text: where was the very first fa cup final played? it wasn't at wembley, because it hadn't been built. the first ever english fa cup final took place at the kennington oval in london. wanderers won the first ever english fa cup in 1872. they beat royal engineers 1-0 with the goal scored by morton betts. the match was played on friday, 16 march 1872 & was attended by 2,000 spectators.   1872 english fa cup final friday, 16 march 1872, 18:00 kennington oval, kennington, london, england wanderers 1-0 royal engineers  goals: 1-0 morton betts  players line-up:  wanderers reginald de courtenay welch  c. w. alcock  morton betts  alexander bonsor  edward bowen  w. p. crake  t. c. hooman  edgar lubbock  albert thompson  robert vidal  charles wollaston   royal engineers capt william merriman  capt francis marindin  lieut g. w. addison  lieut edmund cresswell  lieut mitchell  lieut henry renny-tailyour  lieut rich  lieut alfred goodwyn  lieut muirhead  lieut cotter  lieut bogle  referee: a.stair attendance: 2,000