Arsenal's first FA Cup match was played at The Manor Ground, Plumstead on 05.10.1889.
The club were at this time still known as Royal Arsenal.
The opponents wre Lyndhurst, who played at Denmark Hill (Surrey). Lyndhurst were members of the Surrey FA and featured in the semi finals of the 1888-89 Surrey Cup.They also comperted in the London Senior Cup. (There is a town in the New Forest called Lyndhurst but the two are not connected).
GK | Fred Beardsley | England |
A Nottingham Forest player who moved to London to work at the Arsenal (munitions factory). He played in Arsenal’s first ever match and was responsible for the use of the red kit, a set of hand me downs from Forest. | ||
FB | Peter Connolly | Scotland |
An early star of the side. He died of TB aged 28. | ||
FB | ‘Jack’ or ‘Jamie’ McBean | Scotland |
HB | Morris Bates | England |
A relocated team mate of Beardsley’s at Nottingham Forest. Known as Iron head- he was an early practitioner of the booming headed clearance. | ||
HB | David Howat | England |
Played 300 games for the club and was in the first league match. | ||
HB | Bill Julian * | England |
Julian, who later played for Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a long career as a coach in The Netherlands. | ||
F | William Scott | Scotland |
Previously played for Forfar Athletic. | ||
F | Richard Horsington | England |
Another import from Swindon Town. | ||
F | Humphrey Barbour | Scotland |
Played for Third Lanark. | ||
F | Hope Robertson | Scotland |
F | Jimmy Meggs | ? |
*Some sources have Harry Offer in place of Bill Julian- Offer (England) had previously played for Swindon Town and went on to join Southampton St Mary’s.
Arsenal ran out winners by 11-0. The scorers were Barbour (3), Scott (3), Meggs (2), Robertson (2) and Horsington.
In the 2nd Qualifying round Arsenal drew 2-2 (away) with Norwich's Thorpe FC before progressing to the next round via a walkover.
FA Founder members Crusaders were beaten 5-2 (aet) at Plumstead.
The cup run came to an end on 07.12.89 when Arsenal went down 5-1 at home against The Swifts (Slough). Swifts had reached the FA Cup semi finals 3 times in their history, but dissapeared in a merger in 1890.
In the 2nd Qualifying round Arsenal drew 2-2 (away) with Norwich's Thorpe FC before progressing to the next round via a walkover.
FA Founder members Crusaders were beaten 5-2 (aet) at Plumstead.
The cup run came to an end on 07.12.89 when Arsenal went down 5-1 at home against The Swifts (Slough). Swifts had reached the FA Cup semi finals 3 times in their history, but dissapeared in a merger in 1890.
