Leicester staged the FA Amateur Cup Final for the first time on Saturday 28 March 1896 on the Walnut Street (aka Filbert Street) ground, between Bishop Auckland overcame Sheffield, Ipswich, Stockton and Darlington to reach the final. Their opponents were the Royal Artillery who had lost just once in 22 matches, which was in the Army Cup Competition which hey had won in 1895. In the Amateur Cup they defeated the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, Middlesbrough, Maidenhead and Shrewsbury. Both teams had undergone a strict course of training, the Durham men at home and the others at Margate, both arriving in Leicester the da before the final. Rain weather fell throughout the greater part of the morning, but towards midday it cleared up considerably and was quite fine by the time the match kicked-off at 4 o’clock. Considering the weather the round was in fairly good condition, although it was rather heavy in places. Around 5,000 spectators attended. A strong wind blew down the ground towards the town. The soldiers won the toss and chose to play with the wind. Lodge scored the only goal of the game from a long shot a few minutes from the start. Bishop Auckland had a further goal disallowed for offside. Play was stopped for several minutes in the second half after the ball was kicked over the stand and out of the ground. Despite persistent attacks on the Auckland goal, the soldiers could not equalise. Mr. and Mrs. J. F. L. Rolleston presented the cup and medals.
This was the first of Bishop Auckland’s record-breaking 10 Amateur Cup wins. They won the cup again in Leicester four years later, overcoming Lowestoft 1-0 also at Walnut Street. Only two Leicestershire Clubs entered the Amateur Cup during the nineteenth century – Leicester YMCA (1894-5) and Whitwick White Cross (1899-00) – both clubs failing to win a cup tie. No Leicestershire club reached the final, although several teams including Anstey Nomads (1950s) and Friar Lane Old Boys (1970s) attracted national press attention for their Amateur Cup exploits.
In 1974, the Football Association abolished the distinction between amateur and professional status, leading to the end of the FA Amateur Cup. It was replaced by the FA Trophy, for semi-professional clubs, and the FA Vase, for amateur teams.