1952–53 FA Cup


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

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, 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

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 teamDate
1Chester0–1Hartlepools United22 November 1952
2Chesterfield1–0Workington22 November 1952
3Darlington2–3Grimsby Town22 November 1952
4Bath City3–1Southend United22 November 1952
5Tonbridge2–2Norwich City22 November 1952
ReplayNorwich City1–0Tonbridge27 November 1952
6Weymouth1–1Colchester United22 November 1952
ReplayColchester United4–0Weymouth27 November 1952
7Yeovil Town1–4Brighton & Hove Albion22 November 1952
8Leyton0–0Hereford United22 November 1952
ReplayHereford United3–2Leyton27 November 1952
9Gainsborough Trinity1–1Netherfield 22 November 1952
ReplayNetherfield 0–3Gainsborough Trinity27 November 1952
10Swindon Town5–0Newport 22 November 1952
11Scarborough0–8Mansfield Town22 November 1952
12Ipswich Town2–2Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic22 November 1952
ReplayBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic2–2Ipswich Town26 November 1952
ReplayIpswich Town3–2Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1 December 1952
13Tranmere Rovers8–1Ashington22 November 1952
14Wellington Town1–1Gillingham22 November 1952
ReplayGillingham3–0Wellington Town26 November 1952
15Kidderminster Harriers0–1Finchley22 November 1952
16Queens Park Rangers2–2Shrewsbury Town22 November 1952
ReplayShrewsbury Town2–2Queens Park Rangers27 November 1952
ReplayQueens Park Rangers1–4Shrewsbury Town1 December 1952
17Leytonstone0–2Watford22 November 1952
18Coventry City2–0Bristol City22 November 1952
19Bradford City4–0Rhyl22 November 1952
20Crystal Palace1–1Reading22 November 1952
ReplayReading1–3Crystal Palace26 November 1952
21Bradford Park Avenue2–1Rochdale22 November 1952
22Scunthorpe & Lindsey United1–0Carlisle United22 November 1952
23Grays Athletic0–5Llanelli22 November 1952
24Port Vale2–1Exeter City22 November 1952
25Halifax Town1–1Ashton United22 November 1952
ReplayAshton United1–2Halifax Town25 November 1952
26Newport County2–1Walsall22 November 1952
27Southport3–1Bangor City22 November 1952
28Selby Town1–5Bishop Auckland22 November 1952
29Walthamstow Avenue2–2Wimbledon22 November 1952
ReplayWimbledon0–3Walthamstow Avenue26 November 1952
30York City1–2Barrow22 November 1952
31Aldershot0–0Millwall22 November 1952
ReplayMillwall7–1Aldershot27 November 1952
32Guildford City2–2Great Yarmouth Town22 November 1952
ReplayGreat Yarmouth Town1–0Guildford City27 November 1952
33Horden CW1–2Accrington Stanley22 November 1952
34Gateshead2–0Crewe Alexandra22 November 1952
35North Shields3–6Stockport County22 November 1952
36Boston United1–2Oldham Athletic22 November 1952
37Peterborough United2–1Torquay United22 November 1952
38Leyton Orient1–1Bristol Rovers22 November 1952
ReplayBristol Rovers1–0Leyton Orient24 November 1952
39Hendon0–0Northampton Town22 November 1952
ReplayNorthampton Town2–0Hendon27 November 1952
40Beighton Miners Welfare0–3Wrexham22 November 1952

Second round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 6 December 1952, with Finchley and Crystal Palace competing on the 10th instead. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Barrow2–2Millwall6 December 1952
ReplayMillwall4–1Barrow10 December 1952
2Finchley3–1Crystal Palace10 December 1952
3Grimsby Town1–0Bath City6 December 1952
4Swindon Town2–0Northampton Town6 December 1952
5Shrewsbury Town0–0Chesterfield6 December 1952
ReplayChesterfield2–4Shrewsbury Town10 December 1952
6Bishop Auckland1–4Coventry City6 December 1952
7Tranmere Rovers2–1Hartlepools United6 December 1952
8Stockport County3–1Gillingham6 December 1952
9Accrington Stanley0–2Mansfield Town6 December 1952
10Great Yarmouth Town1–2Wrexham6 December 1952
11Brighton & Hove Albion2–0Norwich City6 December 1952
12Bradford City1–1Ipswich Town6 December 1952
ReplayIpswich Town5–1Bradford City10 December 1952
13Bradford Park Avenue1–2Gateshead6 December 1952
14Port Vale0–3Oldham Athletic6 December 1952
15Halifax Town4–2Southport6 December 1952
16Newport County2–1Gainsborough Trinity6 December 1952
17Walthamstow Avenue1–1Watford6 December 1952
ReplayWatford1–2Walthamstow Avenue10 December 1952
18Hereford United0–0Scunthorpe & Lindsey United6 December 1952
ReplayScunthorpe & Lindsey United2–1Hereford United11 December 1952
19Peterborough United0–1Bristol Rovers6 December 1952
20Colchester United3–2Llanelli6 December 1952