Early FA Cup Years
Three semi-final losses before a historic fourth win in 1898.
Nottingham Forest's early FA Cup history saw them reach the semi-finals three times before finally winning at the fourth attempt in the 1897–98 season.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1865
- Joined the football league
- 1892 (First Division)
- First division title
- 1977–78 (only title; finished 3rd in 1892–93)
- Defining rivalry
- Notts County (the Nottingham derby)
Lore & Background
Forest entered the FA Cup for the first time in the 1878–79 season, beating Notts County 3–1 in the first round before losing 2–1 to Old Etonians in the semi-final. They lost FA Cup semi-finals in 1900 and 1902, but their first semi-final win came at the fifth attempt in the 1897–98 FA Cup, a 2–0 replay victory against Southampton after the first game was drawn 1–1. Forest went on to win the final 3–1 against Derby County.
Reader's Guide
The club's early FA Cup semi-final appearances were in 1878–79, 1891–92, and 1897–98. They lost the first three semi-finals and won the fourth.
Did You Know?
- They lost an FA Cup semi-final to West Bromwich Albion after a replay in 1891–92.
- The 1898 FA Cup final saw Forest win 3–1 against Derby County at Crystal Palace.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in Nottingham Forest
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