton | 1 February 1890 |
| Notts County | 4–1 | Aston Villa | 1 February 1890 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 3–0 | Grimsby Town | 1 February 1890 |
| The Wednesday | 2–1 | Accrington | 1 February 1890 |
| Bootle | 2–1 | Derby Midland | 1 February 1890 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 13–0 | Sheffield United | 1 February 1890 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Small Heath | 1 February 1890 |

## Third round proper

| Home club | Score | Away club | Date |
| Preston North End | 2–3 | Bolton Wanderers | 15 February 1890 |
| The Wednesday | 5–0 Match void | Notts County | 15 February 1890 |
| Bootle | 0–7 | Blackburn Rovers | 15 February 1890 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–0 Match void | Stoke | 15 February 1890 |

### Replays

| Home club | Score | Away club | Date |
| The Wednesday | 2–3 Match void | Notts County | 22 February 1890 |
| The Wednesday | 2–1 | Notts County | 3 March 1890 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 8–0 | Stoke | 22 February 1890 |

## Semi-finals

| | Score | | Date | Venue |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 8 March 1890 | Kennington Oval |
| The Wednesday | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 8 March 1890 |

## Final

| Home club | Score | Away club | Date |
| Blackburn Rovers | 6–1 | The Wednesday | 29 March 1890 |