| 1878–79 FA Cup | |
| Country: | England |
| Num Teams: | 43 (entrants) 37 (participants) |
| Defending Champions: | Wanderers |
| Winners: | Old Etonians |
| Count: | 1 |
| Second: | Clapham Rovers |
| Prev Season: | 1877–78 |
| Next Season: | 1879–80 |
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.
| 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 |
| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 November 1878 | Maidenhead | 0–4 | Barnes | |
| 16 November 1878 | Grantham | 1–3 | Sheffield | |
| Panthers | Walkover | Runnymede |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Date | Home Club | Score | Away Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 March 1879 | Old Etonians | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | |
| Clapham Rovers | Bye |
See main article: 1879 FA Cup Final.