1900 FA Cup Final
The 1900 FA Cup Final was an association football match between Bury and Southampton on Saturday, 21 April 1900 at the Crystal Palace stadium in south London. It was the final match of the 1899–1900 FA Cup, the 29th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, and England's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, better known as the FA Cup.
 Crystal Palace Stadium staging the 1905 FA Cup Final | |||||||
| Event | 1899–1900 FA Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Date | 21 April 1900 | ||||||
| Venue | Crystal Palace, London | ||||||
| Referee | Arthur Kingscott (Long Eaton, Derbyshire) | ||||||
| Attendance | 68,945 | ||||||
| Weather | hot and dry | ||||||
Bury and Southampton were both appearing in their first finals. Both teams joined the competition in the first round proper and progressed through four rounds to the final. As a member of the Football League First Division, Bury were exempt from the competition's qualifying phase. Southampton, as a member of the Southern League would normally have been required to pre-qualify but, as champions of the Southern League for three seasons in succession from 1896–97 to 1898–99, they were given byes through the qualifying phase to the first round.
The final was watched by a crowd of 68,945 and Bury, leading 3–0 at half-time, dominated the match to win 4–0 with goals by Jasper McLuckie (2), Willie Wood and Jack Plant. Bury won the cup again in 1903 but that was their last appearance in the match. Southampton reached the 1902 final but were defeated by Sheffield United; they eventually won the cup in 1976.
Background
The FA Cup, known officially as The Football Association Challenge Cup, is an annual knockout association football competition in men's domestic English football. Organised by and named after The Football Association (The FA), the tournament was first played during the 1871–72 season and is the world's oldest association football competition. The 1900 match at Crystal Palace was the 29th final and the last of the 19th century.[1]
Both teams were appearing in the final for the first time. Bury made one subsequent appearance when they defeated Derby County in 1903.[2] Southampton have played in four finals altogether: they lost to Sheffield United in 1902 and to Arsenal in 2003, but they won the cup in 1976 when they defeated Manchester United.[2]
Bury were members of the Football League First Division and, in the 1899–1900 league competition, amassed 32 points to finish in 12th position, only five points clear of the relegation placings.[3] Southampton were members of the Southern League and had been its champions in each of the three previous seasons. In the 1899–1900 league, they had slipped to third place below new champions Tottenham Hotspur. Southern League teams normally had to qualify for the first round proper of the FA Cup but, as reigning champions of their league, Southampton were exempted from pre-qualification and were given byes to the first round.[4]
Bury's team between 1895 and 1907 was selected by a three-man committee but with club secretary Harry Spencer Hamer in charge of the team on match days.[5] Southampton had the same arrangement with Ernest Arnfield, who was their club secretary from 1897 to 1911.[6]
Route to the final
Bury
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Burnley (a) | 1–0 |
| 2nd | Notts County (a) | 0–0 |
| 2nd (replay) | Notts County (h) | 2–0 |
| 3rd | Sheffield United (a) | 2–2 |
| 3rd (replay) | Sheffield United (h) | 2–0 |
| Semi-final | Nottingham Forest (n) | 1–1 |
| Semi-final (replay) | Nottingham Forest (n) | 3–2 |
| Key: (h) = Home venue; (a) = Away venue; (n) = Neutral venue | ||
Bury entered the competition in the 1st round proper and played four matches en route to the final. All four of their opponents were other teams in the Football League First Division. In the first round, Bury were drawn away to struggling Burnley, who were relegated at the end of the 1899–1900 league season. Bury won the tie 1–0 with a goal by Charlie Sagar before a crowd of 6,020.[7]
In the second round, Bury drew 0–0 away to Notts County at Trent Bridge. The replay at Gigg Lane was watched by a crowd of just 4,480. Goals by Sagar and Willie Wood ensured a 2–0 victory. Bury were drawn away again in the third round to the FA Cup holders Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Bury held United to a 2–2 draw in front of 22,766 people, their goals scored by Jasper McLuckie and Wood. Another replay was necessary but local interest soared and a new attendance record was set at Gigg Lane with 20,139 cramming into the ground. It is believed that many more people broke in without paying or managed to watch by climbing the overlooking trees outside. Bury won the match 2–0 with goals by Jack Plant and Billy Richards.[7]
The semi-finals were staged at neutral venues and Bury were drawn to play Nottingham Forest, the only other First Division team left in the competition, at the Victoria Ground in Stoke-on-Trent. Team captain Jack Pray scored a fifteenth minute penalty but the match ended in a 1-1 draw after a second penalty was missed. For the third time in this cup run, a replay was required, this time at Bramall Lane.[7]
The crowd in Sheffield was 15,000 but it was estimated that only 400 or so Bury supporters were able to make the trip as the match was on a Thursday evening. They were rewarded by seeing their team win a thrilling match. Forest scored twice in the first two minutes and it looked as if Bury were going out of the cup. They were able to prevent any more Forest goals before half-time and then Sagar pulled one back after 55 minutes. With five minutes remaining, McLuckie scored the equaliser and it was 2–2 at the end of normal time. The rule was that extra time must be played but the Forest players, perhaps not knowing this, made a protest. After 110 minutes, Sagar scored his second to secure a 3–2 win and take Bury to their first FA Cup final.[7]
Southampton
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Everton (h) | 3–0 |
| 2nd | Newcastle United (h) | 4–1 |
| 3rd | West Bromwich Albion (h) | 2–1 |
| Semi-final | Millwall Athletic (n) | 0–0 |
| Semi-final (replay) | Millwall Athletic (n) | 3–0 |
| Key: (h) = Home venue; (a) = Away venue; (n) = Neutral venue | ||
Like Bury, Southampton entered the competition in the 1st round proper and played four matches en route to the final. Whereas Bury were drawn away in each of the first three rounds, Southampton were always drawn at home. In their first round match at The Dell, they faced First Division Everton and achieved a surprise 3–0 win before a 10,000 crowd. Two of their goals were scored by former Everton player Alf Milward, the other by Archie Turner.[4]
In the second round, Southampton hosted First Division Newcastle United whom they had defeated at the same stage two years earlier. This match was played on Saturday, 10 February 1900 in wintry conditions. With the match goalless, Jack Farrell was forced to leave the pitch with a dislocated left collar-bone. Southampton played on with ten men until the 50th minute when referee Arthur Kingscott abandoned the match because of a heavy snowstorm.[8] The sides met again the following Saturday before an 8,000 crowd. Roddy McLeod replaced the injured Farrell and "seized the opportunity" by scoring twice in a convincing 4–1 victory. The other two goals were scored by Jimmy Yates and Archie Turner.[4] The third round match was played only a week later against West Bromwich Albion, another First Division side. Turner and McLeod scored in a 2–1 victory. The crowd was 9,000.[4]
The semi-finals involved two teams in the First Division and two in the Southern League. The draw kept the leagues apart and guaranteed that a side from the Southern League would reach the FA Cup Final for the first time.[9] Southampton's opponents were Millwall Athletic, who had just defeated Football League champions Aston Villa in the second replay of their third round tie which has been described as "three epic confrontations".[10]
To prepare for the semi-final, the Southampton players were sent to Buxton, a spa town, for a week's special training which began with a morning walk followed by a bath.[10] The club secretary, Ernest Arnfield, explained the training routine to Chums magazine:[10]
... in the afternoon, sprinting and ball-kicking are the order. Baths are capital for removing stiffness from the joints. And ... everyone in training should go to bed early. Our fellows usually retire at ten, but the night before a big match they are all in bed by nine. They enjoy a long sleep, and don't appear for breakfast before nine. Our diet is an extremely plain one. The customary fare consists of fish, chops and steaks. Vegetables and sweets are banned when a match is about to be played and so are spirits. Half a pint of beer per meal, however, is allowed, and directly the match is over, the players can eat whatever they please. As regards smoking, we only prohibit it on the morning preceding a big match.
The semi-final was played on Saturday, 24 March at the Crystal Palace which was also the venue for the final. A 30,000 crowd watched a "disappointing" goalless draw.[4] The replay was the following Wednesday at Reading's Elm Park when a crowd of only 10,000 saw Alf Milward at his "electrifying best". Milward scored two and Jimmy Yates one in a straightforward 3–0 victory which put the Saints through to their first appearance in the final less than 15 years after the club was founded.[4]
Match
Pre-match
The Bury team and officials travelled to London on Thursday, 19 April, two days before the match. They stayed at the Tavistock Hotel in Covent Garden until the Monday following. With unusually sunny weather that April, there was a heatwave in London on matchday. Conditions were uncomfortable for both the players and the crowd of 68,945.[7] According to one report, most of the crowd were "rooting" for Southampton, who were the first southern team to reach the final since 1883.[11] The referee, Arthur Kingscott from Derbyshire, had officiated at the Southampton v Newcastle game in the second round. Bury won the toss and decided to kick off with the sun behind them.[12]
First half
Bury had a 3–0 lead at half-time.
Second half
Bury won 4–0.
Details
     Bury
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   Southampton [14]
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Match rules
Notes
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Post-match
Bury's former club president, Lord James of Hereford, presented the trophy to captain Jack Pray at the end of the game.[7]
References
- "FA Cup". London: Footballhistory.org. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- "The Emirates FA Cup – Results Archive". London: Football Association. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- "Season 1902-03". English Football League Tables. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- Chalk & Holley 1987, p. 26.
- "Former Managers". Bury, Greater Manchester: Bury Football Club. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- "Bury v Southampton, 21 April 1900". 11v11.com. Battersea: Association of Football Statisticians. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- "1900 & 1903 FA Cup Winners". Bury, Greater Manchester: Bury Football Club. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Collett 2003, p. 560.
- Gibbons 2001, pp. 461–462.
- Juson & Bull 2001, p. 61.
- Lloyd & Holt 2005, p. 62.
- Gibbons 2001, pp. 464–465.
- "1900 FA Cup Final: Bury vs Southampton". FA Cup Finals. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- "The FA Cup Finalists 1900–1909 : Historical Football Kits". Historical Football Kits. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
Bibliography
- Bull, David; Brunskell, Bob (2000). Match of the Millennium. Southampton: Hagiology Publishing. ISBN 978-09-53447-41-1.
- Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – a complete record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-09-07969-22-8.
- Collett, Mike (2003). The Complete Record of the FA Cup. York: SportsBooks Ltd. ISBN 978-18-99807-19-2.
- Gibbons, Philip (2001). Association Football in Victorian England – A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900. Peterborough: Upfront Publishing. ISBN 978-18-44260-35-5.
- Juson, Dave; Bull, David (2001). Full-Time at The Dell. Southampton: Hagiology Publishing. ISBN 978-09-53447-42-8.
- Lloyd, Guy; Holt, Nick (2005). The FA Cup – the Complete Story. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978-18-45130-54-1.