W.G. Grace and Buffalo Bill are amongst the attractions to visitors to Norwich
But, on to football
This is the year that Norwich City was undefeated in the FA Cup! Alas, it doesn?t mean that we came away with the silverware?
What happened was that Norwich was to play the London club, West Norwood in the Third Qualifying round in Norwich on 31 October, 1903. It ran out a 1 ? 1 draw and the team officials agreed that City would travel to London for the replay to take place on the following Thursday. On the following Saturday the qualifying rounds for the Amateur Cup were due to begin, so City decided to withdraw from the FA cup in order to concentrate on the Amateur Cup. So they remained undefeated in the FA Cup that season. Bragging rights, if you would like?.
AS for progress in the Amateur Cup, my source states that Norwich nearly reached the Final. They lost the Second Round replay against Ealing at Newmarket Road 1 ? 2. It was reported to be a very clean game being reported thus, ?? fouls were like angels? visits ? few and far between??. So obviously, even over a hundred years ago, NCFC was noted for its style. Such a description doesn?t sound like ?ugly? football to me!!!!
Lowestoft Town won the Norfolk and Suffolk League, their fourth win in a row, but Norwich City finished in a creditable third place, while no mention is made of where Ipswich finished.
The Hospitals Cup
The feelings were that Norwich City might have finished in a higher position, but for the number of cup competitions entered. 1903 was the inaugural year of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Cup. City?s greatest rivals, Norwich Church of England Young Man?s Society (Norwich CEYMS) were invited to take part at the Finals stage City objected on the grounds that CEYMS had not registered its players within the required 28 days, the Lord Mayor himself, having to resolve the issue. A rather reluctant City lined up to play CEYMS on14 April 1904, with the game finishing in a 0 ? 0 draw. The replay was held two weeks later, with a much friendlier atmosphere, but Norwich City became the first ever winners of the Hospital Cup after winning the match 2 ? 0. A Cup that remains in City?s possession since it was last competed for in 1960.
What next… ?
All in all, City?s second full season was a successful one, but nobody would have foreseen the dramas that lay ahead of them in their third year!