The 1892 FA Cup final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at the Kennington Oval. This was the last FA Cup Final to be played at Kennington Oval due to the Surrey Cricket authorities becoming increasingly alarmed at the large crowds now being attracted to the main game in the footballing calendar.

1892 FA Cup Final
West Bromwich Albion, winners
Event1891–92 FA Cup
Date19 March 1892
VenueKennington Oval, London
RefereeCharles Clegg
Attendance32,710
WeatherWarm, Sunny and cloudless
1891
1893

Albions form throughout the league season had been erratic and Villa supporters felt that all they had to do was turn up and the cup was theirs for the taking.[1] West Bromwich Albion won 3–0, with goals by Alfred Geddes, Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds.

Villa began brightly on a warm, sunny day which helped swell the attendance to almost 33,000, but Albion had an early surprise in store and after just 4 minutes took the lead. Villa fought back hard but they found the Albion keeper Joe Reader in tremendous form. Albion then made it 2–0 at 27 minutes and 10 minutes into the 2nd half, Villa's last hopes disappeared when Albion went 3 up.

Albion defended resolutely to see out the game with a clean-sheet and return with the cup to their Stoney Lane home.[2] This was the first FA Cup Final in which goal-nets were used.

Match details

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Illustration of the match by Stephen Dadd
19 March 1892 West Bromwich Albion 3–0 Aston Villa The Oval, Kennington
Reynolds  
Nicholls  
Geddes  
Attendance: 32,710
Referee: Charles Clegg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
W.B. Albion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aston Villa
GK   Joe Reader
FB   Mark Nicholson
FB   Thomas McCulloch
HB   Jack Reynolds
HB   Charlie Perry
HB   Willie Groves
FW   Billy Bassett
FW   Roddy McLeod
FW   Sammy Nicholls
FW   Tom Pearson
FW   Alfred Geddes
Manager:
  Louis Ford
GK   Jimmy Warner
FB   Gershom Cox
FB   Walter Evans
HB   Harry Devey
HB   James Cowan
HB   John Baird
FW   Charlie Athersmith
FW   Billy Dickson
FW   John Devey (c)
FW   Lewis Campbell
FW   Dennis Hodgetts
Manager:
  George Ramsay

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Taken from 'West Bromwich Albion: A Complete Record by Tony Matthews (1993)
  2. ^ West Bromwich Albion: A Complete Record by Tony Matthews (1993)