THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP. ASTON VILLA V. EVERTON VICTORY OF ASTON VILLA. A RECORD CROWD AND A PHENOMENAL SIGHT. UPWARDS OP SIXTY THOUSAND SPECTATORS. The twenty-sixth annual tie of the Football Association Challenge Cup was decided at the Crystal Palace on Saturday, and the English Cup, for the third occasion, goes into the possession of the famous Aston Villa team. They played distinctly the better football, fought a hard fight, and won well-earned victory. With the decision of the match the chief event of a remarkable season was concluded. The Football League Championship is not yet definitely settled, but the Villa look like equalling the famous performances of Preston North End in the season of 1888-89 of winning both the most desired Cups in English football. As everybody is aware, the contestants were Aston Villa and Everton. In comparison with those of previous years, it may with truth be said that never since the institution of the competition has there been better exposition of football, and the amount of enthusiasm shown as was the case Saturday. The Football Association have an amiable weakness for large attendances. And they were not disappointed, as the number of spectators was the largest that has ever witnessed a final tie, or a football match of any description. The official return was 65,024, which considerably exceeds that of the England v. Scotland match at Glasgow, of 51,345. Interest in the event has certainly reached its greatest development, and the match will memorable for three reasons. Firstly, for the favourable atmospheric conditions under which it was played; secondly, for the rapidity and even nature of the scoring, which was all confined to the first half ; and, thirdly, for the mammoth attendance. The Crystal Palace has had many remarkable football gatherings, but its main features have witnessed nothing approaching to Saturday’s function. It is certain that the interest in the game is not declining, the crowd the Palace was reinforced by thousands of visitors from a distance. The railway arrangements from the Midlands and Liverpool district was on a scale that has never before been deemed necessary. The London and North-Western, Midland, and Great Western Railway Companies commenced running their specials from the wee hours. People came in hundreds on the special trains, and as each special discharged its contingent of passengers the scene outside the stations was one of uninterrupted excitement. The trains were run at cheap rates, and availed themselves of a holiday in town, with the excitement of the match as a little stimulus. During the last dozen years or so the final of the English Cup has created unlimited enthusiasm, yet as the competition increases in years the enthusiasm shown increases rather than diminishes. Verily, 1897 is record year. If ever two clubs had all the elements that conduce to success these finalists had. In the morning, big with the fate the principal event of our winter pastime, the weather was not particularly promising. When the sun broke through in the afternoon we felt that we had enlisted the weather on our side, and during the remainder of the afternoon it contributed in a sterling manner to the general enjoyment. It was in marked contrast to that of the previous Saturday. Not that football is dependent upon the weather, but it is certainly more enjoyable in the sunshine. Although the South London railways had made additional arrangements from the previous Saturday, they appeared quite unequal to cope with the numbers anxious to reach the Palace, so that each compartment was taxed to the fullness its holding capacity. How everybody reached the ground would be difficult to say. It was an inspiriting sight to see the crowd surrounding the natural amphitheatre. They came from everywhere. Birmingham and Liverpool were responsible for their complement. London furnished large contingent, South and North were represented, and even wild Wales added to the splendid variety of spectators. Everybody, including the provincials, were loyal to football traditions. The favours affected by the admirers of the rival teams differed in conformation, although not in colour. Those from the Midlands wore an emblem as represented the Prince of Wales’s feathers in claret and light blue, the colours of Aston Villa. Others wore a badge with photos of Devey, Cowan, and Crabtree, and many had, in addition, a memorial card, setting forth the demise of a certain Everton club. The light and blue and white colours of Everton were by no means eclipsed by the ostentatious display of the Villa partisans, whilst a few enthusiasts had brought their Everton rattles with them. For many years the Oval was requisitioned for the final tie, but upon that ground being closed for football a move was made into the provinces. It is fitting with the importance of the occasion, that a match of this description should be played in the capital of the nation, and a better ground than that the Crystal Palace would be difficult to discover. The arrangements as usual were complete and satisfactory. The portion the ground on which the game was played is in the form of an ellipse, the area being about eight and a half acres. On the south-eastern side it is commanded by slopes 400 yards in length, 60ft. in depth, and upon which it is computed that 40,000 spectators may freely find advantageous positions. This slope on Saturday was quite inadequate, many converted themselves into human fruit by climbing into the trees, and the whole extent of the undulating switchback railway was requisitioned anxious spectators. Just before the game commenced portion of the hurdle fence was broken down, and it appeared as if the crowd would invade the playing ground, but the officials were equal to the occasion, and the rupture was speedily strengthened. By four o'clock every available spot from which a view of the play could obtained was occupied, still a steady stream of people could be seen flocking from the Temple of Glass, and the majority of these had to be content with positions outside the playing ground. A word to the composition of the crowd. There were noble lords, clergymen, and professional gentlemen occupying seats in the Pavilion, representing the head of the social ladder; there was a fair sprinkling of ladies, and all the intervening orders which lined down to the factory worker and the labourer. There was plenty of the rank and file amongst the spectators, and robust types quite in keeping with the pastime. The crowd was a very orderly one, and displayed the laudable quality of patience. They took advantage of the slightest occasion for fun, and made the best of it during their long wait. Everton had a large following, and were slightly the better favourites, and although the Villa were not so generally fancied by those competent to judge they had numerous admirers, who were confident of their ability to win. Everton had not perhaps met teams of quite the same fighting abilities as the Villa, but at the first time of asking they had won their games splendidly. They escaped the once invincible Preston North End, whilst it gave the Villans some difficulty to dispose of the present one of that once famous team. The Villa players were sent to Buxton to train, whilst Everton completed their preparation at Lisbon House. Both teams arrived in London on Friday, but made the Queen’s Hotel, Upper Norwood, their Quarters. It is rather unusual for teams of the calibre of Aston Villa and Everton to compete in the final tie. In the ranks of the winning team, Aston Villa, were seven internationals, including Campbell, Athersmith, Devey, James Cowan, Crabtree, Spencer, and Reynolds. Everton had also six Internationals, viz., Milward, Chadwick, Hartley, Bell, Taylor, and Holt. The patrons of both teams were generous in their promises, and handsome encouragement was given to every man to do his best. Ten minutes before the time fixed for the kick-off Everton, headed by their captain, W. Stewart, entered the field. Their players wore light blue shirts and white knickers. A few minutes later Aston Villa, headed by J. Devey, trotted on the ground. The Villa’s colours were claret and light blue shirts, with white knickers. As each team emerged from the Pavilion their advent was received by a simultaneous shout of welcome. Lord Rosebery was also the recipient of hearty cheers, as, accompanied by his two sone, he took his allotted seat in the pavilion. Mr. J. Lewis, the referee, and Messrs. J. Howcroft and A. Scragg, the linesmen, emerged from the players’ dressing-room, the captains tossed, the Villa won, and Hartley for Everton a minute before time, started the game. The Villa had distinctly the better of the opening stages and played with better combination, which was in distinct contrast to the play of their opponents, who lacked the same dashing style. The game was particularly fast, Everton at last settling down. Both teams exhibited great skill, and an unusual display of excellent football for a final tie was witnessed. Aston Villa, through the instrumentality of Campbell, opened the scoring, after the game had been in progress a quarter of an hour. The success of the Villa extorted simultaneous cheers from the vast crowd. Both clubs were earnest, and the game was continued with renewed vigour, especially by the Everton team. It appeared at the commencement of the match as if the Villans were going simply run round their opponents; but Everton were far from done with, for as the result of twenty-three minutes’ hard play Bell had equalised. Whitehouse ran out to meet Bell, the latter had shot before the Villans’ custodian could charge, and the pair coming into violent collision, both were injured, and brief cessation was necessary. Stimulated by their success, Everton played in improved fashion, and when thirty minutes of the allotted time had elapsed from a foul against the Villa Everton were enabled to score again, and stood a goal in front. Their success, however, was short lived, for but another couple of minutes had elapsed before Devey had equalised for the Villa. The rapidity of the goals delighted the crowd, and the level character the scoring satisfied both partisans in turn, and the wildest enthusiasm was displayed. Three minutes after the last goal was secured Crabtree headed into the net the third goal for the Villa, and at half-time the Villa led by three goals to two goals. After an interval of about ten minutes the game was resumed. Everton at once going away with a great rush. The Villa then took their turn at preesing, and as the result of their violent exertions the play slowed down for a time. The Scotch accent was very pronounced amongst the players, especially in the Everton ranks. Everton had slightly the best of matters, played in a determined fashion, and towards the close of the game made efforts to equalise. Singularly neither team scored in the second half, and the final tie of 1897 resulted in a win for Aston Villa three goals two goals. Never in the history of the great annual struggle for the principal trophy of Association Football has finer spectacle been seen, and such intense excitement over football game has rarely been known, as was the case the Palace on Saturday. It was an eventful day for the Aston Villa, and the warmest thanks are due to both teams for having afforded so much amusement to the vast concourse of spectators assembled. There is no doubt that the Villa were the better team, but Everton must find consolation in the fact that although at the second attempt to win the Cup they have again been unsuccessful, the licking was administered by worthy opponents. THE GAME. The weather was very fine, and consequently everything pointed to a keen and exciting contest. From an early hour people had begun to pour into the Crystal Palace grounds, and by three o’clock in the afternoon there were nearly 50,000 present. As the time for the kick-off approached the attendance increased, and a few minutes before four o’clock, when the teams appeared on the field, the ground was surrounded sea of faces. Not only the seats and slopes were occupied, but the switchback was crowded with those who wished to watch the play, while a few venturesome spirits utilised the trees, and obtained a capital view of the game from amid their branches. On the pavilion stand Lord Rosebery and his two sons were surrounded by the leading men in the football world, and the official return placed the full attendance 65,024. A rather slight breeze blew from goal to goal. On winning the toss Devey decided start with the wind in his favour. Prompt to time Hartley set the ball rolling for Everton, who were the first to become prominent. The men settled down quickly, but the play consisted more of rushes than any attempts at combination. The halves were soon called upon, and both Cowan and Holt, used their heads effectively. In stopping Athersmith Holt was badly winded, but soon recovered, and play was resumed. Gradually Aston Villa gained the upper hand. Their forwards began to play their usual passing game, and they made several dangerous attacks on the Everton goal. Still the ball did not stay long at one end. Though generally pressed the Liverpool players occasionally made off towards Whitehouse’s charge. Once Milward and Chadwick had worked their way almost through the Villa defence when Devey ran down, and, taking Milward’s centre, cleared. Athersmith put in two or three of his characteristic sprints along the touch-line, the understanding between him and his captain being complete. They found both Meehan and Storrier a pair of sturdy defenders, the old Celtic man in particular playing a safe game. Fouls were frequent, and Mr. Lewis had some trouble to keep the men in hand. In clearing from Athersmith Storrier missed his kick, but managed to recover himself, and send out before Campbell could get to the ball. On the other side Crabtree had to fall back and help Evans and Spencer when they were in difficulties through the dashing play of Bell, who from the start proved the most dangerous of the Everton forwards. Play continued fast, though slightly in Aston Villa’s favour. Holt pulled up Campbell just when he was preparing to shoot, and Boyle kept careful watch over Wheldon and John Cowan, who were not nearly so prominent as the right wing pair. When the halves were beaten the backs proved safe, so that, though they were having the better of the exchanges Villa seldom gave Everton serious trouble. The Villa backs, too. were given plenty to do. Taylor, on the extreme right, worked hard, but he frequently neutralised his otherwise sterling play by reckless and wild passing, the ball seven times in ten going yards wide of his partner Bell. Thus the latter was compelled to play for his own hand, and it took Crabtree and Cowan all their time to hold him in check. Twice when he had beaten the halves Spencer succeeded in getting the ball away from him; and Evans tackled pluckily and with sound judgment. Fouls against Hartley and Boyle in turn, well in the Everton quarters, gave the defenders anxiety, but Crabtree headed both behind; and then, after Devey and Campbell had taken the ball almost the full length the field, Athersmith’s off-side play spoiled the effort. The last-named player was given every chance by those who fed him persistently, and Stewart was about run off his legs in racing between them. Athersmith twice grazed the bar with fine shots, while Campbell wound up a smart dribble by shooting wide. Milward kept worrying Spencer with his tricky play on the left, and “off-side” stopped the Evertonian once when he had an open goal, with only the custodian to beat. Still, Aston Villa were playing the better football. The forwards passed accurately and made the most their speed, and at length their play was rewarded. Taking pass from Cowan, the centre half-back, Campbell put the ball over to Devey. The latter transferred to Athersmith, who, after outpacing Stewart and drawing out Storrier, passed back to Devey again. Seeing that the centre had a better opening the captain sent the ball over to Campbell, who deadened it, and then beat Menham with a lovely shot, which hit the inside of the right post, and rebounded into the net, the first goal being scored at the end of fifteen minutes’ play. Another attack by Aston Villa was relieved by a foul against Wheldon, and Reynolds grazed the top side of bar with long range shot. A rush by Hartley was stopped by Cowan, and Milward was pulled up for being offside. Then the Everton forwards broke away together. The ball travelled all along the line. Bell finally dodging between the backs and going straight for goal. Whitehouse rushed out to charge him off the ball, but Bell got his shot in, and had put the leather into the net before the goalkeeper collided with him. Both were laid out, and the game was stopped for about five minutes for them to recover. With the teams on even terms again play became faster than ever, the halves on each side doing a lot of needless tripping. Taylor missed an easy chance, and then a free kick against Cowan gave Everton their second point, Boyle took the kick, and placed the ball right in the goal mouth. In trying to clear Spencer headed it almost past Whitehouse. As the latter was fisting away one of the Everton forwards got his foot to the ball and put it into the net. But they did not hold their lead for long, and going straight from the kick-off, Villa were soon busy round Menham, who saved two or three times very smartly. The tackling was rough, and a couple of free kicks were given the Birmingham team. From the second one Crabtree placed the ball to Wheldon, who promptly beat Menham, thus making the score two all after about half an hour’s play. So far, while the Aston Villa forwards had combined better than those of Everton, the latter’s halves and backs had played remarkably sound game, and thus there had been little to choose between the teams. Some long kicking was indulged between the backs, and then after Menham had saved from Athersmith, Storrier gave a corner. The ball was placed in the goalmouth, Menham fisted it out twice, but Crabtree eventually got his head to it, and Villa took the lead again. Just before the interval Everton pressed. Milward shot over, and Whitehouse cleared a hot shot from Hartley, while one from Bell went the wrong side of the upright. But do what they would Liverpool men could not equalise, and when ends were changed Aston Villa led three goals to two. An unusually long interval was taken. On resuming, Everton went straight away from the kick-off and Chadwick headed a few inches wide. A few minutes later Whitehouse saved from Milward conceding a corner. This was cleared, and then a free-kick against Stewart from a foul throw brought relief. Again Everton returned to the attack. Some capital play by Milward gained a lot ground, and he then transferred to Hartley. The latter promptly put the ball out to Taylor, who finally centred beautifully. But Bell and Hartley, though within half dozen yards of the goal, seemed to get in each other’s way, and thus lost the best chance of scoring that occurred the whole game. At this time the pace began to tell, and play became somewhat slow and quiet. A pretty piece of quick, short passing among the Villa forwards was neutralised by Holt beating Wheldon at the finish, while Spencer did some smart work in clearing from Chadwick and Milward who, about this time, were playing together like piece of machinery. On both sides the forwards were too well watched, and tackled too quickly, to shoot accurately, and consequently, though the backs were kept busy, the goal-keepers were not often called upon. Boyle had hard lines in dropping the ball on to the top of the Villa crossbar, and Milward, when well placed, probably threw a goal away by passing instead shooting. Gradually play brightened up. The Villa’s display, while more polished than that of Everton, lacked “devil,” and in all attacks the latter forwards were the more dangerous front of goal. After Menham had fisted out a couple of long dropping shots, Whitehouse was called up, and in a rally, out of which Crabtree cleared marvellously, the goal-keeper was unceremoniously bundled into the net. A free-kick raised the siege, and bit of fine passing was shown by Devey and Campbell, while Wheldon was to be seen as frequently assisting the halves as he was found in his place among the forwards. Reynolds checked Milward kicking behind and giving comer, and moments afterwards Taylor was given off-side when he had run through, and was under the shadow of the bar ready to shoot. Bell all this while had been working splendidly, but he had practically Cowan, Crabtree, and Evans watching him, and the way he dodged them in turn, and fed the centre, was treat to see. However, though he frequently outwitted them, they bustled him so much that was never given chance to shoot steadily, and thus most of his efforts at goal went wide. Several rallies in the goalmouth look place. Menham once getting the ball away with Campbell on the top of him. Everton were now having a little the best of it. The excitement spread from the spectators to the players, who were now going for all they were worth. Time after time the Villa dropped back towards the goal. Though bustled on every side, Spencer and Evans played with the greatest coolness. A couple of comers fell to Everton, and Meehan tried a shot at goal, the ball sailing about a foot above the crossbar. Occasionally the speedy Villa forwards sprinted away, but they were soon pulled up, and play returned to the vicinity of their own goal. Their backs and halves kept cool, and defended stubbornly. Evans stopped Taylor cleverly, and Crabtree robbed Bell as that player was trying a straight drive at goal, while Cowan took care that Hartley was not given an opening. Whenever the ball came out the Villa forwards made away, only to be beaten by either Meehan or Storrier, who kept returning it well into the goal mouth. In these scrummages Crabtree and Cowan played with excellent judgment, while Spencer showed much better form than he has done for some weeks past. With these players tackling resolutely, the ball seldom reached Whitehouse. Once, however, Chadwick wended his way through the defence, and gave the goal keeper a terrific grounder stop. This Whitehouse did, and he repeated the performance a few minutes afterwards, when Bell tested his powers. Everton continued to press, but they found it impossible to break through the Villans’ defence, and an exciting struggle ended in victory for Aston Villa.