ASSOCIATION CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 11

ASSOCIATION CUP.

FINAL MATCH AT WEMBLEY.

BOLTON DEFEAT PORTSMOUTH. Australian Press Association —United Service (Received April 29, 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, April 28. In the final match for the English Association football cup at Wembley yesterday Bolton Wanderers beat Portsmouth bv two goals to nil. Butler and Blackmore scored in the second half. The weather wa*s fine. there were 93,000 spectators, including the Prince of Wales, to whom the teams were presented before tho start of the match.

The match occasioned a remarkable invasion of London. Ihe first of the excursion trains arrived at three o clock in the morning. They brought 50,000 people from all over Britain. Portsmouth and Bolton brought their own bands, and hundreds of individual supporters carried mouth organs, conccitinas, and even portable gramophones. The cup tie crowd is one of the noisiest and jollicst in the world. Tho day broke wet and depressing, bui conditions greatly improved.

The band of the Irish Guards led community singing, terminating with "Abido With Me."

When the Prince of Wales arrived ho was received with deafening cheers. After the game the Prince handed the cup to Seddon, Bolton's captain, and medals to the other players.

A telegram from King George acknowledged the Football Association's good wishes. He regretted that he was unable to be present.

The Portsmouth team played the better game in tho first half, and only Bolton's defence, through tho brilliancy of Ilaworth, tho right back, prevented a score. Bolton rallied in the second spell, showing greater dash in team work, and lliey scored twice near tho end of tho game-.

The Association Cup has been won since 1924 by Newcastle, ShoflWd United, Bolton Wanderers, Cardiff, and last year by Blackburn Hovers, who beat lluddcrsfield. In 1923, at the final between Bolton and West Ilam, 126,047 persons passed tho gates, and thousands broke through tho turnstiles; probably 150,000 people were inside. Over £27,770 was taken in gate receipts.