1896 FA Cup Final: Sheffiled Wednesday vs Wolves

• Sheffiled Wednesday
  • Spiksley 1'
  • Spiksley 18'
• Wolves
  • Black 8'

Crystal Palace - Saturday 18th April

Attendance: 48,836

Match Referee: Captain W. Simpson

Team Line-ups:

After Wolves had won the Cup in 1893, the club's chairman had obtained permission from the Football Association to present each player with a ten-inch high silver replica of the trophy. One of these models was used as a copy for the new Cup.

The first club to win the new trophy were Sheffield Wednesday, semi-finalists in the previous two seasons, and their opponents were Wolves, now disputing their third Final in eight seasons.

The hero of a fierce match was Wednesday's outside-left Spiksley, and once again the Crystal Palace crowd saw a very early goal. In just over a minute a brilliant run by Davis and Spiksley ended with the latter giving Wednesday the lead, but Black quickly hooked in an equalizer for Wolves from close to the post.

Tommy Crawshaw.

Sheffield Wednesday Centre Half. Played in two Cup Finals 11 years apart (1896 & 1907).

Wednesday, however, were not to be subdued, and before half-time Spiksley put them ahead again with a terrific shot that hit an upright on its way into the net. The ball had in fact been hit with such force that it rebounded into the field of play before Tennant realized where the shot had gone. It was only after the final whistle had been blown, and he had asked the Wednesday captain where the replay was going to be. that the Wolves goalkeeper learnt that two shots had beaten him that afternoon.

Wednesday were never really expected to reach the Final, not being exceptionally strong in the League, yet they always managed to rise to the occasion in the Cup. At their Olive Grove ground they were reckoned invincible in a cup-tie. In the Final they had the advantage of Spiksley's early goal. However, with a few minutes remaining of one of the best Finals for several years and Wednesday 2—1 in the lead. Wolves came back into the game and forced Wednesday on to the defensive, bombarding Massey with shot after shot.

Wednesday's play deteriorated in the last quarter of an hour, excitement getting the better of some of their players, but they were still able to make two breakaways, and Brady hit the crossbar in one of them.