Rovers and Notts County have only met once before in the FA Cup which was the two clubs’ first competitive meeting.
On 11th January 1913, having won four out of their last five Southern League matches, Rovers recorded a 2-0 victory over First Division giants Notts County. Prior to World War One, this was the club’s only victory over a First Division club.
County’s record appearance maker, Albert Iremonger, was in goal, at 6ft 5¼ins being the tallest opponent to face Rovers until Stockport County’s Kevin Francis in 1993. Despite eight hours of heavy rain, the match went ahead and, after five corners in quick succession, Harry Roe’s low drive gave the home side the lead after twenty five minutes. Seven minutes from time, Billy Peplow’s cross was turned in by Jimmy Shervey with the aid of a deflection off County’s right-back Herbert Morley. A crowd of 15,000 – all five FA Cup crowds surpassed the highest League attendance – made Rovers day complete.
One interesting rule change that had come in that season was that goalkeepers could only handle the ball inside the penalty area, not anywhere in their half of the field as was the case previously.