1952–53 FA Cup

1952–53 FA Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Defending championsNewcastle United
Final positions
ChampionsBlackpool (1st title)
Runner-upBolton Wanderers

The 1952–53 FA Cup was the 72nd season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Blackpool won the competition for the first time, beating Bolton Wanderers 4–3 in the final at Wembley.

Matches were scheduled to be played at the stadium of the team named first on the date specified for each round, which was always a Saturday. Some matches, however, might be rescheduled for other days if there were clashes with games for other competitions or the weather was inclement. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played, a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week. If the replayed match was drawn further replays would be held until a winner was determined. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay, a 30-minute period of extra time would be played.

Calendar

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Round Date
Preliminary round Saturday 13 September 1952
First round qualifying Saturday 27 September 1952
Second round qualifying Saturday 11 October 1952
Third round qualifying Saturday 25 October 1952
Fourth round qualifying Saturday 8 November 1952
First round proper Saturday 22 November 1952
Second round proper Saturday 6 December 1952
Third round proper Saturday 10 January 1953
Fourth round proper Saturday 31 January 1953
Fifth round proper Saturday 14 February 1953
Sixth round proper Saturday 28 February 1953
Semi-finals Saturday 21 March 1953
Final Saturday 2 May 1953

First round proper

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At this stage clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined those non-league clubs having come through the qualifying rounds (except Walthamstow Avenue and Leyton who given byes to this round). Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 22 November 1952. Fourteen were drawn and went to replays, with two of these going to second replays.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Chester 0–1 Hartlepools United 22 November 1952
2 Chesterfield 1–0 Workington 22 November 1952
3 Darlington 2–3 Grimsby Town 22 November 1952
4 Bath City 3–1 Southend United 22 November 1952
5 Tonbridge 2–2 Norwich City 22 November 1952
Replay Norwich City 1–0 Tonbridge 27 November 1952
6 Weymouth 1–1 Colchester United 22 November 1952
Replay Colchester United 4–0 Weymouth 27 November 1952
7 Yeovil Town 1–4 Brighton & Hove Albion 22 November 1952
8 Leyton 0–0 Hereford United 22 November 1952
Replay Hereford United 3–2 Leyton 27 November 1952
9 Gainsborough Trinity 1–1 Netherfield (Kendal) 22 November 1952
Replay Netherfield (Kendal) 0–3 Gainsborough Trinity 27 November 1952
10 Swindon Town 5–0 Newport (IOW) 22 November 1952
11 Scarborough 0–8 Mansfield Town 22 November 1952
12 Ipswich Town 2–2 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 22 November 1952
Replay Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2–2 Ipswich Town 26 November 1952
Replay Ipswich Town 3–2 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1 December 1952
13 Tranmere Rovers 8–1 Ashington 22 November 1952
14 Wellington Town 1–1 Gillingham 22 November 1952
Replay Gillingham 3–0 Wellington Town 26 November 1952
15 Kidderminster Harriers 0–1 Finchley 22 November 1952
16 Queens Park Rangers 2–2 Shrewsbury Town 22 November 1952
Replay Shrewsbury Town 2–2 Queens Park Rangers 27 November 1952
Replay Queens Park Rangers 1–4 Shrewsbury Town 1 December 1952
17 Leytonstone 0–2 Watford 22 November 1952
18 Coventry City 2–0 Bristol City 22 November 1952
19 Bradford City 4–0 Rhyl 22 November 1952
20 Crystal Palace 1–1 Reading 22 November 1952
Replay Reading 1–3 Crystal Palace 26 November 1952
21 Bradford Park Avenue 2–1 Rochdale 22 November 1952
22 Scunthorpe United 1–0 Carlisle United 22 November 1952
23 Grays Athletic 0–5 Llanelli 22 November 1952
24 Port Vale 2–1 Exeter City 22 November 1952
25 Halifax Town 1–1 Ashton United 22 November 1952
Replay Ashton United 1–2 Halifax Town 25 November 1952
26 Newport County 2–1 Walsall 22 November 1952
27 Southport 3–1 Bangor City 22 November 1952
28 Selby Town 1–5 Bishop Auckland 22 November 1952
29 Walthamstow Avenue 2–2 Wimbledon 22 November 1952
Replay Wimbledon 0–3 Walthamstow Avenue 26 November 1952
30 York City 1–2 Barrow 22 November 1952
31 Aldershot 0–0 Millwall 22 November 1952
Replay Millwall 7–1 Aldershot 27 November 1952
32 Guildford City 2–2 Great Yarmouth Town 22 November 1952
Replay Great Yarmouth Town 1–0 Guildford City 27 November 1952
33 Horden CW 1–2 Accrington Stanley 22 November 1952
34 Gateshead 2–0 Crewe Alexandra 22 November 1952
35 North Shields 3–6 Stockport County 22 November 1952
36 Boston United 1–2 Oldham Athletic 22 November 1952
37 Peterborough United 2–1 Torquay United 22 November 1952
38 Leyton Orient 1–1 Bristol Rovers 22 November 1952
Replay Bristol Rovers 1–0 Leyton Orient 24 November 1952
39 Hendon 0–0 Northampton Town 22 November 1952
Replay Northampton Town 2–0 Hendon 27 November 1952
40 Beighton Miners Welfare 0–3 Wrexham 22 November 1952

Second round proper

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The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 6 December 1952, with Finchley and Crystal Palace competing instead on the 10th. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Barrow 2–2 Millwall 6 December 1952
Replay Millwall 4–1 Barrow 10 December 1952
2 Finchley 3–1 Crystal Palace 10 December 1952
3 Grimsby Town 1–0 Bath City 6 December 1952
4 Swindon Town 2–0 Northampton Town 6 December 1952
5 Shrewsbury Town 0–0 Chesterfield 6 December 1952
Replay Chesterfield 2–4 Shrewsbury Town 10 December 1952
6 Bishop Auckland 1–4 Coventry City 6 December 1952
7 Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Hartlepools United 6 December 1952
8 Stockport County 3–1 Gillingham 6 December 1952
9 Accrington Stanley 0–2 Mansfield Town 6 December 1952
10 Great Yarmouth Town 1–2 Wrexham 6 December 1952
11 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0 Norwich City 6 December 1952
12 Bradford City 1–1 Ipswich Town 6 December 1952
Replay Ipswich Town 5–1 Bradford City 10 December 1952
13 Bradford Park Avenue 1–2 Gateshead 6 December 1952
14 Port Vale 0–3 Oldham Athletic 6 December 1952
15 Halifax Town 4–2 Southport 6 December 1952
16 Newport County 2–1 Gainsborough Trinity 6 December 1952
17 Walthamstow Avenue 1–1 Watford 6 December 1952
Replay Watford 1–2 Walthamstow Avenue 10 December 1952
18 Hereford United 0–0 Scunthorpe United 6 December 1952
Replay Scunthorpe United 2–1 Hereford United 11 December 1952
19 Peterborough United 0–1 Bristol Rovers 6 December 1952
20 Colchester United 3–2 Llanelli 6 December 1952

Third round proper

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The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 10 January 1953, although two matches were postponed until the mid-week fixtures. Six matches were drawn and went to replays.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Preston North End 5–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 10 January 1953
2 Leicester City 2–4 Notts County 10 January 1953
3 Aston Villa 3–1 Middlesbrough 10 January 1953
4 Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Blackpool 10 January 1953
5 Bolton Wanderers 3–1 Fulham 14 January 1953
6 Grimsby Town 1–3 Bury 10 January 1953
7 Sunderland 1–1 Scunthorpe United 10 January 1953
Replay Scunthorpe United 1–2 Sunderland 15 January 1953
8 Derby County 4–4 Chelsea 10 January 1953
Replay Chelsea 1–0 Derby County 14 January 1953
9 Lincoln City 1–1 Southampton 10 January 1953
Replay Southampton 2–1 Lincoln City 14 January 1953
10 Luton Town 6–1 Blackburn Rovers 10 January 1953
11 Everton 3–2 Ipswich Town 10 January 1953
12 Shrewsbury Town 2–0 Finchley 10 January 1953
13 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur 10 January 1953
Replay Tottenham Hotspur 9–1 Tranmere Rovers 12 January 1953
14 Newcastle United 3–0 Swansea Town 14 January 1953
15 Manchester City 7–0 Swindon Town 10 January 1953
16 Barnsley 4–3 Brighton & Hove Albion 10 January 1953
17 Brentford 2–1 Leeds United 10 January 1953
18 Portsmouth 1–1 Burnley 10 January 1953
Replay Burnley 3–1 Portsmouth 13 January 1953
19 West Ham United 1–4 West Bromwich Albion 10 January 1953
20 Plymouth Argyle 4–1 Coventry City 10 January 1953
21 Millwall 0–1 Manchester United 10 January 1953
22 Hull City 3–1 Charlton Athletic 10 January 1953
23 Oldham Athletic 1–3 Birmingham City 10 January 1953
24 Huddersfield Town 2–0 Bristol Rovers 10 January 1953
25 Mansfield Town 0–1 Nottingham Forest 10 January 1953
26 Halifax Town 3–1 Cardiff City 10 January 1953
27 Newport County 1–4 Sheffield United 10 January 1953
28 Arsenal 4–0 Doncaster Rovers 10 January 1953
29 Walthamstow Avenue 2–1 Stockport County 10 January 1953
30 Stoke City 2–1 Wrexham 10 January 1953
31 Rotherham United 2–2 Colchester United 10 January 1953
Replay Colchester United 0–2 Rotherham United 15 January 1953
32 Gateshead 1–0 Liverpool 10 January 1953

Fourth round proper

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The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 31 January 1953. Seven matches were drawn and went to replays, which were all played in the following midweek match. Two matches then went to a second replay, with the Chelsea–West Bromwich Albion game going to a third replay before it was settled.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Blackpool 1–0 Huddersfield Town 31 January 1953
2 Burnley 2–0 Sunderland 31 January 1953
3 Preston North End 2–2 Tottenham Hotspur 31 January 1953
Replay Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Preston North End 4 February 1953
4 Aston Villa 0–0 Brentford 31 January 1953
Replay Brentford 1–2 Aston Villa 4 February 1953
5 Bolton Wanderers 1–1 Notts County 31 January 1953
Replay Notts County 2–2 Bolton Wanderers 5 February 1953
Replay Bolton Wanderers 1–0 Notts County 9 February 1953
6 Everton 4–1 Nottingham Forest 31 January 1953
7 Shrewsbury Town 1–4 Southampton 31 January 1953
8 Sheffield United 1–1 Birmingham City 31 January 1953
Replay Birmingham City 3–1 Sheffield United 4 February 1953
9 Newcastle United 1–3 Rotherham United 31 January 1953
10 Manchester City 1–1 Luton Town 31 January 1953
Replay Luton Town 5–1 Manchester City 4 February 1953
11 Manchester United 1–1 Walthamstow Avenue 31 January 1953
Replay Walthamstow Avenue 2–5 Manchester United 5 February 1953
12 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Barnsley 31 January 1953
13 Hull City 1–2 Gateshead 31 January 1953
14 Chelsea 1–1 West Bromwich Albion 31 January 1953
Replay West Bromwich Albion 0–0 Chelsea 4 February 1953
Replay Chelsea 1–1 West Bromwich Albion 9 February 1953
Replay West Bromwich Albion 0–4 Chelsea 11 February 1953
15 Halifax Town 1–0 Stoke City 31 January 1953
16 Arsenal 6–2 Bury 31 January 1953

Fifth round proper

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The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 14 February 1953. The Blackpool–Southampton game went to a replay.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Blackpool 1–1 Southampton 14 February 1953
Replay Southampton 1–2 Blackpool 18 February 1953
2 Burnley 0–2 Arsenal 14 February 1953
3 Luton Town 0–1 Bolton Wanderers 14 February 1953
4 Everton 2–1 Manchester United 14 February 1953
5 Plymouth Argyle 0–1 Gateshead 14 February 1953
6 Chelsea 0–4 Birmingham City 14 February 1953
7 Halifax Town 0–3 Tottenham Hotspur 14 February 1953
8 Rotherham United 1–3 Aston Villa 14 February 1953

Sixth round proper

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The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 28 February 1953. The Birmingham City–Tottenham Hotspur game went to two replays before it was settled.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Aston Villa 0–1 Everton 28 February 1953
2 Arsenal 1–2 Blackpool 28 February 1953
3 Gateshead 0–1 Bolton Wanderers 28 February 1953
4 Birmingham City 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur 28 February 1953
Replay Tottenham Hotspur 2–2 Birmingham City 4 March 1953
Replay Birmingham City 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur 9 March 1953

Semi-finals

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The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 21 March 1953. Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers won their ties to meet in the final at Wembley.


Final

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The 1953 FA Cup Final, known as the "Matthews Final" due to Stanley Matthews' dribbling in the last 30 minutes of the game, was contested by Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers at Wembley. Blackpool won 4–3, with Stan Mortensen the third player to score an FA Cup Final hat-trick.

Blackpool4–3Bolton Wanderers
Mortensen 35', 68', 89'
Perry 90+2'
Report Lofthouse 2'
Moir 40'
Bell 55'
Attendance: 100,000
Referee: B. M. Griffiths (Newport)
Blackpool
 
Bolton Wanderers

See also

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References

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