| 1895–96 FA Cup | |
| Country: | |
| Defending Champions: | Aston Villa |
| Second: | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| Prev Season: | 1894–95 |
| Next Season: | 1896–97 |
The 1895–96 FA Cup was the 25th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup (more usually known as the FA Cup). The cup was won by The Wednesday, who defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 1 in the final of the competition, played at Crystal Palace in London. This was Wednesday's first victory in the FA Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played at the stadium of the team named first on the date specified for each round, which was always a Saturday. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played, a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week. If the replayed match was drawn further replays would be held at neutral venues until a winner was determined. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay, a 30-minute period of extra time would be played.
The format of the FA Cup for the season had a preliminary round, four qualifying rounds, three proper rounds, and the semi-finals and final.
| Round | Start Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary round | Saturday 5 October 1895 | |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 12 October 1895 | |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 2 November 1895 | |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 23 November 1895 | |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 14 December 1895 | |
| First round proper | Saturday 1 February 1896 | |
| Second round proper | Saturday 15 February 1896 | |
| Third round proper | Saturday 29 February 1896 | |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 21 March 1896 | |
| Final | Saturday 18 April 1896 |
The First Round Proper contained sixteen ties between 32 teams. The 16 First Division sides were given a bye to this round, as were Notts County, Darwen, Burton Wanderers, Liverpool, Newton Heath and Woolwich Arsenal from the Second Division. The other Second Division sides were entered into the first qualifying round. Of those sides, only Grimsby Town, Newcastle United, Crewe Alexandra and Burton Swifts qualified to the FA Cup proper. Six non-league sides also qualified.
The matches were played on Saturday, 1 February 1896. Two matches were drawn, with the replays taking place in the following midweek.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackpool | 4–1 | Burton Swifts | 1 February 1896 | |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 0–4 | Newcastle United | 1 February 1896 | |
| 3 | Darwen | 0–2 | Grimsby Town | 1 February 1896 | |
| 4 | Burnley | 6–1 | Woolwich Arsenal | 1 February 1896 | |
| 5 | Liverpool | 4–1 | Millwall Athletic | 1 February 1896 | |
| 6 | Stoke | 5–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 February 1896 | |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 0–2 | Everton | 1 February 1896 | |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 1 February 1896 | |
| 9 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–2 | Notts County | 1 February 1896 | |
| Replay | Notts County | 3 - 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5 February 1896 | |
| 10 | Crewe Alexandra | 0–4 | Bolton Wanderers | 1 February 1896 | |
| 11 | Sunderland | 4–1 | Preston North End | 1 February 1896 | |
| 12 | Derby County | 4–2 | Aston Villa | 1 February 1896 | |
| 13 | Burton Wanderers | 1–1 | Sheffield United | 1 February 1896 | |
| Replay | Sheffield United | 1 - 0 | Burton Wanderers | 6 February 1896 | |
| 14 | Newton Heath | 2–1 | Kettering | 1 February 1896 | |
| 15 | Small Heath | 1–4 | Bury | 1 February 1896 | |
| 16 | Southampton St Mary's | 2–3 | The Wednesday | 1 February 1896 |
The eight Second Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 15 February 1896. There were three replays, played in the following midweek.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackpool | 0–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 15 February 1896 | |
| 2 | Burnley | 1–1 | Stoke | 15 February 1896 | |
| Replay | Stoke | 7 - 1 | Burnley | 20 February 1896 | |
| 3 | The Wednesday | 2–1 | Sunderland | 15 February 1896 | |
| 4 | Grimsby Town | 1–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 15 February 1896 | |
| Replay | West Bromwich Albion | 3 - 0 | Grimsby Town | 20 February 1896 | |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Liverpool | 15 February 1896 | |
| 6 | Everton | 3–0 | Sheffield United | 15 February 1896 | |
| 7 | Newton Heath | 1–1 | Derby County | 15 February 1896 | |
| Replay | Derby County | 5 - 1 | Newton Heath | 19 February 1896 | |
| 8 | Newcastle United | 1–3 | Bury | 15 February 1896 |
The four Third Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 29 February 1896. There were no replays needed.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Wednesday | 4–0 | Everton | 29 February 1896 | |
| 2 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–0 | Bury | 29 February 1896 | |
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–0 | Stoke | 29 February 1896 | |
| 4 | Derby County | 1–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 29 February 1896 |
The semi-final matches were both played on Saturday, 21 March 1896. The Wednesday and Wolverhampton Wanderers went on to meet in the final at Crystal Palace.
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See main article: 1896 FA Cup final.
The final took place on Saturday, 18 April 1896 at Crystal Palace. Less than 50,000 supporters attended the match. The match finished 2 - 1 to The Wednesday, through two early goals from Fred Spiksley. Between the two goals, David Black had equalised for Wolves.