The 1898–99 FA Cup was the 28th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup (more usually known as the FA Cup). The cup was won by Sheffield United, who defeated Derby County 4–1 in the final of the competition, played at Crystal Palace in London.

1898–99 FA Cup
Sheffield United team members with the FA Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Defending championsNottingham Forest
Final positions
ChampionsSheffield United
(1st title)
Runner-upDerby County

Matches were scheduled to be played at the stadium of the team named first on the date specified for each round, which was always a Saturday. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played, a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week. If the replayed match was drawn further replays would be held at neutral venues until a winner was determined. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay, a 30-minute period of extra time would be played.

Calendar

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The format of the FA Cup for the season had a preliminary round, five qualifying rounds, three proper rounds, and the semi-finals and final.

Round Date
Preliminary round Saturday 24 September 1898
First round qualifying Saturday 1 October 1898
Second round qualifying Saturday 15 October 1898
Third round qualifying Saturday 29 October 1898
Fourth round qualifying Saturday 19 November 1898
Fifth round qualifying Saturday 10 December 1899
First round proper Saturday 28 January 1899
Second round proper Saturday 11 February 1899
Third round proper Saturday 25 February 1899
Semi-finals Saturday 18 March 1899
Final Saturday 15 April 1899

First round proper

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This season saw the further expansion of the Football League First and Second Divisions to 18 teams each. Once again, the FA Cup's first round proper contained sixteen ties between 32 teams with the 18 First Division sides given a bye to this round, along with Newton Heath, Woolwich Arsenal and Manchester City from the Second Division. In recognition of the increasing strength of the Southern League, the previous season's champions of that competition Southampton were awarded the final automatic entry to this stage.

Most of the other Football League clubs were entered into the third qualifying round, with the exceptions of Barnsley, who started in the second qualifying round, and Burton Swifts, Blackpool and Loughborough who were placed in the first qualifying round. Of those sides, only Grimsby Town, Small Heath and Glossop North End progressed to the FA Cup proper along with non-league sides Jarrow, South Shore, Heanor Town, Kettering, Bristol City, New Brompton and Tottenham Hotspur. Jarrow, Bristol City and New Brompton were featuring in the first round for the first time, but, in a further reflection of the growing stature of the Southern League, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur were the only non-league clubs to progress beyond this stage.

The matches were played on Saturday, 28 January 1899. Four matches were drawn, with the replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Bristol City 2–4 Sunderland 28 January 1899
2 Burnley 2–2 Sheffield United 28 January 1899
Replay Sheffield United 2–1 Burnley 2 February 1899
3 Liverpool 2–0 Blackburn Rovers 28 January 1899
4 Preston North End 7–0 Grimsby Town 28 January 1899
5 Notts County 2–0 Kettering 28 January 1899
6 Nottingham Forest 2–1 Aston Villa 28 January 1899
7 The Wednesday 2–2 Stoke 28 January 1899
Replay Stoke 2–0 The Wednesday 2 February 1899
8 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–0 Bolton Wanderers 28 January 1899
Replay Bolton Wanderers 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 February 1899
9 West Bromwich Albion 8–0 South Shore 28 January 1899
10 Everton 3–1 Jarrow 28 January 1899
11 Small Heath 3–2 Manchester City 28 January 1899
12 Heanor Town 0–3 Bury 28 January 1899
13 Woolwich Arsenal 0–6 Derby County 28 January 1899
14 New Brompton 0–1 Southampton 28 January 1899
15 Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 Newton Heath 28 January 1899
Replay Newton Heath 3–5 Tottenham Hotspur 1 February 1899
16 Glossop 0–1 Newcastle United 28 January 1899

Second round proper

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The eight Second Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 11 February 1899, although only three games were played on this date. The other five games were played the following Saturday. There were three replays, played in the following midweek fixture.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Liverpool 3–1 Newcastle United 11 February 1899
2 Preston North End 2–2 Sheffield United 11 February 1899
Replay Sheffield United 2–1 Preston North End 16 February 1899
3 Stoke 2–2 Small Heath 11 February 1899
Replay Small Heath 1–2 Stoke 15 February 1899
4 Notts County 0–1 Southampton 11 February 1899
5 West Bromwich Albion 2–1 Bury 11 February 1899
6 Derby County 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 11 February 1899
7 Everton 0–1 Nottingham Forest 11 February 1899
8 Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 Sunderland 11 February 1899

Third round proper

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The four Third Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 25 February 1899. There were no replays.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Southampton 1–2 Derby County 25 February 1899
2 Stoke 4–1 Tottenham Hotspur 25 February 1899
3 Nottingham Forest 0–1 Sheffield United 25 February 1899
4 West Bromwich Albion 0–2 Liverpool 25 February 1899

Semi-finals

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The semi-final matches were both played on Saturday, 18 March 1899. The Sheffield United–Liverpool match went to a replay, played the following Thursday. The match was again replayed a week later, when Sheffield managed a 1–0 win. They went on to meet Derby County in the final at Crystal Palace.


Replay
Second Replay

Final

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The final took place on Saturday, 15 April 1899 at Crystal Palace. Just under 74,000 supporters attended the match, a record attendance at the time. John Boag opened the scoring for Derby County after 12 minutes. Derby's lead was maintained until midway through the second half, until Sheffield struck back with three goals in ten minutes from Walter Bennett, Billy Beer and John Almond. Fred Priest scored the fourth and final goal in the eighty-ninth minute, to cap a good victory for the Yorkshire side.

Match details

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Sheffield United4–1Derby County
Bennett   60'
Beer   65'
Almond   69'
Priest   89'
[1] Boag   12'
Attendance: 73,833[2]
Referee: A. Scragg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sheffield United
 
 
 
 
 
Derby County[3]

See also

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References

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General
Specific