1952–53 FA Cup

October 2020 1952–53 FA Cup EnglandWales Blackpool 1 Bolton Wanderers 1951–52 1953–54 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 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 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. all qualifying round results 1952–53 FA Cup qualifying rounds First round proper 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. Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate1Chester0–1Hartlepools United22 November 19522Chesterfield1–0Workington22 November 19523Darlington2–3Grimsby Town22 November 19524Bath City3–1Southend United22 November 19525Tonbridge2–2Norwich City22 November 1952ReplayNorwich City1–0Tonbridge27 November 19526Weymouth1–1Colchester United22 November 1952ReplayColchester United4–0Weymouth27 November 19527Yeovil Town1–4Brighton & Hove Albion22 November 19528Leyton0–0Hereford United22 November 1952ReplayHereford United3–2Leyton27 November 19529Gainsborough Trinity1–1Netherfield (Kendal)22 November 1952ReplayNetherfield (Kendal)0–3Gainsborough Trinity27 November 195210Swindon Town5–0Newport (IOW)22 November 195211Scarborough0–8Mansfield Town22 November 195212Ipswich Town2–2Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic22 November 1952ReplayBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic2–2Ipswich Town26 November 1952ReplayIpswich Town3–2Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1 December 195213Tranmere Rovers8–1Ashington22 November 195214Wellington Town1–1Gillingham22 November 1952ReplayGillingham3–0Wellington Town26 November 195215Kidderminster Harriers0–1Finchley22 November 195216Queens Park Rangers2–2Shrewsbury Town22 November 1952ReplayShrewsbury Town2–2Queens Park Rangers27 November 1952ReplayQueens Park Rangers1–4Shrewsbury Town1 December 195217Leytonstone0–2Watford22 November 195218Coventry City2–0Bristol City22 November 195219Bradford City4–0Rhyl22 November 195220Crystal Palace1–1Reading22 November 1952ReplayReading1–3Crystal Palace26 November 195221Bradford Park Avenue2–1Rochdale22 November 195222Scunthorpe & Lindsey United1–0Carlisle United22 November 195223Grays Athletic0–5Llanelli22 November 195224Port Vale2–1Exeter City22 November 195225Halifax Town1–1Ashton United22 November 1952ReplayAshton United1–2Halifax Town25 November 195226Newport County2–1Walsall22 November 195227Southport3–1Bangor City22 November 195228Selby Town1–5Bishop Auckland22 November 195229Walthamstow Avenue2–2Wimbledon22 November 1952ReplayWimbledon0–3Walthamstow Avenue26 November 195230York City1–2Barrow22 November 195231Aldershot0–0Millwall22 November 1952ReplayMillwall7–1Aldershot27 November 195232Guildford City2–2Great Yarmouth Town22 November 1952ReplayGreat Yarmouth Town1–0Guildford City27 November 195233Horden CW1–2Accrington Stanley22 November 195234Gateshead2–0Crewe Alexandra22 November 195235North Shields3–6Stockport County22 November 195236Boston United1–2Oldham Athletic22 November 195237Peterborough United2–1Torquay United22 November 195238Leyton Orient1–1Bristol Rovers22 November 1952ReplayBristol Rovers1–0Leyton Orient24 November 195239Hendon0–0Northampton Town22 November 1952ReplayNorthampton Town2–0Hendon27 November 195240Beighton Miners Welfare0–3Wrexham22 November 1952 Second round proper 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. Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate1Barrow2–2Millwall6 December 1952ReplayMillwall4–1Barrow10 December 19522Finchley3–1Crystal Palace10 December 19523Grimsby Town1–0Bath City6 December 19524Swindon Town2–0Northampton Town6 December 19525Shrewsbury Town0–0Chesterfield6 December 1952ReplayChesterfield2–4Shrewsbury Town10 December 19526Bishop Auckland1–4Coventry City6 December 19527Tranmere Rovers2–1Hartlepools United6 December 19528Stockport County3–1Gillingham6 December 19529Accrington Stanley0–2Mansfield Town6 December 195210Great Yarmouth Town1–2Wrexham6 December 195211Brighton & Hove Albion2–0Norwich City6 December 195212Bradford City1–1Ipswich Town6 December 1952ReplayIpswich Town5–1Bradford City10 December 195213Bradford Park Avenue1–2Gateshead6 December 195214Port Vale0–3Oldham Athletic6 December 195215Halifax Town4–2Southport6 December 195216Newport County2–1Gainsborough Trinity6 December 195217Walthamstow Avenue1–1Watford6 December 1952ReplayWatford1–2Walthamstow Avenue10 December 195218Hereford United0–0Scunthorpe & Lindsey United6 December 1952ReplayScunthorpe & Lindsey United2–1Hereford United11 December 195219Peterborough United0–1Bristol Rovers6 December 195220Colchester United3–2Llanelli6 December 1952 Third round proper 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. Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate1Preston North End5–2Wolverhampton Wanderers10 January 19532Leicester City2–4Notts County10 January 19533Aston Villa3–1Middlesbrough10 January 19534Sheffield Wednesday1–2Blackpool10 January 19535Bolton Wanderers3–1Fulham14 January 19536Grimsby Town1–3Bury10 January 19537Sunderland1–1Scunthorpe & Lindsey United10 January 1953ReplayScunthorpe & Lindsey United1–2Sunderland15 January 19538Derby County4–4Chelsea10 January 1953ReplayChelsea1–0Derby County14 January 19539Lincoln City1–1Southampton10 January 1953ReplaySouthampton2–1Lincoln City14 January 195310Luton Town6–1Blackburn Rovers10 January 195311Everton3–2Ipswich Town10 January 195312Shrewsbury Town2–0Finchley10 January 195313Tranmere Rovers1–1Tottenham Hotspur10 January 1953ReplayTottenham Hotspur9–1Tranmere Rovers12 January 195314Newcastle United3–0Swansea Town14 January 195315Manchester City7–0Swindon Town10 January 195316Barnsley4–3Brighton & Hove Albion10 January 195317Brentford2–1Leeds United10 January 195318Portsmouth1–1Burnley10 January 1953ReplayBurnley3–1Portsmouth13 January 195319West Ham United1–4West Bromwich Albion10 January 195320Plymouth Argyle4–1Coventry City10 January 195321Millwall0–1Manchester United10 January 195322Hull City3–1Charlton Athletic10 January 195323Oldham Athletic1–3Birmingham City10 January 195324Huddersfield Town2–0Bristol Rovers10 January 195325Mansfield Town0–1Nottingham Forest10 January 195326Halifax Town3–1Cardiff City10 January 195327Newport County1–4Sheffield United10 January 195328Arsenal4–0Doncaster Rovers10 January 195329Walthamstow Avenue2–1Stockport County10 January 195330Stoke City2–1Wrexham10 January 195331Rotherham United2–2Colchester United10 January 1953ReplayColchester United0–2Rotherham United15 January 195332Gateshead1–0Liverpool10 January 1953 The first match between Newcastle United and Swansea on the 10th of January was abandoned after only 8 minutes due to heavy fog. The match was rescheduled to the 14th of January.ABANDONED MATCHES https://www.footballsite.co.uk/DYK/DYK01-AbandonedMatches.htm www.footballsite.co.uk 17 March 2026 Fourth round proper 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. Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate1Blackpool1–0Huddersfield Town31 January 19532Burnley2–0Sunderland31 January 19533Preston North End2–2Tottenham Hotspur31 January 1953ReplayTottenham Hotspur1–0Preston North End4 February 19534Aston Villa0–0Brentford31 January 1953ReplayBrentford1–2Aston Villa4 February 19535Bolton Wanderers1–1Notts County31 January 1953ReplayNotts County2–2Bolton Wanderers5 February 1953ReplayBolton Wanderers1–0Notts County9 February 19536Everton4–1Nottingham Forest31 January 19537Shrewsbury Town1–4Southampton31 January 19538Sheffield United1–1Birmingham City31 January 1953ReplayBirmingham City3–1Sheffield United4 February 19539Newcastle United1–3Rotherham United31 January 195310Manchester City1–1Luton Town31 January 1953ReplayLuton Town5–1Manchester City4 February 195311Manchester United1–1Walthamstow Avenue31 January 1953ReplayWalthamstow Avenue2–5Manchester United5 February 195312Plymouth Argyle1–0Barnsley31 January 195313Hull City1–2Gateshead31 January 195314Chelsea1–1West Bromwich Albion31 January 1953ReplayWest Bromwich Albion0–0Chelsea4 February 1953ReplayChelsea1–1West Bromwich Albion9 February 1953ReplayWest Bromwich Albion0–4Chelsea11 February 195315Halifax Town1–0Stoke City31 January 195316Arsenal6–2Bury31 January 1953 Fifth round proper The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 14 February 1953. The Blackpool–Southampton game went to a replay. Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate1Blackpool1–1Southampton14 February 1953ReplaySouthampton1–2Blackpool18 February 19532Burnley0–2Arsenal14 February 19533Luton Town0–1Bolton Wanderers14 February 19534Everton2–1Manchester United14 February 19535Plymouth Argyle0–1Gateshead14 February 19536Chelsea0–4Birmingham City14 February 19537Halifax Town0–3Tottenham Hotspur14 February 19538Rotherham United1–3Aston Villa14 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 noHome teamScoreAway teamDate1Aston Villa0–1Everton28 February 19532Arsenal1–2Blackpool28 February 19533Gateshead0–1Bolton Wanderers28 February 19534Birmingham City1–1Tottenham Hotspur28 February 1953ReplayTottenham Hotspur2–2Birmingham City4 March 1953ReplayBirmingham City0–1Tottenham Hotspur9 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. 21 March 1953 15:00 Blackpool 2–1 Tottenham Hotspur Villa Park, Birmingham 21 March 1953 15:00 Bolton Wanderers 4–3 Everton Maine Road, Manchester Final 1953 FA Cup 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. 2 May 1953 Blackpool 4–3 Report Bolton Wanderers Mortensen 35 68 89 Perry 90+2 Lofthouse 2 Moir 40 Bell 55 Wembley Stadium, London 100,000 B. M. Griffiths (Newport) _collarwhite F28500 F28500 F28500 FFFFFF 000000 Blackpool   _collarwhite FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 FFFFFF Bolton Wanderers See also FA Cup Final Results 1872— References Official site; fixtures and results service at TheFA.com 1952-53 FA Cup at rssf.com 1952-53 FA Cup at soccerbase.com Category:FA Cup seasons FA Cup