1904 FA Cup Final
Manchester City won their first FA Cup in 1904.
The 1904 FA Cup final was a football match between Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City on 23 April 1904 at Crystal Palace in London. It was the 33rd FA Cup final and the tenth held at Crystal Palace. Manchester City won 1–0, securing their first major honour.
Quick Facts
- Event
- 1903–04 FA Cup
- Date
- 23 April 1904
- Stadium
- Crystal Palace
- City
- London
- Referee
- A. J. Barker
- Attendance
- 61,374
Facts from the source article.
Build-up
Neither club had previously won the FA Cup. Bolton had reached the final in 1894 but lost 4–1 to Notts County. Manchester City faced top-division opposition in all but one round of their cup run, defeating Sunderland, Woolwich Arsenal, Middlesbrough after a replay, and The Wednesday. Bolton required a replay to beat non-league Reading, then defeated Southampton, Sheffield United, and Derby County. The final was the first FA Cup final contested between two Lancashire clubs. Around 30,000 supporters from Lancashire travelled to London, causing record rail travel. Many slept on platforms at Euston and St Pancras. The Manchester Industrial Boys Band played Hiawatha. In London, the match received less attention than a final featuring a southern team would have. Tickets in an uncovered stand cost 5s.
Match
Twenty minutes in, a pass from George Livingstone reached Billy Meredith, who dribbled past Bob Struthers and scored to Davies' left. Reporters with Bolton sympathies, including ex-Bolton secretary JJ Bentley, claimed the goal was offside, though Bolton players made no appeal. A Manchester City supporter invaded the pitch and was escorted away by police, then allowed back onto the terraces. Bolton had most of the second-half possession but created few chances. Herbert Burgess was praised for his defensive performance by the Manchester Evening News, while the Bolton Evening News noted physical play that provoked the crowd. Bolton's best chance came in the final five minutes, a shot by White that missed by inches. The match ended 1–0.
Post-match
Alfred Lyttelton praised both teams and compared the play to an 1877 England–Scotland match, noting the increased importance of teamwork. Later that day, several young men with provincial accents appeared at a west London police court charged with drunken disorder and were fined an average of 10s. Manchester City travelled to Liverpool for a league fixture, losing 1–0 to Everton, which eliminated them from the title race. The team then arrived in Manchester and held a victory parade from the Town Hall to Ardwick Conservative Club via Deansgate, Market Street, and Ardwick Green. The crowd lining the route was five times larger than that for a recent visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
More in Legendary Players & Icons
Elsewhere in Manchester City
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced