The 1873–74 Football Association Challenge Cup was the third edition of the annual FA Cup, the oldest national football tournament in the world. Entrants increased to 28 teams, 12 more than the previous season; six would never contest a match. It began on 9 October 1873 and ended at the final on 14 March 1874.

Wanderers unsuccessfully defended its second 1873 title at a Replay on 31 January 1874, losing to Oxford University, 1–0.

Oxford University successfully pursued its first FA Cup in the Final on 14 March 1874 in Kennington Oval against the Royal Engineers. 2–0. 2,000 attended.

Format

First round: 28 teams played. The winners moved on. Second round: 14 teams played. The winner moved on. Third round: 6 teams, with Swifts getting a bye, played. Semi-final: 4 teams played. Final: 2 teams played. Oxford University were the champions.

Calendar

RoundDateFixtures ClubsNew entries this roundOriginalPlaysReplaysWalkoversByes First round 9 October - 17 November 1873 14 9 2 5 0 28 → 14 28 Second round 15 November - 20 December 1873 7 6 2 1 0 14 → 7 none Third round 6 December 1873 - 17 January 1874 3 3 1 0 1 7 → 4 none Semi-finals 28 January - 28 February 1874 2 2 0 0 0 4 → 2 none Final 14 March 1874 1 1 0 0 0 2 → 1 none

First round

Replays

Second round

Replays

Third round

Replay

Semi-finals

Final

See also FA Cup FA Cup Final

References

External links England Cup 1874 at Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation FA Cup 1873-74 at Steve's Footie Stats F.A. Cup 1873-74 at Footballsite.co.uk FACup 1873-74 at F.C.H.D. (Football Club History Database)