1915 FA Cup Final
Encyclopedia
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. It was the last FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
final to be staged before competitive football was abandoned in Britain because of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The match was moved from its pre-war location of Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
in south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Old Trafford in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to avoid disruption to travel in and around London.
The match is one of the few FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
s that has acquired a name; the Khaki Cup Final, owing to the large number of uniformed soldiers in attendance. However, the attendance of about 50,000 was lower than previous years as a result of wartime
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
travel restriction and the mobilisation of large numbers of young men into the armed forces.
Road to the Final
Chelsea had the easiest start in the FA Cup competition, their first round match was with Swindon TownSwindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, a Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
team, but they made heavy work of it requiring a replay to defeat them and conceding 3 goals during the two matches. Their Cup performance improved considerably, and after defeating Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
(then a Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
side ) in the second round, they defeated several First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
sides who finished above them in the league table, including Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
who later went on to win the league that season
1914-15 in English football
The 1914–15 season was the 44th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1914 Charity Shield was not contested due to suspension of football during World War I-Events:...
.
Sheffield United defeated Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, a second division side, in the first round and then made steady progress until round 4 where they met Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, who finished above them in the First Division that season, and they required a replay to finally defeat them. Sheffield United met Bolton Wanderers in the semi-final and Utley
George Utley
George Utley was an English footballer who played for Barnsley, Sheffield United and England. He was strong and powerful half back who could shoot at goal when required....
, the Blades' Captain, scored a rare goal.
Sheffield UnitedHome teams listed first.Round 1: Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... 1–2 Sheffield United
Round 2: Sheffield United 1–0 Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
Round 3: Sheffield United 1–0 Bradford
Round 4: Oldham Athletic 0–0 Sheffield United
Replay: Sheffield United 3–0 Oldham Athletic
Semi-final: Bolton Wanderers 1–2 Sheffield United
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ChelseaHome teams listed first.Round 1: Chelsea 1–1 Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
Replay: Chelsea 5–2 Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
Round 2: Chelsea 1–0 Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
Round 3: Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... 0–1 Chelsea
Round 4: Chelsea 1–1 Newcastle Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
Replay: Newcastle Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... 0–1 Chelsea
Semi-final: Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... 0–2 Chelsea
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Pre-match build-up
The favourites to win the match were Sheffield United. They had combined a successful FA cup run with a strong league campaign1914-15 in English football
The 1914–15 season was the 44th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1914 Charity Shield was not contested due to suspension of football during World War I-Events:...
where they finished 6th overall but only three points behind the League winners. Their defence was one of the best in the league but they had not managed to score many goals.
Chelsea were statistically the weaker side, whilst they had scored more goals than Sheffield United in the league, their defence was poor and they had conceded many more and lay in the relegation zone
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
. They had however beaten several strong clubs away from home during the FA cup competition and the programme noted that the underdogs had won on six occasions in the previous ten years.
Chelsea also had injury problems: Bob Thomson
Bob Thomson
Robert 'Bob' Thomson was an English footballer who played during the early 20th century, mainly prior to World War I.Playing as a forward, Thomson carved out a career in the game despite having only one eye, resulting from a childhood accident with a firework...
, their leading goal scorer that season
Chelsea F.C. seasons
This is a list of all seasons played by Chelsea Football Club in English and European football, from their inaugural season in 1905–06 to their last completed season. It details their record in every major competition entered, as well as the top goalscorers for each season...
, had been injured in a league game at Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
ten days earlier and was doubtful. Vivian Woodward
Vivian Woodward
Vivian John Woodward was an English amateur football player who enjoyed the peak of his career in the late 1900s and early 1910s.-Club career:...
an amateur and England international who played for Chelsea in peacetime but was currently serving in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, had been given leave to play in the final. However Woodward sportingly insisted that as Thomson had helped the club reach the final, he ought to play in it. There was bad news when Thompson suffered an eye injury, but he played.
Match programme
The official match programme was produced by Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and is available on-line here. A special version was printed on silk for presentation to the players and officials.
The programme showed that both teams played a 2-3-5 formation
Formation (association football)
In association football, the formation describes how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch. Different formations can be used depending on whether a team wishes to play more attacking or defensive football....
and the Chelsea teamsheet listed Vivian Woodward and Laurence Abrams
Laurence Abrams
Laurence Robert Abrams was an English footballer who played both North and South of the border. He was born in Southport. In Scotland for Hearts and in England for two clubs Southport and Stockport in his native Lancashire and Chelsea. He played in a Scottish style and was a strong tackler.-Club...
in addition to those who played in the match. Neither played in the match.
Match summary
As the score line suggests, the match was very much a one-sided affair. Chelsea adopted a gentlemanly "Drawing Room" style of play with attacks made up of zig-zag passes. These were broken up by an alert and cooperative Sheffield United defence. The Sheffield United forwards, with their superior tactics, pace and fitness, had the run of the Chelsea half and only the excellent performance of Molyneux, in goal for Chelsea, saved them from further embarrassment. Contemporary reportssingled out Brelsford, Simmons and Utley of Sheffield United for their quality of their performances during the match and Logan, who made some unsuccessful attacks for Chelsea during the second half.
The first goal was scored by Simmons just before half-time. A ball in from the left hand side crossed over the Chelsea backs and Simmons, racing in from the right half, half-volleyed it into the top of the net. Some sources suggest that Molyneux should have stopped this goal but others state that he was let down by his defence in all three goals. Chelsea had their best chances just before half-time when they had two shots saved by Gough in the Blades' goal.
At some point Chelsea woes were added to when Harry Ford on the right wing was injured.
Play was muted at the start of the second half as a thick fog descended over the pitch, preventing spectators from seeing any action on the opposite side of the pitch, though The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
commented that they were not missing much. The final two goals were scored in the last ten minutes. A shot from Wally Masterman rebounded from the bar but Fazackerly headed it past the Chelsea keeper for United's second. Directly after this goal Joe Kitchen picked the ball up just inside the Chelsea half and passed two defenders. Molyneaux emerged from the Chelsea goal but Kitchen dodged him and placed the ball in the open net. At this point, before the final whistle, large numbers of the spectators began to leave.
The crowd included many men in uniform but a much larger contingent who, the Manchester Guardian commented, should have been in uniform. A number of wounded soldiers, one missing an arm, watched the match from lower stand.
The cup was awarded by the Earl of Derby
Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby
Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby KG, GCB, GCVO, TD, PC, KGStJ, JP , known as Lord Stanley from 1893 to 1908, was a British soldier, Conservative politician, diplomat and racehorse owner. He was twice Secretary of State for War and also served as British Ambassador to...
whose speech, largely drowned out by a noisy crowd of young supporters, noted that all present needed to join together and play "a sterner game for England".
The Irwell Old Prize band provided the half time entertainment, playing a selection of tunes from around the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. A collection was made during the match on behalf of the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | SHEFFIELD UNITED: | ||
| GK | 1 |  Harold GoughHarold Gough Harold C. Gough was an English professional footballer. He made one appearance in goal for the England national team.-Club career:... |
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| FB | 2 | Billy Cook Billy Cook (footballer) Billy Cook was an English footballer who played for Hebburn Argyle, Sheffield United and Worksop Town. He was a lightweight but useful full back, a two footed tackler and solid defender.-Club career:... |
|
| FB | 3 | Jack English Jack English John Cogal 'Jack' English was an English footballer and manager who played for Hebburn Argyle, Preston, Watford and Sheffield United. He played as a Left Back and was judged to be the finest in the League in 1915.... |
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| HB | 4 | Albert Sturgess Albert Sturgess Albert Sturgess was a footballer who played for Sheffield United and England.-Club career:... |
|
| CH | 5 | Bill Brelsford Bill Brelsford William "Bill or Beau" Henry Brelsford was an English footballer who played for Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield United... |
|
| HB | 6 | George Utley George Utley George Utley was an English footballer who played for Barnsley, Sheffield United and England. He was strong and powerful half back who could shoot at goal when required.... (c) |
|
| OF | 7 | James Simmons James Simmons (footballer) James Simmons was an English footballer who played for Sheffield United. He was a fast and at times a brilliant player .. He was a nephew of William "Fatty" Foulke but had the opposite physique.-Club career:... |
|
| IF | 8 | Stanley Fazackerley Stanley Fazackerley Stanley Fazackerley was an English footballer who played for Accrington Stanley, Hull City and Sheffield United. He was a clever skilful player with a powerful and accurate shot .- Club career :... |
|
| CF | 9 | Joseph Kitchen Joseph Kitchen Joseph Kitchen was an English footballer who played for Gainsborough Trinity and Sheffield United. He was a prolific goal scorer.-Club career:... |
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| IF | 10 | Wally Masterman Wally Masterman Wallace "Wally" Masterman was an English footballer who played for Stockton on Tees, Gainsborough Trinity and Sheffield United... |
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| OF | 11 | Robert Evans Robert Evans (footballer born 1885) Robert "Bobby" Ernest Evans was an English professional footballer, who played as a left-winger for Aston Villa and Sheffield United . He won the FA Cup with Sheffield United in 1915 and played international football for both Wales and England.-Career:Evans was born in Chester, England of Welsh... |
|
| Manager: | |||
| John Nicholson | |||
Jim MolyneuxJim Molyneux
Jim Molyneux was an English footballer who played for Stockport County and Chelsea. He was a capable goalkeeper and popular with the Stamford Bridge crowd. Though not prone to theatrical displays like some keepers he did take risks.....
Walter BettridgeWalter Bettridge
Walter Bettridge was an English footballer who made over 200 appearances for Chelsea. He was a "lightweight" right back who was "fearless in stopping forwards."-Club career:...
Jack HarrowJack Harrow
Jack Harry Harrow was an English footballer who spent his entire professional career at Chelsea. He played mainly as a left-back. He was good at tackling and he also had an accurate shot....
(c)
Fred TaylorFred Taylor (footballer)
Fred Taylor was an English footballer who played for Gainsborough Trinity and Chelsea. He was a reliable right half back who worked hard and liked to move up the field during attacks.-Club career:...
Tommy LoganTommy Logan
Tommy Logan was a Scottish footballer who played both North and South of the border. In Scotland for Falkirk and in England for Chelsea. He was judged to be an ideal centre half back whose showed judgement in his play.-Club career:...
Andy Walker (1910s footballer)
Andy Walker, a footballer who played both North and South of the border. In Scotland for Dundee and in England for Chelsea. He was a versatile player who played in the midfield and as a forward.-Club career:...
Harry FordHarry Ford
Harry Ford was an English footballer who played for Tunbridge Wells Rangers and Chelsea in England. He was a fast winger who passed well and could shoot.-Club career:...
Harold HalseHarold Halse
Harold James Halse was an English football forward, who played most of his career for Manchester United and then for Chelsea...
Bob ThomsonBob Thomson
Robert 'Bob' Thomson was an English footballer who played during the early 20th century, mainly prior to World War I.Playing as a forward, Thomson carved out a career in the game despite having only one eye, resulting from a childhood accident with a firework...
Jimmy CroalJimmy Croal
James "Jimmy" Anderson Croal was a Scottish footballer and Schoolmaster who played both North and South of the border. In Scotland for Falkirk and Rangers and in England for Chelsea...
Bob McNeilBob McNeil
Bob McNeil was a Scottish footballer who played both North and South of the border. In Scotland for Hamilton Academical and in England for Chelsea...
David Calderhead
David Calderhead was a Scottish footballer who later became a manager, notably of Chelsea.-Playing career:...
- 90 minutes.
- 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
- Replay if scores still level.
- No substitutes>
Aftermath
In the July after this match the football league put all players on amateurAmateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
status and clubs were only allowed to pay expenses. Attendances at matches collapsed and as fuel for transport became scarce the national league was abandoned and football teams played in regional leagues
1915-16 in English football
The 1915–16 season was the first season of special wartime football in England during World War I.-Overview:Between 1914 and 1919 competitive football was suspended in England. Many footballers signed up to fight in the war and as a result many teams were depleted, and fielded guest players instead...
with whatever players they could find. Chelsea often played with players from other sides who passed through London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
whilst on active service, including Stanley Fazackerley.
Sheffield United held the FA Cup until it was contested again in 1920
1920 FA Cup Final
The 1920 FA Cup Final, the first since the end of the First World War, was contested by Aston Villa and Huddersfield at Stamford Bridge. Aston Villa won 1–0, with the goal coming in extra time from Billy Kirton, to clinch the trophy for a record sixth time....
. They reached the final and won the cup again in 1925
1925 FA Cup Final
The 1925 FA Cup Final was contested by Sheffield United and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium. Sheffield United won by a single goal, scored by Fred Tunstall....
.
Chelsea did not reach the final again until 1967
1967 FA Cup Final
The 1967 FA Cup Final took place at Wembley on 20 May 1967, between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. It was the competition's first final to be contested between two teams from London, and is thus often dubbed the Cockney Cup Final. Tottenham won 2–1...
and finally won it in 1970.