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1879 F A CUP FINAL
OLD ETONIANS 1
VS
CLAPHAM ROVERS 0
SCORER- CLERKE {65}
29th MARCH-KENNINGTON OVAL-LONDON
ATTENDANCE-5,000
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KITS BY ANDY BURTON
to reproduce these kits seek permission from the site above
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The end of a decade has always marked an end of an era in football history and while the last year of each decade and the first year of the next have always been similar, each decade has changed drastically from the previous. In 1870 there was no F A cup at all. Sport in England revolved around horse racing, boating and cricket. The Epsom Derby, the Grand National and the Boat race were the only major sporting events in the calender which remain among the elite today. The 1870's though gave birth to most of our modern major events such as the Ashes test series in cricket and the Wimbledon tennis championships as well, of course, as the F A cup. All three of these events had captured the public imagination and even at this early stage were vying for their place among the major sporting events. A mere 29,000 people watched the ten finals, including replays that were played in the 1870's, showing that the F A still had much to do if the cup was to become the number one sporting event. Scotland had embraced the game more quickly and 29,000 was not an uncommon attendance at a single fixture North of the border.
1879 saw the birth of a disease that would catapult the status of the cup to new heights. It started in a small Lancashire mill town of Darwen and has witnessed outbreaks in just about every small town throughout England in the years since. It is common in Scotland as well and there are plenty of other recorded outbreaks World wide but it can't be found in any medical journal. It is simply known as "cup fever" and when it strikes, the whole town catches it.
Before cup fever struck there was a shock in round one as the cup holders of the past three years, Wanderers were crushed by the Old Etonians. Wanderers had always drawn their players from the old boys network but 1879 had witnessed a huge rise in old boys teams in the cup and left the holders struggling to find a team of their own. The Etonians contained some of last years victorious Wanderers side in their ranks and swept the weakened cup holders away 7-2. It was the last breath of a dying club and the once mighty Wanderers were never again to play in the cup. The Etonians continued on to the quarter finals with Julian Sturgis scoring a hat-trick in their 5-2 third round win over Minerva. By coincidence Forest School, where the idea of the Wanderers was born won their first round tie 7-2 against Rochester but they came down to earth with a bump in round two losing 10-1 to Clapham Rovers who booked a quarter final spot with a win over Cambridge University. Old Harrovians saw off Southill Park 8-0 in round one but found their path to the quarter finals barred by Nottingham Forest who maintained their bid to take the cup out of London for the first time with a 2-0 win. Last year's beaten finalists were also in fine form as Oxford University defeated Wednesbury Strollers 7-0 while Upton Park saw off Saffron Walden 5-0. These two were on collision course in round three but Barnes sent Upton Park packing before Oxford in turn ended Barnes cup dream and took their place in the quarter finals.
Remnants had an enjoyable second round 6-2 win over Pilgrims and this set up a tie with working class Darwen in round three. The team of eight mill workers, two local doctors and a Scotsman who hid his professional status behind the mask of another occupation won the tie and booked a quarter final spot, setting off that first case of cup fever. Swifts made up the final half dozen battling for the trophy.
The F A had still not grasped the idea of ensuring that the quarter finals had eight teams as yet again only six took part in three ties. Clapham made light work of their quarter final with an 8-0 demolition of Swifts While a second, but not as severe case of cup fever broke out in Nottingham when Forest defeated the mighty Oxford University 2-1. The tie of the round was between Old Etonians and Darwen though. The old boys were 5-1 up with a quarter of a hour left but Darwen summoned up a terrific fightback to level the game and force a replay. Public subscription paid for another trip to London and this time Darwen led 2-1 before a late Eton equaliser forced a third tie. Darwen again travelled to London but, exhausted by their travels went down 6-2. They lost on the day but their efforts won another battle for provincial clubs as the F A were forced to scrap the idea of all ties after the first two rounds having to be played at the Oval. In future the first drawn team in each tie would be granted home advantage with only the semi finals and final being played on neutral territiory.
The Old Etonians were not shot of the provincials yet though as they were drawn to play Nottingham Forest in the semi final while Clapham gratefully accepted a bye into the final. Forest were not a working class team like Darwen though as they boasted many University old boys in their ranks. but their bid to take the cup out of the home Counties died when Clerke scored Etons winner in a 2-1 result.
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THE FINAL
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A record attendance of 5,000 turned up to see the first cup final since 1875 to involve two clubs yet to win the trophy. Old Etonians had contested and lost two finals and were aiming to make it third time lucky while their oppontents, Clapham Rovers best previous effort in the cup had been as beaten semi finalists in 1874. Not only had the Etonians the better previous form but they also had the experience of two former cup winners in their ranks. Arthur Kinnaird was making a record sixth appearance in the final and had three winners medals with the Wanderers, including last year but he had lost both his previous finals playing for Old Etonians. Edgar Lubbock had won his only winners medal with Wanderers in 1872 and had twice since lost as a team mate of Kinnaird's with Old Etonians. Fresh faced and inexperienced Clapham boasted the youngest ever cup finalist in their side in 17 year old James Prinsep and In 2002 Prinsep was still the youngest ever finalist. Just a week after this game the talented dribbler became the youngest ever England International qualifying for his Country through his birth in that most English of places at the time, India. Although many of the early players were born in far flung corners of the World they had all so far been officially either Englishmen or Scotsmen.
Prinsep was not destined to become the youngest cup winner though as this final was settled by the most common cup final scoreline of 1-0 with a 65th minute effort from Old Etonians semi final hero Clerke and provided Arthur Kinnaird with a neat quartet of cup winners medals.
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THE TEAMS
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OLD ETONIANS
JOHN HAWTREY
EDWARD CHRISTIAN
LINDSAY BURY
ARTHUR KINNAIRD {CAPTAIN}
EDGAR LUBBOCK
C J CLERKE
N PARES
HARRY GOODHART
HERBERT WHITFIELD
J B Y CHEVALLIER
H BEAUFOY
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CLAPHAM ROVERS
REGINALD BIRKETT
{CAPTAIN} ROBERT OGILVIE
EDGAR FIELD
NORMAN BAILEY
JAMES PRINSEP
F L RAWSON
A J STANLEY
S W SCOTT
H S BEVINGTON
EDWARD GROWSE
CECIL KIETH-FALCONER
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