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The following are events in 1873 which are relevant to the development ofassociation football. Included are events in closely related codes, such as theSheffield Rules.

• 8 March –England defeatScotland 4–2 atKennington Oval in the second officially recognised international match. The first goal in international football is scored byWilliam Kenyon-Slaney of England in the second minute.
• 13 March – Foundation of theScottish Football Association.
• 29 March –Wanderers retain theFA Cup after defeatingOxford University 2–0 inthe final atLillie Bridge in west London. The goals are scored byA. F. Kinnaird (27 minutes) andCharles Wollaston (80).
• 18 October – The first-everScottish Cup tie is played betweenRenton andKilmarnock, Renton winning 2–0.
• Theoffside law is amended to be applicable to a player who is offside when the ball is touched and played by a teammate, not when receiving the ball.^{[citation needed]}

• Chippenham Town^[1]
• Gainsborough Trinity^[2]
• Halesowen Town^[3]
• Hanover United, believed to be the first club called "United".^[4]

Nation	Tournament	Champion	Final Score	Second place	Title	Last Honor	Ref
England	1872–73 FA Cup	Wanderers	2–0	Oxford University	2nd	1871-72	[5]

• 10 January –William Lambie (d. unknown),Scotland international forward in nine matches (1892–1897), scoring five goals.
• 21 January –Ernest Needham (d. 1936),England international half-back in sixteen matches (1894–1902), scoring three goals.
• 23 February –Neilly Gibson (d. unknown), Scotland international in fourteen matches (1895–1905).
• 14 March –George Raikes (d. 1966), England international goalkeeper in four matches (1895–1896).
• 27 April –William Oakley (d. 1934), England international full-back in sixteen matches (1895–1901).
• 1 June –Harry Rennie (d. 1954), Scotland international goalkeeper in thirteen matches (1900–1908).
• 24 August –John Walker (d. 1937), Scotland international forward in five matches (1895–1904), scoring three goals.
• 22 September –Joseph Humpage (d. 1953), English footballer^[6]
• 14 October –Jules Rimet (d. 1956), French football administrator. The 3rd President ofFIFA (1921–1954) who would initiate the firstFIFA World Cup in 1930, theJules Rimet Trophy being named in his honour.
• 8 November –Fred Forman (d. 1910), England international forward in three matches (1899), scoring three goals.
• 25 December –Nicol Smith (d. 1905), Scotland international defender in twelve matches (1897–1902).
• Full date unknown
  • George Gregory (d. 1893), English professional footballer^[7]

• 1873 in association football
• Association football by year

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