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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.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England Wales |
| Defending champions | Newcastle United |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Blackpool (1st title) |
| Runner-up | Bolton Wanderers |
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.
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
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 |
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.
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.
      Blackpool
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Bolton Wanderers
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