Q 01/05

In which season was the FA Cup first played?

A) 1863–64

B) 1866–67

C) 1855–56

D) 1871–72

Answer · why

D) 1871–72

The Football League did not arrive until 1888, sixteen years later.

Q 02/05

Who proposed the creation of a Challenge Cup at the offices of The Sportsman newspaper in July 1871?

A) C. W. Alcock

B) William McGregor

C) Ebenezer Cobb Morley

D) Francis Marindin

Answer · why

A) C. W. Alcock

C. W. Alcock then captained his club in the first final, where a goal he scored was disallowed because a teammate had handled the ball.

Q 03/05

Who won the first FA Cup final in 1872?

A) Wanderers

B) Oxford University

C) Old Etonians

D) Royal Engineers

Answer · why

A) Wanderers

Wanderers won the first Cup after winning just one match before the final: two opponents withdrew, and a goalless quarter-final sent both sides throug...

Q 04/05

Where was the first FA Cup final played?

A) Stamford Bridge

B) Kennington Oval

C) Lillie Bridge

D) Crystal Palace

Answer · why

B) Kennington Oval

Kennington Oval was a natural choice: it was home to Surrey County Cricket Club, whose secretary from 1872 was also the FA's secretary.

Q 05/05

Which Manchester City goalkeeper played the last 17 minutes of the 1956 FA Cup final with a broken neck?

A) Frank Swift

B) Bert Trautmann

C) Joe Corrigan

D) Harry Dowd

Answer · why

B) Bert Trautmann

Bert Trautmann, a former German paratrooper and prisoner of war, kept making saves to protect a 3–1 lead; an X-ray three days later showed his neck wa...