1896 English League Cup

The 1896 English League Cup was the inaugural English League Cup. Accrington BC won the title.

## Preliminary Round

13 clubs were granted a bye in the Preliminary Round, with the remaining 38 clubs randomly drawn into 19 ties. Teams who won their ties or received byes advanced to the First Round.

```
Sheffield Wednesday BC  26–10 Leeds Rhinos BC
Nottingham Forest BC    34–18 Batley Bulldogs BC
Warrington Wolves BC     9–0  Brighouse Rangers BC
Hull BC                 43–0  Bramley BC
St. Helens BC           12–10 Belle Vue Rangers
Birmingham City BC       8–9  Rochdale Hornets BC
Stockport BC            22–0  Bury BC
Hunslet BC              20–8  Sheffield United BC
Bradford Park Avenue BC 34–8  Heckmondwike BC
Liverpool BC            12–14 Manningham BC
Huddersfield Giants BC   8–15 Manchester United BC
Leigh Centurions BC     28–21 Oldham BC
Swinton Lions BC         6–16 Wigan Warriors BC
Runcorn BC               3–14 Wakefield Trinity BC
Leeds Parish Church BC   9–13 Tyldesley BC
Holbeck BC               6–28 Liversedge BC
Widnes Vikings BC       10–14 Darwen BC
Halifax BC              43–0  Morecambe BC
Castleford BC           22–6  Salford Red Devils BC

```

## First Round

All 32 clubs who advanced to the First Round were randomly drawn into 16 ties. Teams who won their ties advanced to the Second Round.

```
Derby County BC         43–14             Nottingham Forest BC
Bolton Wanderers BC     28–13             Blackburn Rovers BC
Notts County BC         44–10             Warrington Wolves BC
Wigan Warriors BC        6–8              Rochdale Hornets BC
Stoke City BC           54–6              Manningham BC
Burnley BC              32–6              Hull BC
Preston North End BC    42–10             Sunderland BC
Aston Villa BC          52–6              Wakefield Trinity BC
Darwen BC               39–8              Leigh Centurions BC
Tyldesley BC            11–17             Halifax BC
Hunslet BC              40–12             Castleford BC
Liversedge BC           22–22 (22–30 AET) St. Helens BC
Accrington BC           19–1              Manchester United BC
West Bromwich Albion BC 12–6              Sheffield Wednesday BC
Stockport BC            20–11             Bradford Park Avenue BC
Everton BC              53–22             Wolverhampton Wanderers BC

```

## Second Round

All 16 clubs who advanced to the Second Round were randomly drawn into 8 ties. Teams who won their ties advanced to the Quarterfinals.

```
Aston Villa BC      14–8  Stoke City BC
Everton BC          29–0  St. Helens BC
Accrington BC       29–12 Rochdale Hornets BC
Derby County BC     27–28 Notts County BC
Halifax BC          18–13 Darwen BC
Bolton Wanderers BC 20–24 West Bromwich Albion BC
Hunslet BC           6–28 Preston North End BC
Burnley BC          47–12 Stockport BC

```

## Quarterfinals

All 8 clubs who advanced to the Quarterfinals were randomly drawn into 4 ties. Teams who won their ties advanced to the Semifinals.

```
Preston North End BC 55–28 Halifax BC
Everton BC            9–22 West Bromwich Albion BC
Notts County BC      28–18 Aston Villa BC
Accrington BC        30–6  Burnley BC

```

## Semifinals

All 4 clubs who advanced to the Semifinals were randomly drawn into 2 ties. Teams who won their ties advanced to the Final.

```
Notts County BC 14–14 (21–14 AET) Preston North End BC
Accrington BC   24–10             West Bromwich Albion BC

```

## Final

The Final was played between Accrington BC and Notts County BC. It was won by Accrington BC by a single point after torrential rain turned the playing surface into a mud pit.

```
Notts County BC 0–1 Accrington BC

```