FA Cup Opta Stats: Tottenham v Cheltenham (and all S-Z ties) : Opta : UK & Ireland Football UK & Ireland Football Free Bet The FA Cup is the only major trophy that Harry Redknapp has lifted Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon, Tottenham, Watford and West Brom are the hosts scrutinised by Opta in their final instalment of FA Cup facts... Sheffield United v Salisbury The sides have never met in any competition. The Blades have reached six FA Cup finals, winning four of them. Sheffield United have only lost one of their last 13 FA Cup games against non-league opponents, losing 0-3 in a replay at Altrincham in November 1981. Salisbury are making their first appearance in the FA Cup third round. Sheffield United have only lost one of their last eight FA Cup games at Bramall Lane. Sheffield Wednesday v West Ham The Owls have been knocked out in the third round on seven of the last eight occasions that they have reached this stage. Sheffield Wednesday have progressed on all three occasions that they have met the Hammers in the FA Cup. The Owls have won their last three FA Cup matches at home.

West Ham have won their last 10 FA Cup games against sides from a lower division, firing in 29 goals in the process. West Ham have made it to the fourth round on nine of the last 11 occasions that they have reached the FA Cup third round. Swindon v Wigan Swindon have twice reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, losing one step before the final in both 1910 and 1912. The Robins have already overcome higher ranked opposition twice (Huddersfield and Colchester) to reach the third round this season. Wigan have only lost two of their last 12 FA Cup games against lower ranked sides, though one of them was an embarrassing 0-1 defeat to non-league Canvey Island. Wigan have never won at the County Ground in five attempts, losing two and drawing three. Five of the Latics' last seven goals against Swindon have occurred in the second half. Tottenham v Cheltenham Tottenham have never played Cheltenham. Spurs have appeared in nine FA Cup finals, triumphing on eight occasions.

Tottenham have only suffered defeat to lower league opposition once in twenty matches - against Leicester (2-3) in 2006. Spurs have lost once in their last 13 FA Cup ties at White Hart Lane. Cheltenham progressed past the third round twice before, making it to the fifth round in 2002 and the fourth round in 2006. Cheltenham have faced higher league opposition nine times in the last ten years, progressing on three occasions. Cheltenham have already scored five goals in this year's competition, conceding two. Watford v Bradford The Bantams have failed to win at Vicarage Road in 11 attempts (in all competitions). Bradford will hope to take the game to a replay secure in the knowledge they have beaten Watford seven consecutive times on home soil. Watford's fourth round defeat to Brighton last season was their first to lower league opposition since Birmingham in 1999. Watford have scored four or more goals in two of their last five FA Cup ties, although they have also shipped three or more in three of those five matches.

Bradford's most successful FA Cup run came in 1911 when they won the competition, beating Newcastle 1-0 in a replay. The Bantams have tasted defeat in eight of their last 11 FA Cup matches away from home. Bradford have met higher league opposition six times in the last 10 years, winning two and losing four. West Brom v Cardiff West Brom have won the FA Cup five times, with their most recent win coming in 1968, beating Everton 1-0 after extra-time. West Brom have exited the competition to lower league opposition twice in the last three years. Cardiff are unbeaten in their previous three visits to the Hawthorns in all competitions, winning twice and netting a total of nine goals. City midfielder Peter Whittingham has scored in consecutive games against the Baggies. Cardiff have forced higher league opposition to a replay in six of their last eleven FA Cup matches against them.

Didier Drogba - TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki Shanghai Shenhua Galatasaray Didier Yves Drogba Tébily (born 11 March 1978 in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire) is an Ivorian international striker who played for Chelsea initially from 2004–2012. He later re-joined the club for the 2014-15 season . He played a leading role in Chelsea's success during his time at Chelsea, culminating in scoring a crucial equaliser and striking the winning penalty in a shoot-out to secure Chelsea's first UEFA Champions League victory . He has scored more goals for Chelsea than any other foreign player and is Chelsea's fourth highest goal scorer of all time. He scored in four separate FA Cup finals, in 2007 , 2009 , 2010 and 2012 – a record – in addition to scoring four goals in League Cup finals.

Drogba was Chelsea top scorer twice, including in the double-winning 2009-10 season , with his haul of 37 goals the most in a single top flight season for Chelsea since Jimmy Greaves scored 43 in the 1960-61 season . The total included 29 league goals, winning Drogba the Golden Boot, and he was voted Player of the Year by the fans in the same season. Drogba has also been named African Player of the Year on two occasions, and his involvement in the peace process in his native Ivory Coast led to Drogba being named as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2010. [1] He re-joined the club for the 2014-15 season , contributing to Premier League and League Cup wins. Contents 8 Images Before Chelsea Drogba was born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and at the age of five was sent to France by his parents to live with his uncle, Michel Goba, a professional footballer.

However, Drogba soon became homesick and returned to Abidjan after three years, before later returning to France [2] . Drogba began his career as a junior player at the semi-professional club Levallois, gaining a reputation as a prolific scorer in the youth team and impressing the coach with his professional attitude. His performances earned him a place in the senior squad but despite scoring in his debut, the 18-year-old Ivorian failed to make an impression on Jacques Loncar, the first team coach [3] . Le Mans In 1997 Drogba joined Ligue 2 club Le Mans as an apprentice. However, his first two years there were marred by injuries and he was physically struggling to cope with the training and match schedule. Former Le Mans coach Marc Westerloppe later remarked that "it took Didier four years to be capable of training every day and playing every week". Furthermore, Drogba's complicated family life meant that he had never attended a football academy and only began daily football training as a fully grown adult.

By age 21, Drogba realized that he had to establish himself as a player soon or else he would have little chance of becoming a professional footballer. He made his first team debut for Le Mans soon thereafter and signed his first professional contract in 1999. He scored seven goals in thirty games in his first season, but during the following season he did not live up to expectations. Drogba lost his place to Daniel Cousin due to injury, then upon his return he failed to score throughout the remainder of the season. However, he returned to form the following season, making 21 appearances and scoring five times. Guingamp Halfway through the 2001-02 season Ligue 1 club Guingamp consolidated months of interest with a transfer offer and Drogba left Le Mans for a fee of £80,000. The second half of the 2001-02 season saw Drogba make eleven appearances and score three goals for Guingamp. While his contributions helped the club avoid relegation, the coaching staff remained unconvinced of their new young striker.

However, the next season he rewarded his coaches' patience, scoring 17 goals in 34 appearances and helping Guingamp finish seventh, a record league finish. He credited his teammates for his impressive season, highlighting the contributions of winger Florent Malouda , a long time friend of Drogba, as a key factor in his prolific goalscoring that season. His strong goal scoring record attracted interest from larger clubs and at the end of the season he moved to Ligue 1 outfit Marseille for a fee of £3.3 million [4] . Olympique de Marseille Olympique de Marseille manager Alain Perrin signed Drogba from Guingamp, though he was soon replaced by José Anigo. Drogba retained his place in the team, scoring 19 goals and winning the Ligue de Football Professionnel's Player of the Year. He also scored five goals in that season's UEFA Champions League and six in the UEFA Cup . At the end of the season he was bought by Chelsea as the club's then record signing for £24 million.

Chelsea career (2004–2012) 2004-05 Signing for Chelsea in July 2004 for £24 million, Drogba scored in his third game for the club with a header against Crystal Palace . His season was interrupted when he pulled a stomach muscle against Liverpool which kept him out of action for over two months. Chelsea won the Premiership, only their second English top-flight championship and their first in 50 years, and the League Cup , with Drogba scoring in extra time in a 3-2 final win against Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium , as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. Drogba scored 16 goals in 40 games for Chelsea in his first season: 10 in the Premiership, five in the Champions League and one in the League Cup final. 2005-06 Drogba started the 2005-06 season by scoring two goals in a Community Shield win over Arsenal . Chelsea went on to retain the league title with two games to play, becoming only the second team to win back-to-back English titles in the Premier League era.

Again Drogba finished with 16 goals for the season, 12 in the league, two in the Community Shield, one in the Champions League and one in the FA Cup. 2007-08 Following the departure of José Mourinho early in the season, Drogba spoke openly in interviews about wanting to leave Chelsea [7] . He later admitted he regretted this and was 100% committed to Chelsea [8] . He soon regained the trust of the board and fans, scoring in Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough on 20 October 2007, against Schalke 04 in the Champions League four days later, and twice against Manchester City . Drogba continued to find the net but suffered an injury at the training ground and decided to have an operation on his knee. He was unable to play for four weeks and missed key games against Valencia, Arsenal and Liverpool. Drogba returned from injury to play in an FA Cup third round match against Queens Park Rangers and wore the captain's armband for the last 30 minutes in which he was on the pitch, but left for the African Nations Cup soon afterwards.

Upon his return Drogba scored a goal in the 2008 League Cup Final which made him the all-time leading scorer in League Cup Finals with four. He also became the first player to score in three League Cup finals and the first to score in three consecutive English domestic cup finals. He scored both goals in a key 2-1 victory against Arsenal on 23 March 2008 which took Chelsea equal on points with leaders Manchester United . On 30 April 2008, following pre-game accusations of diving by Liverpool coach Rafael Benítez, Drogba scored two goals in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against the Anfield club, which Chelsea won 3-2 at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea reaching the Champions League Final for the first time. Drogba became Chelsea's top scorer in European competition, the two goals he scored putting his tally at 17, beating Peter Osgood 's record of 16.

Drogba was sent off in the 117th minute of the Champions League Final for slapping defender Nemanja Vidić, becoming only the second player to be sent off in a European Cup final – after Jens Lehmann in 2006 – and the first for violent conduct. Chelsea went on to lose 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time. 2008-09 Drogba suffered a string of injuries early on in the 2008-09 season and struggled to regain fitness, missing games from August to November due to knee problems [9] . He scored his first goal of the season in mid-November but the Ivorian incurred a three match ban for throwing a coin back into the stands as Chelsea suffered a League Cup penalty shoot-out defeat against Burnley . Drogba scored his second goal of the season in a 2-1 victory against CFR Cluj in the UEFA Champions League, while his first Premier League goal of the season came in a 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion in late December 2008.

Having missed many games through injury and suspension, Drogba had lost his first team place and manager Luiz Felipe Scolari favoured playing Nicolas Anelka as a lone striker rather than pairing the two. However, he resolved to regain his position in the squad and Chelsea remained keen to keep the Ivorian. Upon the temporary appointment of Guus Hiddink in early February following the sacking of Scolari, Drogba enjoyed a rejuvenation of sorts, returning to his rich goal-scoring form with four goals in five games after the new manager took over. His revival in form saw him net twice against Bolton Wanderers , and four times in four Champions League matches, one in each leg of the last sixteen and quarter final of the competition against Juventus and Liverpool respectively, with these goals ensuring Chelsea's passage into the semi-finals. Just four days after his Champions League heroics, Drogba scored a late winner in the FA Cup semi-final match against Arsenal after Frank Lampard 's superb pass found Drogba and he carefully rounded Arsenal goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański before slotting into an empty net. Drogba was at the centre of controversy after Chelsea's Champions League semi-final defeat at the hands of FC Barcelona .

Feeling that many key decisions had gone against Chelsea, substituted Drogba confronted referee Tom Henning Øvrebø after the final whistle. He received a yellow card in the process and was recorded shouting "It's a fucking disgrace" into a live television camera. On 17 June 2009, UEFA subsequently handed him a six game European ban with the final two games suspended. The ban then was later reduced by 1 match after an appeal by Chelsea [10] . In the 2009 FA Cup Final he scored Chelsea's first and equalising goal as they went on to win 2-1, his sixth goal in a major cup final in England. Although Drogba had previously expressed his desire to switch clubs, he decided to remain with the Blues under new coach Carlo Ancelotti and sign a new contract.

2009-10 9th May, 2010: Didier joins the fans in the MHL Drogba began the 2009-10 season in fine form for Chelsea, netting a penalty during a shoot-out in the Community Shield over Manchester United , before scoring twice in a 2-1 victory over Hull City , the second a last minute winner. Drogba scored his third goal of the season against Fulham , and his fourth against Stoke City; Chelsea winning the game 2-1 with a late strike from Florent Malouda . He added a fifth at home against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on 20 September and scored his 100th goal for Chelsea in a 3-1 defeat against Wigan Athletic . Drogba was also on the scoresheet against Blackburn , and against Bolton Wanderers in the Carling Cup. Drogba went on to finish a fine move in the same week with another 4-0 win against Bolton in the Premier League. After missing the first three Champions League matches for Chelsea with a ban, Drogba started the fourth game against Spanish side Atlético Madrid .

He scored two goals in the last ten minutes and the match ended 2-2 . The latter being a fine solo effort in which he beat a number of the opposition players and had his first effort saved by the goalkeeper but then slotted in the rebound. On 29 November, Drogba scored a brace against London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, the second of which a free kick from outside the box. It brought his tally for the season to 14 goals in 16 games. On 12 December, Drogba continued to impress with 2 goals in a 3-3 draw against Everton . Between 3 and 30 January Drogba was on Africa Cup of Nations duty before returning on 2 February against Hull City where he scored a 40th minute equaliser to tie the game 1-1 . On 24 March, Drogba scored his 30th goal of the season in an away game against Portsmouth . Drogba's free kick goes in off the post to secure Chelsea's first "Double" On 9 May, Drogba helped Chelsea clinch the Premier League by scoring a hat-trick in an 8-0 win over Wigan Athletic .

In doing so, he not only collected his third League winner's medal, but also won the Golden Boot for the season for the second time, by topping the chart with 29 league goals, beating Wayne Rooney to the title who remained on 26 goals. Both players had the same number of goals (26) before the start of their respective fixtures. However, during the game, Drogba clearly appeared to be angry with team-mate and regular penalty taker Frank Lampard , after Lampard refused to let Drogba take a penalty which would put Chelsea 2-0 up, with Drogba seemingly wishing to increase his personal goal tally. Later on in the game Lampard allowed Drogba to take a penalty, which he scored to go two clear of Rooney. Drogba then scored the crucial goal in the 2010 FA Cup Final , scoring a free kick in the second half, clinching the League and FA Cup Double for the first time in the club's history. The goal was Drogba's seventh in a cup final for Chelsea, his second in consecutive FA Cup Finals, and third overall in England's showpiece final.

2010-11 Having appeared as a substitute in the Community Shield loss to Manchester United, Drogba scored a hat-trick on the opening day of the Premier League season against West Bromwich Albion , his second consecutive Premier League hat-trick, having found the net three times on the final day of the 2009-10 Premier League season. His goals also meant that the Ivorian had overtaken Jimmy Greaves in Chelsea's list of all-time goalscorers . He failed to find the net in the following game, a 6-0 away victory at Wigan Athletic , though he provided assists for three of the six goals, including a sublime turn and cross to set up fellow Ivorian Salomon Kalou for Chelsea's fifth. He converted a penalty a week later, in a 2-0 victory against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge , with regular penalty taker Frank Lampard (who had missed an earlier penalty) having been substituted, taking his tally to four in three league games. After scoring his customary goal against Arsenal , Drogba missed the next couple of games with a fever.

At the start of November, Drogba was left out of the starting line-up to face Liverpool at Anfield, though he did appear as a substitute for the second half as Chelsea lost 2-0 . The Ivorian's ommission from the starting eleven had been due to a recurrence of the fever that had previously kept him sidelined, but it later transpired that he had been suffering from malaria for at least a month. Chelsea then suffered a poor sequence of results; Drogba's return of just four goals between the loss at Anfield and the start of April indicative of his side's lack of form. Drogba did score three times in April, but continued indifferent form following the mid-season slump ensured that the Blues finished the season trophyless. 2014-15 International Drogba made his Côte d'Ivoire debut in 2002, and by the time he left Chelsea he had won 85 caps, scoring 55 goals; 46 while a Chelsea player. His first cap came on 8 September 2002 against South Africa and he scored his first goal on 11 February 2003 against Cameroon in a 3-0 victory.

He represented the Ivory Coast at the 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012 African Cup of Nations, helping his side to the final in 2006 and 2012, though they were runners-up on both occasions. Drogba helped his country qualify for its first ever World Cup; in Germany in 2006. He also represented Côte d'Ivoire at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, though he was hampered by injury during the tournament. He also represented his country at the 2012 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. His side reached the final in the former, but a Drogba penalty miss in normal time proved costly as Côte d'Ivoire eventually lost on a penalty shoot-out. He also represented his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Statistics Football Association Challenge Cup Football Association Challenge Cup ▼ Primary Sources ▼ Football Association Challenge Cup In 1871, Charles W. Alcock , the Secretary of the Football Association , announced the introduction of the Football Association Challenge Cup. It was the first knockout competition of its type in the world.

Only 12 clubs took part in the competition: Wanderers , Royal Engineers , Queens Park, Hitchin, Barnes, Civil Service, Crystal Palace, Hampstead Heathens, Great Marlow, Upton Park, Maidenhead and Clapham Rovers. Many clubs did not enter for financial reasons. All ties had to be played in London . Clubs based in places such as Nottingham and Sheffield found it difficult to find the money to travel to the capital. Each club also had to contribute one guinea towards the cost of the £20 silver trophy. In the 1872 final, the Wanderers beat the Royal Engineers 1-0 at the Kennington Oval . They also won it the following season with with Arthur Kinnaird getting one of the goals. Other winners of the competition included Oxford University (1874), Royal Engineers (1875), Old Etonians (1879 and 1882) and Old Carthusians (1881). In 1882, Blackburn Rovers became the first provincial team to reach the final of the FA Cup . Their opponents was Old Etonians who had reached the final on five previous occasions.

However, Blackburn had gone through the season unbeaten and was expected to become the first northern team to win win the game. Doctor Greenwood was injured the team included five players who had won international caps, Jimmy Douglas , Fred Hargreaves , John Hargreaves , Hugh McIntyre and Jimmy Brown . The Old Etonians scored after eight minutes and despite creating a great number of chances, Blackburn was unable to obtain an equalizer in the first-half. Early in the second-half George Avery was seriously injured and Blackburn Rovers was reduced to ten men. Despite good efforts by Jimmy Brown , Jack Hargreaves and John Duckworth, Rovers were unable to score. The following year Blackburn Rovers were in favourites to win the FA Cup . However, an injury hit Rovers were beaten 1-0 in the second round by local rivals Darwen . The Blackburn Times reported that this was a major surprise as the "play was so much in the Rovers' favour that Howorth (the goalkeeper) never handled the ball throughout the match." Blackburn Olympic decided to enter the FA Cup in 1882-83.

Coached by former England player, Jack Hunter , Blackburn beat Lower Darwen 9-1 in the second round of the competition. This was followed by victories against Darwen Ramblers (8-0), Church (2-0) and Druids (4-0). Hunter, who also played at centre-half for Olympic, led his team to a 4-0 victory over Old Carthusians in the semi-final of the competition. Over 8,000 people arrived at the Oval to watch Blackburn Olympic play Old Etonians in the final. Blackburn selected the following team: Thomas Hacking (dental assistant), James Ward (cotton machine operator), Albert Warburton (master plumber and pub landlord), Thomas Gibson (iron foundry worker), William Astley (weaver), John Hunter (pub landlord), Thomas Dewhurst (weaver), Arthur Matthews (picture framer), George Wilson (clerk), Jimmy Costley (spinner) and John Yates (weaver). Old Etonians were appearing in their third successive FA Cup Final. Their captain, Arthur Kinnaird , was playing in his ninth final and his side were hot favourites to win.

Goodhart gave the public school side a 1-0 lead at half-time. The fitter Blackburn Olympic began to take control of the game in the second-half and Arthur Matthews scored a well-deserved equalizer. Despite being the much better team Olympic was unable to score a winning goal during normal time. After 17 minutes of extra time, Thomas Dewhurst ran at the defence, centred the ball to Jimmy Costley, who volleyed the ball past the goalkeeper. Blackburn Olympic had become the first northern team to win the FA Cup. No amateur club was to win the trophy again. Blackburn Olympic defeating Old Etonians 2-1 in the 1883 FA Cup Final. In the 1883-84 FA Cup Blackburn Rovers beat Padium (3-0), Staveley (5-0), Upton Park (3-0), and Notts County (1-0) to reach the final. After Blackburn beat Notts County the club made an official complaint to the Football Association that John Inglis was a professional player.

The FA carried out an investigation into the case discovered that Inglis was working as a mechanic in Glasgow and was not earning a living playing football for Blackburn Rovers. John Inglis played in the final against Queens Park at outside left. Other Scots in the team included Jimmy Douglas (outside right) Fergie Suter (left-back) and Hugh McIntyre (centre-half). The Scottish club scored the first goal but Blackburn Rovers won the game with goals from Blackburn lads, James Forrest and Joe Sowerbutts . Blackburn Rovers with the FA Cup, the Lancashire Cup and the Lancashire Charity Cup that they won in 1883-84 season. Back row, left to right: Joseph Lofthouse , George Avery and John Hargreaves . In January, 1884, Preston North End played the London side, Upton Park, in the FA Cup . After the game Upton Park complained to the Football Association that Preston was a professional , rather than an amateur team. Major William Sudell , the secretary/manager of Preston North End, admitted that his players were being paid but argued that this was common practice and did not breach regulations.

However, the Football Association disagreed and expelled them from the competition. Blackburn Rovers , who denied they were paying their players, beat Witton (6-1), Romford (8-0), West Bromwich Albion (2-0) and Old Carthusians (5-0) to reach the final. Once again they had to play Queens Park. Blackburn Rovers was now a team full of internationals. This included James Forrest , Herbie Arthur , Joseph Lofthouse , Hugh McIntyre , Jimmy Brown and Jimmy Douglas . A crowd in excess of 12,000 arrived at the Oval to see the what most people believed were the best two clubs in England and Scotland. With goals from Brown and Forrest, Blackburn Rovers won 2-0. In the 1885-86 season West Bromwich Albion beat Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-1), Old Carthusians (1-0), Old Westminsters (6-0) and Small Heath Alliance (4-0) to reach the final of the competition. Their opponents were Blackburn Rovers , who were appearing in their third successive final.

Four of the players, Fergie Suter , Hugh McIntyre , Jimmy Brown and Jimmy Douglas were playing in their fourth final in five season. The game at the Kennington Oval ended in a 0-0 draw. The replay took place at the Racecourse Ground, Derby. A goal by Joe Sowerbutts gave Blackburn Rovers an early lead. In the second-half James Brown collected the ball in his own area, took the ball past several WBA players, ran the length of the field and scored one of the best goals scored in a FA Cup final. Blackburn now joined the Wanderers in achieving three successive cup final victories. West Bromwich Albion had done very well to reach the final. Seven members of the team that reached the 1886 FA Cup Final still worked at Salter's Spring Factory. This included Bob Roberts , Charlie Perry , George Woodhall , George Timmins , George Bell , Harry Bell and Ezra Horton . All eleven players were born within a six-mile radius of West Bromwich. Aston Villa did very well in the 1886-87 season. They lost very few games and scored over 130 goals in the process.

Stars of the team included Archie Hunter , Richmond Davis , Albert Brown , Arthur Brown , Dennis Hodgetts and Howard Vaughton . Aston Villa also had a good run in the 1886-87 FA Cup. They beat Wolverhampton Wanderers (2-0), Horncastle (5-0), Darwen (3-2) and Glasgow Rangers (3-1) to reach the final for the first time. Their local rivals, West Bromwich Albion , also reached the final. The final was to be played at the Kennington Oval . The experienced Archie Hunter believed that this ground would be to the advantage of Aston Villa: "Our style of play is suited to a big ground, and the Albion with their long passing have the advantage on a small field. On the Oval we both shall have an equal chance, and where things are equal the short passing game is always the best. These are my reasons for thinking we will win on Saturday." West Bromwich Albion was the better team in the first-half. However, in the second-half Aston Villa took control and it was no surprise when Richmond Davis , the team's outside-right, crossed for Dennis Hodgetts to sidefoot the ball in the net.

WBA players claimed that Hodgetts was offside but the referee, Francis Marindin , who was also president of the Football Association , refused to change his mind. In the 89th minute Archie Hunter raced through the West Bromwich Albion defence. He appeared to have pushed the ball too far ahead of him and the WBA goalkeeper, Bob Roberts , dashed forward but Hunter, stretching to the full, managed to get one final touch on the ball. As Hunter and Roberts collided the ball trickled over the line. Hunter was the first player to score in every round of the FA Cup competition. The Aston Villa 1887 FA Cup-winning side. Back row (left to right): Frank Coulton, James Warner, Fred Dawson, Joe Simmonds, Albert Allen. Middle row: (left to right): Richmond Davis , Albert Brown , Archie Hunter , Howard Vaughton , Dennis Hodgetts . Harry Yates and John Burton are seated on the floor. In 1887 Sunderland beat Middlesbrough 4-2 in an early round of the FA Cup.

Middlesbrough protested that three of Sunderland's players (Monaghan, Hastings and Richardson) were living in Scotland and was lodged at the Royal Hotel at the club's expense. In January 1888, the Football Association examined the Sunderland books and discovered "a payment of thirty shillings in the cash book to Hastings, Monaghan and Richardson for train fares from Dumfries to Sunderland". Sunderland was kicked out of the FA Cup and ordered to pay the expenses of the inquiry. The three players concerned were each suspended from football in England for three months. West Bromwich Albion was in great form in the 1887-88 season, scoring 195 goals in 58 first-team matches. The club also enjoyed another good run in the FA Cup beating Stoke City (4-1), Old Carthusians (4-2) and Derby Junction (3-0) to reach the final against Preston North End . A crowd of nearly 20,000 watched the final at the Kennington Oval on 24th March, 1888.

The 19-year-old Billy Bassett was the star of the game and after one long dribble he passed to Jem Bayliss who scored the opening goal. Fred Dewhurst scored an equalizer early in the second-half but WBA gradually got the upper-hand. According to Philip Gibbons in Association Football in Victorian England : "Bassett tormented their defence". He eventually provided the cross for George Woodhall to score the winning-goal ten minutes from time. The West Bromwich Albion 1888 FA Cup-winning side. Left to right: back row, front row, George Woodhall , Billy Bassett , Jem Bayliss , Tom Pearson , Joe Wilson . In his book, The Essential History of West Bromwich Albion , Gavin McOwan argues: "He (Bassett) would bewilder defenders by suddenly stopping the ball dead in the middle of a sprint, leaving his marker to carry on running while he had already changed tack or delivered his cross." Ernest Needham , the English international, described Bassett as "without doubt, the best outside right in the British Isles". The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888.

Preston North End won the first championship that year without losing a single match and acquired the name the "Invincibles". Eighteen wins and four draws gave them a 11 point lead at the top of the table. Preston also beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to win the 1889 FA Cup Final . The goals were scored by Jimmy Ross , Fred Dewhurst and Samuel Thompson . Preston won the competition without conceding a single goal. The Preston North End team that won the league and cup double in 1888-89: George Drummond , back row. John Gordon , Jimmy Ross , John Goodall , Fred Dewhurst and Samuel Thompson are sitting on the bench. In the 1889-90 season Blackburn Rovers were odds-on favourites to win the cup against Sheffield Wednesday , who played in the Football Alliance league.

Blackburn selected the following players: (G) John Horne , (2) Johnny Forbes , (3) James Southworth , (4) John Barton , (5) George Dewar , (6) James Forrest , (7) Joseph Lofthouse , (8) Harry Campbell , (9) Jack Southworth , (10) Nathan Walton and (11) Billy Townley . Blackburn Rovers took the lead in the 6th minute when a shot from Townley was deflected past the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper. Campbell hit the post before Walton converted a pass from Townley. Blackburn scored a third before half-time when Southworth scored from another of Townley's dangerous crosses from the wing. Townley scored his second, and Blackburn's fourth goal in the 50th minute. Bennett got one back for the Sheffield side when Bennett headed past the advancing Horne. Townley completed his hat-trick when he converted a pass from Lofthouse. Ten minutes before the end of the game, Lofthouse completed the scoring and Blackburn had won the cup 6-1.

As Philip Gibbons pointed out in his book Association Football in Victorian England : "The Blackburn side had given one of the finest exhibitions of attacking football in an FA Cup Final, with England internationals, Walton, Townley, Lofthouse and John Southworth at the peak of their form." Blackburn Rovers with the FA Cup in the 1889-90 season. From left to right, back row: Billy Townley . Front row: John Barton and James Forrest . Blackburn had another good run in the FA Cup and beat Middlesborough Ironopolis (3-0), Chester (7-0), Wolverhampton Wanderers (2-0), West Bromwich Albion (3-2) to reach their second successive final. Notts County were their opponents. Blackburn selected the following players: (G) Rowland Pennington , (2) Tom Brandon , (3) Johnny Forbes , (4) John Barton , (5) George Dewar , (6) James Forrest , (7) Joseph Lofthouse , (8) Nathan Walton , (9) Jack Southworth , (10) Coombe Hall and (11) Billy Townley .

Blackburn Rovers won the FA Cup in 1891. From left to right, back row: Richard Nathan Walton , Johnny Forbes , Coombe Hall and Billy Townley . Blackburn Rovers put Notts County under pressure from the beginning and in the 8th minute, centre-half Dewar scored from a Townley corner. Before the end of the first-half, Southworth and Townley added further goals. Jimmy Oswald of Notts County did score a late consolation goal but Blackburn finished comfortable 3-1 winners and won the FA Cup for the 5th time in 8 years. West Bromwich Albion struggled in the Football League in the 1891-92 season. However, they did well in the FA Cup beating Old Westminsters (3-2), Blackburn Rovers (3-1), Sheffield Wednesday (2-1), Nottingham Forest (6-2) to reach the final against Aston Villa . The West Bromwich Albion 1892 FA Cup-winning side.

Left to right: Billy Bassett , Mark Nicholson, Jack Reynolds, Roddie McLeod, Joe Reader , Sammy Nicholls, Charlie Perry , Tom Pearson , Willie Groves, Alf Geddes, Thomas McCulloch. In his book, Association Football in Victorian England , Philip Gibbons argues that: "Villa dominated the early proceedings, with Athersmith and John Devey exerting pressure on the Albion fullbacks. However, the West Bromwich side soon responded as Billy Bassett passed to Roddy McLeod, who crossed the ball to the waiting Geddes. He shot towards the Villa goal and Warner failed to collect the ball clearly. It rolled between the Villa goalposts to secure a surprising one-goal lead for the Albion team." Billy Bassett was also involved in WBA's second goal. He won the ball on the halfway line and after running at the Aston Villa defence he passed to Alf Geddes. His shot was saved but the goalkeeper could not hold onto the ball and Sammy Nicholls had the simple task of scoring from the rebound. Jack Reynolds scored the third with a shot from 25-yards. Wolverhampton Wanderers team in 1893.

Wolverhampton Wanderers played Everton at the Fallowfield Ground in Manchester in the 1893 FA Cup Final . Nine of the Wolves team were locally born players. Everton on the other hand fielded six players from Scotland . Over 40,000 people turned up to see the game. Wolves won the game with the only goal scored by Harry Allen. The Aston Villa 1895 FA Cup-winning side. Left to right: back row, Jack Reynolds , Aston Villa had victories over Derby County (2-1), Newcastle United (7-1), Nottingham Forest (6-2), Sunderland (2-1) to reach the 1895 FA Cup Final against West Bromwich Albion . The Villa outside-left, Robert Chatt , scored the only goal of the game after 39 seconds. Aston Villa won the First Division title in 1896-97. Second-place Sheffield United finished an amazing 11 points behind Villa. The club scored 73 goals in the league that season.

The main contributors included George Wheldon (18), John Devey (17), Johnny Campbell (13), Charlie Athersmith (8), John Cowan (7) Stephen Smith (3) and Jack Reynolds (2). On 30th January, 1897, Aston Villa beat Newcastle United 5-0 in the third round of the FA Cup . Aston Villa went onto beat Notts County (2-0), Preston North End (3-2) and Liverpool (3-0) to reach the final against Everton . A crowd of 60,000 arrived at Crystal Palace to watch the final. Charlie Athersmith scored the opening goal but Everton hit back with goals from Jack Bell and Richard Boyle. Aston Villa continued to dominate the game and added two more from George Wheldon and Jimmy Crabtree . That finished the scoring and therefore Aston Villa had emulated the great Preston North End side that had achieved the FA Cup and Football League double in 1888-89 season. Aston Villa also reached the 1905 FA Cup Final. Over 100,000 people watched Villa beat Newcastle United 2-0.

Both goals were scored by Harry Hampton . In 1923 the FA Cup was moved to Wembley. The ground had been built for the British Empire Exhibition and had excellent railway links. Over 270,000 people travelled in 145 special services to the final that featured West Ham United and Bolton . ▲ Main Article ▲ Primary Sources (1) Archie Hunter , described Aston Villa's victory over West Bromwich Albion in the 1887 FA Cup Final in his book, Triumphs of the Football Field (1890) The teams engaged to play in the match were as follows: Aston Villa: James Warner, goal; F. Coulton and J. Simmonds, backs; H. Yates, F. Dawson and ,J. Burton, half-backs; Albert Brown and Richard Davis, right wing; Howard Vaughton and Dennis Hodgetts, left wing; Archie Hunter, centre (captain) forwards. West Bromwich: R. Roberts, goal; H. Green and A. T. Aldridge, backs; E. Horton, G. Timmins and C. Perry, half-backs; G. Woodhall and T.

Green, right wing; T. Pearson and W. Paddock, left wing; W. Bayliss, centre (captain), forwards. We started for London on Friday and took up our quarters at Charterhouse Square. In the evening we had a short stroll and then retired at ten o'clock. We were up betimes in the morning, all in good spirits and happily all in good health. We met our committee and a few friends and proceeded to Kennington Oval, where presently we were joined by the members of the Albion, who were also in excellent form and very sanguine as to the result of the match. All the well-known supporters of both clubs were present in good force, including Mr. Hundly, our genial host at Holt Fleet and early in the morning heavily laden trains poured into the stations and discharged their living freight of football enthusiasts. Our chocolate-and-blue colours could be seen everywhere in the morning, especially along the Strand and all the principal thoroughfares. At half-past two there was a general stampede towards Kennington Oval and cabs, cars, carriages, traps and a thick line of pedestrians could be seen moving down the road.

Arriving on the ground, it was at once manifest how great an interest the encounter had awakened. There was a dense multitude of from fifteen to twenty thousand, many familiar faces being among the number. At the last moment,5-to-4 on the Albion could be obtained and the betting in their favour was very brisk. A few minutes before three we entered the field and were greeted with a hearty round of cheering. I had given the Villa team special instructions how to play this match; briefly they were these - every man was to stick to his position and look after the opponent he was facing. This, of course, does not give such opportunities of brilliant play, but it is a measure of safety which I strongly commend. Let every player single out his man and determine to beat him and if he is equal to the effort the game is won. This course demands an amount of unselfishness on the part of the players which is very hard to exercise, but I have so often seen brilliance and danger combined that on such an occasion as the one I speak of we could not afford to run any such risk. Consequently the match from beginning to end was less scientific than the match with the Rangers. In this respect it was doubtless disappointing.

But as a hard, fierce struggle it is not to be surpassed. Bayliss won the toss and I kicked off exactly at half-past three. As I did so a subdued hum of excitement could be heard and we knew that everybody's nerves were strung to the utmost. I don't know whether I am equal to describing all the details of the match. So far as play went I was coot enough, but so intent upon the game that when it was all over I could only remember a confused multitude of incidents in no particular order, but all warm, vigorous and exciting. I remember how we scampered up and down the field, what wild rushes were made, how the ball bounded here and there, the desperate charges that followed, the frenzied scrimmages, the impulsive shooting, the grand work of the goalkeepers, the attack and defence, the dangers and the relief, the terrific and prolonged struggle and yet, up to half-time, not a single goal! I recall with a thrill how we saw at one point that the Albion were getting the better of us and how we saw them with dismay closing round our citadel.

Then how exhilarating it was to see the danger past, to know that the attack had been unavailing and to find ourselves racing away with the ball towards the opposite goal. How often Warner and Roberts saved I cannot tell. Time after time the shots went in scorching hot and always the men between the timbers were equal to the emergency and this was why when half the game was over there was no score. Changing ends, the Albion cut out the work and Hodgetts and Vaughton on our side commenced putting in an immense amount of good work. A determined attack by them was repelled by Tom Green, who got away up the field and was stopped by Coulton, who returned. From this kick Davis with a long shot centred to Hodgetts, who was close in goal and he with consummate ease, put the ball through, completely baffling Roberts. Then what a cheer arose! The Villa had scored and the jubilation of our supporters was boundless. By the time they had settled down again we were in the midst of a fast and dashing game. It seemed, however, as if no further points would be gained. Both sides were playing desperately and every man was working as if his life depended upon the victory.

We were constantly in front of goal and a foul being given to the Albion there, matters looked dangerous. But it was only at the end of the game that the finishing stroke was to be given to our victory. I got possession of the ball and eluding the backs got right in front; but the ball was going at such a furious pace that I perceived I could not reach it. Roberts saw reach the ball and give it the necessary push. If I had not adopted this expedient I could not possibly have scored. The cheers had scarcely subsided when the whistle blew and the Villa had won the Cup by two goals to none. Major Marindin, President of the Football Association, who acted as referee, was good enough to say that the match was not won be science but "by Archie Hunter's captaincy." As soon as the whistle blew I was surrounded by the enthusiastic crowd and for a few moments I thought I should be torn in pieces.

They nearly wrung my hand off and those who could not get near enough put all the heart they could into shouting "Bravo, Archie" and "Well done, Villa." Finally, I was lifted shoulder-high and amid the wildest demonstrations carried all round the field, nor would my zealous friends release me until the moment came when I was called upon to receive the Cup. (2) James Walvin , The People's Game (1975) The progress of the FA Cup mirrored the changing social progress of football. The decade of dominance by the public school teams was ended at the 1881 final between Old Carthusians and Old Etonians. In the following year the Old Etonians were back again, this time to face Blackburn Rovers. In 1883 another Blackburn team, Olympic, travelled to the London final, taking the trophy north for the first time. Blackburn Olympic, under the control of Jack Hunter, their player-manager, had trained for the final at the booming seaside town of Blackpool and when they stepped out to meet Lord Kinnaird's Old Etonians, the social contrast could not have been greater.

Among the Blackburn players were three weavers, a spinner, a dental assistant, a plumber, a cotton operative and an iron-foundry worker. Having won 1-0 in extra time, the Blackburn team was welcomed home by huge crowds headed by yet another manifestation of the new working-class social life - a brass band. Blackburn Olympic had approached the game in a most professional manner. Financed by a local iron-foundry owner, they had trained carefully for a week and had stuck to a suitable diet. (3) Gavin McOwan, The Essential History of West Bromwich Albion (2002) Although football had been around for Centuries, it was the great Victorian public schools and Cambridge University which first codified and popularized the game around the 1860s, so it was natural that these teams dominated 'modern football' in its infancy. But by the 1880s the game had spread rapidly through the expanding industrial heartlands of the Midlands and Lancashire. If the demographic map of Britain changed dramatically over the course of the 19th century, as the population expanded to the new industrial centres of the North and Midlands, the footballing map changed shape over an even shorter period.

When Blackburn Olympic beat the Old Etonians in the FA Cup final in 1883, they made history by becoming the first provincial team to win the trophy. The die had been cast and never again was an old boys' team from the south to reach a final. And once professionalism was legalized in England two years later tile heyday of the ex-public school teams was over. From then on football has remained a working-class game all over the world in which clubs from large cities - often industrial centres or ports - have dominated. The middle and upper classes have been left largely to administer the game and run the clubs. Along with their new ground and new professional status, Albion had also gained some important new additions to their playing squad in this period. The splendid Charlie Perry had played in the second team for two seasons before making his full debut in 1884, as did the powerful, Tipton-born striker Jem Bayliss and outside right George 'Spry' Woodhall, all of whom would become key members of Albion's great FA Cup sides of the late 1880s.

These three future Albion greats were among the first batch of professionals, along with other pioneers such as captain George Bell, Bob Roberts, Harry Green and George Timmins. (4) Philip Gibbons, Association Football in Victorian England (2001) Having won the toss, Nick Ross, the Preston captain, decided to play with the sun on their backs, which resulted in difficulties for the Albion defence as the Preston forwards mounted early attacks. However, excellent defending by Perry and Aldridge, together with fine goalkeeping by Bob Roberts, kept the Preston forwards at bay. Fred Dewhurst and John Goodall had a number of chances to score the game's opening goal, but were again thwarted by Bob Roberts when it seemed easy to score. Against the run of play, Billy Bassett dribbled the ball down the Preston left flank, prior to crossing to Jem Bayliss, who secured a one-goal lead for the West Bromwich side. As the game headed towards half-time, Jimmy Ross and Fred Dewhurst forced excellent saves out of Bob Roberts, and Albion ended the half one goal to the good.

Little changed during the second period of play as Preston sought the equalising goal, which eventually arrived after ten minutes of play when Preston's efforts were rewarded with a goal by Fred Dewhurst. The Lancashire side now began to play their finest football of the game as they continued to put pressure on the Albion fullbacks. However, with Aldridge and Green outstanding, they were unable to secure a second goal. Up to the halfway stage of the second half, Albion's occasional attacks were efficiently dealt with by Nick Ross and Bob Howarth. As the half progressed, the Midlands side came more into the game. Bassett and Woodhall took on the Preston defence, while at the other end of the field, John Goodall saw a shot rebound from the Albion upright to safety. As the game reached the final stages, Albion looked the fresher side. The Preston defence had begun to tire, with only Nick Ross preventing the West Bromwich side from scoring a second goal as Bassett tormented their defence. However, with a little more than ten minutes remaining, Albion took the lead when a centre from Bassett found Woodhall, who turned sharply to steer the ball between the Preston goalposts.

Preston rallied in pursuit of an equaliser, but to no avail, as the final whistle sounded with Albion the victors by two goals to one in one of the most competitively fought FA Cup Finals to date. (5) Stan Mortensen , Football is My Game (1949) I cried after the Cup Final of 1948... but it wasn't because I had been on the losing side at Wembley. We had lost the last great round ; had failed to win the Cup, yet I walked off that marvellous pitch in that wonderful stadium with tears of real happiness in my eyes. The picture will remain with me while memory lasts. The game was over, the medals had been presented to both sides, and the Cup itself to Johnny Carey, the Manchester United captain. The Black¬pool players had stood in a group, talking of this and that, while the victorious team walked up to the Royal Box to receive their mementoes and handshakes from the King and Queen. Then our turn had come, and we had filed past the Royal Family with their warm smiles, their words of sympathy for the losers coming just as sincerely as their earlier words of congratulation for the winners.

In accordance with tradition, the United players had chaired their captain off the pitch, all the way to the dressing-room. We Blackpool players walked off slowly behind our victors. We had lost-lost after twice leading, a record of its kind at Wembley - yet I don't think we were too dispirited. Sorry, yes, but still excited from the heat of the struggle, with our thoughts in a tangle. We walked off the turf, on to the track which surrounds the finest playing pitch in the British Isles. I happened to glance up to the crowd, loath to go away, staying on to see the curtain rung down on the drama of the Cup Final. There, standing over the tunnels which led to the dressing-rooms, was a party of Blackpool supporters. Beribboned and bedecked in our famous tangerine, with caps, streamers, rosettes, scarves, ail telling of their loyal support for the Bloomfield Road club, they stood, silently surveying the last moments of the last incidents of a memorable day. In the spring sunshine I could see almost every individual plainly.

They stood there, mute in their disappointment, gazing down as their favourite team walked off-without the Cup which they had hoped we would carry back to the seaside. Their silent sympathy with us, their regret at the result, was obvious ; and across the intervening space, from crowd to players, there seemed some link, some bond of fellowship. Hardly thinking what I was doing, I waved to that silent crowd. The effect was magical. They responded with a shout which seemed as mighty as anything we had heard during the pulsating struggle of the match itself. With a thunderous roar they let loose all their hot fanaticism for us and for the game of soccer.

I thought, as though in a dream lasting only a second or two, of the path to Wembley: how the Blackpool team had been reshaped after the war, how we had started this one great season with such high hopes ; how we had won first one game and then another; how we had knocked out the giant-killing Colchester United ; how we had gone to the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur ; how we had struggled against an unlucky one-goal deficit; how we had won equality in the last minutes of the match; how we had scored two more in extra time to earn the match at Wembley. I thought of the scramble for tickets; and I thought, too, of the patience and keenness of those cheering supporters, many of whom had travelled all through the night to get to Wembley. And above all, I thought of the greatness of a game that could develop such sportsmanship, such warm support, such loyalty, and, at the end of a losing match, such spontaneous comradeship with the beaten team. All these thoughts flashed through my mind as I walked those last few yards to the darkness under the Wembley terraces. As I passed from the view of the cheering throng, I waved again.

They could still see me, but I could not see them. My eyes were filled with tears.

Question: Which football club have appeared in 13 FA Cup finals, winning five and losing eight their first final appearance was in 1893 ?
Answer: EVERTON