1904 FA Cup Final
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 1904 FA Cup Final |
|---|
 |
| Winner |
| Manchester City |
| Runner Up |
| Bolton Wanderers |
| Score |
| 1–0 |
| Date |
| 23 April 1904 |
| Venue |
| Crystal Palace |
The 1904 FA Cup Final took place at Crystal Palace on Saturday 23 April 1904. The 32nd FA Cup final was contested between Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers. Manchester City won 1–0. The goal was scored by Billy Meredith.
Contents |
[edit] Build-up
The final was held at Crystal Palace, the tenth final played at the venue.[1] Neither club had previously won the competition. Bolton reached the final in 1894, but were beaten comfortably by Notts County, losing 4–1 at Goodison Park despite a strong performance by goalkeeper John Sutcliffe.[2]
In their passage to the final Manchester City faced opposition from the top division in all but one round, the exception Woolwich Arsenal in the second round. Sunderland were defeated 3–2 at Hyde Road in the first round, and the visit to Arsenal yielded a 2–0 win. A club record crowd of 30,022 watched the quarter-final against Middlesbrough,[3] but a 0–0 draw meant a replay at Ayresome Park was required, which City won 3–1 to set up a semi-final against The Wednesday.[4] Two goals from Turnbull and one from Meredith gave City a 3–0 win at Goodison Park.[5]
Bolton's cup run started slowly, with a replay required to overcome non-league Reading. A 4–1 victory over Southampton secured a quarter-final berth at Sheffield United. As a Second Division team with a poor away record, Wanderers were clear underdogs in the quarter-final, particularly in view of Sheffield United's strong home form.[6] Nevertheless, Bolton prevailed 2–0 courtesy of goals by Sam Marsh and Billy Yenson.[7] At this point Marsh had scored in every round of the competition. A 1–0 defeat of Derby County in the semi-final took Bolton to the final.
Though Lancashire was a football stronghold in the early years of the professional game, providing a large proportion of Football League teams, the cup final had never been contested between two Lancashire clubs until the 1904 final. 30,000 supporters from the region travelled to London,[8] sparking press reports of records for North-South rail travel.[9] Lacking alternative accommodation, several thousand slept on the platforms at Euston and St Pancras.[10] A jovial atmosphere built up, with the Manchester Industrial Boys Band playing Hiawatha.[9] However, in London itself, the match received less attention than a final featuring a southern team would have done.[11] Tickets in an uncovered stand cost 5s.[12]
Prior to the match the teams both stayed in the suburb of West Norwood, within walking distance of Crystal Palace. Manchester City arrived on 21 April, and were joined the following day by the Bolton Wanderers,[13] who had spent the earlier part of the week at a training camp in Norbreck, near Blackpool.[14] London's Morning Leader described the relaxed nature of the Manchester City players, commenting that "they might have been a tug of war eleven out for a holiday".[15]
The majority of observers, including the Times correspondent, expected a win for Manchester City,[11] as they had performed strongly over the League season, lying second in the First Division on the day of the final, whereas Bolton were a mid-table Second Division side whose most talented forward, Boyd, was sidelined through injury.[16] Manchester City had one injury worry, Billy Holmes, who had missed the previous league match after sustaining an injury against Nottingham Forest. George Livingstone, initially a doubt, was passed fit well in advance.[13] When the final lineups were announced, both teams had one change from the semi-finals. For Bolton, Boyd was replaced by Clifford, who had not played in any of the previous rounds,[7] and Archie Freebairn switched to Boyd's usual flank "with a view to coping with Meredith".[13] For Manchester City, Sam Ashworth replaced Holmes. Both teams played 2-3-5, the standard formation of the period.
[edit] The final
The match took place in good weather, with the crowd approximately 62,000.[17] Manchester City entered the field of play first, led by captain Billy Meredith, with the Bolton team emerging shortly after. Manchester City won the toss, and elected to play towards the southern end of the ground in the first half,[4] with the wind at their backs.[18] The opening exchanges were fairly even, the Athletic News reporting that "For some time there was little to choose between the rivals", but that "Manchester were the more systematic and scientific".[19]
Twenty minutes into the game, a pass to the right wing by George Livingstone eluded Bolton's Archie Freebairn,[20] and reached Meredith, who dribbled beyond Bob Struthers for a run on goal. He shot to goalkeeper Davies' left, scoring the opening goal.[4] Reporters with Bolton sympathies, such as ex-Bolton secretary JJ Bentley, claimed the goal to be offside, though the Bolton players made no appeal to the referee.[20][21] The goal led to one over-exuberant Manchester City supporter invading the pitch, and subsequently being escorted away by police, though in contrast to the modern image of the football hooligan, the Sporting Chronicle reported that the man was then allowed back onto the terraces, as the police had been impressed by the level of devotion that he had demonstrated.[22]
Bolton had the majority of possession in the second half, aside from a ten minute spell,[23] but the performance of the Manchester City defence limited Bolton's goalscoring opportunities. The Manchester Evening News singled out Herbert Burgess for particular praise in this respect, writing that City had "considerable reason to be thankful to their left-back, Burgess... ...the famous International played a game which has rarely been surpassed". The Bolton Evening News took a rather different view, claiming that physical play by Burgess provoked the ire of the crowd.[24] Bolton's adoption of "kick and rush" tactics resulted in a spell of pressure, but to no avail.[11] Bolton's best chance came in the final five minutes, a shot by White which "missed by inches".[23] The match finished 1–0, giving Manchester City their first major honour. Meredith received the trophy from the serving prime minister and patron of the club,[25] Arthur Balfour.[21]
[edit] Match details
| 1904-04-23 15:00 GMT |
Manchester City | 1 – 0 | Bolton Wanderers | Crystal Palace, London Attendance: 61,374[26] Referee: A. J. Barker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Meredith  23' |
[27] |
      Manchester City
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Bolton Wanderers [28]
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MATCH RULES
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[edit] References
- ^ James, Manchester – The Greatest City, p54
- ^ Pawson, 100 Years of the FA Cup, p56
- ^ James, Manchester – The Greatest City, p51
- ^ a b c James, Manchester City - The Complete Record, p110
- ^ Ward, The Manchester City Story, p12
- ^ Marland, Bolton Wanderers – A Complete Record 1877–1989, p16
- ^ a b Marland, Bolton Wanderers – A Complete Record 1877–1989, p218
- ^ James, Manchester – A Football History, p103
- ^ a b "English Cup Tie: Extraordinary Scenes In London". Manchester Evening News: p. 3. 23 April 1904.
- ^ James, Manchester – A Football History, p105
- ^ a b c "The Association Cup. Victory for Manchester City" (Times Digital Archive 1785-1985). The Times: p. 11. 1904-04-25.
- ^ Creighton, Manchester City: Moments To Remember, p11
- ^ a b c "Football Notes – The Final Tie". Manchester Evening News: p. 2. 22 April 1904.
- ^ "English Cup Final – Early Scenes in London". Manchester Evening Chronicle. 23 April 1904.
- ^ "The Cup Final – Prospects for Tomorrow". Manchester Evening Chronicle: p. 3. 22 April 1904.
- ^ Harding, Football Wizard – The Billy Meredith Story, p86
- ^ Pawson, 100 Years of the FA Cup, p57
- ^ "A proud day for Manchester City". Manchester Evening News: p. 4. 23 April 1904.
- ^ Harding, Football Wizard – The Billy Meredith Story, p90
- ^ a b Ward, The Manchester City Story, p13
- ^ a b James, Manchester City - The Complete Record, p111
- ^ James, Manchester – A Football History, p106
- ^ a b Pawson, 100 Years of the FA Cup, p58
- ^ Gent, Making Headlines: The History of Bolton Wanderers Football Club as Seen Through the Eyes the Pages of the "Bolton Evening News
- ^ Harding, Football Wizard – The Billy Meredith Story, p59
- ^ Sporting Chronicle - 1904 FA Cup Final
- ^ Match report at fa-cupfinals.co.uk
- ^ FA Cup Final kits, 1900-1909
[edit] Bibliography
- Creighton, John (1993). Manchester City: Moments To Remember. Ammanford: Sigma Press. ISBN 1850583978.
- Gent, Leslie (2004). Making Headlines: The History of Bolton Wanderers Football Club as Seen Through the Eyes the Pages of the "Bolton Evening News. Bristol: Sports Programme. ISBN 978-0953744442.
- Harding, John (1998). Football Wizard – The Billy Meredith Story. London: Robson Books. ISBN 1-86105-137-9.
- James, Gary (2006). Manchester City – The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 1-85983-512-0.
- James, Gary (2005). The Official Manchester City Hall of Fame. Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-61282-1.
- James, Gary (2008). Manchester – A Football History. Halifax: James Ward. ISBN 978-0-9558127-0-5.
- Marland, Simon (1989). Bolton Wanderers – A Complete Record 1877–1989. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 9780907969518.
- Pawson, Tony (1972). 100 Years of the FA Cup. London: Heinemann. ISBN 0-330-23274-6.
- Ward, Andrew (1984). The Manchester City Story. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 0-907969-05-4.
