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The 1919–20 FA Cup was the 45th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup (more usually known as the FA Cup), and the first since the cancellation of all football competitions due to the First World War. Aston Villa won the competition, beating Huddersfield Town 1–0 in the final at Stamford Bridge, London.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England Wales |
| Defending champions | Sheffield United (1915) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Aston Villa (6th title) |
| Runner-up | Huddersfield Town |
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. 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 at neutral venues 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.
The format of the FA Cup for the season had two preliminary rounds, six qualifying rounds, four proper rounds, and the semi-finals and final.
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Extra preliminary round | Saturday 13 September 1919 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 27 September 1919 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 11 October 1919 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 25 October 1919 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 8 November 1919 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 22 November 1919 |
| Fifth round qualifying | Saturday 6 December 1919 |
| Sixth round qualifying | Saturday 20 December 1919 |
| First round proper | Saturday 10 January 1920 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 31 January 1920 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 21 February 1920 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 6 March 1920 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 27 March 1920 |
| Final | Saturday 24 April 1920 |
Participant numbers were down on previous editions of the tournament after many clubs from the lower levels of the English football pyramid (such as it was at the time) did not resume operations after the First World War. Local leagues across the country were hit hard by the heavy loss of players during the years of conflict, while other clubs such as Croydon Common from competitions as strong as the Southern League First Division were wound up after their income streams disappeared during the four-season long competitive hiatus.
In the end, the 12 winners from the sixth qualifying round were Football League Second Division side Port Vale and non-league teams Luton Town, West Stanley, Castleford Town, Thornycrofts (Woolston), Darlington, Southend United, Gillingham, Hednesford Town, Bristol Rovers, Rochdale and Newport County. Port Vale had actually begun the season in the Central League, but had been re-instated to the Football League after eight rounds following the involuntary liquidation of Leeds City in the wake of an illegal player payments scandal. Those qualifying for the first round proper for the first time were West Stanley, Castleford Town, Newport County and, more significantly, Thornycrofts (Woolston) and Hednesford Town.
Thornycrofts and Hednesford were the first clubs in Cup history to progress from the extra preliminary round to the competition proper. Hednesford Town overcame Halesowen, Atherstone Town, Willenhall, Cradley Heath, Darlaston, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall and East London works outfit Gnome Athletic before bowing out in the first round to Castleford Town at Wheldon Road, while Thornycrofts (Woolston) saw off RAE Farnborough, Bournemouth Gasworks, Cowes, Basingstoke Town, Bournemouth Tramways, Oxford City, Dulwich Hamlet and Sheppey United before famously taking Burnley to a replay at Turf Moor after a scoreless draw in the initial match at The Dell.
42 of the 44 clubs from the First and Second divisions joined the 12 clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. The other two sides, Port Vale and Rotherham County, were entered in the sixth qualifying round with Port Vale progressing and Rotherham going out to West Stanley.
Ten non-league sides were given byes to the first round to bring the total number of teams up to 64. These were:
- Southampton
- Millwall
- Queens Park Rangers
- Crystal Palace
- Swindon Town
- Plymouth Argyle
- Reading
- Portsmouth
- Brentford
- Cardiff City
32 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 10 January 1920. Eight matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.
The 16 Second Round matches were played on Saturday, 31 January 1920. One match was drawn, with the replay taking place in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | 4–0 | Darlington | 31 January 1920 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 1–0 | Arsenal | 31 January 1920 |
| 3 | Burnley | 1–1 | Sunderland | 31 January 1920 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 2–0 | Burnley | 4 February 1920 |
| 4 | Preston North End | 2–1 | Blackpool | 31 January 1920 |
| 5 | Leicester City | 3–0 | Manchester City | 31 January 1920 |
| 6 | Notts County | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | 31 January 1920 |
| 7 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Cardiff City | 31 January 1920 |
| 8 | Luton Town | 0–2 | Liverpool | 31 January 1920 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 0–1 | Huddersfield Town | 31 January 1920 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–0 | West Stanley | 31 January 1920 |
| 11 | West Ham United | 6–0 | Bury | 31 January 1920 |
| 12 | Manchester United | 1–2 | Aston Villa | 31 January 1920 |
| 13 | Plymouth Argyle | 4–1 | Barnsley | 31 January 1920 |
| 14 | Bradford City | 2–1 | Sheffield United | 31 January 1920 |
| 15 | Chelsea | 4–0 | Swindon Town | 31 January 1920 |
| 16 | Bradford Park Avenue | 3–2 | Castleford Town | 31 January 1920 |
The eight Third Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 21 February 1920. There were no replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City | 2–1 | Cardiff City | 21 February 1920 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Birmingham | 21 February 1920 |
| 3 | Preston North End | 0–3 | Bradford City | 21 February 1920 |
| 4 | Notts County | 3–4 | Bradford Park Avenue | 21 February 1920 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Sunderland | 21 February 1920 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–0 | West Ham United | 21 February 1920 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 3–0 | Leicester City | 21 February 1920 |
| 8 | Huddersfield Town | 3–1 | Plymouth Argyle | 21 February 1920 |
The four Fourth round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 6 March 1920. There were no replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City | 2–0 | Bradford City | 6 March 1920 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0–1 | Aston Villa | 6 March 1920 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 4–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 6 March 1920 |
| 4 | Huddersfield Town | 2–1 | Liverpool | 6 March 1920 |
The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 27 March 1920. Aston Villa and Huddersfield Town won and went on to meet in the final.
The Final, the first since the end of the First World War, was contested by Aston Villa and Huddersfield at Stamford Bridge. Aston Villa won 1–0, with the goal coming in extra time from Billy Kirton.
Match details
| Aston Villa | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Huddersfield Town |
|---|---|---|
Kirton  100' |
         Aston Villa
|
    Huddersfield Town
|
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