1903–04 FA Cup


The 1903–04 FA Cup was the 33rd season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup. Manchester City won the competition for the first time, beating Bolton Wanderers 1–0 in the final at Crystal Palace, through a goal scored by Billy Meredith.
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

The format of the FA Cup for the season had two preliminary rounds, five qualifying rounds, an intermediate round, three proper rounds, and the semi finals and final.
RoundDate
Extra Preliminary RoundSaturday 12 September 1903
Preliminary RoundSaturday 19 September 1903
First Round QualifyingSaturday 4 October 1903
Second Round QualifyingSaturday 17 October 1903
Third Round QualifyingSaturday 31 October 1903
Fourth Round QualifyingSaturday 14 November 1903
Fifth Round QualifyingSaturday 28 November 1903
Intermediate RoundSaturday 12 December 1903
First Round ProperSaturday 6 February 1904
Second Round ProperSaturday 20 February 1904
Third Round ProperSaturday 5 March 1904
Semi-FinalsSaturday 19 March 1904
FinalSaturday 23 April 1904

Intermediate Round

The Intermediate Round featured ten games, played between the ten winners of the Fifth Qualifying Round, and ten teams given byes. Manchester United, Bristol City, Preston North End, Woolwich Arsenal, Barnsley and Grimsby Town from the Second Division were entered automatically into this round, as were non-league Reading, Bristol Rovers and New Brompton.
The other Second Division sides had to gain entry to this round through the earlier qualifying rounds. Burton United and Bradford City were entered at the First Qualifying Round stage, with Bradford going out in the Fourth Qualifying Round. Glossop were entered at the Second Qualifying Round, but a walkover was awarded to their opponents, Heywood. The others, Blackpool, Burnley, Burslem Port Vale, Chesterfield, Gainsborough Trinity, Leicester Fosse, Lincoln City and Stockport County were entered at the Third Qualifying Round stage, with only Gainsborough and Burslem Port Vale reaching the intermediate round from these.
The ten matches were played on 12 December 1903. Four matches went to replays, with two of these going to a second replay and one of these, the Manchester United – Small Heath game, then went to a third replay.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Preston North End2–1Darwen12 December 1903
2Reading1–0Gainsborough Trinity12 December 1903
3Grimsby Town2–0Barnsley12 December 1903
4Burslem Port Vale3–0Burton United12 December 1903
5Stockton2–1Shrewsbury Town12 December 1903
6New Brompton1–1Bristol City12 December 1903
ReplayBristol City5–2New Brompton16 December 1903
7Brentford1–1Plymouth Argyle12 December 1903
ReplayPlymouth Argyle4–1Brentford16 December 1903
8Bristol Rovers1–1Woolwich Arsenal12 December 1903
ReplayWoolwich Arsenal1–1Bristol Rovers16 December 1903
ReplayBristol Rovers0–1Woolwich Arsenal21 December 1903
9West Ham United0–1Fulham12 December 1903
10Manchester United1–1Small Heath12 December 1903
ReplaySmall Heath1–1Manchester United16 December 1903
ReplaySmall Heath1–1Manchester United21 December 1903
ReplayManchester United3–1Small Heath11 January 1904

First round proper

The First Round Proper contained sixteen ties between 32 teams. 17 of the 18 First Division sides were given a bye to this round, as were Bolton Wanderers from the Second Division, and non-league Southampton, Portsmouth, Millwall Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur. They joined the ten teams who won in the intermediate round.
The matches were played on Saturday, 6 February 1904. Four matches were drawn, with the replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Bristol City1–3Sheffield United6 February 1904
2Bury2–1Newcastle United6 February 1904
3Preston North End1–0Grimsby Town6 February 1904
4Southampton3–0Burslem Port Vale6 February 1904
5Stoke2–3Aston Villa6 February 1904
6Reading1–1Bolton Wanderers6 February 1904
ReplayBolton Wanderers3–2Reading10 February 1904
7Notts County3–3Manchester United6 February 1904
ReplayManchester United2–1Notts County10 February 1904
8Blackburn Rovers3–1Liverpool6 February 1904
9West Bromwich Albion1–1Nottingham Forest10 February 1904
ReplayNottingham Forest3–1West Bromwich Albion13 February 1904
10Everton1–2Tottenham Hotspur6 February 1904
11Stockton1–4Wolverhampton Wanderers6 February 1904
12Woolwich Arsenal1–0Fulham6 February 1904
13Manchester City3–2Sunderland6 February 1904
14Portsmouth2–5Derby County6 February 1904
15Plymouth Argyle2–2The Wednesday6 February 1904
ReplayThe Wednesday2–0Plymouth Argyle10 February 1904
16Millwall Athletic0–2Middlesbrough6 February 1904

Second Round Proper

The eight Second Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 20 February 1904. There was one replay, between Derby County and Wolverhampton Wanderers, played in the following midweek fixture, but this was again drawn and went to a second replay the following week.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Bury1–2Sheffield United20 February 1904
2Preston North End0–3Middlesbrough20 February 1904
3Blackburn Rovers3–1Nottingham Forest20 February 1904
4Aston Villa0–1Tottenham Hotspur25 February 1904
5The Wednesday6–0Manchester United20 February 1904
6Bolton Wanderers4–1Southampton20 February 1904
7Derby County2–2Wolverhampton Wanderers20 February 1904
ReplayWolverhampton Wanderers2–2Derby County24 February 1904
ReplayDerby County1–0Wolverhampton Wanderers29 February 1904
8Woolwich Arsenal0–2Manchester City20 February 1904

Third round proper

The four Third Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 5 March 1904. Two matches were drawn and replayed in the following midweek fixture.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Derby County2–1Blackburn Rovers5 March 1904
2Sheffield United0–2Bolton Wanderers5 March 1904
3Tottenham Hotspur1–1The Wednesday5 March 1904
ReplayThe Wednesday2–0Tottenham Hotspur9 March 1904
4Manchester City0–0Middlesbrough5 March 1904
ReplayMiddlesbrough1–3Manchester City9 March 1904

Semi-Finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 19 March 1904.
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Final

The Final, the first all-Lancashire final since the start of the competition, 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.

Match details