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The 1878–79 Football Association Challenge Cup was the eighth staging of the FA Cup, England's oldest football tournament. Forty-three teams entered, although five of the forty-three never played a match.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Teams | 43 (entrants) 37 (participants) |
| Defending champions | Wanderers |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Old Etonians (1st title) |
| Runner-up | Clapham Rovers |
First round
edit| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 October 1878 | Barnes | 1–1 | Maidenhead |
| 28 October 1878 | Sheffield | 1–1 | Grantham |
| 30 October 1878 | Upton Park | 5–0 | Saffron Walden Town |
| 2 November 1878 | Forest School | 7–2 | Rochester |
| 2 November 1878 | Old Harrovians | 8–0 | Southill Park |
| 2 November 1878 | Oxford University | 7–0 | Wednesbury Strollers |
| 2 November 1878 | Romford | 3–1 | Ramblers |
| 9 November 1878 | Cambridge University | 2–0 | Herts Rangers |
| 9 November 1878 | Brentwood | 1–3 | Pilgrims |
| 9 November 1878 | Grey Friars | 2–1 | Marlow |
| 9 November 1878 | Reading | 1–0 | Hendon |
| 9 November 1878 | Royal Engineers | 3–0 | Old Foresters |
| 9 November 1878 | Swifts | 2–1 | Hawks |
| 9 November 1878 | Wanderers | 2–7 | Old Etonians |
| 16 November 1878 | Notts County | 1–3 | Nottingham Forest |
| (date and score unknown)[1][2] | Runnymede | draw | Panthers |
| Clapham Rovers | Walkover | Finchley | |
| Darwen | Walkover | Birch | |
| Minerva | Walkover | 105th Regiment | |
| Remnants | Walkover | Unity | |
| South Norwood | Walkover | Leyton | |
| Eagley | Bye |
Replays
edit| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 November 1878 | Maidenhead | 0–4 | Barnes |
| 16 November 1878 | Grantham | 1–3 | Sheffield |
| Panthers | Walkover | Runnymede |
Second round
edit| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 December 1878 | Cambridge University | 3–0 | South Norwood |
| 7 December 1878 | Clapham Rovers | 10–1 | Forest School |
| 7 December 1878 | Darwen | 0–0 | Eagley |
| 7 December 1878 | Grey Friars | 0–3 | Minerva |
| 7 December 1878 | Oxford University | 4–0 | Royal Engineers |
| 18 December 1878 | Reading | 0–1 | Old Etonians |
| 21 December 1878 | Nottingham Forest | 2–0 | Sheffield |
| 21 December 1878 | Old Harrovians | 3–0 | Panthers |
| 21 December 1878 | Remnants | 6–2 | Pilgrims |
| 21 December 1878 | Swifts | 3–1 | Romford |
| 4 January 1879 | Barnes | 3–2 | Upton Park |
Replay
edit| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 December 1878 | Darwen | 4–1 | Eagley |
Third round
edit| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 January 1879 | Old Etonians | 5–2 | Minerva |
| 28 January 1879 | Old Harrovians | 0–2 | Nottingham Forest |
| 30 January 1879 | Remnants | 2–3 | Darwen |
| 6 February 1879 | Clapham Rovers | 1–0 | Cambridge University |
| 6 February 1879 | Oxford University | 2–1 | Barnes |
| Swifts | Bye |
Fourth round
edit| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 February 1879 | Old Etonians | 5–5 | Darwen |
| 25 February 1879 | Nottingham Forest | 2–1 | Oxford University |
| 8 March 1879 | Clapham Rovers | 8–1 | Swifts |
Replay
edit| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 March 1879 | Old Etonians | 2–2 | Darwen |
Second replay
edit| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 March 1879 | Old Etonians | 6–2 | Darwen |
Semi finals
edit| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 March 1879 | Old Etonians | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest |
| Clapham Rovers | Bye |
Final
edit| Date | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 March 1879 | Old Etonians | 1–0 | Clapham Rovers |
