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1911

Cup holders Newcastle United were hoping to defend the trophy in their second successive final, against a Bradford City side which had just enjoyed its most successful league season yet, finishing fifth.

In the first round, Bradford journeyed all the way to the County of Kent to play Old Brompton - now known as Gillingham FC. The trip was well worth it as the Paraders returned north with a 1-0 win. Their reward was three consecutive home ties, starting with Norwich City (2-1) before Grimsby Town (1-0) and finally Burnley (1-0) were defeated. And so to a semi final with Blackburn Rovers at Bramall Lane. In a one sided game, City won 3-0 to earn the right to contest the final.

Following the first round draw, Newcastle United received Bury as their visitors. The Shakers were contemptuously dispatched with a 6-1 defeat. Next up were Northampton, again at St James's Park. This time the visitors fared better, holding the Geordies to a 1-1 draw. In the replay at County Ground a 1-0 win was enough for the visitors. Two more home ties, against Hull City (3-2) and Derby County (4-0) set them up with a semi-final against Chelsea at St Andrews, Birmingham. Another comfortable win (3-0) set up the final with Bradford.

Similarly to last year, Newcastle were playing a team from Yorkshire and were taken to a replay. Unlike twelve months previously, it was the Yorkshire team which won the cup. After a goalless draw at Crystal Palace on 22 April 1911 - a scoreline perhaps influenced by the fact that the first division's top goalscorer, Newcastle's Albert Shepherd, was unavailable for selection following a collision with Blackburn Rover's goalkeeper in a league game - the teams met again four days later at Old Trafford. This was the first time that the new stadium had been used to host such a game.

In the replay, Bradford struck within just 15 minutes as captain Jimmy Speirs headed past 'keeper Jimmy Lawrence in the Newcastle goal. Contemporary reports indicate that it is just possible that Lawrence was more concerned with the looming presence of Spiers' teammate Frank O'Rourke as the pair had charged into the penalty area together.

In what remained of the first half, the recalled Bob Torrance, playing in place of Willie Gildea, marshalled his defence to enable City to see out the first half 1-0 up. In the second half, it was virtually one way traffic towards the Newcastle goal but a second goal wasn't going to come for Bradford. But no matter! Speirs' goal was enough and Bradford City had won the FA Cup.

And of course it was fitting that the new trophy, which had only recently been created, had in fact been made in Bradford by Fattorini's. This was after the one that Newcastle had won the year before had been presented to Lord Kinnaird, the long standing President of the FA.