The FA Cup

Wealdstone first entered The English Cup (as the FA Cup) was then named in 1913, their first season as a ‘Senior’ amateur club, having previously played only in ’Junior’ football.

The tie was a home match, played against Page Green Old Boys and the match resulted in a victory for the Old Boys by three goals to nil, to date (  the 2023-24 season) the first of Wealdstone’s ninety-six defeats in the competition, of which three were after extra time and only one, away to Bedford Town in 2008, on penalties.

On a brighter note, Wealdstone have won FA Cup ties on one hundred and fifty-three occasions since the first victory against Luton Clarence on 29th September 1921, and three of these victories have also been after extra time. There have been forty-nine drawn matches, only one of which (as above) was a draw after extra time and a subsequent defeat on penalties.

There have also been two other FA Cup fixtures (bringing the total played to two hundred and ninety eight), the most recent was the club’s only abandoned tie, a replay away to Swansea City on 20th November 1986 abandoned with the home side leading 2-1 at the time (they won the replay four days later 4-1) and the other, Wealdstone’s second fixture in the competition away to Barnet Alston which was due to be played on 26th September 1914, however the competition was scratched before the tie could be played due to the outbreak of The Great War.

The outbreak of the Second World War also saw the cessation of the FA’s primary competition as a fifty-mile travel limitation was placed on clubs. This was after Wealdstone’s 7-3 victory in the Extra Preliminary Round over Old Johnians had been played on 2nd September 1939, resulting in Wealdstone’s only unbeaten season in the competition!

In the 294 ties to date:

  Full Match Results can be viewed HERE

Author R Slater

[October 2023]