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Preston North End

(Dewhurst, Ross J, Thompson) 

Dr R. H. Mills-Roberts; Howarth, Homes; Drummond, Russell, Graham; Gordon, Ross, J. Goodall, F. Dewhurst. Thompson

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Baynton; Baugh, Mason; Fletcher, Alien, Lowder; Hunter, Wykes, Broodie, Woods, Knight

Referee: Major Marindin

In 1888, the year of the formation of the Football League, the scheme put forward by Gregson (Secretary of the Lancashire Association) to divide the Cup competition into two sections - a Qualifying Competition and a Competition Proper-was accepted. Many of the 149 clubs entering the competition of the 1888-9 season employed professional players, and the new system was introduced so that the best clubs would not have to waste their time against weak opponents in meaningless games.

Against this background, Preston, sweeping away their previous dis­appointments, had an incredibly successful season. They won the League Championship without losing a match and the Cup without conceding a goal - figures which have never since been equalled.

Preston were the dominant team of the day. The side was chosen with marvellous precision, each man being an expert in his position. The train­ing was thorough, and individual players were encouraged to subordinate their own interests to those of the team as a whole.

Although no southern team was involved, Preston's reputation was such that a record crowd of 23,000 was attracted to the Oval for the Final. The gates were closed an hour before the start, and one of the umpires had great difficulty getting into the ground.

The match began with a lot of wild rushing and reckless kicking, as the early excitement seemed to get the better of both teams. But they soon settled down, and Knight and Wood missed good early chances for the Wolves. Preston's game of short passes to feet gave them the edge over Wolves' long passes in the air, and they went into the lead in less than fifteen minutes. Baynton punched out Ross's shot and Dewhurst thumped the ball back between the posts to the accompaniment of loud cheers.

Ten minutes later Ross dodged Alien and Mason and hit a shot straight at Baynton. The ball slipped through the goalkeeper's fingers and behind the goal-line: 2-0 to Preston.

Wolves directed several long shots at Mills-Roberts during the early part of the second half, but these would have been more dangerous if the Wolves men had dribbled or passed when nearer to the Preston goal. In fact, only two or three shots had been even moderately difficult to stop.

Twenty minutes from time a neat interchange of passes between Gordon and Ross allowed the latter finally to dribble to the by-line and cross the ball over. Mason miscued his attempted clearance, Dewhurst crashed into Baynton, and Thompson, running in, scored Preston's third.

First Round

Grimsby T v Sunderland Alb 3-1; Bootle v PNE 0-3; Halliwell v Crewe Alex 2-2, 5-1; Birmingham St George's v Long Eaton Rangers 3-2; Chatham v South Shore 2-1; Nott'm Forest v Linfield A wo; Small Heath v WBA 2-3; Burnley v Old Westminsters 4-3; WOLVES v Old Carthusians 4-3; Walsall T Swifts v Sheffield Heeley 5-1; Sheff Wed v Notts Rangers 1-1, 3-0; Notts Co v Old Brightonians 2-0; Blackburn R v Accrington S 1-1, 5-0; Swifts v Wrexham 3-1; Aston Villa v Witton 3-2; Derby Co v Derby Junction 1 -0

Second Round

Grimsby T v PNE 0-2; Halliwell v Birmingham St George's 2-3; Chatham v Nott'm Forest 1 -1, 2-2, 3-2; WBA v Burnley 5-1; WOLVES v Walsall T Swifts 6-1; Sheff Wed v Notts Co 3-2; Blackburn R v Swifts wo; Aston Villa v Derby Co 5-3

Third Round

PNE v Birmingham St George's 2-0; Chatham v WBA 1-10; WOLVES v Sheff Wed 5-0; Blackburn R v Aston Villa 8-1

Semi-Final

PNE v WBA 1 -0; WOLVES v Blackburn R 1 -1, 3-1