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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.
Calendar
| 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 |
Qualifying rounds
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Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 30 places available in the first round.
The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Ashington, North Shields, Bishop Auckland, Horden Colliery Welfare, Scarborough, Netherfield, Ashton United, Rhyl, Bangor City, Kidderminster Harriers, Wellington Town, Beighton Miners Welfare, Gainsborough Trinity, Boston United, Hereford United, Selby Town, Peterborough United, Grays Athletic, Leytonstone, Great Yarmouth Town, Finchley, Tonbridge, Wimbledon, Hendon, Guildford City, Weymouth, Newport (IOW), Bath City, Yeovil Town and Llanelli.
Those advancing to the competition proper for the first time were Beighton Miners Welfare, Selby Town and Grays Athletic. Additionally, Hendon had not featured at this stage since 1934–35, Boston United had not done so since 1936-37 and Ashton United had not done so since 1887-88 when the club was still known as Hurst.
Finchley was the most successful club from the qualifying rounds this season, participating in seven rounds of the competition. They defeated Clapton, Woodford Town, Eton Manor, Chelmsford City, Kidderminster Harriers and Crystal Palace before going out in the third round to Shrewsbury Town.
First round proper
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At this stage the 48 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 30 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. The final two non-league sides in the draw, Walthamstow Avenue and Leyton, were given byes to this round as the champions and runners-up from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 22 November 1952. Fourteen were drawn and went to replays, with two going on to second replays.
Second round proper
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The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 6 December 1952, with Finchley and Crystal Palace (famously) competing on the 10th instead. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
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. Finchley was the last club from the qualifying rounds remaining in the draw.
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 tie going to a third replay before it was settled. Walthamstow Avenue was the last non-league side left in the competition.
Fifth round proper
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
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
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
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
|
Bolton Wanderers
|
See also
References
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