The1872–73 Football Association Challenge Cup was the second edition of the annualFA Cup, the oldest nationalfootball tournament in the world. Sixteen teams entered, one more than the previous season, although two teams never contested a match. It began on 19–26 October 1872 and ended at the final on 29 March 1873.
Wanderers successfully pursued its secondCup title, on 29 March 1873 inLillie Bridge[1] having been accorded a bye to the final in keeping with the tournament being a"challenge" cup. They were also for the first and only time in Cup history accorded choice of venue.
Oxford University pursued the Cup defeating in theFourth roundMaidenhead, 4–0. They were to contestQueen's Park, who had been accorded a bye to theSemi-final in consideration of reducing traveling costs for the team. Queen's Park withdrew giving Oxford University awalkover to the final that they lost, 2–0. Either 3,000 or 150 attended.[2]
The final had the only morning kick off in Cup history and the low attendance was attributed to attendees not staying the entire match asthe Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race was occurring later the same day.
Thefinal was played at Lillie Bridge, and had a morning kick-off for the only time in Cup history. The attendance was considered low, and of those who did attend, not all stayed for the whole duration of the game. This was attributed tothe Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race occurring later the same day.