Darwen v Wolverhampton Wanderers F. A. Cup Quarter Final 1893

After beating the favorites for the FA cup "Aston Villa" 5-4 in 1893 in the first round, the Salmoners went on to beat Grimsby Town in the second round 2-0, ( Sutherland and Wade Scoring) this put the team into the quarter-finals once more, and special training was undertaken for the forthcoming visit to First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers, after their previous exploits they must have considered their chances favourable, but the match turned out to be a fiasco, With just two days to go before the tie three Darwen players fell ill with this and injuries to Sutherland and Leach The Salmoners pleaded with the FA to allow them time to field a full team but the FA insisted on the game being played, and on the 18th February 1893 the Salmoners faced First Division Wolves with a weakened side which included 5 reserves, It was a bitterly cold day and the ground was as hard as rock but the depleated Darwen side showed plenty of spirit going forward but after a goal-less first half the Salmoners completely collapsed in the second conceding five goals to lose the game 5-0.
Darwen's team that day was : Kenyon ( goal ) Wilson and Orr ( full-backs ) Fish, Maxwell and Whitfield ( Half backs ) Wade, Campbell, Mc Kennie, Jepson and Outhwaite ( Forwards )
For the Salmoners it was the end of a great cup run but for the Wolves it was to be their first major trophy success for they went on to beat Everton in the final that year 1-0.
Ironically the next meeting between the two clubs on the 9th September that year in a First Division game resulted in a win for the Salmoners 1-0.
Click here to view the Wolves side that knocked out the Salmoners and won the FA cup in 1893.
Click here to view the FA cup for 93