The 1913 FA Cup final was contested by Aston Villa and Sunderland on 19 April 1913 at London's Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 1–0 with a goal by Tommy Barber from a cross by Charlie Wallace. Wallace had earlier missed a penalty, something that would not occur again in an FA Cup final until the 1988 final between Wimbledon and Liverpool.
It was Sunderland's first appearance in the FA Cup Final and the first time the Football League's top two finishers had vied for the trophy, even though the League would not be decided for another week. On their way to the match Sunderland had to replay their quarter-final twice and then their semi-final once after draws in those contests. Aston Villa were appearing in the final after an eight-year absence and their victory was their fifth, equalling the record at that time of the Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers.
During the match Sunderland's Charlie Thomson and Villa's Harry Hampton almost immediately resumed a long-running feud that led to both players being suspended for a month at the start of the following season. The contest was noted for its rough play and led to the withdrawal of Sunderland's invitation to take part in the 1913 Charity Shield match. The referee, Mr. A. Adams, from Nottingham was also suspended, to the dismay of the Referees' Union, having allowed 17 minutes for stoppage time.
Background Prior to the match, suffragettes of the Women's Social and Political Union plotted to bomb the grandstand of Crystal Palace, however their plans were foiled before they could execute their terrorist attack.
Route to the final
+ Aston VillaRound 1Derby County1–3Aston VillaRound 2Aston Villa5–0West Ham UnitedRound 3Aston Villa5–0Crystal PalaceQuarter-finalBradford Park Avenue0–5Aston VillaSemi-finalAston Villa1–0Oldham Athletic (at Ewood Park)
+ SunderlandRound 1Sunderland6–0Clapton OrientRound 2Sunderland2–0Manchester CityRound 3Sunderland4–2Swindon TownQuarter-finalSunderland0–0Newcastle UnitedQuarter-final replayNewcastle United2–2SunderlandQuarter-final 2nd replayNewcastle United0–3SunderlandSemi-finalSunderland0–0Burnley (at Bramall Lane)Semi-final replaySunderland3–2Burnley (at St Andrew's)
Match details
GK Sam Hardy DF Tom Lyons DF Tommy Weston MF Tommy Barber MF Jimmy HarropMF Jimmy LeachFW Charlie WallaceFW Clem StephensonFW Harry HamptonFW Harold HalseFW Joe Bache (c)Secretary-Manager: George Ramsay GK Joe ButlerDF Charlie GladwinDF Harry NessMF Francis CuggyMF Charlie Thomson (c)MF Harry LowFW Jackie MordueFW Charlie BuchanFW James RichardsonFW George HolleyFW Henry MartinManager: Bob Kyle Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Replay if scores still level.
References
Line ups FA Cup Final kits