1883 FA Cup final

The 1883 FA Cup final was contested by Blackburn Olympic and Old Etonians at the Kennington Oval. Blackburn Olympic won 2–1 after extra time. James Costley and Arthur Matthews scored for Blackburn; Harry Goodhart for Old Etonians. It was a watershed match for the sport, as for the first time in an FA Cup final a working-class team playing the 'combination game' (passing) were triumphant over a team playing the public school tactics of 'rushing' and 'scrimmages'.^[1]

1883 FA Cup final

Blackburn Olympic, winners
Event	1882–83 FA Cup
Blackburn Olympic Old Etonians 2 1
After extra time
Date	31 March 1883
Venue	Kennington Oval, London
Referee	Charles Crump
Attendance	8,000
← 1882 1884 →

Overview

Blackburn Olympic, coached by former England player, Jack Hunter, had previously eliminated Lower Darwen, Darwen Ramblers and Druids, reaching the final after a 4–0 over Old Carthusians in the semi-final. On the other hand, Old Etonians earned to play their third consecutive final, although they were not the favourites to win the match.^[2]

The following is the chronicle of the match, as it appeared on The Morning Post:

The deciding trial in the competition came off at Kennington-Oval on Saturday. The attendance was very large. In the first half the Old Etonians scored a goal, kicked by Goodhart, but matters were balanced when Massie [sic] got the leather through. At the call of time the score stood at a goal each, and then the extra half-hour was entered upon. A very exciting struggle followed, and at about 15 minutes from the call of time Costley headed the ball through, and no further score being made, Blackburn were winners by two goals to one. The Cup was presented by Major Marindin, and Mr. Coddington, MP for Blackburn, acknowledged the compliment on behalf of the winners. The Etonians suffered a severe loss through Dunn getting damaged during the first half, but, by way of a set-off, the Blackburn team had three of their men crippled. It was a grandly-contested trial, and the Blackburn men won by fast play and good condition.^[3]

— The Morning Post (London), 2 April 1883

A key factor in the Olympians' victory was a tactical innovation. It played a 2-3-5 formation, rather than the familiar 2-2-6 of the Etonians, "which certainly strengthened the defence without essentially weakening the attack."^[4]

Match details

Blackburn Olympic	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Old Etonians
Matthews 107' Costley	Report	Goodhart

1882–83 FA Cup

31 March 1883

Kennington Oval

Attendance: 8,000

Referee: Charles Crump

Blackburn Olympic

Old Etonians

GK Thomas Hacking DF James Ward DF Albert Warburton MF Thomas Gibson MF William Astley MF Jack Hunter FW Thomas Dewhurst FW Alfred Matthews FW George Wilson FW James Costley FW John Yates

GK John Rawlinson DF Thomas French DF Percy de Paravicini MF Arthur Kinnaird MF Charles Foley FW Arthur Dunn FW Herbert Bainbridge FW John Barrington Chevallier FW William Anderson FW Harry Goodhart FW Reginald Macaulay

References

1. What If There Had Been No Port In The Vale?: Startling Port Vale Stories!. Witan Books. 2011. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-9529152-8-7.
2. "FA Cup Final 1883 - Match Report". FA Cup History. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
3. "Blackburn Olympic v Old Etonians 2-1 (English FA Cup Final: March 31, 1883)". Morning Post. 31 March 1883 – via Play Up Liverpool.
4. "Memorable association matches". Cricket and Football Field: 2. 13 May 1893.

• The Early Years of the FA Cup: How the British Army Helped Establish the World's First Football Tournament: p. 164 Author: James W Bancroft