1896 English League Cup

The 1896 English League Cup was the inaugural English League Cup. Accrington BC won the title.

Preliminary Round
13 clubs were granted a bye in the Preliminary Round, with the remaining 38 clubs randomly drawn into 19 ties. Teams who won their ties or received byes advanced to the First Round. Sheffield Wednesday BC 26–10 Leeds Rhinos BC Nottingham Forest BC    34–18 Batley Bulldogs BC Warrington Wolves BC     9–0  Brighouse Rangers BC Hull BC                 43–0  Bramley BC St. Helens BC           12–10 Belle Vue Rangers Birmingham City BC      8–9  Rochdale Hornets BC Stockport BC            22–0  Bury BC Hunslet BC              20–8  Sheffield United BC Bradford Park Avenue BC 34–8  Heckmondwike BC Liverpool BC            12–14 Manningham BC Huddersfield Giants BC   8–15 Manchester United BC Leigh Centurions BC     28–21 Oldham BC Swinton Lions BC         6–16 Wigan Warriors BC Runcorn BC               3–14 Wakefield Trinity BC Leeds Parish Church BC   9–13 Tyldesley BC Holbeck BC               6–28 Liversedge BC Widnes Vikings BC       10–14 Darwen BC Halifax BC              43–0  Morecambe BC Castleford BC           22–6  Salford Red Devils BC

First Round
All 32 clubs who advanced to the First Round were randomly drawn into 16 ties. Teams who won their ties advanced to the Second Round. Derby County BC        43–14             Nottingham Forest BC Bolton Wanderers BC     28–13             Blackburn Rovers BC Notts County BC         44–10             Warrington Wolves BC Wigan Warriors BC        6–8              Rochdale Hornets BC Stoke City BC           54–6              Manningham BC Burnley BC              32–6              Hull BC Preston North End BC    42–10             Sunderland BC Aston Villa BC          52–6              Wakefield Trinity BC Darwen BC               39–8              Leigh Centurions BC Tyldesley BC            11–17             Halifax BC Hunslet BC              40–12             Castleford BC Liversedge BC           22–22 (22–30 AET) St. Helens BC Accrington BC           19–1              Manchester United BC West Bromwich Albion BC 12–6              Sheffield Wednesday BC Stockport BC            20–11             Bradford Park Avenue BC Everton BC              53–22             Wolverhampton Wanderers BC

Second Round
All 16 clubs who advanced to the Second Round were randomly drawn into 8 ties. Teams who won their ties advanced to the Quarterfinals. Aston Villa BC     14–8  Stoke City BC Everton BC          29–0  St. Helens BC Accrington BC       29–12 Rochdale Hornets BC Derby County BC     27–28 Notts County BC Halifax BC          18–13 Darwen BC Bolton Wanderers BC 20–24 West Bromwich Albion BC Hunslet BC           6–28 Preston North End BC Burnley BC          47–12 Stockport BC

Quarterfinals
All 8 clubs who advanced to the Quarterfinals were randomly drawn into 4 ties. Teams who won their ties advanced to the Semifinals. Preston North End BC 55–28 Halifax BC Everton BC           9–22 West Bromwich Albion BC Notts County BC      28–18 Aston Villa BC Accrington BC        30–6  Burnley BC

Semifinals
All 4 clubs who advanced to the Semifinals were randomly drawn into 2 ties. Teams who won their ties advanced to the Final. Notts County BC 14–14 (21–14 AET) Preston North End BC Accrington BC  24–10             West Bromwich Albion BC

Final
The Final was played between Accrington BC and Notts County BC. It was won by Accrington BC by a single point after torrential rain turned the playing surface into a mud pit. Notts County BC 0–1 Accrington BC