The world-famous FA Cup began way back in 1871.
FA secretary Charles Alcock had proposed at a meeting on 20 July of that year, declaring: "That it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association, for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete".
The FA was then eight years old. The original membership of 11 teams had slowly grown to 50. A stimulus was required and it was hoped that "The Cup" would provide it.
Alcock recalled playing in an inter-house knockout tournament at Harrow School and felt that the formula could work on a bigger scale.
His proposal was met "with general favour" and the rules of the new competition were agreed three months later.
Fifteen teams had their entries accepted and the draw for the First Round threw up these ties:
Wanderers v Harrow Chequers
Clapham Rovers v Upton Park
Crystal Palace v Hitchin
Maidenhead v Marlow
Royal Engineers v Reigate Priory
Barnes v Civil Service
Queens Park (Glasgow) v Donington School (Spalding)
Hampstead Heathens had a bye.
The first FA Cup matches ever played all took place on Saturday, 11 November 1871. The scores were Upton Park 0 Clapham Rovers 3, Crystal Palace 0 Hitchin 0, Maidenhead 2 Marlow 0 and Barnes 2 Civil Service 0.
The first Cup goal was scored by Clapham's Jarvis Kenrick. He later won The Cup three years running with Wanderers.
